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. 29, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 13, 2009
Miroslaw Zaloga, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Christopher J. Mielke, Shelby Township, MI (US);
George E. Doerr, Clarkston, MI (US);
Christopher N. Bither, Commerce Township, MI (US);
Marco E. Rodriguez, Macomb Township, MI (US);
Eric B. Hoyer, White Lake, MI (US);
Miroslaw Zaloga, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Christopher J. Mielke, Shelby Township, MI (US);
George E. Doerr, Clarkston, MI (US);
Christopher N. Bither, Commerce Township, MI (US);
Marco E. Rodriguez, Macomb Township, MI (US);
Eric B. Hoyer, White Lake, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A steering mechanism includes a relay rod and an idler arm operatively attached to a first end thereof. A pitman arm includes a stud and is operatively attached to a second end of the relay rod. A bushing is configured to allow displacement of the pitman arm relative to the relay rod. The bushing includes an outer can, an inner metal member, and a bushing disposed therebetween. The inner metal member has a tapered receptacle configured to mate with a tapered portion of the stud. The resilient member may include voids, which may be oriented generally perpendicular to a turning direction and may be tapered from the base to the opening. The inner metal member may have a generally-cylindrical portion and substantially-opposing outer flats interrupting the same. The outer flats are spaced by a distance smaller than the cylinder diameter and may be substantially parallel to the turning direction.