Abstract:
A ball socket for receiving a ball has at least one region which includes an elastically deformable material or has an elastically deformable geometry. The ball socket may not break when it is bent open for introduction of the ball and then springs back into its original position. This may provide simple assembly of a ball joint including a ball socket and a ball. Moreover, the ball may be securely received in the ball socket.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a ball socket for receiving a ball and to a rotatably mounted connecting arrangement for connecting two components in a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0002]     Rotatably mounted connecting arrangements for connecting vehicle components or ball joints can perform various functions in motor vehicles. One component that is to be connected has a ball at one end, while the other component that is to be connected has a ball socket or ball cage at one end. To provide the connection between the two components, the ball is received in the ball socket or ball cage. This arrangement allows the two components to pivot relative to one another about a common pivot point which is arranged in the ball joint.  
         [0003]     Conventional single-piece ball sockets made from soft material do not have the rigidity required for certain applications. Single-piece ball sockets made from hard and brittle plastic do have the required rigidity but are subject to the drawback that they can break when they are bent open during fitting to the ball. Consequently, the strip thickness and the wrapping of the ball socket around the ball are subject to restrictions. Forced deformation being possible during insertion of the ball into the ball socket is detrimental to the shape of the ball sockets.  
         [0004]     German Published Patent Application No. 42 11 897 describes a ball joint for parts of a steering mechanism or wheel suspension of motor vehicles. This ball joint has a radially resilient bearing socket which is made from plastic and accommodates a ball head of a link pin. The outer circumference of the bearing socket is mounted in a recess in a joint housing, and a cylindrical part of its peripheral surfaces bears against a cylindrical wall portion. The bearing socket surrounds the ball head by a securing member which is inserted into the housing recess and secures the bearing socket prestressed therein. The bearing socket has a slot passing through it transversely to the circumferential direction. Insertion of the ball into the bearing socket is facilitated by this design.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Example embodiments of the present invention provide for configuration of a ball socket and for configuration of a rotatably mounted connecting arrangement.  
         [0006]     The ball socket for receiving a ball includes at least one region which includes an elastically deformable material or has an elastically deformable geometry. The result of this is that the ball socket may not break when it is bent open as a result of the ball being introduced and then returns to its original position. This may provide for simple assembly of a ball joint that includes a ball socket and a ball. Moreover, the ball may be securely received in the ball socket.  
         [0007]     The ball socket may be arranged such that it covers a ball portion, which is delimited by at least one circle, of the ball. It is also possible for the ball socket to be arranged such that it covers a ball portion, which is delimited by two circles arranged parallel to one another and is arranged as a ball layer, of the ball. It may be provided that the ball socket engages around an equator of the ball. The ball portion may be arranged such that it surrounds the ball apart from an opening at one pole of the ball. The ball layer is formed such that it surrounds the ball apart from two openings at opposite poles of the ball. The ball socket, which is arranged as a ball layer, covers the ball in a region up to several degrees above the equator and also in a region up to several degrees below the equator of the ball.  
         [0008]     It may be provided that the ball socket has at least one gap. For example, the at least one gap may be oriented perpendicular to the at least one circle, e.g., to the at least two circles, of the ball socket arranged as a ball layer. An opening of this type arranged at the ball socket may allow widening of the ball socket during fitting of the ball.  
         [0009]     The elastically deformable region may be arranged as an elongate portion which is arranged diagonally with respect to the gap. This may make it easy for the ball socket to widen during assembly. Since the gap and the elastically deformable region are arranged diagonally with respect to one another, maximum opening of the ball socket may be possible in a direction perpendicular to the gap.  
         [0010]     Alternatively, the ball socket may have two gaps which are arranged diagonally with respect to one another along a circumference of the ball. On account of this configuration of the ball socket, there are two options for an arrangement of the elastically deformable region.  
         [0011]     The elastically deformable region may be arranged between a gap. If the ball socket is arranged in the form of a ball layer with two gaps arranged diagonally with respect to one another, this configuration in functional terms corresponds to the variant of forming the ball layer with a gap and an elastically deformable region arranged diagonally with respect to the gap as the elongate portion. However, if the ball socket is formed as a ball portion which is delimited by one circle, this ball portion may have a gap at which the elastically deformable region is arranged. Therefore, a single-piece ball socket having two components which may move relative to one another by the elastically deformable region is in each case provided.  
         [0012]     If the ball socket has two gaps, it may be provided that the elastically deformable region is arranged between a first point and a second point of the circle which delimits the ball socket. This may provide a cohesive, single-piece ball socket which has two components which are connected such that they may move relative to one another by the elastically deformable region and form a ball socket.  
         [0013]     The two components of the ball socket which are connected to one another by the elastically deformable region may be formed of hard and brittle plastic. The elastically deformable region may be of thin-walled design. This means that the elastically deformable region has a lower wall thickness than the two components. On account of this configuration, the ball socket may easily be deformed along the elastically deformable region such that the other two components forming the ball socket may move in a simple manner relative to one another and, moreover, securely hold the ball within the ball socket.  
         [0014]     In the rotatably mounted connecting arrangement for connecting two parts in a vehicle, the first part has a ball as connecting element and the second part has the ball socket as a connecting element for receiving the ball. A connecting arrangement of this type or a ball joint of this type may be versatile in use in the motor vehicle. Assembly may be executed without problems on account of the configuration of the connecting arrangement.  
         [0015]     Further aspects and configurations of example embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the appended Figures.  
         [0016]     It should be understood that the features referred to above and those which are yet to be explained below may be used not only in the combination indicated in each instance but also in other combinations or also as stand-alone measures, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a configuration of a ball socket according to an example embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the ball socket illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]     FIGS.  3  to  5  schematically illustrate the insertion of a ball into the ball socket illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrate a ball socket according to an example embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view through the ball socket illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0022]      FIGS. 8 and 9  schematically illustrate the insertion of a ball into a ball socket illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     The Figures are described jointly and in an interrelated manner. Identical reference designations denote identical components.  
         [0024]     An example embodiment of a ball socket  1 , which is illustrated from various perspectives and in different states in FIGS.  1  to  5 , has the following components: two part-sockets  2   a ,  2   b , which are connected to one another via an elastically deformable region  6  such that the entire ball socket  1  is of single-piece, cohesive arrangement. Moreover, the ball socket  1  has a first gap  4   a  and a second gap  4   b . The first gap  4   a  separates the two part-sockets  2   a ,  2   b  from one another. Along the second gap  4   b  is arranged the elastically deformable region  6 , by which the two part-sockets  2   a ,  2   b  are connected to one another so that they jointly and in single-piece form produce the ball socket  1 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates the ball socket  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a cross-sectional view from a perspective corresponding to the two arrows indicated in  FIG. 1 . This perspective reveals the part-socket  2   b . The section passes through the two gaps  4   a  (left-hand side) and  4   b  (right-hand side) arranged diagonally with respect to one another. The elastically deformable region  6  is arranged along the gap  4   b  illustrated on the right-hand side, diagonally with respect to the gap  4   a  illustrated on the left-hand side.  FIG. 2  also indicates an equator line illustrating an equator  8  of the ball  10 . The part-socket  2   b , relative to the equator  8 , extends from a first angle region above the equator  8  to a lower angle region below the equator  8 . The same applies to the part-socket  2   a . This provides that a ball which is to be received by the ball socket  1  is substantially covered or encircled so that the ball is securely held in the ball socket.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a ball  10  of this type before it is introduced into the ball socket  1  during assembly. The ball socket  1 , and, e.g., the elastically deformable region  6 , are in a load-free state in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0027]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the ball  10  has been forced by pressure sufficient to overcome a mechanical resistance of the elastically deformable region  6  to penetrate partway into the receiving regions, delimited by the part-sockets  2   a  (right-hand side) and  2   b  (left-hand side), of the ball socket  1 . This stretches the elastically deformable region  6  arranged along the gap  4   b . This may be recognized in that the distance between the two part-sockets  2   a ,  2   b  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  is greater than the distance illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Due to the elastically deformable region which connects the two part-sockets  2   a ,  2   b  to one another, these two part-sockets  2   a ,  2   b  may be moved relative to one another when the ball  10  is being inserted into the ball socket  1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates how the ball  10  has been completely received in the ball socket  1 . The ball socket  10  is covered within the region covered by the two part-sockets  2   a ,  2   b . Since the elastically deformable region, after insertion of the ball  10  into the ball socket is complete, springs back into its original shape, the ball  10  is securely received in the ball socket  1 .  
         [0029]     The ball socket  1  covers or receives the ball  10  in the region of what is referred to as a ball layer. This ball layer is delimited at the top by a circle  9   a  indicated by a circle line and at the bottom by a circle  9   b  indicated by a circle line. These two circles  9   a ,  9   b  are arranged parallel to the equator  8  indicated by the equator line.  
         [0030]     FIGS.  6  to  9  illustrate a ball socket  11  in a further configuration. This ball socket  11  is formed by two part-sockets  12   a ,  12   b , which are connected to one another by an elastically deformable region  16 . The two part-sockets  12   a ,  12   b  are separated by two gaps  14 , which are arranged or oriented perpendicular to the elastically deformable region  16 . The elastically deformable region is arranged between two portions  30 ,  31  of a circle  29  which is interrupted by the gaps  14  and delimits the two part-sockets  12   a ,  12   b.    
         [0031]      FIG. 7  illustrates the ball socket  11  in accordance with the sectional view indicated by the two arrows illustrated in  FIG. 6 . This illustration clearly reveals the single-piece arrangement of the ball socket  11 , i.e., the unit made up of the left-hand part-socket  12   a , the elastically deformable region  16  and the right-hand part-socket  12   b .  FIG. 7  also illustrates the gap  14 . As in the exemplary embodiment of the ball socket  1  illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  5 , the part-sockets  12   a ,  12   b  and therefore the entire ball socket  11  extend from a region above an equator  18  indicated by an equator line to a region below the equator  18  indicated by the equator line. Consequently, the ball  11  received by the ball socket  11  may be securely held in place.  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates, in a corresponding manner to  FIG. 4 , how a ball  20  is inserted into the ball socket  11 . On account of a force with which the ball  20  is pressed downwardly, the two part-sockets  12   a ,  12   b  are folded open in scissor or clamp fashion, with the elastically deformable region  16  stretching. A relative movement of the part-socket  12   a  with respect to the part-socket  12   b  of this type when the ball  20  is being received is made possible by the nature of the elastically deformable region  16 . As a result, the gap  14  is widened from the bottom upward.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  illustrates the ball  20  which has been received in a ball socket  11 . After the ball  20  has been inserted, the elastically deformable region  16  snaps or springs back into a starting position. This restores the original distance between the two part-shells  12   a ,  12   b . The gap  14  also reverts to its original width and the ball  20  is covered over a ball layer by the ball socket  11 . This ball layer is delimited at the top by a circle  19   a  indicated by a circle line and at the bottom by a circle  19   b  indicated by a circle line, both of which are arranged parallel to the equator  18 .  
         [0034]     The ball sockets  1 ,  11  may have a greater wall thickness than conventional ball sockets and permit the ball  10 ,  20  to be engaged around to a greater extent. This may result in a wider range of applications with hard and brittle plastics. Furthermore, the wear resistance under very high loads may be increased. Axial and radial prestressing conditions may be significantly improved compared to the conventional devices (such as those described, e.g., in German Published Patent Application No. 42 11 897), so that, for example, there may be no need to provide any protection against twisting. The devices hereof may provide an in relative terms thicker, more wear-resistant ball socket  1 ,  11  to be provided under the same installation conditions.  
         [0035]     The design and assembly problems which may occur with conventional devices may be eliminated in accordance with the ball socket  1  by the elastically deformable region  6  arranged along the gap  4   b . Contrary to other design solutions, only tensile forces may occur along the elastically deformable region, which may be designed, for example, as a thin-walled gap  4   b . A ball geometry which is provided by the region covered by the ball socket  1  may not be affected by forced deformation.  
         [0036]     With respect to ball socket  11 , design and assembly problems which occur may be eliminated by the elastically deformable region  16  which is arranged in a lower region of the ball socket  11 . The elastically deformable region  16  of the ball socket  11  may, for example, be arranged in the form of a web and surround a pole of the ball  20  below the equator  18 . It may be provided that the thin-walled, elastically deformable region  16  of web-like arrangement is easily deformable compared to the remainder of the ball socket, e.g., the two part-sockets  12   a ,  12   b.