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:
Aug. 28, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2003
Brian A. Urbach, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Brian A. Urbach, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
TRW Automotive U.S. LLC, Livonia, MI (US);
Abstract
A ball joint assembly includes a housing () defining a socket chamber () and having an opening (); a composite ball joint bearing () disposed within the socket chamber; a ball stud () supported by the composite ball joint bearing and having a shank portion () which projects through the opening of the housing; and a seal assembly () adapted to seal the opening between the ball stud and the socket chamber. The composite ball joint bearing is formed from a first plastic material (A) and a second magnetostrictive alloy material (B) which is adapted to change its shape when in the presence of a magnetic field to thereby change the rotational and oscillation properties of the ball joint assembly.