US 12,281,670 B2
Fiber reinforced bearing for a ball socket assembly, ball socket assembly therewith and methods of construction thereof
Romit Chila, Southfield, MI (US); James Elterman, Southfield, MI (US); Dustin Oliver Schrieber, Southfield, MI (US); and Seth Englebright, Southfield, MI (US)
Assigned to FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC, Southfield, MI (US)
Filed by FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC, Southfield, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/049,827.
Application 18/049,827 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/513,535, filed on Jul. 16, 2019, granted, now 11,649,853.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/699,122, filed on Jul. 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0060485 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. F16C 11/08 (2006.01); F16C 11/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 11/08 (2013.01) [F16C 11/0657 (2013.01); F16C 11/0685 (2013.01); F16C 2208/04 (2013.01); F16C 2208/70 (2013.01); F16C 2226/12 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bearing for a ball and socket assembly, comprising:
a monolithic piece of fiber-reinforced plastics material including a lower portion presenting a lower bearing surface having a part spherical shape of a predetermined diameter of dimension A, the bearing further including an upper portion presenting an upper bearing surface having an inner surface that does not conform to the spherical shape of the lower bearing surface when the bearing is in an as-formed condition and which does conform to the spherical shape of the lower bearing surface when the bearing is biased to an assembled condition; and wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of slots defining a plurality of flexible fingers that circumscribe a mouth of the upper bearing surface having a diameter of dimension B when in the as-formed condition and a diameter of dimension C when biased inwardly to the assembled condition, and wherein the dimension B=0.5 (A+C).