Patent ID: 7896320

Claim:
A gas spring assembly for use in forming an associated suspension system between an associated sprung mass and an associated unsprung mass of an associated vehicle, said gas spring assembly comprising: a first end member capable of being operatively connected to one of the associated sprung and unsprung masses; a second end member capable of being operatively connected to the other of the associated sprung and unsprung masses; a flexible wall including first and second open ends and disposed between said first and second end members to at least partially define a gas chamber therebetween, said first open end being secured on said first end member and said second open end being disposed along said second end member; an end closure including a closure bottom wall and a closure side wall extending from said closure bottom wall, said end closure positioned such that said closure bottom wall is disposed toward said second end member and said closure side wall is in abutting engagement with said second open end of said flexible wall, said end closure being secured along said second end member such that a substantially fluid-tight connection is formed along said second open end of said flexible wall; a bumper retainer including a retainer bottom wall and a retainer side wall extending from said retainer bottom wall, said retainer bottom wall including an opening extending therethrough, said bumper retainer supported on said second end member within said end closure such that said retainer bottom wall is disposed in abutting engagement with said closure bottom wall and said retainer side wall is disposed radially inwardly from said closure side wall; and, a resilient bumper including a bumper top wall, a bumper bottom wall, a bumper side wall extending therebetween and having a central axis extending between said bumper top and bottom walls, said resilient bumper on said second end member in fixed relation thereto and received within said bumper retainer such that at least a portion of said bumper bottom wall extends through said opening in said retainer bottom wall and abuttingly engages said closure bottom wall and such that at least a portion of said bumper side wall is disposed radially inwardly of said retainer side wall forming a free volume therebetween, said free volume capable of permitting said retainer side wall to engage said bumper side wall under axial deflection of said jounce bumper to thereby restrict radially outward deflection of said jounce bumper.