Retention device for a ball joint assembly
First Claim
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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 comprisinga ball comprising a stud head and a shank;
a socket comprising a cavity having an opening configured to receive the stud head, a retention surface surrounding the opening, and a plurality of retention tabs, each of the plurality of retention tabs including a lip that extends inwardly over a portion of the retention surface to form an opening between the lip and the retention surface; and
a sealing member comprising a plate portion extending over the opening of the socket cavity and configured to retain the ball within the socket, said plate portion having at least one engagement surface that, in use, a portion of the at least one engagement surface is positioned in the opening between the lip and the retention surface hold the sealing member in place against the retention surface of the socket.
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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.
30 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A windshield wiper assembly, comprising:
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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 having an opening configured to receive the stud head, a retention surface surrounding the opening, and a plurality of retention tabs, each of the plurality of retention tabs including a lip that extends inwardly over a portion of the retention surface to form an opening between the lip and the retention surface; and a sealing member comprising a plate portion extending over the opening of the socket cavity and configured to retain the ball within the socket, said plate portion having at least one engagement surface that, in use, a portion of the at least one engagement surface is positioned in the opening between the lip and the retention surface hold the sealing member in place against the retention surface of the socket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A ball and socket joint assembly, comprising:
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a ball comprising a stud head and a shank; a socket comprising a cavity having an opening configured to receive the stud head, a retention surface surrounding the opening, and a plurality of retention tabs, each of the plurality of retention tabs including a lip that extends inwardly over a portion of the retention surface; and an interlocking member comprising a plate portion extending over the opening of the socket cavity and configured to retain the ball within the socket, said interlocking member having an engagement surface including a plurality of interlocking portions such that the interlocking member is configured to rotate such that the interlocking portions of the engagement surface pass underneath a corresponding lip each of the plurality of retention portions to achieve an interlocked position between the interlocking member and the socket and hold the interlocking member in place against the retention surface of the socket. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification