A wiper actuating assembly configured to actuate a windshield wiper arm includes an actuator and a linkage that connects the actuator to the wiper arm. Links of the linkage are joined by ball joints. The ball joints each include a ball stud and a ball socket. The ball portion of the ball stud has an annular ball groove that receives a retaining portion that protrudes inward from the inner surface of the ball socket. The ball groove and retaining portion cooperate to prevent withdrawal of the ball stud from the socket housing.

A ball joint is disclosed containing a body of a joint, where there is inserted a pin having a longitudinal axis and including a first threaded end and a second spherical end which is rotatably arranged within a seat of the body and able to co-operate with a first spherical-cap-shaped element or shell inserted within a seat having a corresponding shape of a second spherical-cap-shaped element or shell cooperating with a covering element so as to close the spherical end of the pin within the body. The second spherical end of the pin and the first and second shells including pairs of recesses and ridges in the contact areas are suitable for reciprocally compenetrating, with the pairs of recesses and ridges being arranged at 90° to each other to allow the rotation of the pin along all axes in the space (X, Y, Z). An angular movement sensor integral with the body of the joint is provided, for co-operating with the second element or shell to detect the rotation of the pin around the axis containing the longitudinal axis of the pin.

The ball socket assembly includes a housing with an open interior which extends along an axis. A bearing is disposed in the open interior of the housing and has a curved primary contact surface which surrounds the axis and surrounds a stud ball opening. A stud ball is disposed in the opening and is in sliding contact with the primary contact surface for allowing rotation of the stud ball relative to the bearing. The stud ball has an equator and is in sliding contact with the bearing on both sides of the equator. A stud is operably connected with the stud ball. A shoe is further provided and has a pair of supplemental contact surfaces that are biased against the stud ball. The shoe provides the stud with a predetermined rotational torque and also adjusts for wear in the assembly to maintain the performance of the socket assembly.

A ball joint includes a cover plate with a nested portion along an outer perimeter having a nested portion thickness, a domed portion located radially inward of the outer perimeter having a domed portion thickness, and a pressed portion located between the nested portion and the domed portion having a pressed portion thickness. The pressed portion thickness is less than the domed portion thickness, which during manufacture, is formed when the cover plate and bearing are simultaneously pressed into their final form and position. A tool can be used to press the cover plate and bearing in a single operation. The tool can have interchangeable components, allowing for the manufacture of differently sized ball joints.

A three-point link having two control amis forming an acute angle and meet at a central joint. The central joint has a cylindrical dome extending perpendicular to a plane defined by the control amis. The central joint has a joint ball penetrated by the dome. To prevent separation of the central joint, it has a captive securing device which functions as a stop that extends perpendicular to an axial direction. The securing device is penetrated by the dome and is secured against axial withdrawal by an annular securing clement. Viewed in axial direction, the annular securing element is arranged on a side of the captive securing device) remote of the joint ball and engages in a circumferential groove of the dome. The annular securing element is snugly surrounded in radial direction by the captive securing device to prevent a withdrawal of the annular securing element from the circumferential groove.

A ball joint (1, 37) for a chassis of a vehicle has an inner joint portion (4) and a one-piece slide bearing (10) made of plastic, A joint ball (35) of the inner joint portion (4) is fitted so that it can swivel in a ball-bearing section (16). The slide bearing (10) has a holding section (12, 38) for the arrangement of a sensor element (13, 39). In order to simplify the structure and/or assembly of the ball joint (1, 37), the outside of the slide bearing (10) has a circular-ring-shaped contact surface (20) which is formed coaxially relative to a central longitudinal axis (19) of the slide bearing (10) and which co-operates with a separate closure ring (9) surrounding the outside of the slide bearing (10) to fix the slide bearing (10) in a joint housing (3).

A ball joint includes a cover plate with a nested portion along an outer perimeter having a nested portion thickness, a domed portion located radially inward of the outer perimeter having a domed portion thickness, and a pressed portion located between the nested portion and the domed portion having a pressed portion thickness. The pressed portion thickness is less than the domed portion thickness, which during manufacture, is formed when the cover plate and bearing are simultaneously pressed into their final form and position. A tool can be used to press the cover plate and bearing in a single operation. The tool can have interchangeable components, allowing for the manufacture of differently sized ball joints.

A torque transmitting ball joint can include a spherical ball, a stem extending from the spherical ball, one or more pins coupled to the spherical ball, and a socket. The socket can define an opening sized to contain the spherical ball within the socket and one or more slots sized to accommodate a pin of the one or more pins. The one or more pins can be contained by the one or more slots and can translate within the slot as the spherical ball rotates relative to the socket about a pivot center. At least one of the one or more pins can abut a sidewall of its slot and transmit torque from the stem to the socket via the spherical ball when the stem and spherical ball rotates relative to the socket.

The present invention relates to a joining arrangement having a receiver with a receiving opening and having a ball joint which is spread open into the receiver, wherein the ball joint comprises a joint pin with a joint ball and a joint socket for receiving the joint ball, wherein the joint socket has at least two wings with in each case one internally situated joint surface, wherein the joint surfaces are in contact with the joint ball and enclose the joint ball in sections. According to the invention, the wings have in each case one reboundable resilience section by means of which the respective joint surface presses with a defined force onto the joint ball.

The invention relates to a support of a ball-joint housing for a connecting rod of a windshield wiper actuating linkage system, the support having a ball-joint housing that extends along a longitudinal axis (B) and is configured to be received in a complementary orifice in the connecting rod. According to the invention, the support is configured to be rotationally joined to the connecting rod. The invention also relates to a connecting rod configured to be rotationally joined to such a support, and to the corresponding joining method.