Adjustable ball joint connection assembly
US007513514B1
(12) Unlted States Patent
(10) Patent N0.2
Schlosser et a].
US 7,513,514 B1
(45) Date of Patent:
(54)
ADJUSTABLE BALL JOINT CONNECTION ASSEMBLY
6,478,318 B1 6,485,038 B1
(75)
Inventors: Richard D. Schlosser, JohnstoWn, CO
6 557 872 B1 ’ ’
Apr. 7, 2009
11/2002 Allman et a1. 11/2002 Garrard 5/2003 G
(Us); James A‘ Bloemen’ Longmonts
6,676,142 B2
CQ (Us)
7,278,648 B2*
am“
d
1/2004 Allman et al. 10/2007 Bobbitt et al. ....... .. 280/86.751
(73) Assignee: NiWot Corporation, Longmont, CO
(Us) OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(*)
Notice:
Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 337 days.
Wheel Alignment Speci?cations, copyright 2004, p. 207, Item #58, Nass Publishing Company, U.S., 1 page. Product Insert for SPC Part 62030 Adjustable Upper Control Arm,
(21)
APP1~ NOJ 11/264,726
(22)
Flled:
product insert copyright 1999 but product sold since mid 1990s,
_
Specialty Products Company, US, 1 page.
Oct‘ 31’ 2005
Photographs depicting an adjustable ball joint assembly sold by _
_
Specialty Products Company, sold in the US. since at least as early as
Related U.S. Apphcatlon Data
(60)
mid_l999, 17 pages‘
Provisional application NO. 60/623,516, ?led on OCt.
Performance Alignment Parts & Tools product brochure, 1999, Spe
29, 2004,
cialty Products Company, distributed at least in US, 6 pages.
(51) Int. Cl.
(Continued)
B62D 7/20
(52)
(2006.01)
US. Cl. .......................... .. 280/93.511; 280/86756; 280/86 757_ 280/86 751
(58) Field of Classi?cation Search '
'
'
280/86 756
280/86757, 86.75, 86.751, 93.511
See appl1cat1on ?le for complete search h1story. (56)
P
.
E
.
i] hn
.N
Wary xaml'?” 0. Q guyen ASSlSZLlI’lZ ExammeriNicole Verley
(74) Attorney’ Agent’ or FirmiDorsey & Whitney LLP (57)
ABSTRACT
References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3,526,413 A
9/1970 Muller
4,372,575 A
2/1983 Hyma
4,695,073 4,863,187 4,921,271 4,946,188 D315,706 5,697,632
A A A A S A
6,224,075 B1 6,328,321 B1 6,431,565 B2 *
9/1987 9/1989 5/1990 8/1990 3/1991 12/1997
Pettibone et al. ArtZ Berry et a1. Key et a1. Berry et a1. Burman et al.
5/2001 McIntyre
The present invention includes a ball joint assembly having a ?rst stud extending upWard from a ball joint housing and a
second stud extending from the ball joint housing opposite the ?rst stud. The ball joint assembly is adapted to adjustably connect With a control arm through a slotted connection. The
rotational position of the second stud of the ball joint assem bly relative to the control arm as Well as the linear position of
the ?rst stud of the ball joint assembly Within the slot can be adjusted to affect the camber and/or caster angles for Wheel alignment on motor vehicles.
12/2001 Nolan 8/2002
McIntyre ............. .. 280/86.751
14 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
US 7,513,514 B1 Page 2 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Product Flyer for SPC Parts 62010, 62030, 67120 and 67140
Product insert and instructions for K-MAC Camber and Caster Part
331116, date unknown, 1 page.
(Extreme SPC PerformanceiXRTM Line), copyright 2000, Spe
SPC Performance Suspension Tuning Alignment Parts brochure,
cialty Products Company, US, 2 pages. Mechanical drawings (9 pages) for Ball Joint design for SPC Part
copyright 2004, distributed at least in US, 12 pages.
67120, produced and sold in US. since at least as early as Jun. 29, 2000, 9 pages.
control arm and sliding ball joint with studs in a guide) sold by a competitor, since at least as early as 1998, 17 pages.
