Ball joint

Abstract

Provided is a ball joint capable of coupling a third mechanical element in a freely pivotable manner near a pivot center of a first mechanical element and a second mechanical element coupled to each other in a freely pivotable manner. The ball joint includes: a ball stud including: a shaft member configured to allow a first mechanical element to be coupled thereto; and a ball portion formed at a distal end of the shaft member; a holder including a fixing port ion configured to allow a second mechanical element to be coupled thereto, the holder being formed through casting with the ball portion being set as a core to cover a maximum diameter portion of the ball portion, the holder being configured to couple the first mechanical element and the second mechanical element in a freely pivotable manner with the ball portion defining a pivot center; and a pivot shaft that protrudes out of the holder in a direction of intersecting with the shaft member of the ball stud to define a second pivot center independently of the ball portion, and to serve as a coupling portion for a third mechanical element, the pivot shaft being integrated with the holder at the time of the casting of the holder.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.