This ball joint is provided with: a ball stud, one end being fastened to a suspension device/stabilizer, and the other end having a ball part; a housing that rotatably supports the ball part of the ball stud; and a ball seat provided so as to be interposed between the housing and the ball part, the ball seat having an inner spherical part for accommodating the ball part. The ball seat is provided to the housing by insert injection molding. The inside diameter dimension of the inner spherical part formed by separate injection molding is set to a dimension corresponding to the anticipated amount of molding shrinkage of the resin during the insert injection molding.

A coupling assembly is provided that includes a ball socket having a central socket axis, the ball socket includes a lower body portion extending to an upper flange portion, wherein the body portion and flange portion are at least partially segmented by a plurality of longitudinal socket slots to form a plurality of longitudinally extending arms, further included are a plurality of longitudinally extending journaling ribs protruding radially from the body portion, wherein the ribs include an upper rib portion and a lower rib portion, and wherein the upper rib portion has a greater radial width than the lower rib portion, a plurality of wedges extending from the body portion, a plurality of engagement tabs extending from the body portion, each having a tab end portion, and a ball stud engagement cavity centrally formed between the arms for receiving and pivotably securing a ball head of a ball stud therein.

A socket joint device includes a first and a second joint component (2, 6). The first joint component (2) has a spherical surface element (10) with a convex or concave exterior (11). The exterior (11) of the spherical surface element (10) is part of a spherical surface. An engagement mechanism (14) engages over the spherical surface element (10), so that the engagement mechanism (14) and the spherical surface element (10) contact one another via a first contact surface (22). A spherical cap-shaped receptacle (24) in the first or second joint component (2, 6) and an associated convex spherical cap (26) in the respective other joint component result in a second contact surface (28) that has a smaller radius of curvature R2 than the radius of curvature R1 of the spherical surface element (10).

The assembly includes a housing that has an inner bore and a ball stud that has a ball portion with opposing first and second hemispheres. A bearing assembly is disposed in the inner bore of the housing and presents a curved first bearing surface that is in slidable contact with only the first hemisphere of the ball portion. The ball socket assembly also includes a curved second bearing surface that is presented on a different component from the bearing assembly and is in slidable contact with the second hemisphere of the ball portion. The bearing assembly has a plastic portion and a plurality of metal segments. The metal segments collectively define the first bearing surface and are fixedly attached with the plastic portion. The plastic portion allows the metal segments to individually move relative to one another to seat against the ball portion of the ball stud.

An annular plug coupling which can be fastened within an opening in a first component and has the following features: a central coupling seat, in particular a ball socket, to which a coupling head of a second part can be releasably connected, and an intermediate ring that includes a plurality of curved, radially inward-extending first spring elements connected to the ball socket, and a plurality of curved, radially outward-extending second spring elements which are provided with a locking connection at a radially outward end such that the plug coupling can be locked within the opening in the component.

The ball joint manufacturing method for manufacturing a ball joint including a ball stud which includes a substantially spherical metal ball section, and a resin housing rotatable accommodating the ball section of the ball stud, includes: a step of forming the housing to cover an outer periphery of the ball section; an induction heating step of subjecting the ball section to induction heating in a state in which the ball section is accommodated in an accommodation section of the housing until the temperature of the ball section reaches a predetermined target temperature; and a cooling step of cooling the ball section which has been subjected to the induction heating, wherein a torque adjustment step including the induction heating step and the cooling step is repeatedly performed.

A ball joint having a ball pin and a housing. The ball pin together with the ball is accommodated in the housing to move in a rotational and pivotal manner. The ball is at least partially surrounded by a structural component. The structural component is essentially formed from a fiber-plastic composite structure and at least partially forms the housing.

A ball stud track assembly is provided that includes a ball track and connector portion, the ball track comprising a back inner sidewall having a lower portion with a lower portion top surface and an upper portion having a retention ridge, an upper retaining arm extending from a front inner sidewall of the ball track and terminating at an upper arm end portion surface, and a lower retaining arm extending from the lower portion of the back inner sidewall and having a lower arm top surface, the upper arm end portion surface, the lower portion top surface, and the lower arm top surface extend to form a longitudinal ball channel having a central longitudinal ball channel axis, the ball channel configured to receive a ball stud head and allow sliding longitudinal movement, while restricting movement of the ball stud head along axes perpendicular to the central longitudinal ball channel axis.

A socket grommet formed from fiber-reinforced material, for attaching a stud pin with a head portion to a bracket, includes a body member; a first supporting member for supporting one side of the head portion; and second supporting members for supporting another side of the head portion. The first supporting member includes a supporting portion on one side of the body member and connecting portions connecting the supporting portion to the body member. Each connecting portion includes a breaking portion having a thickness less than a remaining portion thereof to be breakable upon a predetermined force. Each second supporting member includes a first connecting piece extending from the body member to another side of the body member, and a second connecting piece extending from the first connecting piece to the one side of the body member and having a supporting piece for contacting the another side of the head portion.

A ball stud track assembly includes a ball track and connector portion, the ball track comprising a back inner sidewall having a lower portion with a lower portion top surface and an upper portion having a retention ridge, an upper retaining arm extending from a front inner sidewall of the ball track and terminating at an upper arm end portion surface, and a lower retaining arm extending from the lower portion of the back inner sidewall and having a lower arm top surface, the upper arm end portion surface, the lower portion top surface, and the lower arm top surface extend to form a longitudinal ball channel having a central longitudinal ball channel axis, the ball channel configured to receive a ball stud head and allow sliding longitudinal movement, while restricting movement of the ball stud head along axes perpendicular to the central longitudinal ball channel axis.