Patent ID: 7343935

Claim:
A gas flow control flap operating mechanism ( 1 ) for motor vehicles including at least one gas flow control flap ( 3 ) which has at least one actuating member ( 3 . 1 ), at least one actuator ( 2 ) and an actuator drive ( 4 ), the actuator ( 2 ) being connected to at least one of the actuator drive ( 4 ), the actuating member ( 3 . 1 ) and the gas flap ( 3 ) via a ball-head joint ( 5 ) including a ball head ( 5 . 1 ) and a multipart ball-head socket ( 6 ) which engages the ball head ( 5 . 1 ) from opposite sides, and a receiving part ( 4 . 1 , 4 . 1 ′) enclosing the multipart ball-head socket ( 6 ) so as to firmly hold the multipart ball-head socket ( 6 ) in engagement with the ball-head ( 5 . 1 ), the multi-part ball-head socket ( 6 ) comprising a first part ( 6 . 1 ) and a second part ( 6 . 2 ), the first part ( 6 . 1 ) and the second part ( 6 . 2 ) being pivotable interconnected and being pivoted onto the ball head ( 5 . 1 ) so as to abut each other and firmly engage the ball head therebetween, said receiving part ( 4 . 1 , 4 . 1 ′) being disposed around the closed ball head socket ( 7 ) for firmly holding the socket parts ( 6 . 1 , 6 . 2 ) in engagement with the ball head ( 5 . 1 ), said ball head socket ( 7 ) having elastic legs ( 7 . 1 , 7 . 2 ) with retaining lugs ( 7 . 3 , 7 . 4 ) for engaging the receiving part ( 4 . 1 , 4 . 1 ′) and holding it in position around the closed ball head socket ( 7 ).