Mounting bracket assemblies as well as suspension assemblies, kits and methods including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11472247-B2
Application number	US-202017039684-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 1, 2019
Publication date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 18, 2022

Abstract

Mounting bracket assemblies including a base bracket and a clamp. The base bracket includes a base bracket wall with a base wall portion having a first surface portion and a second surface portion. The base bracket is positioned along an existing jounce bumper mount of a vehicle with the first surface portion engaging a distal edge of the jounce bumper mount. The clamp is the base bracket and extends peripherally along a side wall portion of the jounce bumper mount in abutting engagement with an outer peripheral surface portion thereof and coextensively therewith. Suspension systems, mounting bracket kits and methods of assembling a mounting bracket assembly are also included.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A suspension assembly operatively disposed between associated sprung and unsprung masses of an associated vehicle, said suspension assembly comprising:
a jounce bumper mount projecting from one of the associated sprung and unsprung masses toward the other of the associated sprung and unsprung masses, said jounce bumper mount having a longitudinal axis and including a mount wall with an end wall portion disposed in transverse relation to said axis and a side wall portion extending axially from along said end wall portion toward a distal edge, said side wall portion including an outer peripheral surface portion and an inner peripheral surface portion with said inner peripheral surface portion at least partially defining a cavity within said jounce bumper mount having an open end along said distal edge, said jounce bumper mount oriented such that said end wall portion is disposed toward one of the associated sprung and unsprung masses and such that said open end is disposed toward the other of the associated sprung and unsprung masses;
a base bracket including a base bracket wall with a base wall portion oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis, said base wall portion including a first surface portion and a second surface portion facing opposite said first surface portion, said base bracket positioned along said jounce bumper mount with said first surface portion disposed in abutting engagement with said distal edge of said jounce bumper mount and extending at least partially across said open end thereof;
a clamp secured to said base bracket along said first surface portion thereof and extending at least partially along said side wall portion of said jounce bumper mount in abutting engagement with said outer peripheral surface portion; and,
a suspension component operatively connected to said base bracket along said second surface portion thereof.

2. A suspension assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said suspension component is a spring.

3. A suspension assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said spring is a gas spring including a first end member operatively connected to said second surface portion of said base bracket, a second end member spaced from said first end member and operatively secured to the other of the associated sprung and unsprung masses, and a flexible wall operatively connected between said first and second end members and at least partially defining a spring chamber.

4. Asuspension assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said base bracket includes a support wall portion extending from along said base wall portion in a direction opposite said second surface portion.

5. Asuspension assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said clamp includes a clamp wall with a side wall portion extending in abutting engagement along said outer peripheral surface portion of said jounce bumper mount.

6. A suspension assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said clamp wall includes a mounting wall portion extending from said side wall portion along said first surface portion of said base wall portion of said base bracket wall.

7. A suspension assembly according to claim 6 further comprising a fastener extending between and operatively connecting said mounting wall portion of said clamp wall and said base wall portion of said base bracket wall.

8. A suspension assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said clamp wall includes a flange wall portion extending outwardly from along said side wall portion.

9. A suspension assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a fastener extending through said flange wall portion and securing said clamp in abutting engagement with said outer peripheral surface portion of said jounce bumper mount.

10. A suspension assembly accordingto claim 1 , wherein said base bracket wall includes a fixed wall portion extending outward beyond said first surface portion in a direction opposite said second surface portion, and said jounce bumper mount is captured between said fixed wall portion and said clamp.

11. A suspension assembly accordingto claim 1 , wherein said clamp includes a clamp wall extending peripherally around more than half of said jounce bumper mount such that said jounce bumper mount is captured by a single clamp.

12. A suspension assembly accordingto claim 1 , wherein said clamp is a first clamp and said suspension assembly further comprises a second clamp secured to said base bracket with said jounce bumper mount captured between said first and second clamps.

13. A mounting bracket assembly for securing an associated suspension component along one of an associated sprung mass and an associated unsprung mass of an associated vehicle, the one of the associated sprung and unsprung masses including an associated jounce bumper mount projecting therefrom toward the other of the associated sprung and unsprung masses, the associated jounce bumper mount including an associated longitudinal axis and an associated side wall portion extending toward an associated distal edge at least partially defining an associated open end, the associated side wall portion including an associated outer peripheral surface portion, said mounting bracket assembly comprising:
a base bracket including a base bracket wall with a base wall portion oriented transverse to the associated longitudinal axis, said base wall portion including a first surface portion and a second surface portion facing opposite said first surface portion, said base bracket positioned along the associated jounce bumper mount with said first surface portion dimensioned to abuttingly engage the associated distal edge of the associated jounce bumper mount and extend at least partially across the associated open end thereof; and,
a clamp secured to said base bracket along said first surface portion thereof and extending peripherally along the associated side wall portion of the associated jounce bumper mount in abutting engagement with the associated outer peripheral surface portion and co-extensively therewith.

14. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said base bracket wall includes a fixed wall portion extending outward beyond said first surface portion in a direction opposite said second surface portion, and the associated jounce bumper mount is captured between said fixed wall portion and said clamp.

15. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said clamp includes a clamp wall extending peripherally around more than half of said jounce bumper mount such that said jounce bumper mount is captured by a single clamp.

16. A mounting bracket assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said clamp is a first clamp and said mounting bracket assembly further comprises a second clamp secured to said base bracket with said jounce bumper mount captured between said first and second clamps.

17. A mounting bracket kit for securing an associated suspension component along one of an associated sprung mass and an associated unsprung mass of an associated vehicle, the one of the associated sprung and unsprung masses including an associated jounce bumper mount projecting therefrom toward the other of the associated sprung and unsprung masses, the associated jounce bumper mount including an associated longitudinal axis and an associated side wall portion extending toward an associated distal edge at least partially defining an associated open end disposed toward one of the associated sprung and unsprung masses, the associated side wall portion including an associated outer peripheral surface portion, said mounting bracket kit comprising:
a base bracket includi

Assignees

• Firestone Ind Products Co Llc

Inventors

• Smith Scott A

Classifications

• B60G2204/43

  Fittings, brackets or knuckles · CPC title

• B60G2202/152

  Pneumatic spring · CPC title

• B60G11/27

  wherein the fluid is a gas · CPC title

• B60G11/28 Primary

  characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60G2204/126

  Mounting of pneumatic springs · CPC title