Anti pull-out collar for a ball joint

A ball joint installed in a housing, the ball joint comprising:

• an outer race having an exterior surface extending from an outer axial end to an inner axial end thereof, and having an interior area defined by a spherical inner surface, the interior area having an opening proximate the outer axial end;
• an inner member comprising a spherical ball having a stem extending therefrom, the ball having a spherical outer surface, the ball being disposed in the interior area with the spherical outer surface engaging the spherical inner surface and the ball being contained therein by the spherical inner surface, and the stem extending out of the opening;
• and
• an anti pull-out collar comprising:
• an annular ring having a radially inward facing inside surface extending between a first axial end and a second axial end;
• the inside surface having a profile complementary in shape to a portion of the exterior surface of the outer race;
• the anti pull-out collar being disposed around the outer race, and the second axial end of the anti pull-out collar is located above a center point of the ball and the first axial end of the anti pull-out collar extends in a direction along an axis of the outer race towards the stem;
• and
• the anti pull-out collar having a radial thickness configured to prevent radial expansion of the outer race,
• wherein the entire anti pull-out collar is located outside of the housing.

A ball joint comprising:

• an outer race having an exterior surface extending from an outer axial end to an inner axial end thereof, and having an interior area defined by a spherical inner surface, the interior area having an opening proximate the outer axial end;
• an inner member comprising a spherical ball having a stem extending therefrom, the ball having a spherical outer surface, the ball being disposed in the interior area with the spherical outer surface engaging the spherical inner surface and the ball being contained therein by the spherical inner surface, and the stem extending out of the opening;
• and
• an anti pull-out collar comprising:
• an annular ring having a radially inward facing inside surface extending between a first axial end and a second axial end;
• the inside surface having a profile complementary in shape to a portion of the exterior surface of the outer race, the profile is defined by a first section having a first inside diameter and a second section having a second inside diameter that is less than the first inside diameter and an axial facing abutment surface extending between the first section and the second section, and at least one of the first inside diameter and the second inside diameter has an interference fit on the exterior of the outer race;
• the anti pull-out collar being disposed around the outer race, and the entire anti pull-out collar being located between the outer axial end and the inner axial end;
• and
• the anti pull-out collar having a radial thickness configured to prevent radial expansion of the outer race,
• wherein the anti pull-out collar is circumferentially continuous and comprises a metallic material.