Camber Arm and Ball Joint Assembly

• US 20100072719A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Group-A Auto Sports Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Group-A Auto Sports Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsu, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/86.757
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/61 Adjustable during maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/12 with two attachment points on the sprung part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/003 of adjustable length
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/005 Ball joints B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 17/00 Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in

Abstract

The present invention is a device for adjusting the camber angle of a tire/wheel assembly of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the device comprises a camber arm having first and second arms and a cage. The cage comprises a cavity, a top wall, a front wall, and first and second sidewalls. The first and second arms are connected to the first and second sidewalls of the cage, respectively. The top wall comprises an outside surface, an inside surface, and first and second slot portions. The cage further comprising a cut-out extending along the front and top walls. The device further comprises a ball joint assembly adjustably engaged with the cage. The ball joint assembly comprises a ball joint housing and a lower clamping plate. The ball joint housing has an outward portion and an inward portion. The device further comprises an upper clamping plate having an outside surface, an inside surface, a plurality of mounting holes, a front edge portion, first and second side edge portions, and a cut-out having an inner edge portion. The cut-out extends inward from the front edge portion to the inner edge portion to allow access to the ball joint housing when assembled. The device further comprises a plurality of bolts for fastening the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate of the ball joint assembly to the top wall of the cage. The ball joint assembly may be adjustably moved from a first position where the outward portion of the ball joint housing is disposed outside of the cavity of the cage and a second position where the outward portion of the ball joint housing is disposed within the cavity of the cage.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the camber angle of a tire/wheel assembly of a vehicle comprising:

a camber arm comprising first and second arms and a cage;

said cage comprising a cavity, a top wall, a front wall, and first and second sidewalls;

said first and second arms being connected to said first and second sidewalls of said cage, respectively;

said top wall comprising an outside surface, an inside surface, and first and second slot portions;

said cage further comprising a cut-out extending along said front and top walls;

a ball joint assembly adjustably engaged with said cage;

said ball joint assembly comprising a ball joint housing and a lower clamping plate;

said ball joint housing having an outward portion and an inward portion;

said lower clamping plate comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of mounting holes;

an upper clamping plate;

a plurality of bolts for fastening said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate of said ball joint assembly to said top wall of said cage; and

whereby said ball joint assembly may be adjustably moved from a first position where said outward portion of said ball joint housing is disposed outside of said cavity and a second position where said outward portion of said ball joint housing is disposed within said cavity.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said upper clamping plate comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a plurality of mounting holes, a front edge portion, and a cut-out having an inner edge portion;

said cut-out extending inward from said front edge portion to said inner edge portion to allow access to said ball joint housing when assembled.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said lower surface of said upper clamping plate is engaged with said outside surface of said upper wall of said cage;

and said upper surface of said lowering clamping plate of said ball joint assembly is engaged with said inside surface of said top wall of said cage.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said lower surface of said lowering clamping plate of said ball joint assembly is engaged with said outside surface of said top wall of said cage;

and said upper surface of said upper clamping plate of said ball joint assembly is engaged with said inside surface of said upper wall of said cage.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said cut-out of said cage is centrally disposed along said front and top walls of said cage.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said cut-out of said cage extends the full length of said front wall of said cage.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said upper clamping plate further comprises first and second side edges;

and cut-out of said upper clamping plate being centrally disposed between said first and second side edges.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said cut-out of said upper clamping plate extends inwardly a distance at least one-half the length of said upper clamping plate.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said mounting holes of said upper clamping plate are threaded holes and said mounting holes of said lower clamping plate of said ball joint assembly are clearance holes;

and said plurality of bolts pass thru said clearance holes of said lower clamping plate of said ball joint assembly, thru said first and second slot portions of said top wall of said cage, and threaded with said threaded holes of said upper clamping plate.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said mounting holes of said upper clamping plate are clearance holes and said mounting holes of said lower clamping plate of said ball joint assembly are threaded holes;

and said plurality of bolts pass thru said clearance holes of said upper clamping plate, thru said first and second slot portions of said top wall of said cage, and threaded with said threaded holes of said lower clamping plate of said ball joint assembly.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said cut-out of said upper clamping plate is substantially the same shape as said inward portion of said ball joint housing.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said cut-out of said upper clamping plate is concave shaped.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said inward portion of said ball joint housing is convex shaped.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said first and second slots are elongated.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said top wall of said cage is substantially perpendicular to said front wall of said cage.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said cut-out of said cage has a centerline aligned with said centerline of said ball joint housing.