Patent ID: 7159317

Claim:
A method for forming a vibration isolator comprising the steps of (a) providing a flat metal sheet, said metal sheet having first surface and a second surface parallel to said first surface, first and second end edges extending between said first surface and said second surface, a first side edge extending between said first surface and said second surface and extending between said first and second end edges thereby forming a first line of juncture between said second surface and said first side edge, and a second side edge spaced from said first side edge extending between said first surface and said second surface and extending between said first and second end edges thereby forming a second line of juncture between said second surface and said second side edge, each of said first and second side edges being disposed at an angle non-perpendicular to the first and second surfaces such that, upon deformation of said sheet from flat to a tubular formation in which said first surface forms the interior of said tubular formation and said second surface forms the exterior of said tubular formation, said first line of juncture will contact said second line of juncture in the area of said second surface while portions of said first side edge closer to said first surface are spaced apart from opposing portions of said second side edge to thereby form a gap at said interior; (b) deforming said sheet into a tubular formation with said first surface forming the interior of said tubular formation and said second surface forming the exterior thereof; (c) encircling said tubular formation in a rigid enclosure; (d) applying compressive forces axially on said first and second end edges to squeeze said first and second end edges toward on another and expand said tubular formation into contact with said rigid enclosure and deform said spaced apart portions of said first and second side edges into sealing contact with one another to close said gap and form a tube; and (e) injection molding rubber around an exterior circumferential portion of said tube.