Flexible sleeve, gas spring assembly and method

A gas spring assembly comprising:

• a first end member;
• a second end member disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to said first end member such that a longitudinal axis is formed therebetween, said second end member including an end wall, a side wall projecting longitudinally from said end wall in a direction toward said first end member, and a retainment ridge projecting radially outward from said side wall, said retainment ridge including a shoulder surface disposed in facing relation to said end wall;
• a flexible sleeve operatively connected between said first and second end members and at least partially defining a spring chamber therebetween, said flexible sleeve including a flexible wall extending circumferentially about said longitudinal axis and axially between opposing first and second ends, said flexible wall including an inside surface portion at least partially defining said spring chamber, an outside surface portion facing opposite said inside surface portion and an end surface portion disposed between said inside and outside surface portions adjacent said second end, said first end secured to said first end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, said second end received along said side wall of said second end member such that said inside surface of said flexible wall is disposed toward said shoulder surface of said retainment ridge, said outside surface of said flexible wall is disposed in abutting engagement with said end wall and said end surface portion forms a substantially fluid-tight seal with said side wall of said second end member;
• and,
• at least one retainment element separate from said second end member and said flexible sleeve, said at least one retainment element disposed between said shoulder surface of said retainment ridge and said inside surface portion of said flexible wall.

A gas spring assembly dimensioned for securement between associated sprung and unsprung masses, said gas spring assembly comprising:

• an flexible sleeve having a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally between opposing first and second ends to at least partially define a spring chamber, said flexible sleeve including:
• a flexible wall extending circumferentially about said longitudinal axis and including an inside surface portion at least partially defining said spring chamber, an outside surface portion facing opposite said inside surface portion, and an end surface portion operatively connecting said inside and outside surface portions along said second end;
• and,
• an annular reinforcement member substantially-fully embedded within said flexible wall adjacent said second end;
• a first end member extending across said first end of said flexible sleeve and secured thereto such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween;
• a second end member disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to said first end member and secured across said second end of said flexible sleeve such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, said second end member including:
• an end wall oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis;
• an outer side wall extending longitudinally from along said end wall;
• an inner side wall projecting longitudinally from said end wall in a direction opposite said outer side wall;
• and,
• a retainment ridge projecting radially outward from along said inner side wall, said retainment ridge including a shoulder surface disposed in facing relation to said end wall;
• and,
• a retainment element separate from said second end member and said flexible sleeve, said retainment element disposed between said shoulder surface of said retainment ridge and said inside surface portion of said flexible wall.

A gas spring assembly comprising:

• a first end member;
• a second end member disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to said first end member such that a longitudinal axis is formed therebetween, said second end member including:
• an end wall oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis;
• an outer side wall extending longitudinally from along said end wall;
• an inner side wall projecting longitudinally from said end wall in a direction opposite said outer side wall;
• and,
• a retainment ridge projecting radially outward from along said inner side wall, said retainment ridge including a shoulder surface disposed in facing relation to said end wall;
• an flexible sleeve extending longitudinally between a first end secured to said first end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween and a second end that is secured to said second end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, said flexible sleeve including:
• a flexible wall extending circumferentially about said longitudinal axis and including an inside surface portion at least partially defining a spring chamber between said first and second end members, an outside surface portion disposed in abutting engagement with said outer side wall of said second end member such that said flexible sleeve forms a rolling lobe displaceable along said outer side wall, and an end surface portion operatively connecting said inside and outside surface portions along said second end, said end surface portion disposed in abutting engagement with said inner side wall to at least partially form said substantially fluid-tight seal with said second end member;
• and,
• an annular reinforcement member substantially-fully embedded within said flexible wall adjacent said second end;
• and,
• a retainment element separate from said second end member and said flexible sleeve, said retainment element extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and disposed between said shoulder surface of said retainment ridge and said inside surface portion of said flexible wall, said retainment element having a cross-sectional shape that is one of approximately rectangular, approximately circular, approximately oval, approximately square, approximately trapezoidal and approximately parallelogram.