A shock-absorbing or vibration-absorbing assembly includes a metal base and an elastic shock-absorbing or vibration-absorbing material secured to the metal base. A top surface of the metal base has at least one orifice extending from the top surface to at least one hollow chamber beneath the top surface. The hollow chamber occupies a planar area of the metal base parallel to the top surface that is larger than a planar area of the metal base that is occupied by the orifice at the top surface. The elastic material is secured to the metal base by the elastic material filling the orifice and the hollow chamber of the metal base and the elastic material filling a region above the top surface of the metal base that has a cross-sectional area parallel to the top surface of the metal base that is larger than the planar area of the metal base that is occupied by the orifice at the top surface of the metal base. The elastic material is secured to the metal base by placing the metal base against a mold having a hollow space to be filled with the elastic material. The elastic material is injected into the hollow chamber and orifice of the metal base and into the hollow space of the mold. The mold is removed from the metal base, so that the elastic material is secured to the metal base by the elastic material filling the orifice and the hollow chamber of the metal base and the elastic material filling a region above the top surface of the metal base that corresponds to the hollow space of the mold.

A negative stiffness shell has a convex first position, but can transition or snap to a concave second position under a force applied to the exterior surface of the shell in the convex first position. During the transition, the shell exhibits negative stiffness that permits a large amount of energy to be absorbed. The negative stiffness shell can withstand a high initial force threshold prior to transitioning. In the second, concave position the shell can still resist force. Moreover, it is possible for the shell to revert back to the first, convex position with minimal plastic deformation for subsequent use. The negative stiffness shells can be used collectively and/or in layers to increase the efficiency of the overall negative stiffness shell unit.

A negative stiffness shell has a convex first position, but can transition or snap to a concave second position under a force applied to the exterior surface of the shell in the convex first position. During the transition, the shell exhibits negative stiffness that permits a large amount of energy to be absorbed. The negative stiffness shell can withstand a high initial force threshold prior to transitioning. In the second, concave position the shell can still resist force. Moreover, it is possible for the shell to revert back to the first, convex position with minimal plastic deformation for subsequent use. The negative stiffness shells can be used collectively and/or in layers to increase the efficiency of the overall negative stiffness shell unit.

A method includes inserting a wear disc into the void between the eye portion of a strut and the yoke arrangement of a chassis or an undercarriage.

An insulator for a vehicle suspension and a method of manufacturing the same, may include an insulator having a housing which is configured to be engaged with a vehicle body and in which a hook protrusion is formed to protrude from an upper end opening of the housing; a bush which is configured to be engaged with a piston rod of a shock absorber, wherein a vibration-proof rubber, a core, and an outer pipe are integrally mounted in the bush, and wherein the bush is press-inserted into and fixed in an inner space of the housing so that the bush becomes hooked upward to the hook protrusion; and a fixing plate press-inserted into and fixed in the inner space of the housing so that the fixing plate is in contact with a lower end portion of the bush and supports the bush from a lower side thereof.

Damping stopper for a mechanism in which a housing and shaft are not only displaced axially relative to each other but but also rotated relative to each other. The damping stopper is attached to a space portion between an end surface portion on housing side and an end surface portion on shaft side which is displaced axially relative to the housing and is rotated relative to the housing and has a metal fitting on one of the end surface portions, an elastic body connected to the metal fitting, and a sliding member connected to the elastic body. The sliding member contacts the other end surface portion to contact/separate from the other end surface portion and the sliding member is slidable and rotatable relative to the other end surface portion when the shaft is rotated while the sliding member, containing resin component, contacts the other end surface portion.

An all plastic compression spring assembly includes a slotted tubular spring element formed from a tensile polymer material and first and second loading cones received at opposing first and second ends of the slotted tubular spring element. The loading cones are axially compressible toward each other within the slotted tubular spring element whereby the slotted tubular spring element radially expands in tension to create an opposing radial contraction force, and in turn, an axial extension spring force. When released, the spring element elastically returns to its normal at rest shape, returning the cones to their normal at rest positions.

An all plastic compression spring assembly includes a slotted tubular spring element formed from a tensile polymer material and first and second loading cones received at opposing first and second ends of the slotted tubular spring element. The loading cones are axially compressible toward each other within the slotted tubular spring element whereby the slotted tubular spring element radially expands in tension to create an opposing radial contraction force, and in turn, an axial extension spring force. When released, the spring element elastically returns to its normal at rest shape, returning the cones to their normal at rest positions.

An isolation coupler for coupling a functional element to a support structure includes a first bracket. The first bracket includes a number of first-bracket sides. The number of first-bracket sides forms a closed polygonal shape, in plan view. The isolation coupler further includes a number of isolators coupled to each one of the first-bracket sides. The isolation coupler also includes a second bracket. The second bracket includes a number of second-bracket sides. The second bracket sides are coupled to the isolators. The number of second-bracket sides is equal to the number of first-bracket sides and forms the closed polygonal shape, in plan view. The isolators separate each one of the first-bracket sides from a corresponding one of the second-bracket sides to attenuate a load transferred from the first bracket to the second bracket.

A vibration damping device including: a first attachment member and a second attachment member disposed apart from each other; and a main rubber elastic body connecting the first attachment member and the second attachment member, the main rubber elastic body being of a frustoconical-like shape having an outer peripheral surface whose diameter gradually increases from the first attachment member toward the second attachment member, the main rubber elastic body including a recess opening onto a center portion thereof on a large-diameter side that is a second attachment member side, and the main rubber elastic body that constitutes a bottom part of the recess integrally including a vibration-damping protrusion protruding into the recess.