Patent ID: 8753032
Filing Date: 2014-06-17
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A ball joint assembly comprising: a housing having a cavity that is at least partially defined by a first inner surface; a friction seat that: (1) is at least partially received within the cavity; and, (2) has: (a) an outer surface juxtaposed to the first inner surface of the housing; and, (b) an inner surface; a ball stud having: (1) a ball like portion that: (a) is movable within the cavity; and, (b) has a first outer surface that contacts the inner surface of the friction seat; and, (2) a shank portion that extends out from the cavity; a friction control mechanism comprising: (1) a contact member positioned within the housing; (2) a controller that provides at least one of a mechanical and an electrical signal; (3) a motor that rotates a motor shaft in response to the signal from the controller; and, (4) a motion conversion device that converts rotational motion of the motor shaft into linear movement of the contact member to contact the friction seat to adjust the friction between the ball like portion and the friction seat; wherein the housing has: wherein the motion conversion device comprises: wherein the at least one slot: receives a portion of the nut, prevents rotation of the nut; and, limits the linear motion of the nut toward the first end of the housing.