ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,385,520, issued on Aug. 12, was assigned to NIFCO INC. (Yokosuka, Japan).
"Ball joint" was invented by Yoichi Hirano (Kanagawa, Japan).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ball joint includes a ball stud and a socket having a base portion that is annular about an axis extending in an insertion direction, multiple first protruding parts, and second protruding parts positioned between the first protruding parts. The second protruding parts rotatably hold the ball in cooperation with tips of the first protruding parts. The first protruding parts are each provided with an extension part that extends out sideways. An outer surface of the extension...