阅读说明：本技术 方向盘减振系统和方向盘 (Steering wheel vibration damping system and steering wheel ) 是由 夏奶志 耿静泽 王琴 于 2020-05-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种方向盘以及一种方向盘减振系统,其包括安全气囊模块和按响装置,所述安全气囊模块包括第一壳体部件,所述按响装置包括第二壳体部件和按响弹簧,所述第二壳体部件构造成用于固定地安装至方向盘主体。所述方向盘减振系统包括安装至第二壳体部件的弹性体和保护部件,所述弹性体构造成用于将方向盘主体的振动传递至安全气囊模块。所述弹性体具有至少一个用于削弱弹性体的刚度的削弱部,所述削弱部构造成用于降低方向盘减振系统的固有频率。所述方向盘减振系统具有补偿凸块,其构造成用于补偿安全气囊模块外轮廓尺寸。该方向盘减振系统可以在降低固有振动频率方面改进,同时保证安全气囊和按响装置功能良好。(The present invention relates to a steering wheel and a steering wheel dampening system comprising an airbag module comprising a first housing part and a clicker device comprising a second housing part configured for fixed mounting to a steering wheel body and a clicker spring. The steering wheel dampening system includes an elastomeric body mounted to the second housing component and a protective component, the elastomeric body configured to transmit vibrations of the steering wheel body to the airbag module. The elastic body has at least one weakening portion for weakening the rigidity of the elastic body, and the weakening portion is configured to reduce the natural frequency of the steering wheel damping system. The steering wheel damping system has a compensation cam which is designed to compensate the outer contour dimension of the airbag module. The steering wheel damping system can be improved in terms of reducing the natural vibration frequency while ensuring good functioning of the airbag and the click device.)

1. A steering wheel vibration damping system comprising an airbag module (2) for a steering wheel and a rattling device for a vehicle horn, the airbag module comprising a first housing part (5), the rattling device comprising a second housing part (6) configured for being fixedly mounted to a steering wheel body (1) and a rattling spring (11) separating the first and second housing parts from each other, the steering wheel vibration damping system comprising an elastic body (10) mounted to the second housing part and a protective part (12) for protecting the elastic body, the elastic body being configured for transmitting vibration of the steering wheel body to the airbag module as a mass, characterized in that the elastic body has at least one weakening portion (10g) for weakening stiffness of the elastic body, the weakening portion being configured for reducing a natural frequency of the steering wheel vibration damping system, and the steering wheel damping system has a compensation cam (12d) which is designed to compensate the outer contour dimension of the airbag module.

2. The steering wheel vibration reduction system according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is configured in a hollow cylindrical shape, the elastic body has a center hole, and the protective member is configured in a protective bush having a hollow cylindrical portion (12a) inserted into the center hole of the elastic body;

preferably, the steering wheel damping system includes a connection device defining a maximum separation position of the first housing part relative to the second housing part under the urging force of the click spring, the connection device passing through the center hole of the elastic body, the hollow cylindrical portion of the protective bush, and the click spring;

further preferably, the connection device is a bolt connection device including a step nut (8) and a bolt (14) screwed into the step nut, the step nut being fastened to the first housing member by the bolt, and the step of the step nut being capable of abutting against at least one of the second housing member, the elastic body, and the protective bush in the maximum separated position.

3. The steering wheel dampening system of any of claims 1-2, wherein the weakened portion comprises at least one of:

-at least one groove extending in the inner circumferential surface of the elastomer;

-at least one groove extending in the outer peripheral surface of the elastomer;

-at least one hole extending in the elastomeric matrix;

preferably, the weakened portion includes at least one groove extending in the axial direction in the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body;

further preferably, the weakened portion includes at least two sets of grooves extending in the axial direction in the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body, the grooves of each set are disposed adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the elastic body, and the sets are disposed distributed in the circumferential direction of the elastic body.

4. The steering wheel dampening system of any of claims 1-3, wherein the compensating tab is disposed on at least one of the protective member, the elastomer, and the second housing member.

5. The steering wheel vibration reduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the compensation protrusion is provided at a six o' clock position on a surface of the protective member facing the elastic body, the compensation protrusion being in surface contact with the elastic body;

preferably, the compensation bump is a planar bump;

preferably, the protection member has cambered projections (12e) provided at three o 'clock and nine o' clock positions on a surface of the protection member facing the elastic body, the cambered projections forming line contacts with the elastic body, the lines of contact forming a pivot axis of the protection member with respect to the elastic body.

6. Steering wheel damping system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second housing part has a receiving hole (13) for receiving the elastomer body and the protective part, which elastomer body, protective part and receiving hole are free from relative rotation in the axial direction;

preferably, the elastomer body has a pin-like element (10f) which can be inserted into a positioning hole (6d) of the second housing part adjacent to the receiving hole;

preferably, the elastomer body has a projection (10e) and the protective part has an indentation (12c) in which the projection can be received.

7. The steering wheel vibration canceling system according to claim 6, wherein the receiving hole has an inner peripheral surface, an upper radially outwardly extending stepped surface, and a bottom radially inwardly extending stepped surface, the elastic body is fittable into the receiving hole from a side of the second housing member toward the first housing member, the elastic body has an outer peripheral surface opposite to the inner peripheral surface of the receiving hole and an upper flange, a bottom region of the elastic body is supported on the stepped surface of the bottom of the receiving hole, and the flange of the elastic body is supported on the stepped surface of the upper portion of the receiving hole; and/or

The receiving hole has an inner peripheral surface, an upper radially inwardly extending stepped surface, and a bottom radially outwardly extending stepped surface, the elastic body is mountable into the receiving hole from a side of the second housing member facing away from the first housing member, the elastic body has an outer peripheral surface opposite to the inner peripheral surface of the receiving hole and a lower flange, an upper region of the elastic body is supported on the upper stepped surface of the receiving hole, and the flange of the elastic body is supported on the stepped surface of the bottom of the receiving hole; and/or

The second housing part is of U-shaped design and has three receiving openings, one of which is arranged in the base of the U-shape and the other two in the free end region of the U-shape, each receiving opening being assigned to the spring body and the protective part and to the click spring.

8. The steering wheel vibration reduction system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the clicker device includes a clicker jaw (9) having a limiting element configured to limit a maximum amount of movement of the protective member and the elastic body.

9. A steering wheel comprising a steering wheel body (1), characterized in that a steering wheel damping system according to any of claims 1-8 is provided in the steering wheel body.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of vehicles, and more particularly to a steering wheel damping system and a steering wheel having such a steering wheel damping system.

Background

Steering wheels are widely used in modern vehicles to provide steering functionality. Typically, the steering wheel may include an airbag module and a ring for the vehicle horn, which may be mounted in the center of the steering wheel. The vehicle may generate vibrations while running, for example due to idling of the engine of the vehicle, due to unevenness of the road surface, due to tire deformation processes of the vehicle, and the like. The vibration of the vehicle may be transmitted to the steering wheel. Vibrations in the steering wheel may affect the comfort of the driver of the vehicle.

Steering wheel damping systems are known in the prior art, which comprise an elastomer as spring element and an airbag module as seismic mass, the elastomer being configured for transmitting vibrations of the steering wheel body to the airbag module. When vibration of a vehicle is transmitted to a steering wheel main body, a steering wheel vibration damping system including an elastic body and a vibration mass may partially absorb the vibration of the steering wheel main body, improving the comfort of a driver holding a rim of the steering wheel. Reference may be made to CN103140387B, CN105667443B, CN209921405U and CN110962911A, for example, in connection with the prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

The inventors of the present application found in the study of the steering wheel damping system that: the known steering wheel damping systems have difficulty meeting the desire of some users to reduce the damping frequency; the airbag module may deviate from a predetermined outer contour dimension with respect to the steering wheel body, for example collapse with respect to the steering wheel body, which is associated with the elastomer deforming under the effect of gravity, in particular when the elastomer is weakened for the purpose of a low frequency steering wheel damping system; the known steering wheel damping system is complex in structure and not easy to assemble.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a steering wheel damping system and a steering wheel having such a steering wheel damping system, wherein the steering wheel damping system is improved with respect to a reduction in the natural frequency of vibrations, while the airbag module can maintain a predetermined outer contour dimension with respect to the steering wheel main body.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a steering wheel vibration damping system is proposed, comprising an airbag module for a steering wheel and a rattling device for a vehicle horn, the airbag module comprising a first housing part, a second housing part and a rattling spring separating the first and second housing parts from each other, the second housing part being configured for being fixedly mounted to a steering wheel body, the steering wheel vibration damping system comprising an elastic body mounted to the second housing part and a protective part for protecting the elastic body, the elastic body being configured for transmitting vibrations of the steering wheel body to the airbag module as a mass and to the first housing part, the elastic body having at least one weakening portion for weakening a stiffness of the elastic body, the weakening portion being configured for reducing a natural frequency of the steering wheel vibration damping system, and the steering wheel damping system has a compensation cam which is designed to compensate the outer contour dimension of the airbag module.

The steering wheel damping system according to the invention can well meet the expectations of some users on the damping of low-frequency vibration, improve the comfort of drivers, is easy to install, and can ensure the functions of an air bag module and a ringing device.

In the invention, the natural vibration frequency of the steering wheel damping system can be adjusted in the low-frequency direction by using the weakening part, the outer contour size of the airbag module can be compensated by using the compensation lug, and other parts of the steering wheel damping system can be basically kept unchanged. This may be advantageous in terms of manufacturing and installation of the steering wheel damping system.

In some embodiments, the elastomer may be configured to be cylindrical. The elastomer may have a circular cross-section or a non-circular cross-section. The cross section of the elastomer may remain constant or vary in the axial direction.

In some embodiments, the elastomer may be configured as a hollow cylinder, and the elastomer may have a central bore.

In some embodiments, the protective member may be configured as a protective bushing, which may have a hollow cylindrical portion inserted into a central bore of the elastomer.

In some embodiments, the protective bushing may provide protection for the axial end face and/or the central bore of the upper portion of the elastomer.

In some embodiments, the steering wheel dampening system may include a connection device that may define a maximum separation position of the first housing component relative to the second housing component under the urging force of the click spring.

In some embodiments, the attachment means may pass through the central bore of the elastomer, the hollow cylindrical portion of the protective bushing, and the rattle spring. A particularly compact construction can thus be achieved, wherein the elastomer, the protective bushing and the click spring can be arranged substantially coaxially. The elastic body, the protective sleeve and the click spring can be matched to a common receiving hole of the second housing part without separate receiving holes being provided on the second housing part for the elastic body and the protective sleeve on the one hand and for the click spring on the other hand.

In some embodiments, the connection means may be a bolt connection means or a rivet connection means. In some embodiments, the connecting means may also be a non-detachable connecting structure.

In some embodiments, the screw connection device may comprise a step nut and a screw screwed into the step nut, the step nut being fastened to the first housing part by the screw, and the step of the step nut being able to rest against at least one of the second housing part, the elastomer and the protective sleeve in the maximum separation position, for example only against the elastomer, only against the protective sleeve, or against the second housing part and the protective sleeve.

In some embodiments, the weakened portion may include at least one groove extending in an inner circumferential surface of the elastic body. The grooves may extend over the entire axial length of the central bore of the elastomer body or only over a portion of this axial length. The grooves may extend in the axial direction of the elastomer body or may extend in a direction deviating from the axial direction, for example spirally. The grooves may extend continuously or intermittently. The recess may in principle have any cross-sectional shape, for example a substantially semicircular, substantially rectangular or substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional shape of the groove may remain constant or vary in the direction of the groove extension.

Alternatively or additionally to the above-mentioned groove, the weakened portion may comprise at least one groove extending in the outer circumferential surface of the elastic body; and/or at least one hole extending in the elastomeric matrix. The holes may be through holes or blind holes.

In some embodiments, the weakened portion may include at least one groove extending in an axial direction in an inner circumferential surface of the elastic body.

In some embodiments, the weakened portion may include at least two sets of grooves extending in the axial direction in the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body, the grooves of each set being disposed adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the elastic body, and the sets being disposed distributed in the circumferential direction of the elastic body. For example, the weakened portion may include two sets of grooves extending in the axial direction in the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body, the grooves of each set being disposed adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the elastic body, and the two sets being disposed opposite to each other.

In some embodiments, the natural vibration frequency of the steering wheel vibration reduction system may be influenced by at least one of the following parameters: the number of grooves, the direction in which the grooves extend, the cross-sectional shape of the grooves, the depth and width of the grooves, and the length of the extension.

In some embodiments, the compensation amount of the compensation bump may be influenced by at least one of the following parameters: the shape and area of the compensation bump, the height of the compensation bump, and the position of the compensation bump.

In some embodiments, the compensation projection may be provided on at least one of the protection member, the elastic body, and the second housing member. For example, the compensation cams can be provided only on the protective component, or only on the second housing part, or both on the protective component and on the second housing part.

In some embodiments, the compensation projection may be provided at a six o' clock position on the surface of the protective component facing the elastic body, the compensation projection being in surface contact with the elastic body.

In some embodiments, the compensation bump may be a planar bump.

In some embodiments, the protective component may have cams of an arc disposed at the three and nine o' clock positions on the surface of the protective component facing the elastomeric body, the cams forming line contacts with the elastomeric body, the lines of contact forming a pivot axis of the protective component relative to the elastomeric body.

In some alternative embodiments, the protective member may have a compensation projection provided at a six o ' clock position, and the elastic body may have a cambered projection provided at three o ' clock and nine o ' clock positions.

In some embodiments, the second housing part may have a receiving hole for receiving the elastic body and the protective member, the elastic body, the protective member, and the receiving hole being free from relative rotation in the axial direction.

In some embodiments, the elastic body may have a pin-like element that is insertable into a positioning hole of the second housing component adjacent to the receiving hole.

In some embodiments, the resilient body may have a protrusion and the protective member may have an indentation, the protrusion being receivable in the indentation.

In some embodiments, the receiving hole may have an inner peripheral surface, an upper radially outwardly extending stepped surface, and a bottom radially inwardly extending stepped surface, the elastic body may be fitted into the receiving hole from a side of the second housing member facing the first housing member, the elastic body has an outer peripheral surface opposite to the inner peripheral surface of the receiving hole and an upper flange, a bottom region of the elastic body is supported on the stepped surface of the bottom of the receiving hole, and the flange of the elastic body is supported on the stepped surface of the upper portion of the receiving hole.

In some embodiments, the receiving hole may have an inner circumferential surface, an upper radially inwardly extending step surface, and a bottom radially outwardly extending step surface, the elastic body may be fitted into the receiving hole from a side of the second housing member facing away from the first housing member, the elastic body has an outer circumferential surface opposite to the inner circumferential surface of the receiving hole and a lower flange, an upper region of the elastic body is supported on the step surface of the upper portion of the receiving hole, and the flange of the elastic body is supported on the step surface of the bottom of the receiving hole.

In some embodiments, the second housing part can be U-shaped and can have three receiving holes, one of which is arranged at the base of the U-shape and the other two in the free end region of the U-shape, each receiving hole being assigned to the elastomer and the protective part and to the click spring. In general, there may be a single combination or a plurality of combinations, which may include the receiving opening of the second housing part, the elastic body, the protective part and the click spring, which may be provided with connecting means, in particular screw connections, for example.

In some embodiments, the clicker may include a clicker plate, and the clicker plate may have a limiting element configured to limit a maximum amount of movement of the protective member and the elastic body. The limiting element prevents the elastomer and the protective component from moving to an excessive extent. Such excessive movement may shorten the life of the elastic body and may even cause the elastic body and the protective member to be detached from the mounting position.

In some embodiments, the stiffness of the elastomer may be significantly less than the stiffness of the rattle spring, for example may be at least 2 times, preferably at least 3 times, such as at least 4 times less than the stiffness of the rattle spring.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a steering wheel is proposed, comprising a steering wheel body in which a steering wheel damping system according to the first aspect of the present invention is arranged. The steering wheel has technical advantages associated with the steering wheel dampening system described above.

Drawings

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of specific embodiments with reference to the drawing. Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a steering wheel having a steering wheel dampening system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one half of the steering wheel damping system of FIG. 1 along section line A-A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one structural assembly of the steering wheel dampening system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the steering wheel dampening system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an elastomer of the steering wheel dampening system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a protective bushing of the steering wheel dampening system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a steering wheel dampening system according to another embodiment;

fig. 8A and 8B are perspective views of elastomers according to further embodiments.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a top view of a steering wheel with a steering wheel damping system according to an embodiment, and fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the steering wheel damping system of fig. 1 along half of a section line a-a. The steering wheel may have a steering wheel body 1, which may have a metal skeleton, which may be wrapped with a flexible material. An airbag module 2 may be provided at the center of the steering wheel main body 1. A beeper for the vehicle horn may be provided below the airbag module 2. Typically, the airbag module 2 can comprise an airbag door 3, a first housing part 5 connected to the airbag door 3, the airbag door 3 and the first housing part 5 forming a housing of the airbag module, which housing has a receiving space for receiving the folded airbag 4. Typically, the inflator 7 is disposed in the center of the bottom of the housing of the airbag module and can rapidly inflate the folded airbag 4 upon activation, the inflated airbag then popping out of the airbag door 3 to provide safety protection to the vehicle occupant. Typically, the inflator 7 may be a pyrotechnic gas generator.

In the embodiment shown, the first housing part 5 can be considered as a common part of the airbag module 2 and the click device, wherein the click contacts of the click device can be arranged on the first housing part. In some embodiments, which are not shown, the airbag module 2 and the rattle device may each have their own housing part, which may be fixedly connected to one another, and the rattle contacts are arranged on their own housing part of the rattle device.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a structural assembly of the steering wheel damping system of fig. 1, which includes a second housing part 6, which is configured substantially in the shape of a U and can have a plurality of (3 in fig. 3) receiving holes 13, in each of which an elastic body 10 and a protective part 12 can be received, as will be explained in more detail later.

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the steering wheel dampening system of fig. 1, the structure associated with one of the centered receiving holes 13 being depicted. Fig. 5 and 6 depict the elastomer 10 and the protective member 12, respectively, disposed in a centered receiving hole. The same or similar applies to the other two receiving holes 13 provided at the end faces and the received elastic body 10 and the protective part 12.

Typically, the clicker means may comprise a clicker up and a clicker down 9. The snap-on tab may be integrated into the first housing part 5 or may be connected as a separate part to the first housing part 5. The clicker top piece may have a clicker contact. The clicker plate 9 may be mounted to the second housing part 6 and may have clicker wires 9 a. The click-on tab 9 can also be integrated into the second housing part 6. The clicker means may comprise a clicker spring 11 separating the clicker up and clicker down or the first and second housing parts 5, 6. When the airbag module 2 is pressed, the first housing part 5 can be moved against the spring force of the rattle spring 11 toward the second housing part 6, so that the rattle contacts moving together with the first housing part are in contact with the rattle wires 9a fixed to the second housing part 6, and the vehicle horn can be rattled. When the pressing of the airbag module 2 is released, the first housing part 5 can be separated from the second housing part 6 by the spring force of the click spring 11, whereupon the click point and the click wire 9a are separated and the vehicle horn can be stopped from clicking.

As shown in fig. 4, the receiving hole 13 may have an inner peripheral surface 6a, an upper radially outwardly extending stepped surface 6b, and a bottom radially inwardly extending stepped surface 6 c.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the elastic body 10 may be configured to be hollow cylindrical, in particular hollow cylindrical. The elastic body 10 may have an inner circumferential surface 10a defining a center hole, an outer circumferential surface 10b opposite to the inner circumferential surface of the receiving hole, and an upper flange 10 c. The bottom region 10d of the elastic body 10 may be supported on the step surface 6 c. The flange 10c of the elastic body 10 may be supported on the step surface 6 b. More specifically, the flange 10c of the elastic body 10 may have a first surface facing away from the receiving hole 13 and a second surface facing toward the receiving hole 13, which may rest on the step surface 6 b.

The elastic body 10 can be received in the receiving hole 13 without relative rotation. For this purpose, the elastic body 10 can have, for example, pin-like elements 10f which can be inserted into positioning holes 6d of the second housing part 6 adjacent to the receiving hole 13. Alternatively, it is also possible that the elastic body 10 and the receiving hole 13 may have a non-circular cross section, for example, may have a substantially rectangular cross section.

The elastic body 10 may have at least one weakened portion 10g, for example, two weakened portions opposed to each other, in an inner peripheral surface 10a thereof, as shown in fig. 5. The weakened portion may extend axially. The weakening may have any cross-section, for example the cross-sectional shape may be a circular ring section, substantially rectangular, substantially triangular or the like. The weakened portion may weaken the stiffness of the elastic body and reduce the natural frequency of the steering wheel damping system.

As shown in fig. 4 and 6, the protective member 12 may be configured to protect a bushing. The protective sleeve may have a hollow cylindrical portion 12a and a flange 12 b. The hollow cylindrical portion may be inserted into the center hole of the elastic body 10. The flange 12b may rest on an axial end face of the upper portion of the elastic body 10. The surface of the flange 12b facing away from the elastomer may support the click spring 11. The protective member 12 may be provided so as not to rotate relative to the elastic body 10. For example, the elastic body 10 may have a protrusion 10e, and the protective member 12 may have a notch 12c, into which the protrusion is received. It is also possible that the center hole of the elastic body 10 and the hollow cylindrical portion 12a of the protective member 12 have a non-circular cross section. The protective component 12 can have a compensation cam 12d, which is designed to compensate the outer contour dimension of the airbag module. The airbag module 2 is supported on an elastic body 10 having a weakened portion, and the elastic body 10 is compressed by a mass including the airbag module 2. The elastic body having the weakened portion is compressed to a greater extent than in the case where the elastic body does not have the weakened portion, which may cause the outer contour dimension of the airbag module to deviate from the design. The compensating cams 12d can compensate the outer contour dimension of the airbag module. Particularly advantageously, the compensation cam 12d can be arranged in the six o' clock position. The compensation projection 12d may have a flat surface and thus form a surface contact with the elastic body 10. In addition, at three o 'clock and nine o' clock positions of the protective bush 12, arc bumps 12e may be provided, respectively, which may make line contact with the elastic body 10. Through the combination of one compensation bump 12d and two cambered surface bumps 12e, on one hand, the size of the outer contour of the airbag module can be well compensated, and on the other hand, the freedom of movement can be furthest released in a vibration damping working state, so that the vibration absorption energy is optimized. The height and the planar dimensions of the compensation cams can be suitably selected to ensure a good fit between the airbag module and the steering wheel. In order to prevent excessive movement of the protective member 12 and the elastic body 10, the click-down piece 9 may have a stop element for limiting the maximum amount of movement of the protective member 12 and the elastic body 10.

