IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,624,723
Granted Patent B2
US 12,624,723 · App. 18/334,616 · Granted May 12, 2026

Fastening device for articulated fastening of a first construction unit to a second construction unit

Inventors: Jonathan Keßler (Gemünden, DE); Axel Knopp (Eitelborn, DE); Thorsten Müller (Rhens, DE); Bernd Arenz (Herschbroich, DE)
Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
F16C11/0657
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,624,723
App. No.
18/334,616
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fastening device for the articulated fastening of a first construction unit, e.g., a drive device which can be varied in length by motor, to a second construction unit, e.g., a motor vehicle. The fastening device comprises a ball pin with a bolt shaft defining a bolt axis. One end of the bolt shaft is configured for fastening to the second construction unit and the other end comprises a ball head mounted in a ball socket of a ball socket unit. An attachment unit attaches the ball socket unit to the first construction unit. The ball socket unit has two integral contact portions, which are diametrically opposed to one another with respect to the bolt axis and are in contact with the bolt shaft. The contact portions may each be provided with an indentation area, such that they are elastically deformable in a direction away from the bolt shaft.

Claims (14)

1 . A fastening device for the articulated fastening of a first construction unit to a second construction unit, comprising:

a ball pin having a bolt shaft which defines a bolt axis, wherein one end of the bolt shaft is configured to be fastened to the second construction unit, and the other end of the bolt shaft comprises a ball head, wherein the bolt shaft and the ball head are separated by a neck region; and

a ball socket unit comprising a ball socket, in which the ball head is mounted, and an attachment unit configured to attach the ball socket unit to the first construction unit,

wherein the ball socket unit further comprises two integral contact portions in contact with the bolt shaft but not the ball head or the neck region, each contact portion comprising an indentation area and configured to be elastically deformable in a direction away from the bolt shaft.

2 . The fastening device of claim 1 , wherein the contact portions are configured to exert a biasing force in a direction toward the bolt shaft.

3 . The fastening device of claim 1 , wherein the indentation areas further comprise respective web portions configured to restrict the elastic deformation of the contact portions-in the direction away from the bolt shaft.

4 . The fastening device of claim 1 , wherein the ball socket unit is made of a plastic.

5 . The fastening device of claim 4 , wherein the ball socket unit is made of a polyamide.

6 . The fastening device of claim 5 , wherein the ball socket unit is made of PA66.

7 . The fastening device of claim 1 , wherein the ball socket unit is produced by an injection molding process.

8 . The fastening device of claim 1 , wherein the ball pin is comprised of at least one of a metal material or a metal alloy.

9 . The fastening device of claim 1 , wherein the first construction unit is a drive device which can be varied in length by a motor.

10 . The fastening device of claim 1 , wherein the second construction unit is a motor vehicle.

11 . The fastening device of claim 1 , wherein the contact portions of the ball socket unit are diametrically opposite one another with respect to the bolt axis.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2023
From: KESSLER, JONATHAN; KNOPP, AXEL; MÜLLER, THORSTEN; ARENZ, BERND
To: STABILUS GMBH
Reel/Frame 063947/0803 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2022 116 310.5 · Jun 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240003381A1 · Jan 4, 2024
References Cited (32)
US 3253330A · Davies · 1966 [cited by examiner]
US 3253845A · Davies · 1966 [cited by examiner]
US 3909084A · Snidar · 1975 [cited by examiner]
US 4111570A · Morel · 1978 [cited by examiner]
US 4118131A · Schnitzius · 1978 [cited by examiner]
US 4311405A · Hawley · 1982 [cited by examiner]
US 4571110A · Amrath · 1986 [cited by examiner]
US 4895472A · Dony · 1990 [cited by examiner]
US 5409320A · Maury · 1995 [cited by examiner]
US 5577836A · Vent · 1996 [cited by examiner]
US 7384209B2 · Muders · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 8602674B2 · Loewe · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 9140293B2 · Schilz · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 9291194B2 · Strobel · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9987972B2 · Burton · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 9995331B2 · Heimann · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10220666B2 · Kuroda · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 11022171B2 · Burton · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11635184B2 · Fladhammer · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20070031185A1 · Bertram · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20070253765A1 · Knopp · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20140137477A1 · et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20250243898A1 · Goeller · 2025 [cited by examiner]
DE 102004040170A1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
DE 202006006792U1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
DE 102012214674A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
DE 102017006742A1 · 2018 [cited by examiner]
JP 59077120A · 1984 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2014005681A1 · 2014 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2014005712A1 · 2014 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2017147629A1 · 2017 [cited by examiner]
German Application No. 102022116310.5, “Search Report”, May 12, 2023, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]