GAS STRUT PROTECTIVE COVER

• US 20070181392A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Pawloski, Jamie B., Zaski, Faye R., Young, Clark W.
• Application Number:
  US11/552,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20070181392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/322.120
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/38 Covers for protection or appearance

Abstract

An improved protective cover is provided for a piston-cylinder unit. The cover has an elongated body with a convoluted portion and a cylindrical portion. The convoluted portion covers the piston rod of the piston-cylinder unit and allows the protective cover to contract and extend when said unit moves from a compressed position to an extended position. The cover is fixedly attached to the piston-cylinder unit such that it covers and protects the cylinder and the piston rod of the unit. The attachment of the protective cover to the piston-cylinder unit results in water and air resistant seals between the cover and the unit, or in the alternative, in non-watertight and/or non-airtight seals that prevent dirt, debris, dust and the like from contacting the cylinder and piston rod of the unit.

Claims

1. An improved protective cover for a piston-cylinder unit, said unit having a piston rod movable between an extended position and a compressed position, wherein the cover comprises:

an elongated tubular body having a convoluted portion and a cylindrical portion, said convoluted portion extending in an axial direction for covering the piston rod;

said convoluted portion extending and contracting when the piston-rod unit extends and contracts;

said cylindrical portion having a uniform diameter along an axial direction of said elongated body for covering the cylinder and providing a fluid reservoir;

said first end of said body being fixedly attached to the first end of the piston-cylinder unit; and

said second end of said body being fixedly attached to the second end of the piston-cylinder unit for providing a protective cover for the entire length of the piston-cylinder unit.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said fluid reservoir is an air reservoir.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said first end of said cover is fixedly attached to the first end of the piston-cylinder unit with a cap.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said second end of said cover is fixedly attached to the second end of the piston-cylinder unit with cap.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein said first end of said cover is fixedly attached to the first end of the piston-cylinder unit with a first end lip and groove.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said second end of said cover is fixedly attached to the second end of the piston-cylinder unit with a second end lip and groove.