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US 2007/0166096 A1Published application
Joint assembly
OwnerChong Lim, Alexander Goerg +2inventors
InventorsChong Lim, Alexander Goerg, Jiri Pazdirek, Thomas Pazdirek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A joint assembly comprising a seal provided with a first retaining surface and a second retaining surface, a ball stud provided with a ball portion and a socket, wherein the socket is provided with a seal acceptor and a ball cooperating surface, wherein the ball portion of the ball stud is within the ball cooperating surface and a portion of the seal is within the seal acceptor, and a first and a second constricting element, wherein the first constricting element is held in place by the first retaining surface on the seal and the second constricting element is held in place by the second retaining surface on the seal.
Claims13
A joint assembly, comprising:
- a) a first ball stud and a second ball stud, wherein at least one of the ball studs is provided with a shaft and a ball portion;
- b) a first seal and a second seal, wherein at least one of the seals is provided with a securing member;
- c) a first constricting element and a second constricting element, wherein at least one of the constricting elements is in the shape of a spring;
- d) a first socket and a second socket, wherein at least one of the sockets is shaped to cooperate with the ball portion on one of the ball studs;
- and
- e) a coupling member fabricated from a composite material that includes carbon fibers oriented to provide strength.
3 more elements
A joint assembly, comprising:
- a) a first socket and a second socket;
- b) a seal and a second seal;
- c) a first constricting element and a second constricting element;
- d) a first ball stud and second ball stud;
- e) a coupling member fabricated from an alloy;
- and
- f) wherein the coupling member is crimped around at least one of the sockets.
4 more elements
A joint assembly, comprising:
- a) a first socket and a second socket;
- b) a seal and a second seal;
- c) a first constricting element and a second constricting element;
- d) a first ball stud and second ball stud;
- e) a coupling member fabricated from an alloy including aluminum;
- and
- f) wherein at least one of the sockets extends radially from the coupling member.
4 more elements
A joint assembly, comprising:
- a) a first socket and a second socket;
- b) a seal and a second seal;
- c) a first constricting element and a second constricting element;
- d) a first ball stud and second ball stud wherein at least one of the ball studs is composed of a plurality of ball stud elements;
- e) a coupling member fabricated from an alloy;
- and
- f) wherein the coupling member is crimped around at least one of the sockets.
4 more elements
A joint assembly, comprising:
- a) a seal provided with a first retaining surface and a second retaining surface;
- b) a ball stud provided with a ball portion and a socket, wherein the socket is provided with a seal acceptor and a ball cooperating surface, wherein the ball portion of the ball stud is within the ball cooperating surface and a portion of the seal is within the seal acceptor;
- c) a first and a second constricting element, wherein the first constricting element is held in place by the first retaining surface on the seal and the second constricting element is held in place by the second retaining surface on the seal;
- and
- d) a coupling member provided with a stem, an end, and a retaining portion located on the end, wherein the retaining portion is crimped to the socket.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a joint assembly, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a socket;
- b) providing a ball stud;
- c) locating a ball portion of the ball stud within a ball cooperating surface of the socket;
- d) providing a seal;
- e) locating the seal radially about at least a portion of the ball stud and at least a portion of the socket;
- f) providing a first constricting element and a second constricting element;
- g) locating the first constricting element within a first retaining surface on the seal to secure the seal to the ball stud;
- h) locating the second constricting element within a second retaining surface on the seal to secure the seal to the socket;
- i) providing a coupling member that includes a stem, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first end includes a retaining portion;
- j) crimping the retaining portion of the first end of the coupling member around at least a portion of the socket to secure the socket to the coupling member.
7 more elements
A ball joint, comprising:
- a) a socket;
- b) a ball stud, wherein a ball portion of the ball stud is located within a ball cooperating surface of the socket;
- c) a seal located radially about at least a portion of the ball stud and at least a portion of the socket;
- d) a first constricting element and a second constricting element, wherein:
- i) the first constricting element is located within a first retaining surface on the seal and secures the seal to the ball stud;
- ii) the second constricting element is located within a second retaining surface on the seal and secures the seal to the socket;
- and
- e) a boot guard that includes a shield portion that extends radially about at least a portion of the seal.
5 more elements
A method for manufacturing a ball stud, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a first stud element that includes a ball portion;
- b) providing a second stud element;
- and
- c) welding the first and second stud elements together to provide a ball stud.
1 more element
A method for manufacturing ajoint assembly, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a socket;
- b) providing a ball stud;
- c) locating a ball portion of the ball stud within a ball cooperating surface of the socket;
- d) providing a seal;
- e) locating the seal radially about at least a portion of the ball stud and at least a portion of the socket;
- f) providing a first constricting element and a second constricting element;
- g) locating the first constricting element within a first retaining surface on the seal to secure the seal to the ball stud;
- h) locating the second constricting element within a second retaining surface on the seal to secure the seal to the socket;
- i) providing a coupling member that includes a stem, a first end, and a second end, wherein:
- i) the first end is secured to the socket;
- and
- ii) the second end includes a threads for coupling with threads provided on the stem and threads provided on a fastener.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.