Patent ID: 7857273

Claim:
A plate for a compressible elastomeric spring including a pad defining a central axis and having a peripheral side surface and a pair of axial ends, each of the pair of axial ends having a flat surface thereof disposed normal to the central axis, said plate comprising: (a) a plate member manufactured from a predetermined material and having each of a first substantially flat surface, an opposed second substantially flat surface, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined shape; (b) a predetermined plurality of prongs at least one of formed integrally with said plate member and secured to one substantially flat surface of said plate member, each of said predetermined plurality of prongs having a trapezoidal shape and extending outwardly at a predetermined angle relative to said one substantially flat surface for mechanically interlocking said plate member with an axial end of the pad abutting said one substantially flat surface; and (c) said predetermined plurality of prongs disposed in a circular pattern about the central axis, whereby a surface of said each of said predetermined plurality of prongs facing the central axis is disposed tangentially to a periphery of said circular pattern.