In some embodiments, which are not shown, the compensation cams and/or the cams can also be formed on the upper axial end face of the elastomer body 10. In some embodiments, not shown, the compensation protrusions and/or the cambered protrusions may also be formed on the second surface of the flange 10c of the elastic body 10 facing the receiving hole. In some embodiments, not shown, compensation projections and/or cams can also be formed on the base region 10d of the spring body 10. In some embodiments, not shown, the compensation projections and/or the cambered projections may also be formed on the step surface 6b and/or the step surface 6c of the receiving hole 13.

The first housing part 5 can be kept from being detached from the second housing part 6 by the connecting means. As shown in fig. 4, the connecting means may include a step nut 8, which is fastened to the first housing part 5 by a bolt, and a bolt 14. The stepped nut has a step which is stopped axially by the second housing part 6 and/or the spring body 10 and/or the protective part 12, so that the first housing part 5 is separated from the second housing part 6 by a predetermined distance under the spring force of the click spring 11.

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of a steering wheel damping system according to a further embodiment, which differs from the previous embodiments mainly with respect to the design of the receiving bore 13 of the second housing part 6 and the elastomer body 10. Here, the receiving hole 13 may have an inner circumferential surface 6a, an upper radially inwardly extending stepped surface 6b, and a bottom radially outwardly extending stepped surface 6 c. The elastic body 10 may be configured in a hollow cylindrical shape, mounted upward from the bottom of the receiving hole 13, accommodated in the receiving hole 13, and supported on the two stepped surfaces 6b, 6c of the receiving hole 13. The resilient body 10 may have a bottom flange 10c that rests on the step surface 6 c. The upper region of the elastic body 10 may be supported on the step surface 6 b. The protective member 12 may be constructed the same as or similar to the foregoing embodiment. Otherwise reference may be made to the description of the preceding embodiments.

Fig. 8A and 8B are perspective views of an elastic body 10 according to another embodiment, wherein the elastic body 10 has two sets of weakened portions 10g diametrically opposite to each other, each set may include a plurality of weakened portions, wherein the weakened portions shown in fig. 8A may be substantially semi-cylindrical, and the weakened portions shown in fig. 8B may have a substantially rectangular cross section. In some embodiments, not shown, the elastic body 10 may have at least one weakened portion in its outer circumferential surface, for example, a plurality or groups of weakened portions evenly distributed over the outer circumferential surface. In some embodiments, which are not shown, the spring body 10 can have holes, for example axially extending blind holes, in its base body, for example four holes distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction as weakening sections. In some embodiments, not shown, the weakened portion may also extend in a direction other than the axial direction.

It is noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" should not be taken to exclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be understood that the terms "comprises" and "comprising," and other similar terms, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The term "and/or" as used herein includes all arbitrary combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In the description of the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The thickness of elements in the figures may be exaggerated for clarity. It will be further understood that if an element is referred to as being "on," "coupled to" or "connected to" another element, it can be directly on, coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. Conversely, if the expressions "directly on … …", "directly coupled with … …", and "directly connected with … …" are used herein, then there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements, such as "between … …" and "directly between … …", "attached" and "directly attached", "adjacent" and "directly adjacent", etc., should be similarly interpreted.

Terms such as "top," "bottom," "above," "below," "over," "under," and the like, may be used herein to describe one element, layer or region's relationship to another element, layer or region as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that these terms are intended to encompass other orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the present inventive concept.

It is also contemplated that all of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may be combined with each other as desired.

Finally, it is pointed out that the above-described embodiments are only intended to be understood as an example of the invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the foregoing embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.