Socket assembly and method of making a socket assembly
US10371195B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2016 |
| Grant date | Aug 6, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C2326/05
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The socket assembly has a housing with an inner bore which extends from a first end to a second end. A ball portion of a ball stud is received in the inner bore. A backing bearing is disposed in the inner bore and presents a curved bearing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the ball portion. A first spring biases the backing bearing against the ball portion. The socket assembly also includes an exit bearing with a cylindrical portion that is in contact with an equator of the ball portion and a semi-spherical portion that is in surface-to-surface contact with an opposite hemisphere from the first bearing surface. A second spring biases the exit bearing into a predetermined location established by the housing. The exit bearing is movable from the predetermined location in a direction towards the second end of the housing against a biasing force of the second spring.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.