Ball joint
AssigneeThk Rhythm Co., Ltd.
InventorToshihiro SHIMAZAWA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball joint is provided with a ball stud having a ball-head unit formed on a lower end of a stud unit, a socket that houses the ball-head unit so as to be pivotable therein, and has an opening unit from which the stud unit protrudes, formed on an upper end thereof, and a dust cover having elasticity, which is provided with a small diameter opening unit to be attached to the stud unit. The ball stud has a flange unit formed on the stud unit. The dust cover further has a guide unit formed on the inner peripheral portion of the small diameter opening unit, with a fine gap being placed in a radial direction, an engaging unit formed on a lower end portion of the small diameter opening unit, and a reinforcing ring that couples the guide unit and the engaging unit with high rigidity.
Claims12
A ball joint comprising:
- a ball stud having a ball-head unit formed on a lower end of a stud unit;
- a socket that houses the ball-head unit so as to be pivotable therein, and has an opening unit from which the stud unit protrudes, formed on an upper end thereof;
- and
- a dust cover having elasticity, which is provided with a small diameter opening unit to which the stud unit is attached and a large diameter opening unit to which the socket is attached,
- wherein the ball stud has a flange unit formed on the stud unit, and the dust cover further comprises a guide unit formed on the inner peripheral portion of the small diameter opening unit, which is fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the stud unit, with a fine gap being placed in a radial direction;
- an engaging unit formed on a lower end portion of the small diameter opening unit, which is made in contact with an upper surface of the flange unit in the axial direction, and engaged therewith;
- and a reinforcing ring that couples the guide unit and the engaging unit with each other with high rigidity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.