Patent ID: 7806391
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
1. An air spring assembly adapted for securement between two associated structural members of an associated vehicle, said air spring assembly comprising: an air spring including a first longitudinally-extending axis, a first component adapted to engage one of the associated structural members and having a spring structural feature, a second component disposed in spaced relation to said first component, a flexible wall secured between said first and second components that at least partially defining a spring chamber therebetween, and a spring indexing feature disposed on one of said first and second components and in a rotational orientation about said axis relative to said spring structural feature; and, a third component suitable for engaging said one of said first and second components of said air spring, said third component including a first side, an opposing second side, a second axis extending between said first and second sides, a component structural feature, and a first indexing feature complimentary to said spring indexing feature, said first side disposed toward said one of said first and second components and said second side disposed toward one of the two associated structural members; said first indexing feature disposed on said third component toward said first side and in a first predetermined rotational orientation about said second axis relative to said component structural feature, said first indexing feature operative to cause said third component to rotate about said second axis upon engagement of said first indexing feature with said spring indexing feature such that said component structural feature is thereby displaced into an approximately aligned orientation with said spring structural feature, at least one of said spring indexing feature and said first indexing feature including a substantially continuous end wall extending approximately transverse to a corresponding one of said first and second axes with said end wall including an indexing conformation having a plurality of repetitions of a geometric pattern.