Abstract: An internally sealed pivotal joint assembly for use on buses and other vehicles. The assembly includes an eyelet which has disposed therein a bearing socket for positioning a ball stud journal therein. The assembly includes a cap and a sealing ring provided to the socket in order to avoid ingestion of contaminants and obviate the need for repeated lubrication of the assembly.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint for motor vehicles with a lining (30) consists of an elastic plastic material that is inserted between a socket (40) and a ball (2) of a rotatable or tiltable ball-ended shaft (1) and braced in the socket (40) with its outer surface, whereby lubricating pockets (6) are formed on the inner side of the lining (30) under the influence of a joint prestress or load. In order to lower the release torque while simultaneously improving the lubrication effect and extending the service life of the ball-and-socket joint, the surface of the lining (30) that adjoins the socket (40) is provided with a number of flat portions (34) or elevations (35) that, in the assembled state of the ball-and-socket joint, form lubricating pockets (6 or 7) on the inner side of the lining (30) that faces the smooth ball (2) due to the grease filling.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint includes a journal (1) having a ball (2) on one end. A plastic housing (3) has a socket and an opening through which the ball (2) is inserted into the socket. The socket is defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced segmented bearing surfaces (3b) having a partially spherical shape and being formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending slits (3a). The plurality of slits (3a) extend axially from the opening to at least an equator (3e) of said socket. The housing (3) includes a ring groove (3f) extending axially from the opening to at least the equator (3e). The ring groove (3f) encircles the plurality of segmented bearing surfaces (3b). A locking ring (4) is in the ring groove (3f) in the housing (3). The locking ring (4) elastically deforms the plurality of segmented bearing surfaces (3b) to position the ball (2) in a first position in the socket against the plurality of segmented bearing surfaces (3b).

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for securing a bearing shell (2) of a joint, particularly for suspension systems of motor vehicles, in a retaining opening (3a), particularly of a suspension rod or stabilizer. In order to reduce the processing efforts necessary for securing the bearing shell (2) and thus the manufacturing costs, the bearing shell (2) is formed with a conical cover surface (2a), which narrows in the direction of the coupling pin (1), on which a clamp collar (6) with a correspondingly conical opposing surface (6a) is arranged which is supported with its cylindrical cover surface (6b) in the retaining opening (3a).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint, in particular, for a motor vehicle, having a ball pivot (1), the coupling ball (1b) of which is supported, by a bearing shell (2), in a joint housing (3) in a tilting sense, such that it can be twisted and tilted to a limited extent, with the bearing shell (2) being fixed in the joint housing (3) by a lock ring (6). For a simple design and a mechanizable assembly, even with the use of a plastic joint housing, for an axial tensile load on the ball pivot (1), a lock ring (6) is formed with a double-leg cross section, the radial inner leg (6a) of which forms a support surface for the section (2b) of the bearing shell (2) between the equator (1e) and the opening for the ball pivot (1) and the radial outer leg (6b) of which, in a mounted state, is supported at the edge of its free end (6d) by an approximately radial annular surface (3e) which is formed by an undercut in the joint housing (3).

Abstract: A hermaphroditic ball and socket joint permits a ball to rotate freely within a socket within constrained bounds. The socket resides within a housing that has an exterior surface having a rotational axis of symmetry passing through the center of the socket. A channel connects the socket to the exterior surface. The ball extends from a member having a collar which partially enshrouds the ball and which has an inside surface that is substantially identical to the exterior surface of the socket housing and which has an axis of rotational symmetry passing through the center of the ball. The free rotation of the ball in the socket is constrained by the restricted movement of the member through the channel and the restricted rotation of the collar around the exterior surface of the housing.

Abstract: A ball joint link includes a ball stud having a stud and a ball, a cap mounted on the ball, and a rod. The ball defines a raised annular stem which fits inside a tubular portion of the rod such that the ball stud, the cap and the rod form a self-supporting sub-assembly. This sub-assembly is then placed within a mold, and a molded body is formed around the sub-assembly. A strengthening element can be disposed in the molded body around the ball stud to increase pull out resistance.