Photographs depicting an adjustable ball joint assembly (SPC Part 67330 (2nd generation)) sold by Specialty Products Company in the
Ingalls Wheel Alignment Products, p. 32, 2002, distributed at trade
US. since at least as early as 2001, 12 pages.
Photographs depicting an adjustable ball joint assembly (SPC Part 67125 (3rd generation)) sold by Specialty Products Company in the US. since at least as early as 2001, 12 pages.
Installation Instructions for Ingalls Part 3555, copyright 1999, Ingalls Engineering Co., Inc., 2 pages. Installation Instructions for Ingalls Part 3555/ 3556 (2nd generation), copyright 2001, Ingalls Engineering Co., Inc., 2 pages. Product ?yer for Ingalls Adjustable Ball Joints, distributed at US.
Photographs depicting an adjustable ball joint assembly (Skunk 2
shows or to product distributors in U.S.,2 pages.
Ingalls Wheel Alignment Products, Performance Suspension Com ponents, distributed at trade shows or to product distributors in US. at least as early as 2003, 2 pages.
Ingalls Wheel Alignment Products, Performance Suspension Com ponents, p. 132, copyright 2002, distributed at trade shows or to product distributors in US, 2 pages.
Ingalls 2001 Sport Component Car Alignment Products, Honda and
trade show 2003, 1 page.
Acura Kits, distributed at trade shows or to product distributors in US, 2 pages.
Stempf 1998-99 Wheel Alignment Product & Tool Catalog No. 150 298, 45, distributed at least in US. since 1998, 2 pages.
* cited by examiner
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 1 0122
US 7,513,514 B1
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 2 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
mm
mm
Sheet 3 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
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US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 4 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 5 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
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US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 6 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
12
14
56
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 7 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 8 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
1 .1 0
(12) Unlted States Patent
(10) Patent N0.2
Schlosser et a].
US 7,513,514 B1
(45) Date of Patent:
(54)
ADJUSTABLE BALL JOINT CONNECTION ASSEMBLY
6,478,318 B1 6,485,038 B1
(75)
Inventors: Richard D. Schlosser, JohnstoWn, CO
6 557 872 B1 ’ ’
Apr. 7, 2009
11/2002 Allman et a1. 11/2002 Garrard 5/2003 G
(Us); James A‘ Bloemen’ Longmonts
6,676,142 B2
CQ (Us)
7,278,648 B2*
am“
d
1/2004 Allman et al. 10/2007 Bobbitt et al. ....... .. 280/86.751
(73) Assignee: NiWot Corporation, Longmont, CO
(Us) OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(*)
Notice:
Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 337 days.
Wheel Alignment Speci?cations, copyright 2004, p. 207, Item #58, Nass Publishing Company, U.S., 1 page. Product Insert for SPC Part 62030 Adjustable Upper Control Arm,
(21)
APP1~ NOJ 11/264,726
(22)
Flled:
product insert copyright 1999 but product sold since mid 1990s,
_
Specialty Products Company, US, 1 page.
Oct‘ 31’ 2005
Photographs depicting an adjustable ball joint assembly sold by _
_
Specialty Products Company, sold in the US. since at least as early as
Related U.S. Apphcatlon Data
(60)
mid_l999, 17 pages‘
Provisional application NO. 60/623,516, ?led on OCt.
Performance Alignment Parts & Tools product brochure, 1999, Spe
29, 2004,
cialty Products Company, distributed at least in US, 6 pages.
(51) Int. Cl.
(Continued)
B62D 7/20
(52)
(2006.01)
US. Cl. .......................... .. 280/93.511; 280/86756; 280/86 757_ 280/86 751
(58) Field of Classi?cation Search '
'
'
280/86 756
280/86757, 86.75, 86.751, 93.511
See appl1cat1on ?le for complete search h1story. (56)
P
.
