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US 2005/0123345 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for making a ball and socket joint and joint made by same
OwnerJason Trotter, Robert Dutziinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A molding-in-place technique for joint assemblies, such as a ball joint. The technique is particularly well suited for molding “in-place” a linkage structure about a joint structure. The technique uses a molding assembly having a plurality of centering and sealing structures for sealingly centering the linkage structure about the joint structure. A desired mold material is injected between the linkage structure and the joint structure “in-place” to provide a self-toleranced, self-retained, molded-in-place joint assembly.
Claims18
1-34. (canceled)
A joint system, comprising:
- a joint support structure;
- a studded joint member disposed within the joint support structure;
- and
- a desired material molded-in-place about the studded joint member and internally retained within the joint support structure, wherein the studded joint member is movable and self-toleranced within the desired material.
1 more element
A mold system for a ball joint assembly, comprising:
- a molding assembly configured to self-tolerance and mold-in-place the ball joint assembly, comprising:
- a stud receptacle for a studded joint member;
- a first centering structure for the studded joint member;
- a second centering structure for a support structure disposed about the studded joint member;
- and
- a mold injection nozzle for injecting the desired mold material.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.