Ball socket assembly with a preload bearing
US11396906B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/32737
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The ball socket assembly includes a housing which has at least one open end and an inner bore that extends along a central axis. The ball socket assembly further includes a ball stud that has a ball portion and a shank portion. The ball portion is disposed in the inner bore of the housing, and the shank portion extends out of the inner bore through the at least one open end. At least one bearing is disposed in the inner, and the at least one bearing has a bearing surface which is in direct contact with the ball portion of the ball stud. The at least one bearing is made of a monolithic piece of a spring-like material and has a single gap and is flexed to preload the at least one bearing against the ball portion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.