Patent ID: 7686530

Claim:
A ball joint assembly comprising: a ball head having an equator, the ball head being fixed to a journal having a smaller diameter than the ball head; a socket housing having a hemispherical ball socket and a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining tongues which extend toward an insertion opening, the tongues being radially pivotable to engage over the equator of the ball head, the journal extending though the insertion opening; an outer part having an insertion region and a receiving opening into which the socket housing can be inserted via the insertion region, the insertion region having an inside surface defining an opening with a cross-sectional area which is larger than a cross-sectional area defined by an inside surface of the receiving opening, the socket housing being inserted in the receiving opening in an insertion direction to an installed position, the retaining tongues being in contact with the receiving opening when the socket housing is in the installed position, wherein the outer part has a fastening shank extending transversely of the receiving opening; and a locking device which prevents movement of the socket housing counter to the insertion direction when the socket housing is in the installed position.