Abstract: An inventive ball and socket joint has a metallic socket with a cavity that receives a semi-rigid annular bearing, a ball stud, and an annular rigid metallic retainer ring. The retainer ring is self-centering within the socket cavity. It includes a lower wedge portion that is received in a corresponding pocket formed between an upper stepped portion of the bearing and inner surface of the socket. Besides being self-centering, the retainer ring also acts as a wedge between the socket and bearing to provide a compression pre-load to the bearing which is controllably released as the bearing wears during use.

Abstract: A ball joint (12) is disclosed comprising a stamped sheet metal socket (14) and a ball end (18). The socket (14) comprises a base portion (40) and a conical portion (38) above the base portion (40) integral with the base portion (40). A wear tolerance compensator (44) is seated against the base portion (40). A plastic spherical bearing (46) is contained within the socket (14) and seats against the wear tolerance compensator (44). The ball end (18) is contained by the spherical bearing (46). An annular metal collar (48) fits over the spherical bearing (46). The collar (48) comprises a tapered end (82) which seats in the socket conical portion (38). The socket (14) comprises an annular lip (32) which clamps the collar (48) and presses the collar tapered end (82) into sealing engagement with the conical portion (38), under a predetermined load, sealing the socket (14) against environmental ingress.

Abstract: A drive bearing for a windscreen wiper system wherein two actuator rods for actuating two wiper arms are driven by a motor crank. The two bearings are concentrically nested one within the other thereby allowing the driving forces of the two rods to extend in one plane. Other features include the association of the individual bearing elements to the actuator elements, and the design of the bearing faces.

Abstract: A ball joint used for a steering arrangement or a suspension system of automobiles, comprises a housing having an inner side formed into a polygonal shape; a ball seat having an outer body surface formed as the same polygonal shape as formed in the housing; vertical flanges being formed at a closing portion of the ball seat and spaced apart at intervals corresponding to sides of the polygonal shape, each vertical flange having first and second fixing protrusions formed at an opening portion of the ball seat, and a hook protrusion having a groove formed at an inner surface of a lower portion of each vertical flange; and, a cap having a convex portion at a side and inserted in the vertical flanges so as to be fixed to the vertical flanges.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball joint, having a ball joint socket (1), inside of which the ball (3c) of a ball-ended spindle (3) is arranged in a rotatable and tiltable manner by means of a bearing shell (2) that supports the ball (3c) below its largest diameter on a bearing surface that has the shape of a ball race, namely under the influence of spring force generated by a spring element (4) that simultaneously forms the upper bearing shell and is supported on the underside of a cover (5) that closes the ball joint socket (1). In order to entirely eliminate all manufacturing tolerances during assembly of the ball joint and provide defined spring forces that compensate for the wear-related elasticity of the ball joint until a defined wear is reached after assembly, the cover (5) which is realized in such a way that its outer diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the ball joint socket (1) in the initial state is nonpositively supported in the ball joint socket (1) with its edge (5c).

Abstract: A prepackaged ball joint subassembly is adapted to be installed into a final housing that is then closed to retain the subassembly. The subassembly comprises a bearing and a stud with stud head and a shank which are received in an encasement. The encasement is then sealed. In one preferred embodiment, the encasement includes an upper hood with a lower hook and a lower bowl with an upper hook. One of the hooks extends radially outwardly and the other hook extends radially inwardly such that the upper hood and lower bowl may be snapped together without using special tools.

Abstract: A ball and socket pivot joint includes a housing socket, having upper and lower open ends concentrically disposed about a socket axis, receiving a ball stud including an integral stem extending through the socket lower open end with a lower semi-spherical portion of the ball stud seated on a socket lower bearing seat. The socket upper open end is closed by a pressure member disposed between a housing cap and a pressure plate wherein the pressure plate provides an upper bearing seat for an upper semi-spherical surface of the ball stud. The ball stud lower surface is defined by a pivot center having a first radius of curvature on the socket axis while its upper surface is defined by a variable preload center on the stem axis and having a second radius of curvature a predetermined dimension greater than the first radius of curvature. With the ball joint in a neutral mode the socket and stem axes coincide such that the variable preload center is located on both axes and below the ball stud pivot center.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spherical joint for transmitting rotating and rocking motions between an inner member and an outer member in sliding contact with each other, and provides a spherical joint which is excellent in the mechanical strength and capable of achieving smooth rocking or rotating motions, and a process for manufacturing the spherical joint. In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, there is provided a spherical joint comprising: an internal member having a convex-spherical surface; an outer member cast by using the inner member as a core and so connected to the inner member as to rock and rotate relative to the inner member; and a bushing sandwiched between the inner member and the outer member and having a concave-spherical surface for sliding contact with the convex-spherical surface of the inner member. When the outer member is to be cast, the bushing made of a thin metal is partially fused to and rigidly unified with the cast outer member.

