Patent ID: 8186490

Claim:
An interface for controlling mechanical vibrations, comprising a base connection element; a load connection element disposed in spaced apart relationship with the base connection element ; at least one energy converting system extending between the base connection element and the load connection element and operative to exert or respond to forces in a preferred direction tending to change the separation between said base connection element and said load connection element, said preferred direction being parallel to an axis extending through both said base connection element and said load connection element; at least one elastic pretensioning element connecting the base connection element and the load connection element and exerting a mechanical preload in said preferred direction on the energy converting system; at least one shear diverting element disposed between the base connection element and the load connection element, said shear diverting element including a first generally two-dimensional element flexible in said preferred direction and a connector element, said first two-dimensional element extending transverse to the preferred direction and having a central portion thereof spaced from said load connection element, said first two-dimensional element being affixed to said load connection element on opposite sides of said central portion, said base connection element being joined to said first two-dimensional element by said connector element.