End member assemblies and gas spring assemblies including same

A gas spring assembly comprising:

• a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and extending between opposing first and second ends, said flexible spring member including a flexible wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis to at least partially define a spring chamber;
• and,
• an end member assembly secured across said first end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight connection is formed therebetween, said end member assembly including first and second end member walls, said first end member wall including:
• a first side wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and at least partially forming an exterior of said end member assembly;
• a peripheral wall portion including an outer peripheral surface portion facing radially outward along said exterior of said end member assembly and extending substantially continuously about said longitudinal axis;
• and,
• a plurality of first ribs extending outwardly from along said first side wall portion and longitudinally along one side of said peripheral wall portion such that said plurality of first ribs are exposed along said exterior of said end member assembly, said plurality of first ribs disposed in spaced relation to one another such that a plurality of first grooves extend longitudinally away from said peripheral wall portion along said one side thereof with one of said plurality of first grooves disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of first ribs;
• and,
• said second end member wall including:
• a second side wall portion positioned along an opposite side of said peripheral wall portion from said first side wall portion, said second side wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and at least partially forming said exterior of said end member assembly;
• and,
• a plurality of second ribs extending outwardly from along said second side wall portion and longitudinally along said opposite side of said peripheral wall portion such that said plurality of second ribs are exposed along said exterior of said end member assembly, said plurality of second ribs disposed in spaced relation to one another such that a plurality of second grooves extend longitudinally away from said peripheral wall portion along said opposite side thereof with one of said plurality of second grooves disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of second ribs;
• said first and second side wall portions permanently attached to one another in a fixed axial position relative to one another by way of said flowed-material joint to at least partially form said end member assembly with said plurality of first ribs and said plurality of second ribs dimensioned for permanent deflection into a respectively adjacent ones of said plurality of first grooves and said plurality of second grooves upon undergoing a kinetic impact from an associated foreign object.

A gas spring assembly comprising:

• a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and extending between opposing first and second ends, said flexible spring member including a flexible wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis to at least partially define a spring chamber;
• an end member assembly secured across said first end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight connection is formed therebetween, said end member assembly including:
• a first end member section having a longitudinal axis and including a first section wall with an end wall portion oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis and a first side wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis from along said end wall portion toward a first distal edge, said first side wall portion at least partially defining an exterior of said first end member section, said first section wall including a plurality of first ribs extending outwardly from said first side wall portion and longitudinally therealong such that said plurality of first ribs are exposed along said exterior of said first end member section, said plurality of first ribs disposed in spaced relation to one another such that a plurality of first grooves are formed with one of said plurality of first grooves disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of first ribs, and said first section wall including a first peripheral wall portion disposed along said first distal edge of said first end member section, said first peripheral wall portion including a first outer peripheral surface portion facing radially outward along said exterior of said first end member section, said first outer peripheral surface portion extending substantially continuously about said longitudinal axis such that said first peripheral wall portion operatively interconnects at least said plurality of first ribs;
• and,
• a second end member section including a second section wall with a second side wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and extending axially toward a second distal edge, said second side wall portion at least partially defining an exterior of said second end member section, said second section wall including a plurality of second ribs extending outwardly from said second side wall portion and longitudinally therealong such that said plurality of second ribs are exposed along said exterior of said second end member section, said plurality of second ribs disposed in spaced relation to one another such that a plurality of second grooves are formed with one of said plurality of second grooves disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of second ribs, and said second section wall including a second peripheral wall portion disposed along said second distal edge of said second end member section, said second peripheral wall portion including a second outer peripheral surface portion facing radially outward and extending substantially continuously about said longitudinal axis such that said second peripheral wall portion operatively interconnects at least said plurality of second ribs;
• said first and second end member sections oriented such that said first and second distal edges are disposed toward one another, said first and second end member sections permanently attached to one another by a flowed-material joint such that said first and second end member sections are secured and maintained in a fixed axial position relative to one another with at least one of said plurality of first ribs and at least one of said plurality of second ribs dimensioned for permanent deflection into a respectively adjacent one of said plurality of first grooves and said plurality of second grooves upon undergoing a kinetic impact from an associated foreign object;
• and,
• an end member secured across said second end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight connection is formed therebetween.