Patent ID: 7468000
Filing Date: 2008-12-23
Classification: F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A universal joint comprising: an outer joint member having a first shaft portion and a chamber portion with a plurality of inwardly facing grooves; an inner joint member having a second shaft portion and a groove portion with a plurality of outwardly facing grooves disposed in said chamber portion wherein said inner joint member and said outer joint member are pivotable relative to one another through a first range of movement; a plurality of balls individually disposed in said plurality of inwardly facing grooves and in said plurality of outwardly facing grooves to transmit rotation between said outer joint member and said inner joint member; a first sleeve portion defining a first circular opening wherein said first sleeve portion encircles said chamber portion; a second sleeve portion spaced from said first sleeve portion along an axis and defining a second circular opening having a smaller diameter than said first circular opening wherein said second sleeve portion encircles said second shaft portion at a position spaced from said groove portion; and a plurality of convolutions defined along said axis between said first sleeve portion and said second sleeve portion with said plurality of convolutions defining a plurality of roots extending radially inward toward said axis and a plurality of crests extending radially outward away from said axis wherein said plurality of roots includes at least a first root and a second root immediately adjacent to one another and with said first root being closer to said first sleeve portion than said second root and wherein said first root extends radially inward toward said axis further than said second root such that an inner surface of said first root contacts said second shaft portion when said inner joint member pivots relative to said outer joint member beyond said first range of movement to resist pivoting movement of said inner joint member relative to said outer joint member beyond said first range of movement and resist said inner joint member from disengaging from said outer joint member in response to pivoting movement beyond said first range of movement with said inner surface of said first root remaining spaced from said second shaft portion when said inner joint member and said outer joint member pivot within said first range of movement to permit angulation within said first range of movement.