Appeal 2007-1792
Application 10/050,834
the use of a seal for preventing foreign matter from working its way past
the seal into the ball joint and includes a plurality of grooves which
provide a passage for the extrusion of lubricant when additional grease is
added via the lubricating port. Adding additional grease causes any dirt
that has managed to enter the ball joint to be extruded via the grooves
before it can cause any harm to the surfaces of the ball or seat (Edwards,
col. 3, ll. 10-41). Figure 2 shows that the grooves provide a path for
grease from the lubricating port to the face of the ball (Edwards, Fig. 2).
Edwards further teaches an externally threaded connecting rod that
extends from a housing containing a ball joint transversely of a vehicle
(Edwards, col.1, l. 45 – col. 2, l. 5, Fig. 1).
3. McEowen teaches including lubrication grooves in the spherical bearing
surface of the ball in a ball joint which form grease reservoirs in the
bearing surface without introducing aberrations in the finished bearing
surface (McEowen, col. 1, ll. 57-61, Fig. 9). McEowen further discloses
grease grooves located in the internally conformed lower end of the
housing (shown as the upper end because the Figures of McEowen are
upside down relative to those of the Appellant’s application) (McEowen,
col. 3, l. 37 – col. 4, l. 2).
4. As shown in Figure 9, Scheublein, Jr. discloses a ball joint which may be
used for the lower arm of a suspension system comprising an elongated
shaft 94, a ball 100, a retaining member 127, and a housing (118, 119,
and 120). The shaft has an upper end (nearest the ball), a lower end
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