Patents by Inventor Hans Prins

Hans Prins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230250847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a closure element (2, 27, 30, 35) for a ball joint (1, 26, 29, 34) with a first component (12) made of metal and with a second component (13) made of a plastic material, where the second component (13) is designed as a first bearing component (10, 38, 46) of a two-part slide bearing (9) for the ball joint (1, 26, 29, 34). To enable high functionality and as economical a production cost as possible, the closure element (2, 27, 30, 35) is characterized in that the first component (12) has a cylindrical inner circumferential surface (18) and a cylindrical outer circumferential surface (19) of the second component (13) is arranged on the said inner circumferential surface (18) in an interlocked, frictionally fixed and/or material-bonded manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Richter, Hans Prins, Christoph Gierke
  • Patent number: 11255376
    Abstract: A socket for a ball joint having a socket body with an opening and a hollow space, which comprises a concave inside peripheral surface that delimits the hollow space and extends around a longitudinal axis, and which is axially divided into two body halves which merge together in a transition zone, each of which comprises an inside peripheral surface half. A first body half comprises a first inside peripheral surface half which lies on a spherical surface and is closed, in the circumferential direction, and a second body half which comprises the socket opening, at least one slot extending axially and a second inside peripheral surface half which is closed in the circumferential direction, or closed apart from the slot. The second body half is designed such that the second inside peripheral surface half lies outside the spherical surface at least an axial distance away from the transition zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Richter, Hans Prins
  • Publication number: 20190285114
    Abstract: A socket for a ball joint having a socket body with an opening and a hollow space, which comprises a concave inside peripheral surface that delimits the hollow space and extends around a longitudinal axis, and which is axially divided into two body halves which merge together in a transition zone, each of which comprises an inside peripheral surface half. A first body half comprises a first inside peripheral surface half which lies on a spherical surface and is closed, in the circumferential direction, and a second body half which comprises the socket opening, at least one slot extending axially and a second inside peripheral surface half which is closed in the circumferential direction, or closed apart from the slot. The second body half is designed such that the second inside peripheral surface half lies outside the spherical surface at least an axial distance away from the transition zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas RICHTER, Hans PRINS
  • Patent number: 8137021
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle is provided with a ball pivot (1), which is accommodated rotatably and pivotably in a one-part or multipart bearing shell (4) fixed by a closing ring (2) in a housing (3). A metallic deformation element (5), which assumes a sealing function in the assembled state of the ball and socket joint, is arranged between the closing ring (2) and the housing (3). The deformation element (5) is elastically deformed during the assembly of the ball and socket joint and is arranged at the housing (3) and/or at the closing ring (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Manfred Bohne, Manfred Heidemann, Hans Prins
  • Publication number: 20100008714
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle is provided with a ball pivot (1), which is accommodated rotatably and pivotably in a one-part or multipart bearing shell (4) fixed by a closing ring (2) in a housing (3). A metallic deformation element (5), which assumes a sealing function in the assembled state of the ball and socket joint, is arranged between the closing ring (2) and the housing (3). The deformation element (5) is elastically deformed during the assembly of the ball and socket joint and is arranged at the housing (3) and/or at the closing ring (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Manfred Bohne, Manfred Heidemann, Hans Prins
  • Patent number: 7090425
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint, especially for steering mechanisms and/or wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, with a ball pivot (1), which is accommodated rotatably and tiltably in a one-part or multipart bearing shell (4) within a joint housing (7), wherein the bearing shell (4) is fixed in the joint housing by a closing ring (9), wherein a metallic compressible element (18), which provides a sealing contact surface between the joint housing (7) and the closing ring (9) in the assembled state of the ball-and-socket joint, is arranged between the closing ring (9) and the joint housing (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Manfred Bohne, Jürgen Gräber, Manfred Heidemann, Guido Remme, Hans Prins
  • Publication number: 20040057781
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint, especially for steering mechanisms and/or wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, with a ball pivot (1), which is accommodated rotatably and tiltably in a one-part or multipart bearing shell (4) within a joint housing (7), wherein the bearing shell (4) is fixed in the joint housing by a closing ring (9), wherein a metallic compressible element (18), which provides a sealing contact surface between the joint housing (7) and the closing ring (9) in the assembled state of the ball-and-socket joint, is arranged between the closing ring (9) and the joint housing (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Manfred Bohne, Jurgen Graber, Manfred Heidemann, Guido Remme, Hans Prins