Purging dust boot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11524540-B2
Application number	US-202017027181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2020
Priority date	Apr 23, 2019
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A boot that protects a moveable joint and retains lubricant associated with the joint. The wall of the boot includes a venting aperture that is protected by a surrounding barrier structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dust boot comprising:
a dome shaped body having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end with a first opening having a first diameter, a second end that is opposite the first end and has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, and an interior cavity defined between the first end and the second end;
at least one relief vent that is adjacent to the first end and extends through a portion of the dome shaped body that has a reduced thickness and is recessed from the inner surface of the dome shaped body;
at least one protective barrier that projects from the outer surface of the dome shaped body and has a plurality of segments that extend around the at least one relief vent which is recessed within the plurality of segments: and
an unvented projection that is positioned opposite the at least one protective barrier.

2. The dust boot of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective barrier has an outer face contour that follows the outer surface of the dome shaped body.

3. The dust boot of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective barrier is generally rectangular.

4. The dust boot of claim 1 , wherein the first end and the second end each include at least one external groove.

5. The boot of claim 4 , wherein the at least one groove in the first end and the at least one groove in the second end are dimensioned to receive a retaining ring.

6. The boot of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second protective barrier on the outer surface of the dome shaped body, each of the protective barriers and the unvented projection being equally circumferentially distributed on the outer surface of the dome shaped body.

7. A ball joint assembly comprising:
a ball stud that has an elongated portion configured for connecting with a suspension member and a ball portion opposite to the elongated portion;
a housing that includes a cavity that is dimensioned and configured to receive a portion of the ball portion the ball stud;
a boot having:
a dome shaped body having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end with a first opening having a first diameter, a second end that is opposite the first end and has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, and an interior cavity defined between the first end and the second end;

at least one relief vent that is adjacent to the first end and extends through a portion of the dome shaped body that has a reduced thickness and is recessed from the inner surface of the dome shaped body;
at least one protective barrier that projects from the outer surface of the dome shaped body and has a plurality of segments that extend around the at least one relief vent and the at least one relief vent is recessed within the plurality of segments; and
an unvented projection that is positioned on the dome shaped body opposite to the at least one protective barrier.

8. The ball joint assembly of claim 7 , wherein the boot has a second relief vent and a second protective barrier that are positioned on the dome shaped body, each of the protective barriers and the unvented projection being equally circumferentially distributed on the outer surface of the dome shaped body.

9. The ball joint assembly of claim 8 further comprising a second unvented projection that is positioned on the domed shaped body, each of the protective barriers and the unvented projections being equally circumferentially distributed on the outer surface of the dome shaped body.

10. The joint assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one protective barrier and the second protective barrier are contoured to complement the body portion.

11. The joint assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one protective barrier has dependent portions that project from the at least one protective barrier.

12. The ball joint assembly of claim 7 , wherein the boot has at least two vented projections and at least two unvented projections.

13. The ball joint assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least two vented projections and the at least two unvented projections are equally circumferentially distributed on the outer surface of the dome shaped body.

14. A ball joint assembly comprising:
a stud configured for connecting with a suspension member and a ball opposite to the stud;
a housing that is dimensioned and configured to receive a portion of the ball; and
a boot that encloses at least a portion of the stud and at least a portion of the ball, wherein the boot has:
a dome shaped body having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end with a first opening having a first diameter, a second end that is opposite the first open end and has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter;
a plurality of relief vents are positioned between the first end and the second end at a portion of the dome shaped body that has a reduced thickness and is recessed from the inner surface of the dome shaped body;
at least one protective barrier that projects from the outer surface of the dome shaped body and has a plurality of segments that extend around a respective one of the plurality of relief vents which is recessed within the plurality of segments; and
a plurality of unvented projections on the outer surface of the dome shaped body, the plurality of relief vents and the plurality of unvented projections being equally circumferentially distributed on the outer surface of the done shaped body.

15. The ball joint assembly of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of unvented projections is positioned on the dome shaped body opposite to one of the plurality of relief vents.

Assignees

• Rb Distrib Inc

Inventors

• Reiff Thomas Allan

Classifications

• F16D2003/846

  Venting arrangements for flexible seals, e.g. ventilation holes · CPC title

• B60G7/005 Primary

  Ball joints (B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06) · CPC title

• F16J3/046

  Lubrication or venting arrangements · CPC title

• B60G2204/416

  Ball or spherical joints · CPC title

• F16C11/0671

  allowing operative relative movement of joint parts due to flexing of the sealing means · CPC title