IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,305,696
Granted Patent B2
US 12,305,696 · App. 17/866,229 · Granted May 20, 2025

Joining arrangement having a receiving means and a ball joint

Inventor: Eduard Japs (Herford, DE)
Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
F16C11/0623
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,305,696
App. No.
17/866,229
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A joining arrangement having a receiver and a ball joint, wherein the ball joint comprises a joint pin with a joint ball and comprises a joint socket for receiving the joint ball, and wherein the ball joint is spread open resiliently into the receiver. According to the invention, the receiver has a guide element with a guide region which extends in a guide direction, wherein the joint socket is, by means of at least two locking arms, spread open resiliently into the guide element in a preselectable setpoint position within the guide region.

Claims (19)

1. A joining arrangement comprising:

a receiver; and

a ball joint that comprises a joint pin with a joint ball and comprises a joint socket for receiving the joint ball,

wherein the ball joint is spread open resiliently into the receiver,

wherein the receiver has a guide element with a guide region that extends in a guide direction,

wherein the joint socket is, via at least two locking arms, spread open resiliently into the guide element in a preselectable setpoint position transverse to the guide direction within the guide region; and

wherein the joint socket comprises at least one positioning rib on a side of the locking arms along the guide direction, by means of which rotation of the joint socket against the guide element is prevented.

2. The joining arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element has a receiving opening with an elongated extension to form the guide region.

3. A ball joint for a joining arrangement according to claim 1 , the joint socket comprises at least two resilient tongues that extend from an outer sleeve of the joint socket into a joint ball receiving opening, and the joint ball is adapted to be assembled with the joint socket via a resilient spreading open of the resilient tongues.

4. The ball joint according to claim 3 , wherein the joint socket comprises at least one support web, which is arranged or formed on the outer sleeve and forms a socket bearing at least in sections.

5. The ball joint according to claim 3 , wherein the locking arms form a socket bearing at least in sections.

6. The ball joint according to claim 3 , wherein the joint pin is a ball screw.

7. A method for mounting a light module on a support frame of a vehicle lighting device using the joining arrangement of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing a support frame having a receiver, wherein the receiver has a guide element having a receiving opening with an elongated extension to form a guide region;

providing a joint pin and joint socket to form a ball joint;

inserting the joint socket into the guide element;

moving the joint socket along a guide direction within the guide region to a setpoint position;

inserting the pivot pin into the joint socket to form a joining arrangement; and

connecting the joint pin to the light module.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2024
From: JAPS, EDUARD
To: HELLA GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 068849/0077 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 100 918.6 · Jan 16, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2021050120 · Jan 6, 2021
Related Publication 20220349441A1 · Nov 3, 2022
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