Patent ID: 9188187
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: B05B,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A gas spring assembly for permanent installation in a vehicle in advance of a painting process to which the vehicle is subjected, comprising: a gas spring comprising a cylinder having a closed end and an open end, a piston rod telescopingly received at one end within the open end of the cylinder and having a free end outside of the cylinder, and an end fitting mounted on each of the closed end of the cylinder and the free end of the piston rod, each end fitting comprising a ball socket having an opening for receiving a ball stud; and a removable protective sleeve enclosing the gas spring in its entirety, including the end fittings, and being closed at both ends thereof, said protective sleeve comprising a flexible, liquid spray-impermeable material capable of extending and contracting with telescopic movement of the piston rod relative to the cylinder and of being substantially stripped from the gas spring following the completion of the painting process, leaving the gas spring as a permanent component of the vehicle, wherein the protective sleeve is positioned to cause the ball studs to penetrate the removable protective sleeve within the ball socket openings to prevent exposure of the gas spring when the gas spring assembly is installed in the vehicle.