Retention device for a ball joint assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018283445-A1
Application number	US-201715471655-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 28, 2017
Priority date	Mar 28, 2017
Publication date	Oct 4, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A ball and socket joint assembly is disclosed herein. The assembly includes a ball including a stud head and a shank, a socket including a cavity configured to receive the stud head, a retention surface, and a plurality of retention portions, and an interlocking member including a plate portion having an engagement surface that, in use, interfaces with the retention surface and the plurality of retention portions to achieve an interlocked position between the interlocking member and the socket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A windshield wiper assembly, comprising:
a first link; a second link; and a ball and socket joint assembly connecting the first link and the second link, the joint assembly comprising
a ball comprising a stud head and a shank;
a socket comprising a cavity configured to receive the stud head, a retention surface, and a plurality of retention portions; and
a sealing member comprising a plate portion having at least one engagement surface that, in use, interfaces with the retention surface and the plurality of retention portions to achieve an interlocked position between the sealing member and the socket.

2 . The windshield wiper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one engagement surface extends around the entire periphery of the sealing member.

3 . The windshield wiper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member further comprises a first sealing surface defining an open space, the first sealing surface configured to interface with the ball.

4 . The windshield wiper assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sealing member further comprises a second sealing surface configured to interface with the retention surface of the socket.

5 . The windshield wiper assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first sealing surface defines a first plane and the second sealing surface defines a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane.

6 . The windshield wiper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retention portions is a plurality of retention tabs.

7 . A ball and socket joint assembly, comprising:
a ball comprising a stud head and a shank; a socket comprising a cavity configured to receive the stud head, a retention surface, and a plurality of retention portions; and an interlocking member comprising a plate portion having an engagement surface that, in use, interfaces with the retention surface and the plurality of retention portions to achieve an interlocked position between the interlocking member and the socket.

8 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interlocking member is a sealing member.

9 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 7 , wherein each of the retention portions is a retention tab having a lip that extends over the retention surface.

10 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 7 , wherein the engagement surface extends at least partially around a periphery of the interlocking member.

11 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sealing member comprises a first sealing surface defining an open space, the first sealing surface configured to interface with the ball.

12 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 11 , wherein the sealing member comprises a second sealing surface configured to interface with the retention surface of the socket.

13 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 9 , wherein the interlocking member comprises at least one interlocking portion.

14 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 13 , wherein the interlocking portion comprises an interference surface and a ramped surface.

15 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interlocked position is achieved by rotation of the interlocking member with respect to the socket.

16 . The ball and socket joint assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interlocking member comprises a first interlocking surface and a second interlocking surface, both of the first and second interlocking surfaces at least partially surrounding a sealing surface, the first interlocking surface being located substantially in a first plane and the second interlocking surface having at least a portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the first interlocking surface.

17 . The ball and socket joint of claim 16 , wherein the interlocking member further comprises a plurality of notches in the engagement surface.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Jozwiak Thomas W

Classifications

• F16C11/0666

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

• F16C11/10 Primary

  Arrangements for locking · CPC title

• F16C2226/72

  with bayonet joints, i.e. parts are rotated to create positive interlock · CPC title

• F16C11/106

  for ball joints · CPC title

• F16C2226/70

  with complementary interlocking parts · CPC title