Patent ID: 6860670
Filing Date: 2005-03-01
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An end connector assembly that is adapted to be connected with and disconnected from a ball on the end of a ball stud, the ball stud having a shaft portion adjacent the ball, where the ball has a predetermined diameter and where the shaft portion of the ball stud has a smaller transverse dimension than the predetermined diameter of the ball, and that is adapted to be mounted on the end of a gas spring, where the gas spring has a longitudinal axis, the end connector assembly comprising: a connector body that has an interior, ball receiving socket cavity; that includes a first surface, which faces generally opposed from the gas spring when the connector body is mounted on the gas spring; and that has a first opening in the first surface, with the first opening having a shape and dimensions so that the ball and the adjacent shaft portion of the ball stud may selectively pass through the first opening from the exterior of the connector body into the socket cavity along a path generally parallel with the gas spring longitudinal axis when the connector body is mounted on the end of the gas spring and from the socket cavity through the first opening to the exterior of the connector body along a path generally parallel with the gas spring longitudinal axis when the connector body is mounted on the end of a gas spring; and a retainer clip that may be connected with the connector body so as to be selectively moved between a first position, where a ball may pass through the first opening, and a second position, where the retainer clip prevents the passage of a ball out of the socket cavity through the first opening; wherein the retainer clip includes a detent portion; wherein the connector body includes a first detent portion; and wherein the retainer clip detent portion cooperates with the connector body first detent portion when the retainer clip is in the first position so as to normally retain the retainer clip in the first position.