Keith A Hoffman, Age 51Charlotte, NC

4946144, Aug 7, 1990

Mar 30, 1989

7/330673

Wayne H. Geno - Cicero IN
Keith E. Hoffman - Atlanta IN

Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. - Akron OH

F16F 904

267 6427

An annular clamping band is concentrically engaged in an interference force-fit relationship with the outer annular surface of the sidewall of an end cap of an air spring primarily intended for use for motor vehicles. The band restricts outward movement and creep of the sidewall and retains an open end of a flexible sleeve which forms the fluid pressure chamber of the air spring, in a compressed state between an annular internal sealing ring and an annular recess formed on the inside surface of the sidewall, to maintain the airtight sealing engagement therebetween. The clamping band is forced axially about the outer surface of the end cap sidewall and is restrained from axial movement therealong by a plurality of retaining ribs projecting outwardly from the top surface of the end cap and by an annular outwardly extending rib on a lower end of the end cap sidewall.

4787607, Nov 29, 1988

Sep 8, 1987

7/094479

Wayne H. Geno - Cicero IN
Keith E. Hoffman - Atlanta IN

The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

F16F 904
F16F 500

267 6427

An air spring for motor vehicles including first and second end members, at least one of which is a piston, with an intervening flexible sleeve forming a fluid pressure chamber therebetween sealingly connected to the end members. A continuous annular sealing band clamps at least one end of the flexible sleeve within an annular recess formed on the inside surface of an annular wall portion of one of the end members within an open end of the end member by compressing the sleeve material between the band and wall, and without deforming the band or wall of the end member beyond their elastic limits. In one embodiment, the annular wall of the end member is formed of plastic and is deformed outwardly but maintained within its elastic limits upon insertion of the band within the open end. The end of the sleeve is rolled over the sealing band and then the sleeve end and band are inserted by a press plate into the open end of the end member with the band compressing and sealing the flexible material of the sleeve into the annular recess. The compressed flexible material expands to seal the sleeve against the end member.

6199837, Mar 13, 2001

May 1, 1998

9/071421

Daniel J. Leonard - Carmel IN
Keith E. Hoffman - Spencer IN
Joseph L. Tazewell - late of Brooklyn NY

Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. - Akron OH

F16F 904

267 6427

An air actuator has a rigid piston at one end and a rigid housing and end cap at the other end with an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. The rigid piston, elastomeric flexible sleeve, and rigid housing are all injection or blow molded as one integral piece of preferably a thermoplastic elastomer, while the end cap is injection or blow molded as a second integral piece of preferably a thermoplastic elastomer that is thereafter welded to the rigid housing to define an internal chamber that is pressurizable. The first piece consisting of the piston, flexible membrane and housing, is configured such that the walls of the housing and piston are thick and rigid while the walls of the flexible membrane are thin and thus flexible, thereby allowing the membrane to roll and bend such that the piston may axially move in relation to the housing.