Link and ball socket assembly for vehicle position sensor

A link and ball socket assembly for a vehicle position sensor comprising a first molded member including a link and a first socket and a second molded member including a second socket coupled to the first molded member. The first socket is molded to and integral with a first end of the link and the second socket is coupled to and rotatable relative to a second opposed end of the link. The first socket defines an interior ball receiving pocket. The interior pocket defines a first back pocket portion which opens into a second front ball shaped pocket portion. The ball is received in the first back pocket portion and slid and snapped into the second front pocket portion. A locking pin is inserted into the interior pocket into a relationship abutting against the ball for retaining the ball in the socket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a link and ball socket assembly for a vehicle position sensor and, more specifically, to link and ball socket assembly for a vehicle chassis position sensor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle chassis position sensors that utilize a link and ball socket assembly for coupling a vehicle chassis position sensor to the ball stud of a vehicle's chassis are known in the art such as, for example, the link and ball socket assembly of the vehicle chassis sensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,134,200 to Waite et al., the disclosure and contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention is directed to a new low cost link and ball socket assembly for a vehicle chassis sensor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a link and ball socket assembly for a vehicle position sensor comprising a first molded member including a link and a first socket and a second molded member including a second socket coupled to the first molded member.

In one embodiment, the first socket is molded to and integral with a first end of the link and the second socket is coupled to and rotatable relative to a second opposed end of the link.

In one embodiment, the first molded member is made of a rigid thermoplastic material and the second molded member is made of an elastomeric material.

In one embodiment, the first socket defines an interior pocket adapted to receive a ball and further comprising a locking pin extending into the socket for locking the ball in the interior pocket.

In one embodiment, the interior pocket of the socket defines a first back pocket portion which opens into a second front ball shaped pocket portion, the ball being received in the first back pocket portion and slid and snapped into the second front ball shaped pocket portion, the locking pin extending into the interior of the pocket into a relationship abutting against the ball for securing the ball in the socket.

In one embodiment, the socket includes a pair of clips, the pin including a collar abutting against the clips for securing the locking pin to the socket.

The present invention is also directed to a link and ball socket assembly for a vehicle chassis position sensor, the link and ball socket assembly comprising an elongate link, a socket at one distal end of the link, the socket defining an interior cavity including a first portion and a second ball shaped portion in communication with the first portion, the socket adapted to receive a ball, and a locking pin extending into the first portion in a relationship abutting against the ball for locking the ball in the socket.

In one embodiment, the socket includes a wall defining a through aperture, the locking pin extending through the aperture and into the socket.

In one embodiment, flexible clips project outwardly form the wall of the socket, the locking pin including a collar abutting against the clips for retaining the locking pin in the socket.

In one embodiment, the locking pin includes a distal end with an angled surface for guiding the locking pin into the aperture into the wall of the socket.

In one embodiment, the link and the socket comprise a molded member.

In one embodiment, another socket is coupled to the other distal end of the link and rotatable relative thereto.

In one embodiment, the link and the other socket comprise a molded member.

The present invention is also directed to a link and ball socket assembly for a vehicle chassis position sensor, the link and ball socket assembly comprising an elongate link, a first socket at one distal end of the link, the socket defining an interior cavity including a first portion and a second ball shaped portion in communication with the first portion, the socket adapted to receive a ball, the socket including a first wall defining an interior recess in communication with the interior cavity and a second wall with a through aperture in communication with the interior cavity and a pair of clips projecting outwardly from an exterior surface thereof, a locking pin including a first distal end and an opposed distal end with a collar, the locking pin extending through the aperture in the second wall of the socket and into the first portion of the socket into a relationship with the first distal end of the locking pin seated in the recess in the first wall of the socket and the collar of the locking pin abutted against the clips for retaining the locking pin on the socket, and a second socket coupled to an opposed distal end of the link, the second socket being rotatable relative to the link.

In one embodiment, the first socket and the link define a first molded member and the second socket and the link define a second molded member.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1shows a link and ball socket assembly10in accordance with the present invention which, in the embodiment shown, is adapted for use with and connection to a vehicle position sensor100which, in the embodiment shown, is in the form of a vehicle chassis position sensor100of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,134,200 to Waite et al., the disclosure and contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In the embodiment shown, the vehicle chassis position sensor100is fixed to a metal chassis bracket200which is coupled to a motor vehicle frame or body component (not shown) which is sprung by the vehicle suspension system (not shown). The link and ball socket assembly10couples a rotary arm member102of the sensor100to an unsprung or moveable component of the vehicle's chassis (not shown) such as, for example, a rear axle, a steering knuckle, a hub component, or such other component which moves with the road engaging wheels and tires (which are unsprung vehicle chassis components). Relative motion (jounce) between the sprung and unsprung components of the vehicle chassis cause the rotary motion of the rotary arm member102. This rotary motion is sensed by the sensor100and is converted into electrical signals used for various control functions.

The link and ball socket assembly10comprises a link and integral lock pin socket member12including an elongate bar or link14. A lock pin socket16unitary with the elongate link14and, more specifically, is unitary with and extends outwardly from a first distal end of the elongate link14in a relationship generally co-linear with the longitudinal axis of the elongate bar or link14. Another socket18is molded to, and extends outwardly from, the distal end of the elongate bar or link14opposite the distal end of the socket with the integral socket16. The socket18is adapted for connection to the ball stud (not shown) of a vehicle's chassis (not shown).

