Patent ID: 7070176

Claim:
Spring mechanism assemblies which facilitate the movement of a trailer ramp door, and having spring mechanisms that are completely protected from weather elements when said trailer ramp door is closed, comprising: a pair of elastic spring means each having a top end and a bottom end, said elastic spring means providing dampening of the downward movement of said trailer ramp door and providing lifting assistance for the upward movement of said trailer ramp door; a pair of side members of a trailer rear entrance frame to which said trailer ramp door is attached, said pair of side members each having openings formed on each of their top surfaces, each of said openings formed to receive each of said elastic spring means and formed to completely enclose each of said elastic spring means in conjunction with said trailer ramp door when said trailer ramp door is closed; means for securely attaching each said top end of each of said elastic spring means separately inside each of said openings; and means for securely attaching each said bottom end of each of said elastic spring means separately to the inner surface of each of two flange members, each flange member being formed from and extending outwardly from each side of said trailer ramp door; whereby said elastic spring means facilitate both the opening of said trailer ramp door and the closing of said trailer ramp door, and said closing of said trailer ramp door inserts each of said elastic spring means into each of said openings and simultaneously causes each of said flange members to completely cover each of said elastic spring means while inserted in each of said openings, thereby completely enclosing each of said elastic spring means in each of said openings and providing complete protection of said elastic spring means from weather elements.