Patent ID: 8042840

Claim:
A flexible coupling for use in automotive exhaust systems and comprising: a plurality of elongated elements extending from and between respective ends of said coupling; at least a first element of said plurality of elongated elements extending from one of said ends being spaced from a second element of said plurality of elongated elements extending from another of said coupling ends; complementary end portions of said first and said second elements defining a cushion holding pocket therebetween; a cushion captured in said pocket between said end portions of said elongated first and second elements, said element end portions extending about said cushion from respective ends of said coupling; a non-metallic bellows having respective bellows ends and extending from one end of said coupling to another end thereof and attached at its bellows ends to respective ends of said coupling; one of said first and second elements also defining an innermost wall of said coupling; and said plurality of elongated elements including a third element oriented proximate and extending from one end of said coupling ends toward said another coupling end and partially defining said cushion holding pocket together with said first and second elements.