Polymeric apparatus and method of making the same

Claim 3

A shock and vibration isolator produced by the method of claim 1.

Claim 4

A method of making a compression spring unit employing the hollow body produced by the method as set forth in claim 1 and having a pair of pressure plates positioned on the axial ends of said compression springs, said method comprising the further steps of: providing said plates with means to mechanically join said plates to said hollow body; positioning said plates on the axial ends of said hollow body with the joining means in engagement with said body; said axial force causing said elastomer material to flow and form a mechanical bond between said body and said plates.

Claim 5

A compression spring unit produced by the method of claim 1.

Claim 6

A method of making a multiple unit compression spring assembly employing a plurality of hollow bodies produced by the method as set forth in claim 1 comprising the further steps of; providing a plurality of pressure plates having means to mechanically join said plates to adjacent hollow bodies; placing a plurality of said hollow bodies in axial alignment in a stack, with one of said plates positioned between each adjacent hollow body and the joining means on said plates in engagement with the associated hollow bodies; said axial force causing the elastomer material comprising said hollow bodies to flow and form a mechanical bond between said bodies and the engaged pressure plates.

Claim 7

A multi-unit compression spring assembly produced by the method of claim 5.

Claim 10

A method in accordance with claim 1 or claim 7 wherein the core opening extends partially through the block of elastomer material.

Claim 11

A method in accordance with claim 1 or 7 wherein the core opening extends axially through the block of elastomer material.

Claim 12

A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said material comprises a copolyester polymer elastomer material.

Claim 13

A method in accordance with claim 1 or 7 wherein said axial force is sufficient to compress said block in the range of about 30% to 80% of its initial axial length.

Claim 14

A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said axial force compresses said block to about 50% of its initial axial length.

Claim 15

A method in accordance with claim 1 or 7 wherein said core opening is formed by boring an opening having a selected diameter axially into said block.

Claim 16

A method in accordance with claim 1 or 7 wherein said core opening is providing by molding an axially extending opening in said block.

Claim 17

A method in accordance with claim 1 or 7 including the step of forming at one end of said block a neck portion centrally positioned with respect to said core opening and having a selected axial extent and a transverse extent reduced with respect to said transverse shape of said block.

Claim 18

A method in accordance with claim 15 including the step of forming said neck portion at both ends of the block.

Claim 19

A method in accordance with claim 1 or 7 wherein said core opening is centrally located with respect to said block to provide sidewalls which are substantially uniform and symmetrical with respect to the axis of said hollow body.

Claim 20

A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said transverse shape of said block defines an external surface similar to and co-axial with said core opening.

Claim 21

A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein said transverse shape of said block and said core opening are circular so that said hollow body will be generally toroidal into configuration.

Claim 22

A wheel produced by the method of claim 19.

Claim 23

A compression spring produced by the method of claim 7.

Claim 24

An energy absorption bumper produced by the method of claims 1 or 7.

Claim 25

A compression spring member comprising a body of thermoplastic elastomeric material having a selected transverse configuration and axial free height and transversely expanded hollow central core opening extending substantially therethrough, the material and said opening being uniform in cross-sections perpendicular to a central axis, said material being such that upon being axially compressed at least 30% of said initial axial length the material will permanently retain a substantial portion of the length reduction after being compressed, defined by axially compressing said body having the uniform said core opening, by an extent equal to at least thirty percent of the initial height of he uncompressed elastomeric material such that the configuration of the core opening is permanently expended transversely outwardly.

Claim 26

A compression spring member comprising a body of thermoplastic elastomeric material having a selected transverse configuration and axial free height and transversely expanded hollow central core opening extending substantially therethrough, the material and said opening being uniform in cross-sections perpendicular to a central axis, said material being such that upon being axially compressed at least 30% of said initial axial length the material will permanently retain a substantial portion of the length reduction after being compressed, defined by axially compressing said body having the uniform said core opening, by an extent equal to at least thirty percent of the initial height of he uncompressed elastomeric material such that the configuration of the core opening is permanently expended transversely outwardly.

Claim 27

A spring member in accordance with claim 23 wherein said material is a copolyester polymer elastomer material.

Claim 28

A spring member in accordance with claim 23 wherein said hollow core is similar to and co-axial with respect to the transverse configuration of said body so that said hollow body is generally symmetrical about its axis.

Claim 29

A spring member in accordance with claim 23 wherein said block is formed with a neck portion axially aligned with said core on at least one axial end of said block and extending axially from said end and adapted to absorb lateral and torsional forces applied to said spring.

Claim 30

A spring in accordance with claim 26 wherein a neck portion is provided on both axial ends of said block.

Claim 33

A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein said core is formed in said block to extend axially therethrough.

Claim 34

A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein an end wall is formed in said spring by extending said core opening only partially through said block.

Claim 35

A method of producing a spring in accordance with claim 28 including annealing said block before the application of said compressive force thereto.

Claim 36

A vibration dampening system for use as a motor mount or the like comprising: first mounting means defining a relatively rigid frame structure; second mounting means defining a relatively movable frame structure adapted to be connected to the source of vibration energy to be dampened; and a pair of hollow compression spring members positioned between said first and second mounting means and arranged to be compressed to thereby dampen the vibratory motion between said mounting means; each of said hollow spring members comprising a body of thermoplastic material having a hollow central core opening extending substantially therethrough, said material and said opening being uniform in cross-sections perpendicular to a central axis, said material being such that upon being axially compressed at least 30% of said initial axial length the material will permanently retain a substantial portion of the length reduction after being compressed, and defined by axially compressing said body with the uniform core opening of an initial configuration by an extent equal to at least 30% of the initial uncompressed height of said body to permanently set the body and to permanently change the hollow central core opening from its initial configuration to a permanent expanded configuration.

Claim 37

A vibration dampening system for use as a motor mount or the like comprising: first mounting means defining a relatively rigid frame structure; second mounting means defining a relatively movable frame structure adapted to be connected to the source of vibration energy to be dampened; and a pair of hollow compression spring members positioned between said first and second mounting means and arranged to be compressed to thereby dampen the vibratory motion between said mounting means; each of said hollow spring members comprising a body of thermoplastic material having a hollow central core opening extending substantially therethrough, said material and said opening being uniform in cross-sections perpendicular to a central axis, said material being such that upon being axially compressed at least 30% of said initial axial length the material will permanently retain a substantial portion of the length reduction after being compressed, and defined by axially compressing said body with the uniform core opening of an initial configuration by an extent equal to at least 30% of the initial uncompressed height of said body to permanently set the body and to permanently change the hollow central core opening from its initial configuration to a permanent expanded configuration.

Claim 38

A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said bodies are formed from copolyester polymer elastomeric material.

Claim 39

A system in accordance with claim 32 or 33 wherein said bodies are provided with axially extending neck portions which engage with said mounting means and dampen the lateral and torsional motion between said mounting means.