# US 9,517,672 B2 · Shock absorber > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,672 B2 - Document ID: US9517672B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/412,043 - Filed: 2013-07-18 - Published: 2015-07-16 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-03 - Assignees: KYB Corporation - Applicants: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hideaki Takeuchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517672B2 ## CPC - B60G 15/063: {characterised by the mounting of the spring on the damper (B60G15/065, B60G15/066 take precedence)} - B60G 11/16: characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle - F16F 1/12: Attachments or mountings {(F16F1/041, F16F13/02 take precedence; of combinations of vibration damper and mechanical spring for vehicle suspension units B60G15/02)} - F16F 1/128: {with motion-limiting means, e.g. with a full-length guide element or ball joint connections; with protective outer cover (F16F1/121 takes precedence)} - F16F 9/32: Details - F16F 9/3207: {Constructional features (F16F9/34 - F16F9/50 take precedence; assembly or repair F16F9/3271)} - F16F 13/007: {the damper being a fluid damper} - B60G 2202/31: with the spring arranged around the damper, e.g. MacPherson strut - B60G 2202/312: The spring being a wound spring - B60G 2204/12422: anchoring the end coils on the spring support plate - F16F 2230/0052: Physically guiding or influencing - F16F 2230/24: Detecting or preventing malfunction, e.g. fail safe - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A shock absorber provided with a suspension spring, the shock absorber includes a tube whose lower end portion is joined to a vehicle axle side portion provided with a tire, and a lower spring bearing that is provided on an outer circumference of the tube and supports a lower end of the suspension spring. The lower spring bearing includes a bearing part on which the lower end of the suspension spring is seated, and a contact part that is continuous with the bearing part. An outer diameter of the contact part is larger than an outer diameter of the tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shock absorber provided with a suspension spring, the shock absorber comprising: a tube having a lower end portion configured to be joined to a vehicle axle side portion provided with a tire; and a lower spring bearing that is provided on an outer circumference of the tube and configured to support a lower end of the suspension spring, wherein the lower spring bearing includes: a bearing part on which the lower end of the suspension spring is seated; a contact part integrated with the bearing part such that the suspension spring seated on the bearing part extends over the contact part; and a first annular part located between the contact part and the bearing part, a portion of the first annular part extending substantially perpendicular to a surface of the tube, a proximal part welded to the outer circumference of the tube, and a second annular part connecting the contact part and the proximal part so as to support the contact part at a position radially distant from the outer circumference of the tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the proximal part is arranged so as to extend toward the lower end portion of the tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the proximal part is arranged so as to extend toward an upper end portion of the tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the contact part is formed as a cylindrical tube member that is concentric with the tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein a height-wise dimension of the contact part is larger than a wire diameter dimension of the suspension spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the lower spring bearing is configured such that in case where the suspension spring moves toward the tire after being shortened due to breakage of a lower end portion thereof, the shortened suspension spring comes into contact with the contact portion. ### Claim 7 A shock absorber provided with a suspension spring, the shock absorber comprising: a tube having a lower end portion configured to be joined to a vehicle axle side portion provided with a tire; and a lower spring bearing that is provided on an outer circumference of the tube and configured to support a lower end of the suspension spring, wherein the lower spring bearing includes: a bearing part on which the lower end of the suspension spring is seated; a contact part integrated with the bearing part such that the suspension spring seated on the bearing part extends over the contact part, and a first annular part located between the contact part and the bearing part, a portion of the first annular part extending substantially perpendicular to a surface of the tube, wherein an outer diameter of the contact part is larger than an outer diameter of the tube, and the lower spring bearing further includes a proximal part that is connected to the contact part and welded to the outer circumference of the tube, and the proximal part is arranged so as to extend toward the lower end portion of the tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The shock absorber according to claim 7, wherein the lower spring bearing further includes a second annular part located between the contact part and the proximal part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The shock absorber according to claim 7, wherein the contact part is formed as a cylindrical tube member that is concentric with the tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The shock absorber according to claim 7, wherein a height-wise dimension of the contact part is larger than a wire diameter dimension of the suspension spring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The shock absorber according to claim 7, wherein the lower spring bearing is configured such that in a case where the suspension spring moves toward the tire after being shortened due to breakage of a lower end portion thereof, the shortened suspension spring comes into contact with the contact portion.