US5743669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball joint
Assignee: Somic Ishikawa KK
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Filing: 1997-09-15
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2017-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A ball joint includes a bearing seat crimped in place within a housing. A ball head of a ball stud slides in the bearing seat. A cylindrical crimpable portion of the bearing seat is inserted through a cylindrical portion of the housing. The bearing seat is fixed to the housing with two stopper portions. One of the stopper portions is formed by crimping the cylindrical crimpable portion against one of the ends of the housing. A dust cover is pushed between the ball stud and the other stopper portion. The stopper portion is enlarged outward using ultrasonic vibration. An inner side face of the cylindrical crimpable portion inclines outward at an angle ranging from 3° to 20° with respect to an axial direction of the cylindrical crimpable portion. A chamfered portion and rotation-stop portions, shaped like flower petals, are formed at one end of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Kouichi Fujita
- 👤 Masahiro Yamada
- 👤 Keiichiro Suzuki
- 👤 Masao Takayama
- 👤 Masazumi Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:05
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0619; F16C11/0623; F16C11/0642; F16C11/0628; F16C11/0633; F16C11/0657; F16C11/0666; F16C11/0671; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/01; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49636; Y10T29/49643; Y10T29/49647; Y10T29/49648; Y10T29/49657; Y10T29/49663; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32614; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32681; Y10T403/32704; Y10T403/47; Y10T403/477; Y10T403/49; Y10T403/4966
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A ball joint, comprising: a housing; said housing having a generally cylindrical portion; a first aperture at a first end of said cylindrical portion; a second aperture at a second end of said cylindrical portion; a ball seat having a generally cylindrical outer surface fitted in said cylindrical portion; said ball seat having a first annular stopper portion at said first end; said ball seat having a cylindrical crimpable portion at said second end; a spherical face portion on an interior of said ball seat; said first stopper portion catching said first aperture; a ball stud fitted into said cylindrical portion; said ball stud having an essentially spherical ball head and a stud portion projecting from said ball head; said spherical face portion rotatably supporting said ball head; said cylindrical crimpable portion having an inner side face; said inner face being inclined outwardly with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion; a second annular stopper portion at said second end; said cylindrical crimpable portion extending a substantial distance beyond said second annular stopper portion, thereby permitting a crimping operation to be performed thereon; said housing including a chamfered portion around at least one of said first and second apertures; and said chamfered portion being formed at a junction of an inner surface and an end face of said cylindrical portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A ball joint, comprising: a housing; said housing having a generally cylindrical portion; a first aperture at a first end of said cylindrical portion; a second aperture at a second end of said cylindrical portion; a ball seat having a generally cylindrical outer surface fitted in said cylindrical portion; said ball seat having a first annular stopper portion at said first end; said ball seat having a cylindrical crimpable portion at said second end; a spherical face portion on an interior of said ball seat; said first stopper portion catching said first aperture; a ball stud fitted into said cylindrical portion; said ball stud having an essentially spherical ball head and a stud portion projecting from said ball head; said spherical face portion rotatably supporting said ball head; said cylindrical crimpable portion having an inner side face; said inner face being inclined outwardly with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion; a second annular stopper portion at said second end; said cylindrical crimpable portion extending a substantial distance beyond said second annular stopper portion, thereby permitting a crimping operation to be performed thereon; said housing including a chamfered portion around at least one of said first and second apertures; and said chamfered portion being formed at a junction of an inner surface and an end face of said cylindrical portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A subassembly for forming a ball joint according to claim 1, wherein said inner side face is inclined outward at an angle ranging from about 3° to about 20° with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ball joint according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of rotation-stop surfaces, each of which is shaped as an indentation with a curved surface, are formed around at least one of said first and second apertures.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of making a ball joint, comprising: fitting a ball head of a ball stud in a ball seat; rotatably supporting said ball head on a spherical face portion on an interior surface of said ball seat; inserting a generally cylindrical outer surface of said ball seat in a generally cylindrical portion of a housing; catching a first aperture of said housing with a first stopper portion of said ball seat at a first end of said cylindrical portion; crimping an outwardly inclining inner side face of a cylindrical crimpable portion of said ball seat to form a crimped stopper portion; said crimped stopper portion catching a second aperture of said housing at a second end of said cylindrical portion, whereby said ball seat is retained in said housing; and forming a chamfered portion around said second aperture, at a junction of an inner surface and an end face of said cylindrical portion.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of making a ball joint, comprising: fitting a ball head of a ball stud in a ball seat; rotatably supporting said ball head on a spherical face portion on an interior surface of said ball seat; inserting a generally cylindrical outer surface of said ball seat in a generally cylindrical portion of a housing; catching a first aperture of said housing with a first stopper portion of said ball seat at a first end of said cylindrical portion; crimping an outwardly inclining inner side face of a cylindrical crimpable portion of said ball seat to form a crimped stopper portion; said crimped stopper portion catching a second aperture of said housing at a second end of said cylindrical portion, whereby said ball seat is retained in said housing; and forming a chamfered portion around said second aperture, at a junction of an inner surface and an end face of said cylindrical portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of making a ball joint according to claim 4, further comprising inclining said inner side face outward at an angle ranging from about 3° to about 20° with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of making a ball joint according to claim 5, further comprising softening said cylindrical crimpable portion by ultrasonic vibration before the step of crimping.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of making a ball joint according to claim 4, further comprising forming a plurality of rotation-stop portions in said cylindrical portion of said housing adjacent said second aperture, each of which is shaped as an indentation with a curved surface, around at least said second aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
187 words
A subassembly for forming a ball joint, comprising: a housing having a cylindrical portion; first and second apertures in said housing; a ball stud; said ball stud including a ball head and a stud portion integrally formed therewith; a ball seat disposed in said cylindrical portion; said ball seat enveloping said ball head, with said stud portion protruding from said first aperture; said ball seat permitting said ball head to slide therein; said ball seat having first and second annular stopper portions for respectively contacting said first and second apertures; said housing including a chamfered portion around said second aperture: said chamfered portion being formed at a junction of an inner surface and an end face of said cylindrical portion; at least one of said first and second annular stopper portions having a cylindrical crimpable portion; said cylindrical crimpable portion having an inner side face; said inner side face being inclined outward with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion; and said cylindrical crimpable portion extending a substantial distance beyond said second annular stopper portion, thereby permitting a crimping operation to be performed thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
187 words
A subassembly for forming a ball joint, comprising: a housing having a cylindrical portion; first and second apertures in said housing; a ball stud; said ball stud including a ball head and a stud portion integrally formed therewith; a ball seat disposed in said cylindrical portion; said ball seat enveloping said ball head, with said stud portion protruding from said first aperture; said ball seat permitting said ball head to slide therein; said ball seat having first and second annular stopper portions for respectively contacting said first and second apertures; said housing including a chamfered portion around said second aperture: said chamfered portion being formed at a junction of an inner surface and an end face of said cylindrical portion; at least one of said first and second annular stopper portions having a cylindrical crimpable portion; said cylindrical crimpable portion having an inner side face; said inner side face being inclined outward with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion; and said cylindrical crimpable portion extending a substantial distance beyond said second annular stopper portion, thereby permitting a crimping operation to be performed thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A subassembly for forming a ball joint according to claim 8, wherein said inner side face is inclined outward at an angle ranging from about 3° to about 20° with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A subassembly for forming a ball joint according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of rotation-stop portions, each of which is shaped as an indentation with a curved surface, are formed around at least one of said first and second apertures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
244 words
A subassembly for forming a ball joint, comprising: a housing; an inner chamber in said housing; said inner chamber having first and second apertures; said first aperture being at a first end of said inner chamber; said second aperture being at a second end of said chamber; a ball seat disposed in said inner chamber; a ball stud having a ball head and a stud portion; said ball head being disposed in said ball seat with an outer surface thereof in sliding contact with said ball seat; said stud portion projecting from said first aperture; a cylindrical crimpable portion disposed at a first end of said ball seat; said cylindrical crimpable portion having an inner side face; said inner side face being inclined outward with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion; a stopper portion disposed at a second end of said ball seat; a dust cover attached to said stud portion and said stopper portion; said stopper portion contacting said first aperture; said cylindrical crimpable portion extending a substantial distance beyond said second aperture, thereby permitting a crimping operation to be performed thereon; said housing including a chamfered portion around said second aperture; said chamfered portion being formed at a junction of an inner surface and an end face of said cylindrical portion; and a plurality of rotation-stop portions each being shaped as an indentation having a curved surface formed around at least one of said first and second apertures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
244 words
A subassembly for forming a ball joint, comprising: a housing; an inner chamber in said housing; said inner chamber having first and second apertures; said first aperture being at a first end of said inner chamber; said second aperture being at a second end of said chamber; a ball seat disposed in said inner chamber; a ball stud having a ball head and a stud portion; said ball head being disposed in said ball seat with an outer surface thereof in sliding contact with said ball seat; said stud portion projecting from said first aperture; a cylindrical crimpable portion disposed at a first end of said ball seat; said cylindrical crimpable portion having an inner side face; said inner side face being inclined outward with respect to an axial direction of said cylindrical crimpable portion; a stopper portion disposed at a second end of said ball seat; a dust cover attached to said stud portion and said stopper portion; said stopper portion contacting said first aperture; said cylindrical crimpable portion extending a substantial distance beyond said second aperture, thereby permitting a crimping operation to be performed thereon; said housing including a chamfered portion around said second aperture; said chamfered portion being formed at a junction of an inner surface and an end face of said cylindrical portion; and a plurality of rotation-stop portions each being shaped as an indentation having a curved surface formed around at least one of said first and second apertures.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-27 | 2001-10-27 | 2002-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-27 | 2005-10-27 | 2006-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-27 | 2009-10-27 | 2010-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |