Title: Spacer and noise suppressor cushions for lift truck mast units

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Claims: I claim:

1. In a lift truck mast unit including a fixed upright unit, at least one movable upright unit and a carriage arranged for longitudinal movement relative to the movable upright unit, motor means being operable for moving the carriage relative to the movable upright unit and for shifting the movable upright unit relative to the fixed upright unit, the movable upright unit including a pair of flanged structural beams arranged in spaced-apart relation, the fixed upright unit also including structural beams having flanges arranged in facing relation to the flanges of the movable upright beams, a plurality of spacer and noise suppressor cushions arranged upon the flanges of either the movable upright beams or the fixed upright beams, each spacer and noise suppressor cushion comprising an elastomeric body including a reduced diameter portion secured within a bore formed by one flange, the elastomeric body including another portion having a diameter substantially larger than the bore for arrangement between the one flange and the facing flange, the larger diameter portion of the elastomeric body having an annular surface abutting the one flange about its bore, the annular surface of the elastomeric body portion being circumferentially undercut to form a peripheral rim normally in contact with the surface of the one flange, the larger diameter portion of the elastomeric body thereby exhibiting increased resilience due both to its elastomeric composition and a spring effect due to its undercut configuration.

2. The lift truck mast unit of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of spacer and noise suppressor cushions is arranged upon a flange of one of the fixed upright beams with its larger diameter portion being arranged adjacent a facing flange on one of the movable upright beams, the plurality of spacer and noise suppressor cushions also being arranged on an opposite side of the movable upright unit relative to the carriage.

3. The lift truck mast unit of claim 1 wherein a facing surface on the enlarged diameter portion of each elastomeric body opposite its annular surface is tapered about its periphery to further increase its resilience.

4. The lift truck mast unit of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of spacer and noise suppressor cushions is arranged upon a flange of one of the fixed upright beams with its larger diameter portion being arranged adjacent a facing flange on one of the movable upright beams, the plurality of spacer and noise suppressor cushions also being arranged on an opposite side of the movable upright unit relative to the carriage.

Other info:

Inventors: Leskovec, Edward V. (Eastlake, OH, US)

Application Number: 569513
Filing Date: 1975-04-18
Publication_date: 1976-06-08
Assignee: Towmotor Corporation (Mentor, OH)
Primary Class(es): 187/226 187/222
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

1839237	Jan, 1932	Lord	295/7.
2103480	Dec, 1937	Mason	308/3.
2490652	Dec, 1949	Sahlin	308/3.
2743966	May, 1956	McKernan	308/3.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Spar, Robert J.
Assistant Examiner: Oresky, Lawrence J.
Attorney: Phillips, Moore, Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala