Spring devices – Vehicle – Elastomeric
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-03-06
Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)
Spring devices
Vehicle
Elastomeric
C267S141000, C267S153000, C267S257000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196531
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compression spring formed of an elastic body made from a resin or rubber.
2. Description of Related Art
Compression springs of this type are known. One type of known compression spring includes an elastic body formed into a cylindrical shape, wherein a compression energy generated when the compression spring is pressed in the radial direction is absorbed by elastic deformation of the elastic body in the direction the elastic body is flattened.
For example, a compression spring shown in
FIG. 9
of the present invention is disclosed in Japanese Patent (PCT international application) Laid-open No. Hei 7-502698, wherein a cylindrical main body comprises two cylindrical elastic bodies
01
and
02
stacked in the radial direction. A connecting portion
03
is formed into a neck-shape between the two cylindrical elastic bodies. Furthermore, a flat top plate
04
and a flat bottom plate
05
are provided on the two cylindrical bodies
01
and
02
, respectively.
The top plate
04
, the bottom plate
05
and the connecting portion
03
respectively have circular holes
04
a,
05
a
and
03
a
through which a bolt co-axially passes.
Compression energy generated when the compression spring is pressed in the radial direction is absorbed by elastic deformation of the cylindrical elastic bodies
01
and
02
in the direction the elastic bodies
01
and
02
are flattened.
The above compression spring is used in a state in which a bolt passes through the circular holes
04
a,
05
a
and
03
a
respectively formed in the top plate
04
, bottom plate
05
and connecting portion
03
for stabilizing the shape of the compression spring when the compression spring is deformed. In other words, if the compressing spring is not supported by the above bolt, the cylindrical main body may be bent at the necked connecting portion
03
, resulting in it being difficult to ensure a specific load-deformation characteristic of the compression spring because of instability of the shape upon deformation.
In this way, the related art compression spring cannot stably absorb a compression energy unless it is supported by a supporting member such as a bolt. The related art compression spring which requires such a supporting member limits the versatility of the compression spring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been made, and an object of the present invention is to provide a compression spring made of an elastic body which is capable of having a stabilized shape upon deformation without the use of any supporting member. A specific load-deformation characteristic of the compression spring of the present invention is therefore ensured.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compression spring made of an elastic body comprising a cylindrical spring main body, wherein compression energy generated when the compression spring is pressed in the radial direction is absorbed by elastic deformation of the cylindrical spring main body. In the compression spring of the present invention, a base which has a flat bottom surface swelled along a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction is formed on the pressing force receiving side of the spring main body. Furthermore; a reinforcing wall for connecting the swelled portion of the base to a side portion of the cylindrical spring main body is formed integrally with the spring main body.
Since the swelled portion of the base is connected to a side portion of the cylindrical spring main body by means of the reinforcing wall so as to reinforce the connecting portion between the spring main body and the base, when the compression spring is pressed in the radial direction, the connecting portion between the spring main body and the base is prevented from being bent in one direction without requiring any supporting member. This prevents the spring main body from being tilted to an unbalanced state, thereby stabilizing the shape of the compression spring upon deformation and ensuring a specific load-deformation characteristic. The compression spring of the present invention, which does not require any supporting member, can be used for an increased number of applications and is therefore very versatile.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compression spring made of an elastic body comprising a cylindrical spring main body, wherein compression energy generated when the compression spring is pressed in the radial direction is absorbed by elastic deformation of the cylindrical spring main body. The compression spring includes the spring main body being formed of a plurality of cylindrical elastic bodies stacked in the radial direction. Furthermore; one or more reinforcing walls for connecting adjacent side portions of the plurality of cylindrical elastic bodies to each other are formed integrally with the spring main body.
Since the spring main body is formed of a plurality of cylindrical elastic bodies stacked in the radial direction, and each connecting portion between adjacent cylindrical elastic bodies is reinforced by connecting the side portions of the adjacent cylindrical elastic bodies by means of the reinforcing wall, when the compression spring is pressed in a radial direction, the connecting portion between the adjacent cylindrical elastic bodies is prevented from being bent in one direction without requiring any supporting member. This prevents the spring main body from being tilted to an unbalanced state, thereby stabilizing the shape of the compression spring upon deformation and ensuring a specific load-deformation characteristic. The compression spring of the present invention, which does not require any supporting member, can be used for an increased number of applications and is therefore very versatile.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compression spring made of an elastic body comprising a cylindrical spring main body, wherein compression energy generated when the compression spring is pressed in the radial direction is absorbed by elastic deformation of the cylindrical spring main body. The compression spring of the present invention includes a base, which has a flat bottom surface swelled along a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, formed on the pressing force receiving side of the spring main body. The base forms a part of the cylindrical spring main body since a flat upper surface thereof partially intersects a circular hollow of the cylindrical portion of the cylindrical spring main body.
Since the base forms a part of the cylindrical spring main body in the state where the flat upper surface thereof partially intersects a circular hollow of the cylindrical portion of the cylindrical spring main body, both side portions of the spring main body, serving as leg portions, are connected to the flat plate like base. Therefore, when the compression spring is pressed in the radial direction, the spring main body is prevented from being tilted in an unbalanced state without requiring any supporting member, thereby stabilizing the shape of the compression spring main body upon deformation and ensuring a specific load-deformation characteristic. The compression spring of the present invention, which does not require any supporting member, can be used for an increased number of applications and is therefore very versatile.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3955808 (1976-05-01), Jorn et al.
patent: 4098498 (1978-07-01), Da Silva
paten
Makino Hiroki
Tomizawa Tsutomu
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Kramer Devon
Oberleitner Robert J.
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