High rotation angle for gas spring connection

• US 7,172,237 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: StrongArm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AVM Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Bauman, Walter Douglas, Merritt, David
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/974,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.1, 296/76, 296/146.8, 403/122, 403/76
• US Class Current: 296/146.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/101 for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/636 Universal or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/10 Adjustable or movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/06 Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0218 Mono-tubular units F16F9/0227, F16F9/0236, F16F9/0245 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/54 Arrangements for attachment grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32631 Universal ball and socket

Abstract

A gas spring is mounted through a unique mount structure including a socket joint. The socket joint is mounted in a yoke for rotation through 180° about an axis of the yoke. The inventive structure provides greater freedom of movement than the prior art, and in many applications will allow rotation for more than 180°.

Claims

1. A gas spring and mount combination comprising:

a gas spring having a piston movable within a cylinder, at least one of said piston and said cylinder extending to a yoke;

a socket pivotally received in said yoke, said yoke being free to pivot about said socket along a first axis; and

a connecting member received in said socket, and free to move within said socket about a second axis, distinct from said first axis.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said socket is pivotally mounted on pins within said yoke.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pins are mounted in holes within said yoke.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said socket includes a clip for holding said socket against said connecting member.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein said connecting member is ball shaped, such that said connecting member is free to move generally universally within said socket, but through a limited angle about said first axis.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said socket includes a securement member for securing said connecting member within said socket.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said connecting member is free to move only about said second axis within said socket.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said piston extends to a first end and said cylinder extends to a second end opposed to said first end, with socket and connecting member connections received within yokes at each of said first and said second ends.

9. A movable panel and vehicle body member assembly comprising:

a movable panel pivotally connected to a body member;

at least one gas spring intermediate said movable panel and said body member, said at least one gas spring having a piston movable within a cylinder, a piston mount structure for mounting said piston to one of said movable panel and said body member, and a cylinder mount structure for mounting said cylinder to the other of said movable panel and said body member; and

at least one of said piston and said cylinder mount structures having a socket mounted in a yoke attached to a respective one of said piston and said cylinder, said yoke being free to pivot about said socket along a first axis, and said socket receiving a connecting member being fixed to one of said movable panel and said body member such that said connecting member can pivot about at least a second axis, distinct from said first axis, relative to said socket.

10. The assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said socket includes a clip for holding said socket against said connecting member.

11. The assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said connecting member is ball shaped, such that said connecting member is free to move generally universally relative to said socket, but through a limited angle about said first axis.

12. The assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said socket includes a securement member for securing said connecting member within said socket.

13. The assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said connecting member is free to move only about said second axis within said socket.

14. The assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said socket is pivotally mounted on pins within said yoke.

15. The assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said socket is pivotally mounted on pins received within said yoke.

16. The assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein both of said piston and said cylinder mount structures include said socket and said connecting member, and with said sockets both being pivotally mounted within a yoke.