Patent ID: 7520517

Claim:
A leaf spring assembly comprising: a plurality of leaf springs held in a stacked relationship, said plurality of leaf springs comprising a main spring and a safety spring, each spring having opposite first and second surfaces and opposite ends, said springs being vertically stacked first surface to second surface and the first surface of said main spring being opposite said safety spring; axle seats coupled to the main spring at opposite ends thereof, each axle seat comprising: a first mounting element coupled to the main spring and disposed against the first surface thereof; and a second mounting element disposed to a side of the safety spring opposite said main spring in opposition to said first mounting element; said first and second mounting elements being clamped together with at least the main and safety springs therebetween; and retaining elements each disposed at a respective one of the opposite ends of said safety spring, each of said retaining elements comprising: an extension portion extending to a respective one of the opposite ends of the main spring; and a blocking portion extending from the extension portion at a position therealong past the respective one of the opposite ends of the main spring to a side of the extension portion on which the main spring is located past the first surface of the main spring; the blocking portions of the retaining elements thereby being arranged to block movement of the axle seats longitudinally off the plurality of leaf springs should at least one of the opposite ends of the main spring break off or at least one of said axle seats become uncoupled from said main spring.