Abstract: A motor vehicle ball joint assembly includes a ball stud having a ball stud axis with a shank portion and a ball end centered thereon. A bearing liner has an open end disposed over the ball end with the open directed toward the shank portion. The bearing liner has a bearing surface engaging the ball end. A plurality of slits extend from the open end of the liner, defining a plurality of flex members. The flex members operably deflect to receive the ball end. When the ball end is completely inserted in the liner, the flex members return to a locked position, axially retaining the ball end in the liner. A stem engaging element has a stem axis and extends radially from the bearing liner. The stem engaging element has metal engaging threads. A rigid plastic case envelopes the bearing liner. The rigid plastic case and bearing liner and the rigid plastic case cooperatively positively lock the ball end within the bearing liner.

Abstract: According to the invention, a stud has a spherical ball with upper and lower hemispheres and is seated within a socket housing. The socket housing includes a bore defining an access through which the stud may be inserted into the housing and a hemispherical cavity surface for seating the upper hemisphere of the spherical ball. A housing plug closes off the bore of the socket housing and has a hemispherical cavity surface for receiving the lower hemisphere of the spherical ball. A molded plastic spherical bearing liner is interposed between the spherical ball and the hemispherical cavities of the socket housing and the housing plug. The bearing liner has an unsegmented upper hemisphere which acts between the hemisphere of the spherical ball and the hemispherical cavity of the socket housing. The bearing liner also has a lower hemisphere integral with the upper hemisphere and segmented by longitudinal extending slots therethrough to provide an even numbered plurality of resilient spring fingers.

Abstract: A ball joint is formed of a joint device having a ball holder with a through hole, a plurality of ball abutting ribs projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the ball holder, a ring-shaped projecting stand formed at a lower part of the ball holder to extend along a periphery of the inner surface of the ball holder, a fitting ring disposed on the projecting stand, and a rotation preventing rib projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the ball holder. The fitting ring is elastically deformable and has a slit. The rotation preventing rib is placed in the slit of the fitting ring to thereby prevent the fitting ring from moving on the projecting stand. In the invention, a ball stud having a spherical fitting part can be reliably disposed between the fitting ring and the ball abutting ribs.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a socket of synthetic resin having a through-hole that accommodates a ball, a hole into which a rod is inserted and which is formed at right-angles to the through-hole and an accommodation portion that communicates with the rod insertion hole, a ball stud, the ball of which is accommodated in the through-hole, a C-ring mounted in the socket through-hole to maintain the ball in place, a cap that closes the open end of the socket and has a holder portion that locates in the accommodation portion of the socket and which holds the end of the inserted rod.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball joint comprising a housing (1) provided with a cylindrical receptacle opening (1a) and a gudgeon (2) arranged in a ball socket (3) made of plastic such that it is able to rotate and pivot within a limited range, wherein the outer surface (3b) of the ball socket that corresponds with the inner diameter of the receptacle opening (1a) is, after the assembly process, fixed in the radial direction and secured in the axial direction by means of annular shoulders (3c,4a), one of which (3c) is situated on an annular flange that surrounds the opening (3a) of the ball socket (3) on the side of the gudgeon. In order to ensure a secure, i.e., large-surface, fixing of the ball socket (3) on the housing (1) in the axial direction despite a simplified manufacture, the annular shoulder (4a) that cooperates with the upper side of the housing (1) is arranged on a ring (4) connected with the ball socket (3), preferably in an inseparable manner by means of ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A ball joint link includes a ball stud, a ball cap and a strengthening element that are all insert molded in a thermoplastic body. The strengthening element is disposed around the ball stud and includes a first portion which receives the ball of the ball stud and a second portion which receives the stud of the ball stud. The strengthening element is securely anchored in the body, and the second portion of the strengthening element resists pull out forces tending to remove the ball stud from the ball joint link. The ball cap snaps in place on the ball and is substantially completely embedded within the body. Insert molding methods for forming the ball joint link are disclosed.

Abstract: A rod-end bearing device includes a ball seat crimped in place within an inner chamber of a housing. A ball head of a ball stud slides in the ball seat. An insertion hole for the ball stud flares outward at its outer end. A thick pressed portion contacts the housing around the outer surface of the ball seat, near the insertion hole. An indented portion around the outer perimeter of the pressed portion adjacent the insertion hole receives an annular raised portion of a dust cover. A generally thick portion of the ball seat transmits forces from contact by the stud portion of the ball stud to the housing when the ball stud is at its maximum angular extent. The force transmission is defined by a force line from the contact point to the housing. The indented portion is located axially outward from the force line. This separation of the indented portion from the force line retains the sealing ability of the dust cover.

Abstract: The hinge for eyeglasses, of the type including a lens-bearing front having two temples hinged thereto, has a shaped element and a support. The shaped element has a protruding tab defining an L-shaped base which can be detachably accommodated in a complementarily-shaped first seat formed in the end portion of a temple. The shaped element is detachably accommodated in a second seat formed in the support. Elastically deformable engagement members are connected to the support, for detachably connecting the support to a complementarily shaped third seat formed in a front.

Abstract: A bearing set for a ball socket joint comprises an outer bearing and an inner bearing with a head of a ball stud engaging a spherical inner seat face of each of the bearings. A compression pre-load is applied when the inner bearing is inserted into a cavity of the outer bearing, a cylindrical outer wedge surface of the inner bearing having a greater diameter than a corresponding diameter of an inner skirt defining the cavity of the outer bearing. The bearing set is subjected to additional compression pre-load when the bearing set and ball stud are inserted into a socket and the socket is closed. The two-piece bearing set promotes easy Joint assembly, results in a joint that is extremely tight with no axial or radial play, but allows necessary ball stud rotation and oscillation, and compensates for wear by a self-adjusting feature whereby some of the compression pre-load is released as wear takes place.

Abstract: A snap-fit plastic ball joint that may be molded using a plurality of shutoffs on inner and outer mold pieces without the need for a solid or collapsible ball-shaped core. The ball joint includes a socket and a plurality of molded plastic retaining fingers disposed around the perimeter of the socket and extending away from the socket. The retaining fingers extend longitudinally along a ball seated in the socket and are formed to engage the ball and retain it in its seated position. The socket itself is formed by a plurality of seating fingers that are disposed around the socket alternating with a plurality of web members. The web members form extensions of the retaining fingers. The alternating seating fingers and web members are joined at their neighboring edges to define the socket. The seating fingers are shaped at their distal ends to define a concave seat for seating the ball of the ball joint and the web members provide support for the seating fingers.

Abstract: A ball and socket prosthetic joint device. A plurality of curved rigid segments are embedded within and extend out of a polymeric cushion to form a discontinuous hemispherical bearing surface for slidable engagement with a continuous hemispherical bearing surface.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a flanged pin joint with a housing (1) in which a flanged pin (2) is arranged such that it may be rotated as well as tilted to a limited extent, in which the flanged pin is supported via bearing bushes (3a) on the cylindrical bearing surface (1c) of the housing (1) with the cylindrical outer surface (5a) of the flange (5) as well as the cylindrical surfaces (7) of the pin (4) which adjoin the flange on both sides via annular surfaces (6), in which the housing (1) is closed by a cover (10) which causes an axial prestress of the bearing bushes (3a).

Abstract: A ball joint compensates for manufacturing tolerances of the components and functions smoothly under large compressive loads. A rigid and resilient bearing seat has an elastic restoring force that compensates for component tolerances under varying load conditions. A ball joint housing and fitted bearing seat permit incremental increases in the load bearing area within the ball joint as an operating load increases. The increase in load bearing area permits the ball joint to withstand larger loads than in conventional ball joints without permanent deformation of the bearing seat. The ball joint is more durable and operates more smoothly over a wider range of loads than conventional ball joints.

Abstract: A ball joint and a work process for preparing such a ball joint are described, in which the housing is prepared in one piece by a sheet metal shaping process. An edge bead, which is used to close the housing by a cover, is prepared by material deformation on the outer circumference of the housing. A groove for receiving the sealing bellows, which groove is likewise located on the outer circumference of the housing, is formed during the shaping process, so that machining of the housing is not necessary.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a ball stud and bearing sub-assembly that is economical to manufacture, strong, durable and long-lasting. The bearing is molded directly on the ball surface of the ball, thereby eliminating the need for precise tolerances in machining the ball. Microcavities formed on the ball surface facilitate the introduction of lubricant between the ball and the bearing. A two-piece stud and collar nut adds ease of manufacture.

Abstract: A device for mounting a mobile part of an automobile vehicle headlight on a relatively fixed part comprises a generally spherical head joined to a first part by means of a rod. A substantially complementary cavity is fastened to the second part. The head is forced fitted into the cavity through an opening into the latter. At least one flexible tongue is provided in the vicinity of the cavity and is adapted to deform elastically to enable insertion of the head therein and, after such insertion, to impede extraction of the head from the cavity. The cavity defines a stable position for the head in which the flexible tongue(s) are not in contact with the head. The device is used to adjust the reflectors relative to the headlight units.

Abstract: A captive ball and end connector assembly having an annular bearing half positioned within the cavity is disclosed. The bearing half has an inner spherical surface on which are disposed a plurality of crush elements or ribs, and a bottom planar surface on which is disposed an annular crush element or rib. The plurality of crush elements crush against the spherical surface of the captive ball, and the annular crush element crushes against an annular shoulder in the cavity to retain the ball within the cavity with a zero clearance. A ball retaining ring is disposed within a groove in the cavity and bears against the bearing half to hold the ball firmly in the cavity.

Abstract: A ball joint has a joint pin with a spherical head received by a bearing shell arranged in the joint housing. Notwithstanding bearing-shell wear which occurs, the radial guidance of the spherical head in the bearing shell remains largely constant over the lifetime of the ball joint. For that purpose, the bearing shell, through which passes a slot extending transversely relative to the circumferential direction, bears with a cylindrical part of its circumferential surface against a cylindrical wall portion of the joint housing and is radially prestressed relative to the axis of the cylindrical wall portion between the joint housing and the equatorial diameter of the spherical head.

Abstract: An improved ball joint assembly (10) includes a housing (12) which defines a socket chamber (18) having an opening (32). A ball stud (24) has a ball portion which is disposed in the socket chamber and a shank portion (30) which projects through the opening. A seal assembly (40) seals the opening (32) through which the ball stud (24) extends. The seal assembly (40) includes a flexible wall (42) which sealingly engages the shank portion (30) of the ball stud (24) and a retainer ring (50) which is connected with the flexible wall (42) and is disposed in engagement with a flange (16) on the housing (12). The retainer ring (50) extends outwardly of the flange (16) to enable a press-in-tool (66) to press against the retainer ring to press the housing (12) into an opening (68) in a receiving member (70).

Abstract: A push rod is connected in pivotal retained relation to a polymeric member such as a power booster air valve polymeric insert having a stiffness less than that of an air valve. In a preferred embodiment, the insert is fitted on the spherical ball end of the push rod, and the insert with the push rod is then inserted into a recess in the member. The insert has a plurality of arms extending from the insert base end at a slight angle outwardly relative to the insert axis. The insert also has an attached metallic end on its base end to better distribute the force input from the push rod to the air valve. The arms and the member recess are provided with various cam surfaces which force the arms inwardly in cantilever fashion during the insertion movement, and the arms have surfaces on their outer ends which fit within an annular groove in the cylindrical side wall of the member recess, locking the insert to the rod spherical ball end and also within the member recess.

Abstract: A joint comprising a pillow ball having a spherical portion, a bearing for rotatably supporting the spherical portion, and a housing for housing the bearing. The housing has therein a housing bore having a first step for contacting one end of the bearing, a large bore contiguous to the housing bore via a second step, and an attaching bore contiguous to the large bore for receiving a dustproof covering. The depth of the first step is substantially equal to the axial length of the bearing. The joint further comprises an annular plug inserted into the large bore. The annular plug has a taper tapering off toward the side opposite to the housing bore, and the annular plug is pressed and secured onto the second step by caulking or deforming the inside of the housing to fit the taper. The annular plug and the bearing are thus prevented from coming out of the large bore and the housing bore, respectively. The composing members of the joint are simple in their structure and can be easily manufactured and assembled.

Abstract: A hinge for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle has two hinge halves (1, 2), one (1) of which has a pivot pin (6) and the other (2) of which has a bearing portion (9) pivotally mounted on the pivot pin (6). The pivot pin (6) has a spherical end portion (11), onto which the bearing portion (9) fits with a complementary shaped cavity, and a narrower neck portion (12). A lock (18) cooperates with the neck portion (12) of the pivot pin (6) and the bearing portion (9) to lock the hinge halves (1, 2) against relative movement in the axial direction of the pivot pin (6). The bearing portion (9) has a bearing sleeve (13) journalled on the pivot pin (6), including the complementary shaped cavity therein. A bearing housing (15) has an inside surface which fits over an outside surface of the bearing sleeve (13), and a fastener (16) detachably fastens the bearing sleeve (13) to the bearing housing (15).

Abstract: A spherical joint and bearing assembly utilizes a ball and socket arrangement between a connecting rod and a crosshead in a power reciprocating fluid pump. The connecting rod is spherically shaped and is held in a thrust bearing having a matching interior surface. A split retraction ring is held between the rear portion of the sphere and a shoulder in the crosshead. The result is an increased bearing surface and reduction in misalignment.

Abstract: A gear shift lever bearing for automotive transmissions includes a ball socket formed of tough elastic material located in a bearing housing having multiple slots that define circular ball socket sectors. A ball, received in the ball socket, includes laterally guided tabs received in grooves formed in the socket. The bearing housing retains the ball socket in position by locking rings and a retaining ring. A shoulder of the ball socket includes multiple webs located in the slots and radial and axial supports that resiliently bear upon the cylindrical bore and the retaining ring.

Abstract: The invention concerns a ball joint with a ball (6) arranged in a joint housing (1), with at least one bearing shell arranged between the joint housing (1) and the ball (6) and with at least one thrust collar (14) arranged between the joint housing (1) and the bearing shell, whereby the thrust collar adjoins the outer surface (11) of the bearing shell and braces the same in the axial direction of the inner space (2) of the joint housing. A consistent bracing of the joint after automated mounting is obtained by the fact that the thrust collar (14) is an elastic metal ring with a generally U-shaped cross section and with two ring limbs (17,18) that form one stopping face (15,16) each, and with a ring web (19) connecting the ring limbs (17,18) to each other.

Abstract: A ball joint comprises a socket having a wall defining a socket hole, and a ball stud having a ball portion at one end thereof. The ball portion is received within the socket hole for pivotal movement by means of a bearing intervening between the ball and the wall of the socket. The bearing is provided with a plurality of protrusions formed in the outer circumferential surface thereof, the circumferential surface being in contact with the surface of the wall of the socket. The protrusions having a band or dot-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A ball joint comprises a socket, a stud, and an elastomeric bearing. The bearing is bonded to the ball end of the stud and supports the ball end of the stud for movement in the socket. The bearing has a service life indicator surface extending across an opening in the socket. The service life indicator surface is forced by the socket into a predetermined shape. The service life indicator surface moves out of its predetermined shape in response to separation of the bearing from the ball end of the stud.

Abstract: The ball-and-socket assembly (10) comprises a rod (12) having a ball head (14) at one end thereof, the ball head (14) having a diametrical groove (16) with a flexible member (30) disposed therein and extending radially beyond the outer surface (14A) of the ball head (14). A body (44) includes a bore (46) having a flared entrance wall (50) communicating with an open end (48) of the bore (46), the flared entrance wall (50) extending axially inwardly to a radial shoulder (52) defined between end of the flared entrance wall (50) and a large diameter portion (54) of the bore (46), a small diameter portion (58) of the bore (46) being located axially inwardly of the bore (46) relative to the large diameter portion (54), and a frustoconical wall (56) extending between the small and large diameter portions (54, 58).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint with a ball-ended spindle (3) encompassing a spherical head (1) and a link pin (2), which is movably mounted in a joint housing (7) of pot-like interior configuration. A simply producible and installable ball-and-socket joint with a secure, air- and dust-tight connection between bearing shell and joint housing has a spherical head (1), which is mounted in the joint housing (7) by means of a one-piece bearing shell (6) of plastic, while the bearing shell (6) has, on the pin side, an annular shoulder (11) extending radially outward, which is fitted to the face (12) of the joint housing (7) on the aperture side.

Abstract: A socket (21) for retaining a pivot-forming spherical head (3) of a rod (1) in a cavity (5) is of substantially cylindrical shape having an annular groove (9). It consists of a first part (23) of hemispherical shape matched to the spherical head (3) a second part (25) of cylindrical shape matched to the shape of the cavity (5) and a third part (27) of substantially frustoconical shape, the free end (29) of which has a diameter larger than that of the cavity (5), longitudinal slots (31) being made in the second and third parts (25, 27), and the socket (21) being produced from an elastic material, such as a hard thermoplastic.

Abstract: A swivel design for a wear shoe is described which provides support to apparatus cantilevered from a vehicle. This effectively reduces wear to the contacting surface by distributing the wear more evenly. To accomplish this objective the wear shoe is mounted to the supported structure by a swivel joint which allows full freedom of movement. During use the wear shoe tilts and rotates on the swivel to maintain the wear surface of the shoe in facing relation to the road surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ball joint. The ball joint comprises a socket; a bearing provided along an inner face of said socket; and a ball stud embraced by said bearing; said socket including a stepped portion at an upper part and a rising portion rising integrally from an outer periphery of said stepped portion; said bearing including a flange portion at an upper part; said flange portion forcibly holding said ball stud to prevent a removal of said ball stud by caulking said stepped portion of said socket from upper and outer crosswise directions with said rising portion of said socket.

Abstract: A quick release type of ball joint providing 3-axes motion, which comprises a socket and a ball is disclosed. The quick release feature is provided by a slot in the socket and a recessed locking slot on the stem of the ball. The ball joint thus provided is simple in design, easy to manufacture and reliable in performance. The quick release feature permits easy disengagement enhancing flexibility of application.

Abstract: A ball joint uses a single-piece ball seat of hard plastic that has high rigidity, high load durability and elasticity, to prevent premature fracture of the ball seat caused by manufacturing imperfections in the socket of the ball joint. A preload contact surface is resilient supported at the top of the ball seat to enable uniform distribution of preload of the ball to the socket. At assembly of the ball joint, a cylindrical lower portion of the ball seat cylinder is reshaped into an inwardly bowed surface to envelop the lower portion of the ball. A thin annular wall at the periphery of the preload contact surface of the ball seat defines a thin annular space between itself and the upper portion of the ball seat cylinder to provide the preload contact surface with expansion space. Additional elasticity can be built into the ball seat by providing slits at the junction of the preload contact surface periphery and the base of the thin annular wall.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a socket defining a chamber and having an opening therein. A ball stud has a ball portion in the chamber and a shank portion projecting through the opening. A bearing supports the ball portion in the chamber. A seal member seals the opening between the socket and the ball stud. The seal member includes a shank seal portion for sealing against the ball stud shank, a retaining ring, and a socket seal portion for sealing against the socket. The retaining ring is molded in the socket seal portion of the seal member. The socket seal portion with the retaining ring molded therein is located in the chamber. An axial end portion of the socket holds the socket seal portion in position against the bearing and the inner surface of the socket. The retaining ring blocks movement of the ball portion out of the chamber through the opening.