Granted Patent B2

US 7,354,054 · App. 10/378,641 · Granted Apr 8, 2008

Abstract

Claims (217)

1. A link assembly for a vehicle suspension system comprising:

a) a steel stud shaft provided with a threaded section, an upset that includes said steel and shaped to function as a stop, and a torque transmitter;

b) a sleeve nut threaded onto the stud shaft;

c) the sleeve nut is provided with a nut body and a cup-shaped element;

d) the cup-shaped element includes a concave surface and a convex surface; and

e) a first grommet held in place, at least in part, by the concave surface of the cup-shaped element to form a first sleeve nut and grommet sub-assembly.

2. The link assembly of claim 1 , wherein the torque transmitter comprises a plurality of flats.

3. The link assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cup-shaped element and the nut body are integrally formed from heat treated carbon steel.

4. The link assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer section, wherein the upset is generally located at an end of the spacer section.

5. The link assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

a) the steel stud shaft is provided with an axis;

b) the first grommet is provided with a passage, a first sloped surface, a second sloped surface, a first side, and a second side;

c) the first and second sloped surfaces extend, at least in part, both axially from the second side of the first grommet and radially from the passage; and

d) the first side of the first grommet faces the concave surface of the cup-shaped element while the second side of the first grommet faces a second grommet.

6. The link assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a) a spacer section that is provided with an end; and

b) the upset is generally located at the end of the spacer section.

7. The link assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer section, wherein the spacer section is plated for corrosion resistance.

8. The link assembly of claim 1 , wherein the torque transmitter includes a plurality of flat surfaces for wrenching.

9. The link assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a) a spacer section that is provided with an end;

b) the upset and the torque transmitter are located, at least in part, on the spacer section with the upset generally located at the end of the spacer section;

c) the torque transmitter is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces configured to cooperate with a wrench; and

d) the shaft has been plated for corrosion resistance.

10. The link assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a) a bore defined within the cup-shaped element and dimensioned to accept the stud shaft;

b) the cup shaped element extends radially from the bore to a periphery; and

c) the first grommet has a curved surface at one end complementary in shape to the cup-shaped element and an opposite face for engaging an arm.

11. The link assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

a) the sleeve nut includes a tubular segment of a predetermined outside diameter; and

b) the first grommet has a passage therethrough with an inside diameter slightly smaller than the predetermined outside diameter.

12. A link assembly for a vehicle suspension system comprising:

a) a stud shaft provided with a threaded section that includes a first diameter and a spacer section that includes a second diameter, wherein the first diameter located on the threaded section is smaller than the second diameter located on the spacer section;

b) a sleeve nut threaded onto the stud shaft;

c) the sleeve-nut is provided with a nut body and a cup-shaped element;

d) the cup-shaped element includes a concave surface and a convex surface;

e) a grommet held in place, at least in part, by the concave surface of the cup-shaped element to form a sleeve nut and grommet sub-assembly; and

f) an upset that includes a steel and shaped to function as a stop.

13. The link assembly of claim 12 further comprising:

a) the spacer section that is provided with an end; and

b) the upset is generally located at the end of the spacer section.

14. The link assembly of claim 12 , wherein the stud shaft is plated for corrosion resistance.

15. The link assembly of claim 12 , wherein the nut body and the cup-shaped element are integrally formed from heat treated carbon steel.

16. The link assembly of claim 12 , wherein the grommet is molded of a resilient material.

17. The link assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:

a) a plurality of flats;

b) the stud shaft includes a grommet-free portion; and

c) the plurality of flats are located on the grommet-free portion of the shaft.

18. The link assembly of claim 12 , wherein the sleeve nut includes a tubular segment.

19. The link assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:

a) the spacer section is provided with an end;

b) the upset and a torque transmitter are located, at least in part, on the spacer section with the upset generally located at the end of the spacer section;

c) the torque transmitter is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces configured to cooperate with a wrench; and

d) the shaft has been plated for corrosion resistance.

