Patent ID: 6926264

Claim:
An air spring ( 1 ) for absorbing and transmitting shock loads between parts moveable relative to one another, the air spring ( 1 ) comprising a flexible cylindrical sleeve ( 2 ) which is secured at each end to form a fluid chamber ( 14 ) therein, a piston ( 11 ), the sleeve ( 2 ) being secured at one end ( 6 ) to a retainer ( 8 ) and being secured at the opposing end ( 9 ) by the piston ( 11 ), the air spring being characterized by: the retainer ( 8 ) being integrally formed with an intermediate ribbed reinforcement structure ( 16 ) to strengthen the retainer, allowing for direct mounting of the air spring ( 1 ) to one of the moveable parts, the intermediate ribbed reinforcement structure ( 16 ) of the retainer ( 8 ) comprising an outer plate ( 18 ) and an inner plate ( 19 ) which are parallel to each other, and a plurality of ribs ( 17 to 20 ) that extend between the outer plate ( 18 ) and the inner plate ( 19 ).