US5615967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball joint link
Assignee: MacLean Fogg Co
•
Filing: 1994-06-03
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Granted: 1997-04-01
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Expires: 2014-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A ball joint link includes a center tube and a ball stud. A one-piece, thermoplastic, molded housing extends around the ball to form a ball joint and is secured to the tube. The tube and the ball of the ball stud are both insert molded in the housing in a single molding operation, and the housing is formed of a glass-filled nylon that forms the bearing surface for the ball joint.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith Hellon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:47
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/14336; F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0604; F16C11/0619; F16C11/0623; F16C11/0642; F16C11/0657; F16C11/0666; F16C11/0671; F16C11/0695; F16C7/00; F16C7/02; B29C45/14467; B29K; B29K2705/00; B60; B60G; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/416; B60G2206/00; B60G2206/01; B60G2206/10; B60G2206/11; B60G2206/80; B60G2206/82; B60G2206/8201; F16C2220/00; F16C2220/02; F16C2220/04; F16C2300/00; F16C2300/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32008; Y10T403/32032; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32681; Y10T403/32696; Y10T403/32721
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A ball joint link comprising: a tubular first element having an end; a ball stud comprising a stud which supports a ball; a molded housing secured to the end of the first element and extending around the ball to form a ball joint, said housing comprising a fiber-reinforced plastic material that extends continuously between a first region immediately spatially adjacent the ball and a second region adjacent the end; and a plug in the tubular first element near the end, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic material of the housing substantially fills the tubular first element between the end and the plug, and wherein the end is insert molded in the housing the second region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A ball joint link comprising: a tubular first element having an end; a ball stud comprising a stud which supports a ball; a molded housing secured to the end of the first element and extending around the ball to form a ball joint, said housing comprising a fiber-reinforced plastic material that extends continuously between a first region immediately spatially adjacent the ball and a second region adjacent the end; and a plug in the tubular first element near the end, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic material of the housing substantially fills the tubular first element between the end and the plug, and wherein the end is insert molded in the housing the second region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic material comprises a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 wherein the end is insert molded in the housing in the second region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 wherein the insert molded ball carries a lubricant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 wherein the first region is configured to form a socket for the ball, and wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic material forms the socket immediately spatially adjacent the ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 wherein the ball defines a flattened portion opposite the stud.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 further comprising: a boot seal positioned around the stud; and a retaining ring positioned around the boot seal and secured to the housing to retain the boot seal on the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 wherein the stud defines an annular recess, and wherein the ball is molded in place on the stud and fills the recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 wherein the first element comprises a center section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ball joint link of claim 1 further comprising a cap secured in place to the housing adjacent a portion of the ball opposite the stud, said cap at least partially enclosing a space adjacent the ball.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ball joint link of claim 10 wherein the cap is molded in place in the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ball joint link of claim 11 wherein the space contains a lubricant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ball joint link of claim 11 wherein the ball comprises a non-spherical surface adjacent the cap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A ball joint link comprising: a tubular first element having an end; a plug in the tubular first element near the end; a ball stud comprising a stud which supports a ball; and a molded housing secured to the end of the first element and extending around the ball to form a ball joint, said first element end and said ball both insert molded in said housing in a single molding operation; wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic material of the housing substantially fills the tubular first element between the end and the plug.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A ball joint link comprising: a tubular first element having an end; a plug in the tubular first element near the end; a ball stud comprising a stud which supports a ball; and a molded housing secured to the end of the first element and extending around the ball to form a ball joint, said first element end and said ball both insert molded in said housing in a single molding operation; wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic material of the housing substantially fills the tubular first element between the end and the plug.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ball joint link of claim 14 wherein the tubular first element comprises a metal tube, and wherein the housing comprises a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ball joint link of claim 15 wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material forms a recess wall positioned immediately specially adjacent to the ball.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ball joint link of claim 14 wherein the first element comprises a center section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ball joint link of claim 14 further comprising a cap secured in place to the housing adjacent a portion of the ball opposite the stud, said cap at least partially enclosing a space adjacent the ball.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ball joint link of claim 18 wherein the cap is molded in place in the housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ball joint link of claim 19 wherein the space contains a lubricant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ball joint link of claim 19 wherein the ball comprises a non-spherical surface adjacent the cap.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
101 words
A ball joint link comprising: a tubular center section having an end; a ball stud comprising a stud which supports a ball; a cap positioned adjacent a portion of the ball opposite the stud, said cap at least partially enclosing a space adjacent the ball; and a molded housing secured to the end of the center section and extending around the ball to form a ball joint, said cap insert molded in said housing; a plug in the tubular center section near the end, wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material substantially fills the tubular center section between the end and the plug.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
101 words
A ball joint link comprising: a tubular center section having an end; a ball stud comprising a stud which supports a ball; a cap positioned adjacent a portion of the ball opposite the stud, said cap at least partially enclosing a space adjacent the ball; and a molded housing secured to the end of the center section and extending around the ball to form a ball joint, said cap insert molded in said housing; a plug in the tubular center section near the end, wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material substantially fills the tubular center section between the end and the plug.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ball joint link of claim 22 wherein the space contains a lubricant.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ball joint link of claim 22 wherein the ball comprises a non-spherical surface adjacent the cap.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ball joint link of claim 22 wherein the housing comprises a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ball joint link of claim 25 wherein the ball is insert molded in the housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ball joint link of claim 26 wherein the end is insert molded in the housing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ball joint link of claim 25 wherein the fiber-reinforced material forms a socket immediately spatially adjacent the ball.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-31 | 2000-09-30 | 2001-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-31 | 2004-09-30 | 2005-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-09-30 | 2009-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |