US3574369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball joint
Assignee: Columbus Auto Parts Co
•
Filing: 1969-04-07
•
Granted: 1971-04-13
•
Expires: 1989-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A flexible joint construction such as is used in automotive steering linkages or the like wherein upper and lower electrically conductive housing portions are fused together at a junction, uniform torque-transmitting and vibration-damping characteristics that are accurately maintained throughout the operational life of the flexible joint.
Inventors
- 👤 John R Andrew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:56
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0604; F16C11/0666; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49636; Y10T29/49643; Y10T29/49647; Y10T29/49648; Y10T29/49657; Y10T29/49663; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32713; Y10T403/32721
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A flexible joint comprising, in combination, first and secOnd housing portions defining a cavity, said second housing portion engaging said first housing portion at a junction, seat means positioned in said cavity, a head member pivotally supported by said seat means, said seat means including a resilient seat portion extended toward said second housing portions and a recessed seat portion, said housing portions being upset and fused at said junction under predetermined pressure so as to decrease the original stacked dimension thereof and compress said resilient seat portion toward said recessed seat portion whereby said seat means is biased into engagement with said head member by said compressed seat portion so as to exert a predetermined frictional force on said head member, said cavity in said housing portion forming a predetermined volume, wherein said seats are of a predetermined volume, and wherein said deformable resilient seat material is compressed to substantially fill said predetermined volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A flexible joint comprising, in combination, first and secOnd housing portions defining a cavity, said second housing portion engaging said first housing portion at a junction, seat means positioned in said cavity, a head member pivotally supported by said seat means, said seat means including a resilient seat portion extended toward said second housing portions and a recessed seat portion, said housing portions being upset and fused at said junction under predetermined pressure so as to decrease the original stacked dimension thereof and compress said resilient seat portion toward said recessed seat portion whereby said seat means is biased into engagement with said head member by said compressed seat portion so as to exert a predetermined frictional force on said head member, said cavity in said housing portion forming a predetermined volume, wherein said seats are of a predetermined volume, and wherein said deformable resilient seat material is compressed to substantially fill said predetermined volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
116 words
A flexible joint comprising, in combination, a cavity-forming housing portion including a cavity and an opening defined by an annular edge; a closure-forming housing portion including a peripheral edge; a first seat formed of synthetic resinous material; a second seat formed of deformable resilient material such as synthetic rubber or the like; and a head member pivotally supported by said seats; said housing portions being upset and integrally fused at said edges under predetermined pressure to deform certain of said edges toward said cavity and compress said second seat whereby said seats are biased into engagement with said head member by said compressed resilient material so as to exert a predetermined force on said head member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
A flexible joint comprising, in combination, a cavity-forming housing portion including a cavity and an opening defined by an annular edge; a closure-forming housing portion including a peripheral edge; a first seat formed of synthetic resinous material; a second seat formed of deformable resilient material such as synthetic rubber or the like; and a head member pivotally supported by said seats; said housing portions being upset and integrally fused at said edges under predetermined pressure to deform certain of said edges toward said cavity and compress said second seat whereby said seats are biased into engagement with said head member by said compressed resilient material so as to exert a predetermined force on said head member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
117 words
A flexible joint comprising, in combination, first and second housing portions engaging one another at a junction, a first seat-engaging surface on said first housing portion, a second seat-engaging surface on said second housing portion, a first seat formed of synthetic resinous material and engaged by said first surface, a second seat formed of elastomeric material and engaged by said second surface, said housing portions being upset and fused at said junction under predetermined pressure whereby said deformable elastomeric material is compressed so as to decrease a dimension A between said seat-engaging surfaces by an amount substantially equal to a dimension C whereby the space between said surfaces is established at a dimension substantially equal to B.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
A flexible joint comprising, in combination, first and second housing portions engaging one another at a junction, a first seat-engaging surface on said first housing portion, a second seat-engaging surface on said second housing portion, a first seat formed of synthetic resinous material and engaged by said first surface, a second seat formed of elastomeric material and engaged by said second surface, said housing portions being upset and fused at said junction under predetermined pressure whereby said deformable elastomeric material is compressed so as to decrease a dimension A between said seat-engaging surfaces by an amount substantially equal to a dimension C whereby the space between said surfaces is established at a dimension substantially equal to B.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
A flexible joint comprising, in combination, a first housing portion including a predetermined internal volume V-h and an upper edge surface located a predetermined dimension A above a reference datum D; a second housing portion including an internal seat-engaging surface and a peripheral edge; a first internal seat formed of synthetic resinous material; a pivotal head; a second internal seat formed of elastomeric material to a predetermined volume V-s, said first seat, head, and second seat being positioned in stacked relation in said housing portions; said edges being upset and fused under predetermined pressure with the vertical dimension between said internal seat-engaging surface and a reference datum D being substantially equal to a predetermined dimension B at which position the volume V-s of the deformed elastomeric seat substantially fills the upper portion of the volume V-h of the first housing portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
A flexible joint comprising, in combination, a first housing portion including a predetermined internal volume V-h and an upper edge surface located a predetermined dimension A above a reference datum D; a second housing portion including an internal seat-engaging surface and a peripheral edge; a first internal seat formed of synthetic resinous material; a pivotal head; a second internal seat formed of elastomeric material to a predetermined volume V-s, said first seat, head, and second seat being positioned in stacked relation in said housing portions; said edges being upset and fused under predetermined pressure with the vertical dimension between said internal seat-engaging surface and a reference datum D being substantially equal to a predetermined dimension B at which position the volume V-s of the deformed elastomeric seat substantially fills the upper portion of the volume V-h of the first housing portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1665468A
Cited
US1606894A
Cited
CH301309A
Cited
US2910316A
Cited
US2871315A
Cited
US2997570A
Cited
US3199902A
Cited
US3352583A
Cited
US3464723A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-12 | 1974-10-12 | 1975-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-12 | 1978-10-12 | 1979-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-12 | 1982-10-12 | 1983-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |