US4811983A — Gas spring with latching stop mechanism for use o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 164 words

A gas spring, comprising: a cylinder body; a piston rod having a first end extending from the cylinder body and adapted for reciprocal linear movement between a normally extended position and a retracted position; a stop tube mounted to the first end of the piston rod and telescopically cooperable with the cylinder body; two slots positioned on opposite sides of and extending through the stop tube; a stop slide having a pair of legs adapted to slide within the slots of the stop tube and having a release portion which will permit the cylinder body to pass between the legs, and a stop portion which will prohibit the cylinder body from passing between the legs; and bias means for releasably and automatically biasing the stop slide from a release position at which the release portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body toward a stop position at which the stop portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 164 words

A gas spring, comprising: a cylinder body; a piston rod having a first end extending from the cylinder body and adapted for reciprocal linear movement between a normally extended position and a retracted position; a stop tube mounted to the first end of the piston rod and telescopically cooperable with the cylinder body; two slots positioned on opposite sides of and extending through the stop tube; a stop slide having a pair of legs adapted to slide within the slots of the stop tube and having a release portion which will permit the cylinder body to pass between the legs, and a stop portion which will prohibit the cylinder body from passing between the legs; and bias means for releasably and automatically biasing the stop slide from a release position at which the release portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body toward a stop position at which the stop portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The gas spring of claim 1 wherein the bias means includes a spring.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The gas spring of claim 1 wherein the slots are parallel to one another and positioned in a transverse direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the stop tube.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The gas spring of claim 1 wherein the cylinder body and release portion of stop slide are circular in cross section.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The gas spring of claim 1 wherein the stop slide includes: a U-shaped slide lock; a slide support; and fastener means for fastening the slide support to the slide lock.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The gas spring of claim 2 wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring having a first end mounted to the stop tube and a second end coupled to the stop slide.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 201 words

A gas spring for supporting a cab enclosure pivotably mounted to a vehicle, comprising: a cylinder body having a first end pivotably mounted to one of the cab enclosure and vehicle, and a second end; a piston rod having a first end extending from the cylinder body, pivotably mounted to the other of the cab enclosure and vehicle, and adapted for reciprocal linear movement between a normally extended position and a retracted position; a stop tube mounted with respect to the gas spring and telescopically cooperable with the cylinder body, two slots positioned on opposite sides of and extending through the stop tube; a stop slide having a pair of legs adapted to slide within the slots of the stop tube and having a release portion at which the cylinder body can pass between the legs, and a stop portion at which the cylinder body is prohibited from passing between the legs; and bias means for releasably and automatically biasing the stop slide from a release position at which the release portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body toward a stop position at which the stop portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 201 words

A gas spring for supporting a cab enclosure pivotably mounted to a vehicle, comprising: a cylinder body having a first end pivotably mounted to one of the cab enclosure and vehicle, and a second end; a piston rod having a first end extending from the cylinder body, pivotably mounted to the other of the cab enclosure and vehicle, and adapted for reciprocal linear movement between a normally extended position and a retracted position; a stop tube mounted with respect to the gas spring and telescopically cooperable with the cylinder body, two slots positioned on opposite sides of and extending through the stop tube; a stop slide having a pair of legs adapted to slide within the slots of the stop tube and having a release portion at which the cylinder body can pass between the legs, and a stop portion at which the cylinder body is prohibited from passing between the legs; and bias means for releasably and automatically biasing the stop slide from a release position at which the release portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body toward a stop position at which the stop portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

The gas spring of claim 7 wherein the bias means includes a spring.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The gas spring of claim 8 wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring having a first end mounted to the stop tube and a second end coupled to the stop slide.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The gas spring of claim 7 wherein the two slots are parallel to one another and positioned in a transverse direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the stop tube.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

The gas spring of claim 7 wherein the cylinder body and release portion of the stop slide are circular in cross section.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

The gas spring of claim 7 wherein the stop slide includes: a U-shaped slide lock, a slide support: and fastener means for fastening the slide support to the slide lock.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 53 words

