Ball joint with locking ball socket assembly

A link assembly, comprising

• a link having a first end including a first opening;
• a ball joint that includes a ball stud and a ball socket, wherein
• the ball stud having
• a cylindrical shank, and
• a ball portion disposed on one end of the shank, the ball portion including a ball major diameter defined by a line that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shank and intersects the spherical element at a location of maximum diameter, the ball portion including an annular ball groove that is parallel to the ball major diameter and disposed on a side of the ball major diameter that is opposed to the shank;
• and
• the ball socket disposed in the first opening, the ball socket having
• a first end,
• a sidewall that surrounds a periphery of the first end,
• a second end opposed to the first end, the second end being open and defined by a free edge of the sidewall, and
• a ball socket longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the first end and the second end,
• wherein
• the sidewall includes an inner surface that has a spherical portion and a retaining portion,
• the spherical portion receives the ball portion therein, the spherical portion having a shape and dimensions that are complementary to the shape and dimensions of the ball portion, and the retaining portion protrudes inward from the inner surface and including a terminal edge that resides within the ball groove,
• the first end is closed via a detachable cover that provides a fluid seal at the first end,
• the detachable cover includes an end portion and an annular rim,
• the rim protrudes from an inner surface of the end portion in a direction parallel to the ball socket longitudinal axis,
• the peripheral edge of the end portion rests on the first end. and
• the rim abuts the sidewall inner surface in a press-fit relationship with respect to the sidewall inner surface whereby the detachable cover is retained on the first end.

A wiper actuating assembly configured to actuate a wiper arm, the assembly comprising

• an actuator;
• a linkage that connects the actuator to the wiper arm, the linkage including
• a link having a first end including a first opening;
• a bail joint that includes a ball stud and a ball socket, wherein
• the ball stud having
• a cylindrical shank, and
• a ball portion disposed on one end of the shank, the ball portion including a ball major diameter defined by a line that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shank and intersects the spherical element at a location of maximum diameter, the ball portion including an annular ball groove that is parallel to the ball major diameter and disposed on a side of the ball major diameter that is opposed to the shank;
• and
• the ball socket disposed in the first opening, the ball socket having
• a first end,
• a sidewall that surrounds a periphery of the first end,
• a second end opposed to the first end, the second end being open and defined by a free edge of the sidewall, and
• a ball socket longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the ball socket first end and the ball socket second end,
• wherein
• the sidewall includes an inner surface that has a spherical portion and a retaining portion,
• the spherical portion receives the ball portion therein, the spherical portion having a shape and dimensions that are complementary to the shape and dimensions of the ball portion, and
• the retaining portion protrudes inward from the inner surface and including a terminal edge that resides within the ball groove,
• the first end is closed via a detachable cover that provides a fluid seal at the first end,
• the detachable cover includes an end portion and an annular rim,
• the rim protrudes from an inner surface of the end portion in a direction parallel to the ball socket longitudinal axis,
• the peripheral edge of the end portion rests on the first end, and
• the rim abuts the sidewall inner surface in a press-fit relationship with respect to the sidewall inner surface whereby the detachable cover is retained on the first end.