Easily Retrofittable Air Suspension Brackets, Method of Making and Method of Using.

Abstract

A Retrofittable Air Suspension Brackets assembly comprises an air spring retained between an Upper Air Spring Mount and a Lower Air Spring Bracket. The Upper Air Spring Mount is attached to Upper Frame Brackets that are held in place by two U-Bolts, which also secure the Lower Air Spring Bracket and a Cradle Structure which limits movement of the vehicle frame member.

Claims

1. A rear air suspension bracket assembly device consisting of, an air spring, a lower air spring bracket, and upper air spring bracket, two U-Bolts, an upper air spring mount, two upper frame brackets and a cradle structure, where the lower air spring bracket is attached to a factory leaf spring, where the upper air spring bracket is attached to a vehicle frame, where the air spring is secured at an upper end to the upper air spring bracket, and where the air spring is secured at a lower end to the lower air spring bracket, where the two U-Bolts encircle the vehicle frame, and where the two U-Bolts are attached to both the cradle structure and the upper frame brackets by a plurality of nuts, where the upper air spring mount is attached to the upper frame brackets by a plurality of upper frame bots and upper frame nuts, where the cradle structure provides an amount of limitation to movement of the vehicle frame.

2. An air suspension bracket assembly device comprising, an air spring, a lower air spring bracket, and upper air spring bracket, two U-Bolts, an upper air spring mount, two upper frame brackets and a cradle structure.

3. The device of claim 2, where the lower air spring bracket is attached to a factory leaf spring.

4. The device of claim 2, where the upper air spring bracket is attached to a vehicle frame.

5. The device of claim 2, where the air spring is secured at an upper end of the upper air spring bracket, and where the air spring is secured at a lower end of the lower air spring bracket.

6. The device of claim 2, where the two U-Bolts encircle the vehicle frame, and where the two U-Bolts are attached to both the cradle structure and the two upper frame brackets by a plurality of cradle nuts.

7. The device of claim 6, where the upper air spring mount is attached to the upper frame brackets by a plurality of upper frame bolts and upper frame nuts.

8. The device of claim 7, where the cradle structure provides an amount of limitation to movement along the vehicle frame.

9. The device of claim 8, where the vehicle frame has a front suspension section and a rear suspension section, and the air suspension bracket assembly attached to the rear suspension section.

10. An air suspension bracket assembly device comprising, an air spring, a lower air spring bracket, and upper air spring bracket, two U-Bolts, an upper air spring mount, two upper frame brackets and a cradle structure.

11. The device of claim 10, where the lower air spring bracket is attached to a factory leaf spring.

12. The device of claim 11, where the upper air spring bracket is attached to a vehicle frame.

13. The device of claim 12, where the air spring is secured at an upper end of the upper air spring bracket, and where the air spring is secured at a lower end of the lower air spring bracket.

14. The device of claim 13, where the two U-Bolts encircle the vehicle frame, and where the two U-Bolts are attached to both the cradle structure and the upper frame brackets by a plurality of cradle nuts.

15. The device of claim 14, where the upper air spring mount is attached to the upper frame brackets by a plurality of upper frame bots and upper frame nuts.

16. The device of claim 15, where the cradle structure provides an amount of limitation to movement along the vehicle frame.

17. The device of claim 16, where the vehicle frame has a front suspension section and a rear suspension section, and the air suspension bracket assembly is attached to the rear suspension section.

18. An air suspension bracket assembly device consisting of, an air spring, a lower air spring bracket, and upper air spring bracket, two U-Bolts, an upper air spring mount, two upper frame brackets and a cradle structure, where the lower air spring bracket is attached to a factory leaf spring, where the upper air spring bracket is attached to a rear suspension section of a vehicle frame.

19. The device of claim 18, where the air spring is secured at an upper end to the upper air spring bracket, and where the air spring is secured at a lower end to the lower air spring bracket, where the two U-Bolts encircle the vehicle frame, and where the two U-Bolts are attached to both the cradle structure and the upper frame brackets by a plurality of nuts.

20. The device of claim 19, where the upper air spring mount is attached to the upper frame brackets by a plurality of upper frame bolts and upper frame nuts, where the cradle structure provides an amount of limitation to movement along the vehicle frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the air spring bracket.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a back, perspective view of the embodiment displayed in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028] The present invention is a uniquely designed air spring retention device, utilizing unique and effective/efficient technologies to create a superior, cost-effective product that is significantly easier to install and maintain, as well as providing a more structural sound attachment to the frame of a vehicle. The various advantages provided by this invention are described more fully with respect to the drawings that have been provided.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the air spring bracket. When a vehicle such as a pickup truck is sold, it comes with a Factory Leaf Spring 2 that provides suspension between the Vehicle Frame 1 and the Axel 4. The Wheel Hub 3 is attached to the Axel 4, and wheels are tires are attached to the Wheel Hub 3. Resting on and attached by U-Bolts and nuts to the top of the Factory Leaf Spring 2 is a Lower Air Spring Bracket 7. Attached to the Vehicle Frame 1 is an Upper Air Spring Bracket 6. An Air Spring 5 is secured between the Lower Air Spring Bracket 7 and the Upper Air Spring Bracket 6.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a back, perspective view of the embodiment displayed in FIG. 1. Two U-Bolts 8 extend around the Vehicle Frame 1 to secure, through Nuts 12, the Upper Frame Brackets 9 and the Cradle Structure 11. The Air Spring 5 is secured to the Upper Air Spring Mount 10, which is secured to the Upper Frame Brackets 9 by bolts and nuts.

[0031] This invention allows an installer to merely attach the Lower Air Spring Bracket 7 to the Factory Leaf Spring 2, then snap the U-Bolts 8 around the Vehicle Frame 1 and use nuts to secure the U-Bolts 8 to the Vehicle Frame 1, thereby securing the Upper Air Spring Bracket 6 as well as the Air Spring 5. By not having to reach around behind the back of the frame, the installer can skip the most difficult and stressful part of the current installation practice done under the prior art. By completely encircling the vehicle frame, the method of attachment spreads out the force on it, providing a means of attachment to the vehicle frame that causes less fatigue in the metal.

[0032] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0033] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings as attached. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0034] It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

[0035] All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

REFERENCE NUMBERS USED

[0036] 1. Vehicle Frame [0037] 2. Factory Leaf Spring [0038] 3. Wheel Hub [0039] 4. Axel [0040] 5. Air Spring [0041] 6. Upper Air Spring Bracket [0042] 7. Lower Air Spring Bracket [0043] 8. U-Bolts [0044] 9. Upper Frame Brackets [0045] 10. Upper Air Spring Mount [0046] 11. Cradle Structure [0047] 12. Bolts