The invention of claim 7 and further including release means having a first end coupled to the stop slide and a second end mounted for access within the cab enclosure, for permitting an operator to actuate the stop slide against the bias means at a location out of reach of the gas spring.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The invention of claim 13 wherein the release means includes a cable having a first end connected to the stop slide and a second end coupled to the cab enclosure.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

The invention of claim 14 and further including means for mounting a length of the cable near its second end adjacent a lower side edge of the cab enclosure.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The invention of claim 15 and further including means for mounting the second end of the cable to the front edge of the cab enclosure adjacent the lower side edge.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The invention of claim 14 and further including a spring coupled to the cable for taking up slack.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 61 words

The invention of claim 17 and further including: a bolt; and means for mounting the bolt in spaced-apart relation to the stop tube with a longitudinal axis of the bolt oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stop tube, a first end of the spring mounted to the bolt and the cable extending between the bolt and the stop tube.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The invention of claim 13 and further including a handle mounted adjacent the second end of the release means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 258 words

A vehicle including: a frame; a cab enclosure pivotably mounted to the frame for rotation between an operating position and a raised position; a gas spring having a cylinder body mounted to one of the frame and the cab enclosure, and a piston rod adapted for reciprocal movement between a normally extending position and a retracted position within the cylinder body and mounted to the other of the frame and cab enclosure, for supporting the cab enclosure in its raised position when the piston rod is extended from the a stop tube mounted with respect to the piston rod and telescopically cooperable with the cylinder body; two slots positioned on opposite sides of and extending through the stop tube; a stop slide having a pair of legs adapted to slide within the slots of the stop tube and having a release portion which will permit the cylinder body to pass between the legs, and a stop portion which will prohibit the cylinder body from passing between the legs; bias means for biasing the stop slide from a release position at which the release portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body toward a stop position at which the stop portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body; and release means having a first end coupled to the stop slide and a second end mounted for access within the cab enclosure, for permitting the stop slide to be moved to its release position from a location out of reach from the stop slide.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 258 words

A vehicle including: a frame; a cab enclosure pivotably mounted to the frame for rotation between an operating position and a raised position; a gas spring having a cylinder body mounted to one of the frame and the cab enclosure, and a piston rod adapted for reciprocal movement between a normally extending position and a retracted position within the cylinder body and mounted to the other of the frame and cab enclosure, for supporting the cab enclosure in its raised position when the piston rod is extended from the a stop tube mounted with respect to the piston rod and telescopically cooperable with the cylinder body; two slots positioned on opposite sides of and extending through the stop tube; a stop slide having a pair of legs adapted to slide within the slots of the stop tube and having a release portion which will permit the cylinder body to pass between the legs, and a stop portion which will prohibit the cylinder body from passing between the legs; bias means for biasing the stop slide from a release position at which the release portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body toward a stop position at which the stop portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body; and release means having a first end coupled to the stop slide and a second end mounted for access within the cab enclosure, for permitting the stop slide to be moved to its release position from a location out of reach from the stop slide.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 30 words

The vehicle of claim 20 wherein the release means comprises a cable having a first end connected to the stop slide and a second end coupled to the cab enclosure.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The vehicle of claim 21 and further including a spring coupled to the cable for taking up slack.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 62 words

The vehicle of claim 22 and further including: a bolt; and means for mounting the bolt in spaced apart relation to the gas spring with a longitudinal axis of the bolt oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the gas spring, a first end of the spring mounted to the bolt and the cable extending between the bolt and the gas spring.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

The vehicle of claim 21 and further including means for mounting a length of the cable near the second end adjacent a lower side edge of the cab enclosure.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 30 words

The vehicle of claim 24 and further including means for mounting the second end of the cable to a front edge of the cab enclosure adjacent the lower side edge.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The vehicle of claim 24 and further including a handle mounted to the second end of the cable.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 31 words

The vehicle of claim 20 wherein the bias means includes a leaf spring having a first end mounted to the stop tube and a second end coupled to the stop slide.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-03-13	1992-09-12	1993-03-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-03-13	1996-09-12	1997-03-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-03-13	2000-09-12	2001-03-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gas spring with latching stop mechanism for use on skid-steer loaders

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