Patent ID: 7407441

Claim:
A constant velocity joint comprising: an outer race having a plurality of ball grooves formed in an inner spherical surface thereof, the ball grooves extending in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer race, an inner race having a plurality of ball grooves formed in an outer spherical surface thereof, the ball grooves extending in a direction of a rotation axis of the inner race and being paired with the ball grooves of the outer race; and a plurality of balls disposed between the ball grooves of the outer race and the ball grooves of the inner race, wherein: the ball grooves of at least one of the outer race and the inner race are partially formed with relief profiles to provide a plurality of relief groove portions such that a load applied to each of the balls located in the relief groove portions during torque transmission between the inner race and the outer race is smaller than a load applied to each of the balls located in the other portions of the ball grooves, wherein the ball grooves of the outer race only include portions of the outer race in which the plurality of balls travel when an angle formed by the rotation axis of the inner race and the rotation axis of the outer race is less than or equal to a maximum operating angle of the constant velocity joint.