Joint assembly and joint socket sleeve
AssigneeThe Torrington Company
InventorsMichael R. Morsches, John L. Vitali, Gordon C. Butterfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A joint assembly and a joint socket sleeve. The joint assembly includes a first yoke including a ball portion, a second yoke including a socket portion and a socket sleeve. The socket sleeve has a continuous side wall defining an opening for receiving the ball portion. A portion of the side wall is flexible. In some constructions, flat surfaces and/or grooves are formed on the outer surface of the socket sleeve. In some constructions, ribs are formed on the outer surface of the socket sleeve.
Claims19
A joint assembly comprising:
- a first yoke including a ball portion;
- a second yoke defining a socket;
- and
- a sleeve positioned in the socket, the sleeve having a continuous side wall defining an opening for receiving the ball portion, a portion of the side wall being flexible, the opening being non-circular such that the opening, in a relaxed state, has at least first and second diameters that are distinct from one another.
A joint assembly comprising:
- a first yoke including a ball portion having a ball outer surface;
- a second yoke defining a socket;
- and
- a sleeve positioned in the socket, the sleeve having a continuous side wall defining an opening for receiving the ball portion, the sleeve having a sleeve inner surface, the opening being non-circular such that the opening, in a relaxed state, has at least first and second diameters that are distinct from one another, such that a portion of the sleeve inner surface does not engage the ball outer surface.
A method of assembling a joint assembly, the method comprising the acts of:
- providing a first yoke including a ball portion and a second yoke defining a socket, the socket having a socket inner surface;
- positioning a sleeve in the socket, the sleeve defining an opening for receiving the ball portion, the sleeve having a continuous side wall, a portion of the side wall being flexible, the opening being non-circular such that the opening, in a relaxed state, has at least first and second diameters that are distinct from one another;
- and
- positioning the ball portion in the opening in the sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.