Patent ID: 7318583

Claim:
A method of making a curved elastomeric spring comprising the steps of: providing a monolithic preform having first and second longitudinally spaced ends along with first and second continuous curved surfaces extending between said first and second ends, with said first and second surfaces being radially spaced and in generally parallel relation relative to each other for a major portion of their respective lengths and with said first and second surfaces being arranged on opposite sides of a curved longitudinal centerline defined by said preform, with said preform being formed from an elastomer which is free of spring-like characteristics, and with said preform having an initial predetermined length defined by a longitudinal distance between first and second ends, and wherein the elastomer from which said preform is formed has a molecular structure along with a ratio of plastic strain to elastic strain greater than 1.5 to 1; longitudinally working said preform so as to orient the molecular structure of said elastomer in at least one direction so as to transmute said preform into said elastomeric spring.