Patent ID: 8112866
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for resisting pivoting movement between an outer member and an inner member of a universal joint, said method comprising the steps of: engaging an outer joint member having a first shaft portion and a chamber portion with a plurality of inwardly facing grooves with an inner joint member having a second shaft portion and a groove portion with a plurality of outwardly facing grooves disposed in the chamber portion for pivoting movement relative to one another through a first range of movement; disposing a plurality of balls individually in the plurality of inwardly facing grooves and in the plurality of outwardly facing grooves to transmit rotation between the outer joint member and the inner joint member; enclosing the chamber portion with a boot having a first sleeve portion encircling the chamber portion with a first circular opening and also having a second sleeve portion encircling the second shaft portion with a second circular opening at a position spaced from the groove portion and spaced from the first sleeve portion along a boot axis and also having a plurality of convolutions defined along the boot axis between the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion by a plurality of roots extending radially inward toward the boot axis and by a plurality of crests extending radially outward away from the boot axis; and resisting pivoting movement of the inner joint member relative to the outer joint member with a radially inward facing inner surface of a first root of the plurality of roots contacting the second shaft portion upon the inner joint member and the outer joint member pivoting beyond the first range of movement.