The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 07, 1997
Masato Uneme, Nagoya, JP;
Katsuyuki Kono, Toyota, JP;
Chuouhatsu-jo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
A ball joint having a ball stud provided with an integral spherical portion at one end thereof. A unitary molded synthetic resin body forms a molded holder having a concavity in which the spherical ball portion is tightly held disposed rotatable omnidirectionally and tiltable therein. The concavity has an opening of a lesser diameter than a maximum diameter of the concavity so that the spherical portion of the ball stud can be pressure-fitted into the concavity with the ball stud extending axially laterally of the molded holder. A link rod having a circular annular end held by the molded holder extends laterally of the holder defining in assembly with the ball stud a ball joint. The annular end is embedded in the synthetic resin of the molded holder and has an internal diameter substantially coaxial with the ball stud and greater than the diameter of ball stud spherical portion so that the synthetic resin concavity and the spherical ball portion have opposed smooth surfaces. The annular end of the link rod position and relative dimension to the spherical portion of the link rod improves the strength of the holder for holding the ball stud and link rod in assembly. The components of the ball joint can all be made of synthetic resin or the ball stud can be metallic. The link can be made with integral annular opposite ends with molded holders thereon in which are disposed respective ball studs. Both the ball stud and the link rod can be insert-molded in the synthetic resin.