E
.
i] hn
.N
Wary xaml'?” 0. Q guyen ASSlSZLlI’lZ ExammeriNicole Verley
(74) Attorney’ Agent’ or FirmiDorsey & Whitney LLP (57)
ABSTRACT
References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3,526,413 A
9/1970 Muller
4,372,575 A
2/1983 Hyma
4,695,073 4,863,187 4,921,271 4,946,188 D315,706 5,697,632
A A A A S A
6,224,075 B1 6,328,321 B1 6,431,565 B2 *
9/1987 9/1989 5/1990 8/1990 3/1991 12/1997
Pettibone et al. ArtZ Berry et a1. Key et a1. Berry et a1. Burman et al.
5/2001 McIntyre
The present invention includes a ball joint assembly having a ?rst stud extending upWard from a ball joint housing and a
second stud extending from the ball joint housing opposite the ?rst stud. The ball joint assembly is adapted to adjustably connect With a control arm through a slotted connection. The
rotational position of the second stud of the ball joint assem bly relative to the control arm as Well as the linear position of
the ?rst stud of the ball joint assembly Within the slot can be adjusted to affect the camber and/or caster angles for Wheel alignment on motor vehicles.
12/2001 Nolan 8/2002
McIntyre ............. .. 280/86.751
14 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
US 7,513,514 B1 Page 2 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Product Flyer for SPC Parts 62010, 62030, 67120 and 67140
Product insert and instructions for K-MAC Camber and Caster Part
331116, date unknown, 1 page.
(Extreme SPC PerformanceiXRTM Line), copyright 2000, Spe
SPC Performance Suspension Tuning Alignment Parts brochure,
cialty Products Company, US, 2 pages. Mechanical drawings (9 pages) for Ball Joint design for SPC Part
copyright 2004, distributed at least in US, 12 pages.
67120, produced and sold in US. since at least as early as Jun. 29, 2000, 9 pages.
control arm and sliding ball joint with studs in a guide) sold by a competitor, since at least as early as 1998, 17 pages.
Photographs depicting an adjustable ball joint assembly (SPC Part 67330 (2nd generation)) sold by Specialty Products Company in the
Ingalls Wheel Alignment Products, p. 32, 2002, distributed at trade
US. since at least as early as 2001, 12 pages.
Photographs depicting an adjustable ball joint assembly (SPC Part 67125 (3rd generation)) sold by Specialty Products Company in the US. since at least as early as 2001, 12 pages.
Installation Instructions for Ingalls Part 3555, copyright 1999, Ingalls Engineering Co., Inc., 2 pages. Installation Instructions for Ingalls Part 3555/ 3556 (2nd generation), copyright 2001, Ingalls Engineering Co., Inc., 2 pages. Product ?yer for Ingalls Adjustable Ball Joints, distributed at US.
Photographs depicting an adjustable ball joint assembly (Skunk 2
shows or to product distributors in U.S.,2 pages.
Ingalls Wheel Alignment Products, Performance Suspension Com ponents, distributed at trade shows or to product distributors in US. at least as early as 2003, 2 pages.
Ingalls Wheel Alignment Products, Performance Suspension Com ponents, p. 132, copyright 2002, distributed at trade shows or to product distributors in US, 2 pages.
Ingalls 2001 Sport Component Car Alignment Products, Honda and
trade show 2003, 1 page.
Acura Kits, distributed at trade shows or to product distributors in US, 2 pages.
Stempf 1998-99 Wheel Alignment Product & Tool Catalog No. 150 298, 45, distributed at least in US. since 1998, 2 pages.
* cited by examiner
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 1 0122
US 7,513,514 B1
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 2 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
mm
mm
Sheet 3 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
N:
o2.om.\
,& @r2:
N: w:
WM‘l0v
2,at
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 4 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 5 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
2
2\\ ,.
m:onE92E
_\ _
O m92onmm“
>
9.91
on8‘w R
mm\ m:onow“ 8/ \ Em2
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 6 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
12
14
56
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 7 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
US. Patent
Apr. 7, 2009
Sheet 8 0f 22
US 7,513,514 B1
1 .1 0
