# US 9,434,228 B1 · Vehicle component mounting apparatus, and methods of use and manufacture thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,228 B1 - Document ID: US9434228B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/811,471 - Filed: 2015-07-28 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-28 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: James H. Nazarian, Jr.; Robert James Dunham, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434228B1 ## CPC - B60G 13/003: {characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the damper unit} - B60G 15/068: {specially adapted for MacPherson strut-type suspension} - B60G 21/051: {Trailing arm twist beam axles} - B60G 2204/12422: anchoring the end coils on the spring support plate - B60G 2204/128: Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis - B60G 2206/80: Manufacturing procedures - B60G 2206/91: Assembly procedures - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract Some embodiments are directed to a structure for mounting a damper to a vehicle structural member. The structure includes a hollow rigid mount body having an upper portion that extends through a structural member aperture so as to project above the member, and a lower portion disposed beneath the member. The lower portion outer diameter can be larger than the upper portion outer diameter. A securing member is disposed around the rigid mount body, so that the vehicle structural member is located between the securing member and rigid mount body lower portion. A bearing assembly is disposed within the rigid mount body lower portion, and configured to retain an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the rigid mount body lower portion, while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle structural member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structure for mounting a damper that includes a piston rod to a vehicle structural member that defines an aperture, the structure comprising: a hollow rigid mount body that includes an upper portion that extends through the aperture so as to project above the vehicle structural member, and a lower portion that is disposed beneath the vehicle structural member, the lower portion defining an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion; a rigid mount securing member that is configured to be disposed around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body and so that the vehicle structural member is located between the rigid mount securing member and the lower portion of the rigid mount body; and a bearing assembly disposed within the lower portion of the rigid mount body and configured to retain an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the lower portion of the rigid mount body while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle structural member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the rigid mount securing member is disposed so as to be coaxial with the upper portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the bearing assembly includes a damper securing member disposed around and in contact with the piston rod of the damper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The structure of claim 3, wherein the bearing assembly includes a bearing disposed around an exterior of the damper securing member and in contact with an inner wall of the lower portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The structure of claim 4, further including a rigid mount disk disposed between the rigid mount securing member and the vehicle structural member, and around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The structure of claim 5, further including a bearing lock disposed within the lower portion of the rigid mount body and beneath bearing, the bearing lock being configured to secure the bearing within the lower portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The structure of claim 6, further including a bearing adaptor disposed beneath the damper securing member, and configured to support a coil spring of the damper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The structure of claim 7, wherein the damper securing member defines a first stepped portion, and the bearing adaptor defines a second stepped portion that faces the first stepped portion, the bearing being disposed so as to be held between the first and second stepped portions within the lower portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the rigid mount securing member defines a channel having a diameter that is sized relative to an outer diameter of the upper portion of the rigid mount body to enable the rigid mount securing member to be rigidly secured to an exterior surface of the upper portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The structure of claim 9, wherein the rigid mount securing member is a nut. ### Claim 11 A damper assembly that is configured for mounting to a vehicle structural member that defines an aperture, the damper assembly comprising: a damper that includes a piston rod; and a structure for mounting the damper to the vehicle structural member, the structure including: a hollow rigid mount body that includes an upper portion that extends through the aperture so as to project above the vehicle structural member, and a lower portion that is disposed beneath the vehicle structural member, the lower portion defining an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion, a rigid mount securing member that is configured to be disposed around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body and so that the vehicle structural member is located between the rigid mount securing member and the lower portion of the rigid mount body, and a bearing assembly disposed within the lower portion of the rigid mount body and configured to retain an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the lower portion of the rigid mount body while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle structural member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The damper assembly of claim 11, wherein the rigid mount securing member is disposed so as to be coaxial with the upper portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The damper assembly of claim 11, wherein the bearing assembly includes a damper securing member disposed around and in contact with the piston rod of the damper. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The damper assembly of claim 13, wherein the bearing assembly includes a bearing disposed around an exterior of the damper securing member and in contact with an inner wall of the lower portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The damper assembly of claim 14, further including a rigid mount disk disposed between the rigid mount securing member and the vehicle structural member, and around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The damper assembly of claim 15, further including a bearing lock disposed within the lower portion of the rigid mount body and beneath bearing, the bearing lock being configured to secure the bearing within the lower portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The damper assembly of claim 16, further including a bearing adaptor disposed beneath the damper securing member, and configured to support a coil spring of the damper. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The damper assembly of claim 17, wherein the damper securing member defines a first stepped portion, and the bearing adaptor defines a second stepped portion that faces the first stepped portion, the bearing being disposed so as to be held between the first and second stepped portions within the lower portion of the rigid mount body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The damper assembly of claim 11, wherein the rigid mount securing member defines a channel having a diameter that is sized relative to an outer diameter of the upper portion of the rigid mount body to enable the rigid mount securing member to be rigidly secured to an exterior surface of the upper portion of the rigid mount body, and wherein the rigid mount securing member is a nut. ### Claim 20 A method of mounting a damper, which includes a piston rod, to a vehicle structural member that defines an aperture, the method comprising: extending an upper portion of a hollow rigid mount body through the aperture so as to project above the vehicle structural member; disposing a lower portion of the hollow rigid mount body beneath the vehicle structural member, the lower portion being configured so as to define an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion; disposing a rigid mount securing member around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body, so that the vehicle structural member is located between the rigid mount securing member and the lower portion of the rigid mount body; and disposing a bearing assembly within the lower portion of the rigid mount body so that the bearing assembly retains an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the lower portion of the rigid mount body, while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle structural member.