| 摘要 |
A captive bail and end connector assembly has a spring wire, ball retaining ring (96) positioned within the socket of the connector (34). The ball retaining ring (96) is movable to an expanded position so as to enable the ball (36) to be inserted through the ring. After the ball has been inserted, the ring then presses against the ball and a shoulder in the socket so as to hold the ball firmly in the socket. The ball shaft (32) may be inserted into the socket so that its threaded end (42) may selectively project from the socket in either of two directions. The ball retaining ring (96) may be returned to its expanded position, whereby the ball (36) may be removed from the socket, by the use of a tool manipulated from without the socket via a slot 98. The assembly may be used to connect a gas spring to the body or hatch back of a vehicle. <IMAGE> |
