Snap-fit ball joint

Details Snap-fit ball joint Snap-fit ball joint

1994-08-10

1996-10-08

Melius, Terry Lee

Joints and connections

Articulated members

Pivoted

403132, 403133, 403135, F16C 1106

Patent

active

055623573

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.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3367728 (1968-02-01), Labbie
patent: 4527925 (1985-07-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 4590819 (1986-05-01), Spease et al.
patent: 4695181 (1987-09-01), Rahmede et al.
patent: 4914777 (1990-04-01), Cartellone
patent: 4995755 (1991-02-01), Hyodo et al.
patent: 5132492 (1992-07-01), Wieder
patent: 5368408 (1994-11-01), Shimizu et al.

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