Patent ID: 7651107

Claim:
A suspension deflection assembly for a vehicle comprising: a housing for mounting directly to and underneath a frame rail of the vehicle at a fixed location relative to the frame rail, the housing comprising first and second leg portions projecting downwardly in a first direction away from the frame rail; a mounting bracket connected to the housing and adapted to be connected to a longitudinal side of the frame rail; a leaf spring having an end portion and a trough opening in the end portion, the end portion extending into the housing between the first and second leg portions, wherein no other leaf springs extend into the housing; first and second supports disposed in the housing, the first support being coupled to the housing, the second support being spaced in the first direction away from the first support; an elastomeric body positioned at least partially between said first and second supports and coupling said first support to said second support, the elastomeric body being positioned in the housing between the first and second leg portions of the housing and below the frame rail, wherein the elastomeric body comprising first and second opposed body end surfaces coupled respectively to the first and second supports, the elastomeric body also comprising first and second body side surfaces extending between the body end surfaces, the body side surfaces being closer to one another at a location intermediate to the body end surfaces than at the first and second supports; a projection extending from said second support in the first direction and sized for insertion substantially in the first direction into and through the leaf spring through opening, wherein the assembly lacks any nuts or retention members mounted to the projection for retaining the projection within the through opening, the projection comprising a lower portion extending below the through opening, the lower portion having a generally triangular configuration and a maximum cross-sectional profile that is smaller than the through opening; and a stop spaced in the first direction from the second support, the stop being connected to and extending transversely between said first and second leg portions, the stop being positioned such that at least a portion of the leaf spring is disposed between the second support and the stop.