20. The link assembly of claim 12 , wherein:

a) the sleeve nut includes a tubular segment; and

b) the grommet has a curved surface at one end complementary in shape to the cup-shaped element and an opposite face for engaging an arm.

21. The link assembly of claim 12 , wherein:

a) the sleeve nut includes a tubular segment of a predetermined outside diameter; and

b) the grommet has a passage therethrough with an inside diameter slightly smaller than the predetermined outside diameter.

22. A link assembly for a vehicle suspension system comprising:

a) a shaft consisting essentially of a steel that has been upset to provide a stop that includes said steel and that is located on a grommet-free portion of the shaft;

b) the shaft includes a torque transmitter, an outer surface, an end, an axis, and a grommet-accommodating portion that carries an outer grommet and an inner grommet;

c) the outer grommet and the inner grommet are provided with passages dimensioned to accept the grommet-accommodating portion of the shaft;

d) a sleeve nut including a cup-shaped element that includes a concave surface and a convex surface;

e) the outer grommet and the inner grommet are located on the grommet-accommodating portion of the shaft, with the inner grommet located closer to the grommet-free portion of the shaft than the outer grommet;

f) each of the inner and outer grommets is provided with a grommet body that includes a first grommet side and a second grommet side;

g) the first grommet side, at least in part, contacts the cup-shaped element while the second grommet side, at least in part, contacts an arm of a vehicle suspension system;

h) the cup-shaped element contacts, at least in part, the stop so as to prevent the inner grommet from moving axially onto the grommet-free portion of the shaft; and

i) the stop is configured to prevent the inner grommet from moving axially onto the grommet-free portion of the shaft.

23. The link assembly of claim 22 , further including a nut body.

24. The link assembly of claim 22 , further comprising:

a) a nut body; and

b) the cup-shaped element and the nut body are integrally formed from heat treated carbon steel.

25. The link assembly of claim 22 , further comprising:

a) a spacer section;

b) a center section, wherein the spacer section is located so as to include, at least a portion of, the center section of the shaft; and

c) a threaded section, wherein the threaded section is generally located at the end of the shaft.

26. The link assembly of claim 22 , wherein a spacer section is plated for corrosion resistance.

27. The link assembly of claim 22 , wherein the torque transmitter includes a plurality of flat surfaces for wrenching.

28. The link assembly of claim 22 , further comprising:

a) a spacer section that is provided with an end;

b) the upset and the torque transmitter are located, at least in part, on the spacer section with the upset generally located at the end of the spacer section;

c) the torque transmitter is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces configured to cooperate with a wrench; and

d) the shaft has been plated for corrosion resistance.

29. The link assembly of claim 22 , further comprising:

a) a nut body; and

b) a threaded section on the shaft.

30. The link assembly of claim 22 , further including:

a) a nut body;

b) a threaded section on the shaft; and

c) at least one of the grommet bodies is molded of a resilient material.

31. The link assembly of claim 22 , wherein, at least one of the grommet bodies includes a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface.

32. The link assembly of claim 22 , further comprising:

a) a nut body;

b) a threaded section on the shaft; and

c) at least one of the grommet bodies includes a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface.

33. The link assembly of claim 22 , further comprising:

a) a nut body;

b) a threaded section on the shaft; and

c) the shaft is plated for corrosion resistance.

34. A link assembly for a vehicle suspension system comprising:

a) a stud shaft provided with a torque transmitter, an upset that includes a steel and shaped to function as a stop, a spacer section, and a threaded section;

b) a sleeve nut threaded onto the threaded section;

c) the sleeve-nut is provided with a nut body and a cup-shaped element;

d) the cup-shaped element includes a concave surface and a convex surface; and

e) a first grommet held in place, at least in part, by the concave surface of the cup-shaped element to form a first sleeve nut and grommet sub-assembly.

35. The link assembly of claim 34 , wherein the upset is generally located at an end of the spacer section.

36. The link assembly of claim 34 , wherein the stud shaft is plated for corrosion resistance.

37. The link assembly of claim 34 , wherein the torque transmitter comprises a plurality of flats located on the spacer section.

