Protective cap for partially covering a pre-assembled or fully assembled vehicle component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12168995-B2
Application number	US-202217568445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2022
Priority date	Jan 5, 2021
Publication date	Dec 17, 2024
Grant date	Dec 17, 2024

Abstract

A protective cap ( 1, 9, 12 ) for the partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component ( 11 ). The protective cap ( 1, 9, 12 ) is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A protective cap for partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component for a motor vehicle, the protective cap comprising:
a hollow design having a first section, designed to radially cover a sealing bellows of a ball joint therein, and a second section, designed to radially cover part of a ball stud of the ball joint therein, and the first and the second sections merge into one another and define a central longitudinal axis;
the first section having an outer surface which is inclined at an angle in a range of 6° to 10° relative to the central longitudinal axis and the second section has an outer surface which is inclined at an angle in a range of 6° to 10° relative to the central longitudinal axis such that an outer contour of the protective cap has a diameter that continuously decreases along an axial extent of the first section and the second section so to assist with stacking of several protective caps one on top of the other; and
wherein the protective cap is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material.

2. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cap is made from at least one of a biologically degradable, a compostable and a recyclable raw material.

3. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cap is made from one of a cast-fiber material and a cellulose material.

4. The protective cap according to claim 3 , wherein the protective cap is made by a casting process.

5. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cap is made from any one of the following raw materials or from any desired mixture of two or more of the following raw materials:
a fiber material,
pulp or cellulose,
a biopolymer,
palm leaves, and
bagasse.

6. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cap is made from any one of the following raw materials or from any desired mixture of two or more of the following raw materials:
a fiber material based on hay, straw or hemp,
pulp or cellulose based on carton, cardboard or paper,
a polyacid polymer or polyhydroxyalkanoate or polyhydroxy-fatty acids,
palm leaves, and
bagasse.

7. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein at least one additive is mixed with the raw material in order to modify at least one material property, and, by virtue of the at least one additive, a wear resistance, a sliding friction properties, a lubricity, a humidity resistance, a heat resistance and/or a flame resistance of the raw material is/are improved.

8. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of an outer surface and an inner surface of the protective cap has a covering layer.

9. The protective cap according to claim 8 , wherein the covering layer is hardened.

10. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cap is designed as a ball joint protective cap for protection of a pre-fitted or fully fitted ball joint.

11. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cap has a wall thickness in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm and when viewed from the central longitudinal axis, the wall has a star-like cross sectional contour.

12. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cap has a wall thickness of 2 mm.

13. The protective cap according to claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the first section and the outer surface of the second section are inclined relative to the central longitudinal axis of the protective cap by an angle of 8°.

14. A protective cap for partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component,
wherein the protective cap is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material;
the protective cap comprising a hollow design having a first section, designed to radially cover a sealing bellows of a ball joint therein, and a second section, designed to radially cover part of a ball stud of the ball joint therein, and the first and the second sections merging into one another and defining a central longitudinal axis;
the first section having an outer surface which is inclined at an angle in a range of 6° to 10° relative to the central longitudinal axis and the second section has an outer surface which is inclined at an angle in a range of 6° to 10° relative to the central longitudinal axis such that an outer contour of the protective cap has a diameter that continuously decreases along an axial extent of the first section and the second section to assist with stacking of several protective caps one on top of the another; and
at least one additive is mixed with the raw material in order to modify at least one material property, and, by virtue of the at least one additive, a wear resistance, a sliding friction properties, a lubricity, a humidity resistance, a heat resistance and/or a flame resistance of the raw material is/are improved.

15. The protective cap according to claim 14 , wherein the protective cap is made from any one of the following raw materials or from any desired mixture of two or more of the following raw materials:
a fiber material,
pulp or cellulose,
a biopolymer,
palm leaves, and
bagasse.

16. A protective cap for partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted control arm which comprises a tubular connecting element having opposed ends respectively fitted with a ball joint, the protective cap comprising:
a hollow design having a first section, designed to radially cover a sealing bellows of the ball joint therein, and a second section, designed to radially cover part of a ball stud of the ball joint therein, and the first and the second sections merge into one another and defining a central longitudinal axis, the second section has a wall that is formed such that the wall has star-like cross sectional contour when viewed from the central longitudinal axis;
an outer surface of the second section having a plurality of ribs located around a circumference thereof which extending parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the protective cap, and the plurality of ribs improve at least one of a rigidity and a load-bearing capacity of the protective cap;
the first section having an outer surface which is inclined at an angle of about 8° relative to the central longitudinal axis and the second section has an outer surface which is also inclined at an angle of about 8° relative to the central longitudinal axis such that an outer contour of the protective cap has a diameter that continuously decreases along an entire axial extent of the protective cap so that several protective caps can be stacked one above another;
the protective cap being made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material;
at least one additive is mixed with the raw material in order to modify at least one material property, and, by virtue of the at least one additive, a wear resistance, a sliding friction properties, a lubricity, a humidity resistance, a heat resistance and/or a flame resistance of the raw material is/are improved; and
the protective cap has a wall thickness in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm.

17. The protective cap according to claim 16 , wherein the protective cap is made from any one of the following raw materials or from any desired mixture of two or more of the following raw materials:
a fiber material,
pulp or cellulose,
a biopolymer,
palm leaves, and
bagasse.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Abendroth Florian
• Lindemann Michael
• Holmes Eric

Classifications

• F16C2212/00

  Natural materials, i.e. based on animal or plant products such as leather, wood or cotton or extracted therefrom, e.g. lignin · CPC title

• F16C2212/08

  Woven, unwoven fabrics, e.g. felt · CPC title

• F16C11/0666 Primary

  Sealing means between the socket and the inner member shaft · CPC title

• B65D85/68

  for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form · CPC title

• B65D65/466

  Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials · CPC title