Patent ID: 8739683

Claim:
A gas spring assembly comprising: a flexible sleeve including a sleeve wall extending between longitudinally-spaced sleeve ends and having a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said sleeve wall extending circumferentially about said axis to at least partially define a spring chamber; an end member secured along one of said ends of said flexible sleeve such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed with said sleeve wall; and, a piston secured on the other of said ends of said flexible sleeve such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed with said sleeve wall, said piston including a first end wall abuttingly engaging said sleeve wall and an outer side wall extending transverse to said first end wall and suitable for rolling a lobe of said sleeve wall therealong, said outer side wall including: a first side wall portion at least partially defining a fully circumferential support area for abuttingly engaging said flexible sleeve; a second side wall portion extending longitudinally from said first side wall portion in a direction away from said first end wall, said second side wall portion defining a first partially circumferential support area that extends around less than the full circumference of said piston; and, a third side wall portion extending longitudinally from said first side wall portion in a direction away from said first end wall, said third side wall portion disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to said second side wall portion and defining a third partially circumferential support area that extends around less than the full circumference of said piston; said first and second partially circumferential support areas being dimensioned to abuttingly engage corresponding circumferential portions of said flexible sleeve upon longitudinal displacement of said lobe of said sleeve wall beyond said fully circumferential support area.