Patents by Inventor Holger HARDT

Holger HARDT 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).

  • Patent number: 11268567
    Abstract: A sealing element for a ball joint has a sealing area on the housing side and a sealing area a distance away therefrom in an axial direction of the sealing element on the stud side. Arranged between the housing-side sealing area and the stud-side sealing area is an outlet opening which extends through the sealing element to allow the passage of spent lubricant. The outlet opening extends in the axial direction of the sealing element, passing all the way through the sealing element in the axial direction. Further, the sealing element is incorporated in a ball joint which is incorporated in a two-point control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Gainsville, LLC
    Inventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Uwe Petersen, Joe Vierthaler, Marco Di Sarno, Holger Hardt
  • Patent number: 11261906
    Abstract: A ball joint for a chassis component in the form of a two-point linkage. The ball joint includes a housing and a ball stud fitted and able to be deflected in the housing, as well as a sealing element arranged between the housing and the ball stud, which surrounds the ball stud all round. Deflection movement of the ball stud, relative to the housing, is restricted at least in some areas by the sealing element. The sealing element is attached to the housing by an interlocked connection. The sealing element of the ball joint is attached to the housing by a snap-on connection. A two-point linkage having such a ball joint, and the two-point linkage is a steering rod or a track rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Uwe Petersen, Holger Hardt, Marco Di Sarno
  • Publication number: 20200182288
    Abstract: A sealing element for a ball joint. The sealing element has a sealing area on the housing side and a sealing area a distance away therefrom in an axial direction of the sealing element on the stud side. Arranged between the housing-side sealing area and the stud-side sealing area is an outlet opening which extends through the sealing element to allow the passage of spent lubricant. The outlet opening extends in the axial direction of the sealing element, passing all the way through the sealing element in the axial direction. Further, a ball joint having a sealing element and a two-point control arm with such a ball joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk SOKOLIHS, Uwe PETERSEN, Joe VIERTHALER, Marco DI SARNO, Holger HARDT
  • Publication number: 20180355908
    Abstract: A ball joint for a chassis component in the form of a two-point linkage. The ball joint includes a housing and a ball stud fitted and able to be deflected in the housing, as well as a sealing element arranged between the housing and the ball stud, which surrounds the ball stud all round. Deflection movement of the ball stud, relative to the housing, is restricted at least in some areas by the sealing element. The sealing element is attached to the housing by an interlocked connection. The sealing element of the ball joint is attached to the housing by a snap-on connection. A two-point linkage having such a ball joint, and the two-point linkage is a steering rod or a track rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk SOKOLIHS, Uwe PETERSEN, Holger HARDT, Marco DI SARNO
  • Patent number: 9476448
    Abstract: A joint device (1) having an axially extending pivot pin (3), in particular a so-termed claw, and an elastically deformable layer (5) that wholly or partially surrounds the pivot pin radially. The deformable layer is at least partially in contact on its radially outer side (6) with a housing (2) and is connected, such as by vulcanization at least at one axial end, with an annular body (7). The pivot pin (3) with the elastically deformable layer (5) and the at least one annular body (7) form a joint body (8) which can move relative to the housing (2) and is designed, in such a manner, that the ability of the joint body (8) to rotate about its longitudinal axis (9) is inhibited by a rotation-impeding device (10) and by the contact of the outside (6) of the elastically deformable layer (5) against the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Frank Jung, Holger Hardt
  • Publication number: 20150362008
    Abstract: A joint device (1) having an axially extending pivot pin (3), in particular a so-termed claw, and an elastically deformable layer (5) that wholly or partially surrounds the pivot pin radially. The deformable layer is at least partially in contact on its radially outer side (6) with a housing (2) and is connected, such as by vulcanization at least at one axial end, with an annular body (7). The pivot pin (3) with the elastically deformable layer (5) and the at least one annular body (7) form a joint body (8) which can move relative to the housing (2) and is designed, in such a manner, that the ability of the joint body (8) to rotate about its longitudinal axis (9) is inhibited by a rotation-impeding device (10) and by the contact of the outside (6) of the elastically deformable layer (5) against the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Frank JUNG, Holger HARDT