38. The link assembly of claim 34 , wherein the nut body and the cup-shaped element are integrally formed from heat treated carbon steel.

39. The link assembly of claim 34 , wherein the grommet is molded of a resilient material.

40. The link assembly of claim 34 , further comprising:

a) a plurality of flats;

b) the stud shaft includes a grommet-free portion; and

c) the plurality of flats are located on the grommet-free portion of the shaft.

41. The link assembly of claim 34 , wherein the sleeve nut includes a tubular segment.

42. The link assembly of claim 34 , further comprising:

a) the spacer section provided with an end;

b) the upset and the torque transmitter are located, at least in part, on the spacer section with the upset generally located at the end of the spacer section;

c) the torque transmitter is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces configured to cooperate with a wrench; and

d) the shaft has been plated for corrosion resistance.

43. The link assembly of claim 34 , wherein:

a) the sleeve nut includes a tubular segment; and

b) the first grommet has a curved surface at one end complementary in shape to the cup-shaped element and an opposite face for engaging an arm.

44. The link assembly of claim 34 , wherein:

a) the sleeve nut includes a tubular segment of a predetermined outside diameter; and

b) the first grommet has a passage therethrough with an inside diameter slightly smaller than the predetermined outside diameter.

45. A link assembly for a vehicle suspension system comprising:

a) a shaft that includes a spacer section consisting essentially of a steel;

b) the shaft has been upset to provide a stop that includes said steel;

c) the stop is located, at least in part, on the spacer section of the shaft;

d) a torque transmitter that is located, at least in part, on the spacer section of the shaft;

e) the shaft includes an outer surface, an end, an axis, and a grommet-accommodating portion that carries an outer grommet and an inner grommet;

f) the outer grommet and the inner grommet are provided with passages dimensioned to accept the grommet-accommodating portion of the shaft;

g) a first and second sleeve nut each having a cup-shaped element that includes a concave surface and a convex surface;

h) the outer grommet and the inner grommet are located on the grommet-accommodating portion of the shaft, with the inner grommet located closer to the spacer section of the shaft than the outer grommet:

i) each of the inner and outer grommets is provided with a grommet body that includes a first grommet side and a second grommet side;

j) the first grommet side, at least in part, contacts the cup-shaped element while the second grommet side, at least in part, contacts an arm of a vehicle suspension system;

k) the cup-shaped element contacts, at least in part, the stop so as to prevent the inner grommet from moving axially onto the spacer section of the shaft; and

the stop is configured to prevent the inner grommet from moving axially onto the spacer section of the shaft.

46. The link assembly of claim 45 , wherein:

a) the shaft is provided with an axis;

b) each of the grommets is provided with a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface;

c) the first and second sloped surfaces extend, at least in part, both axially from the second grommet side and radially from the passage; and

d) the first grommet side of the outer grommet faces the concave surface of the cup-shaped element while the second grommet side of the outer grommet faces the second grommet side of the inner grommet.

47. The link assembly of claim 45 , further comprising:

a) the spacer section is provided with an end;

b) the upset and the torque transmitter are located, at least in part, on the spacer section with the upset generally located at the end of the spacer section;

c) the torque transmitter is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces configured to cooperate with a wrench; and

d) the shaft has been plated for corrosion resistance.

48. The link assembly of claim 45 , further comprising:

a) a nut body that is threaded onto the shaft; and

b) the nut body and the cup-shaped element are integrally formed from heat treated steel.

49. The link assembly of claim 45 , wherein the torque transmitter includes a plurality of flat surfaces for wrenching.

50. The link assembly of claim 45 , further comprising:

a) a center section, wherein the spacer section is located so as to include, at least a portion of, the center section of the shaft; and

b) a threaded section, wherein the threaded section is generally located at the end of the shaft.

51. The link assembly of claim 45 , wherein:

a) the spacer section is provided with an end; and

b) the upset is generally located at the end of the spacer section.

