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:
Mar. 18, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 16, 2004
Jian LU, Ballwin, MO (US);
George Schmidt, St. Louis, MO (US);
Jian Lu, Ballwin, MO (US);
George Schmidt, St. Louis, MO (US);
Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc., Southfield, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved bearing for use in movable sockets and suspension joints. The improved bearing is annular, having an outer dimension sized to seat within the housing of a suspension joint or movable socket. An inner surface of the bearing is configured to receive the head of an articulating stud within the housing. Three or more radial slots are disposed on the inner surface. Each radial slot disposed on one-half of the bearing inner surface has a unique radial dimension, such that the radial slots are optimally configured to minimize stress and stiffness within the improved bearing, whereby the bearing can be seated within the housing in a radially and rotationally locked configuration, but remain movable in an axial direction.