A damper providing varying damping force is provided. The damper may include a housing and a rotary member rotatably received the housing. The rotary member may rotate within the housing between defined end points of travel to define an angular range of travel of the rotary member. An outermost surface of the rotary member may be spaced inwardly from an inner surface of the housing defined between the end points of travel to define a gap between the outermost surface of the rotary member and the inner surface of the housing throughout the angular range of travel. The gap may vary in dimension depending on a rotational position of the rotary member to provide varying damping rates within the angular range of travel of the rotary member.

A gas cylinder includes: a base tube including a cavity; a spindle inserted into the cavity and performing a reciprocating motion in a longitudinal direction of the base tube; a cylinder mounted in the spindle and charged with gas; a piston dividing the cylinder into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; a valve portion sealing an upper portion of the cylinder and including a pipe holder having a cavity through which the gas is introduced; a flow prevention portion inserted into the spindle and having an inner surface contacting a surface of the spindle; and a spindle guide disposed between the base tube and the spindle and mounted to include at least a portion of the flow prevention portion.

A gas cylinder includes: a base tube including a cavity; a spindle inserted into the cavity and performing a reciprocating motion in a longitudinal direction of the base tube; a cylinder mounted in the spindle and charged with gas; a piston dividing the cylinder into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; a valve portion sealing an upper portion of the cylinder and including a pipe holder having a cavity through which the gas is introduced; a flow prevention portion inserted into the spindle and having an inner surface contacting a surface of the spindle; and a spindle guide disposed between the base tube and the spindle and mounted to include at least a portion of the flow prevention portion.

A shock absorber includes a bearing unit having a bearing and a bearing holding member, and a seal unit having a seal member and a seal holding member. The seal holding member includes a seal accommodating portion being configured to accommodate the seal member, and an insertion hole through which a piston rod is inserted. The seal member is pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the piston rod and the seal accommodating portion by working-fluid pressure in the extension-side chamber. And the bearing is provided such that a first end surface of the bearing facing the seal member matches an aperture plane of a through hole of the bearing holding member or such that the first end surface of the bearing projects out from the aperture plane of the through hole.

An apparatus for stabilizing movements of two parts of a body region and/or of a sports device which are movable relative to one another, comprising a receptacle, which can be fixed to a first part of the region and/or device. An active body arrangement with an active body is received movably in the receptacle and can interact with the filling medium. A force transmission body can be fixed to a second part of the same region and/or device for transmitting an external force to the active body. The active body comprises at least one through-opening through which a filling medium in the receptacle can flow. The active body arrangement has a sealing lip for sealing a gap between an inner side of the receptacle and a lateral region of an outer side of the active body arrangement, the sealing lip being arranged on an outer side of the active body.

A buoy, preferably for a wave energy converter system, comprises a central portion; and one or a plurality of buoyancy blocks connected, directly or indirectly, to the central portion. By providing the central portion with a bell mouth opening and attachment means for a wire or rope, a buoy with improved characteristics is provided.

A jounce bumper assembly can be used in a suspension system for an automotive vehicle. The assembly can contain a jounce bumper having a longitudinal axis, a bottom portion, and a tip portion spaced apart from the bottom portion in the axial direction, where the jounce bumper is resiliently deformable between an uncompressed basic state and an axially compressed state. The assembly can also contain a support member for supporting the jounce bumper, the support member having a wall section which can be arranged around the bottom portion and resiliently deformable with the jounce bumper in the axial and radial direction. The assembly can further contain at least one stiffening element associated to the wall section and configured to locally limit the radial deformation of the support member.

A jounce bumper assembly can be used in a suspension system for an automotive vehicle. The assembly can contain a jounce bumper having a longitudinal axis, a bottom portion, and a tip portion spaced apart from the bottom portion in the axial direction, where the jounce bumper is resiliently deformable between an uncompressed basic state and an axially compressed state. The assembly can also contain a support member for supporting the jounce bumper, the support member having a wall section which can be arranged around the bottom portion and resiliently deformable with the jounce bumper in the axial and radial direction. The assembly can further contain at least one stiffening element associated to the wall section and configured to locally limit the radial deformation of the support member.

A dual rate jounce bumper and a vehicle containing the dual rate jounce bumper are useful.

A dual rate jounce bumper and a vehicle containing the dual rate jounce bumper are useful.