Patent ID: 9296271
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: B60G,F16C,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A ball joint comprising: a housing having an inner cavity defined inward of a seat end, a side wall and a closure end having an opening, an edge about the opening in an assembly position extending upwardly; a ball stud having: a lower ball end with an outer convex spherical surface, a middle portion, and a connector end; a first bearing, slidably housed within the cavity, having an inner concave spherical surface; a retention plate, housed within the cavity inward of the edge about the opening, wherein the edge of the opening extends inwardly engaging an outer surface of the retention plate in a closed position; a first disc annular recess disposed in at least one of: an outward surface of the first bearing; an inward surface of the retention plate; and an inward surface of the seat end of the housing, and a first disc spring disposed in the first disc annular recess, the first disc annular recess laterally restraining at least one of: an outer circular edge of the first disc spring; and an inner circular edge of the first disc spring, during compression of the first disc spring, and a peripheral annular shoulder adjacent the first disc annular recess axially limiting axial movement, between the outer surface of the first bearing; and one of: the inner surface of the retention plate; and the inward surface of the seat end of the housing, thereby limiting compression of the first disc spring.