52. The link assembly of claim 45 , wherein at least one of the grommets is molded of a resilient material.

53. The link assembly of claim 45 , further comprising a nut body.

54. The link assembly of claim 45 , further comprising:

a) a center section, wherein the spacer section is located so as to include, at least a portion of, the center section of the shaft;

b) a threaded section, wherein the threaded section is generally located at the end of the shaft;

c) the spacer section is provided with an end;

d) the upset and the torque transmitter are located, at least in part, on the spacer section with the upset generally located at the end of the spacer section;

e) the torque transmitter is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces configured to cooperate with a wrench;

f) a nut body that is threaded onto the shaft;

g) the nut body and the cup-shaped element are integrally formed from heat treated steel;

h) the shaft has been plated for corrosion resistance; and

i) at least one of the grommets is molded of a resilient material.

55. A link assembly for a vehicle suspension system comprising:

a) a shaft that includes a spacer section consisting essentially of a steel;

b) the shaft has been upset to provide a stop that includes said steel;

c) the stop is located, at least in part, on the spacer section of the shaft;

d) a torque transmitter that is located, at least in part, on the spacer section of the shaft;

e) the shaft includes an outer surface, an end, an axis, and a grommet-accommodating portion that carries an outer grommet and an inner grommet;

f) the outer grommet and the inner grommet are provided with passages dimensioned to accept the grommet-accommodating portion of the shaft;

g) a sleeve nut having a cup-shaped element that includes a concave surface and a convex surface;

the outer grommet and the inner grommet are located on the grommet-accommodating portion of the shaft, with the inner grommet located closer to the spacer section of the shaft than the outer grommet;

i) each of the inner and outer grommets is provided with a grommet body that includes a first grommet side and a second grommet side;

j) the cup-shaped element contacts, at least in part, the stop so as to prevent the inner grommet from moving axially onto the spacer section of the shaft; and

k) the stop is configured to prevent the inner grommet from moving axially onto the spacer section of the shaft.

56. The link assembly of claim 55 , wherein:

a) the shaft is provided with an axis;

b) each of the grommets is provided with a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface;

c) the first and second sloped surfaces extend, at least in part, both axially from the second grommet side and radially from the passage; and

d) the first grommet side of the inner grommet faces the concave surface of the cup-shaped element while the second grommet side of the inner grommet faces the second grommet side of the outer grommet.

57. The link assembly of claim 55 , further comprising:

a) the spacer section is provided with an end;

b) the upset and the torque transmitter are located, at least in part, on the spacer section with the upset generally located at the end of the spacer section;

c) the torque transmitter is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces configured to cooperate with a wrench; and

d) the shaft has been plated for corrosion resistance.

58. The link assembly of claim 55 , further comprising:

a) a nut body that is threaded onto the shaft; and

b) the nut body and the cup-shaped element are integrally formed from heat treated steel.

59. The link assembly of claim 55 , wherein the torque transmitter includes a plurality of flat surfaces for wrenching.

60. The link assembly of claim 55 , further comprising:

a) a center section, wherein the spacer section is located so as to include, at least a portion of, the center section of the shaft; and

b) a threaded section, wherein the threaded section is generally located at the end of the shaft.

61. The link assembly of claim 55 , wherein:

a) the spacer section is provided with an end; and

b) the upset is generally located at the end of the spacer section.

62. The link assembly of claim 55 , wherein at least one of the grommets is molded of a resilient material.

63. The link assembly of claim 55 , further comprising a nut body.

64. The link assembly of claim 55 , further comprising:

a) a center section, wherein the spacer section is located so as to include, at least a portion of the center section of the shaft;

b) a threaded section, wherein the threaded section is generally located at the end of the shaft;

c) the spacer section is provided with an end;

d) the upset and the torque transmitter are located, at least in part, on the spacer section with the upset generally located at the end of the spacer section;

e) the torque transmitter is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces configured to cooperate with a wrench;

f) a nut body that is threaded onto the shaft;

g) the nut body and the cup-shaped element are integrally formed from heat treated steel;

h) the shaft has been plated for corrosion resistance; and

i) at least one of the grommets is molded of a resilient material.

Assignments (6)