Patent ID: 9446644
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: B23P,B60G,F16C,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A vehicular suspension assembly comprising: a vehicle suspension component having a receiving hole which is generally cylindrical in shape; a socket housing defining a central axis, said socket housing including an annular exterior side wall having a lead-in end and an axially spaced exterior stop flange; a moveable member having a ball head portion pivotally captured in said socket housing and a mounting shaft extending generally axially therefrom; said exterior side wall of said housing further including a plurality of generally annular knurls each having a respective crest portion establishing an outer diameter, said plurality of knurls being axially separated one from another by intervening relief grooves, each of said knurls disposed concentrically about said central axis; and a plurality of said knurls adjacent said lead-in end having a smaller outer diameter than a last said knurl adjacent said stop flange, wherein said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end taper towards said lead-in end; the outer diameter of at least one of said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end being smaller than said diameter of said receiving hole in said suspension component while the outer diameter of said last knurl is larger than said diameter of said receiving hole whereby pressing of said ball joint assembly into said suspension component creates an interference fit between at least said crest of said last knurl and said receiving hole but not between said crest of at least one of said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end and said receiving hole.