Patent ID: 7458314

Claim:
A gas spring comprising: a cylinder having an open end and being filled with a gas; a piston rod projecting outward from the open end of the cylinder in accordance with a pressure of the gas, which performs elongation/contraction depending on an axial load exerted thereon; a dust seal disposed in the cylinder in contact with the piston rod to prevent dust from entering the cylinder through the open end thereof; a seal protecting member which shields the dust seal from exposure to the outside of the cylinder, and having an engaging portion having a cylindrical shape, and a shield portion extending inward from a tip of the engaging portion towards the piston rod; and a bearing which is fixed to the open end of the cylinder to allow the piston rod to slide therethrough, and retains the dust seal and the protecting member thereon, said bearing comprising a small diameter part forming an annular space between an inner circumference of the cylinder and the bearing, the engaging portion of said seal protecting member being fitted on an outer circumference of the small diameter part.