Patent ID: 8141854

Claim:
A gas spring assembly for securement between spaced first and second associated structural components of an associated vehicle, said gas spring assembly comprising: a first end member adapted for securement along the first associated structural component of the associated vehicle; a piston assembly spaced from said first end member with a longitudinally- extending central axis disposed therebetween; and, a flexible wall disposed about said axis and secured between said first end member and said piston assembly, said flexible wall including a first open end and an opposing second open end; said piston assembly including a piston body and a retainment ring, said piston body including a first end disposed toward said first end member and a second end disposed away from said first end member with an outer side wall extending at least partially therebetween; said second end including a base wall adapted for securement along the second associated structural component; said first end including a first lateral wall portion extending approximately transverse to said axis and an annular wall portion extending axially from said first lateral wall portion generally away from said second end; said second open end of said flexible wall having a cross-sectional wall thickness, said second open end received on said annular wall portion such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed between said second open end and said annular wall portion; and, said retainment ring including an axially extending annular side wall and a flange wall extending radially-outwardly from said side wall, said retainment ring received on said first end of said piston body such that a distance between said flange wall and said first lateral wall portion is greater than said cross-sectional wall thickness and a gap is thereby formed between said flexible wall and at least one of said flange wall and said first lateral wall portion, wherein said annular wall portion of said first end includes at least one projection extending radially outwardly and including a projection end wall disposed toward and extending in approximate alignment with said first lateral wall portion.