The link and integral lock pin socket member12is a first molded member that is made of a rigid thermoplastic material in a first molding operation and, more specifically, is a molded member in which the combination of the link14and integral lock pin socket16comprise a single molded unitary piece or member made during a first molding operation.

The socket18comprises a separate second molded member that is made during a second molding operation and uses the first molded member as an insert. The socket18defines an interior ball receiving pocket18a, is made of an elastomeric material, and is rotatable relative to the distal end of the link14.

Although the FIGS. depict a link14of a given length, it is understood that the link14may be of any desired length depending upon the particular application and, more specifically, may be a link in which the length can be varied between about 47 mm to 200 mm depending upon the particular application.

Referring toFIGS. 2, 3, and 4in particular, the integral lock pin socket16includes a pair of straight side walls20aand20b, a straight back wall20c, a front curved wall20d, and a top curved wall or dome20ewhich in combination define an interior open and hollow pocket22and, more specifically, an interior open and hollow pocket22including a first interior open and hollow rectangular shaped back pocket portion22aadjacent the back wall20cthat opens into and is in open communication with a second interior open and hollow front ball shaped pocket portion22badjacent the front curved wall20d.

The side wall20aof the socket16defines an interior circular recess or groove24that opens into and is in communication with the interior pocket22and, more specifically, a circular recess or groove24that opens into and is communication with the interior pocket portion22a.

The side wall20bis located opposite and spaced from and generally parallel to the side wall20aand defines a through-hole or opening26that opens into and is in communication with the interior socket pocket22and, more specifically, a through-hole or opening26that opens into and is in communication with the interior pocket portion22a. The interior recess or groove24in the side wall20aand the through-hole or opening26in the side wall20bare disposed relative to each other in an opposed and co-linear relationship.

The side wall20balso includes a pair of spaced apart and parallel fingers or prongs or tabs30and32projecting normally outwardly from the exterior surface of the side wall20b. The distal end of each of the fingers or prongs30and32includes and defines an interior shoulder or clip34. The pair of abs30and32are flexible as described in more detail below. The through-hole aperture26is located between the tabs30and32.

The top wall20edefines a pair of side-by-side through apertures20fand20gwhich are in open communication with the pocket portion22b.

The socket16still further includes an elongate lock pin36with a distal end or slotted head36aand is adapted to be inserted into the link socket16in a manner as described in more detail below.

The pin36further includes a radial ring or collar38extending radially outwardly from the exterior surface of the pin36. In the embodiment shown, the ring or collar38is located in a relationship adjacent and spaced from the distal end of the pin36including the head36aand, more specifically, is located in a relationship abutting against the head36a.

The pin36also includes a cone shaped/angled guide end36bopposite the distal end with the head36a.

The method and process for coupling the ball or stud40of the arm102of the sensor100to the socket16of the link14will now be described with reference toFIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Initially, as shown inFIG. 5, the ball40is positioned relative to the socket16in a relationship with the ball40located directly opposite the pocket22and, more specifically, in a relationship with the ball40located directly opposite the rectangular back portion22aof the pocket22of the socket16.

Thereafter, as shown inFIG. 6, the ball40and the socket16are brought together into a relationship with the ball40located in the interior of the pocket22and, more specifically, into a relationship with the ball40located in the interior of the back portion22aof the pocket22of the socket22.

Thereafter, as shown inFIG. 7, the ball40and the socket16are manipulated and moved relative to each other in a manner in which the ball40is slid and moved forwardly from the back pocket portion22aof the pocket22to the front pocket portion22aand, more particularly, in a manner in which the ball40is snap fit into the front pocket portion22bof the pocket22.

Thereafter, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the pin36is inserted into the socket22to lock the ball40in the front pocket portion22aof the pocket22and, more specifically, to lock the ball40in the pocket22.

More specifically, the conical distal end36bof the pin36is inserted through the aperture26defined in the socket side wall20band extended through the interior of the pocket22and, more specifically, is extended through the interior of the portion22aof the interior pocket22into the relationship as shown inFIG. 8with the cone shaped distal end36aof the pin36seated in the recess or groove24formed in the interior surface of the socket side wall20aand the head36aof the pin36located between the pair of tabs30and32projecting outwardly from the exterior surface of the socket side wall20b.

The combination of the tabs30and32on the socket16and the cone shaped distal end36aon the pin36locate and guide the pin36through the aperture26during insertion of the pin36into the socket16.

Moreover, the clips34on the respective distal ends of the respective tabs30and32include respective interior angled surfaces that allow for the tabs30and32to be flexed away from each other following abutting contact of the respective clips34with the collar38of the pin36upon insertion of the pin36into the socket16and to flexed back towards each other in response to the collar38clearing the clips34for locking the pin36in the socket16.

Moreover, in the relationship as shown inFIG. 8with the pin36locked in the socket16, the pin36is positioned in a relationship abutting against the exterior surface of the ball40thereby locking the ball40in the socket16and also preventing the ball40from exiting the socket16.

Numerous variations and modifications of the link and ball socket assembly described above may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel features of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitations with respect to the specific link and ball socket assembly illustrated herein are intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.