Packing member for automobile lift

Claim 2

A packing member comprising an annular body of elastomeric material having a substantially radially disposed top wall, a substantially axially disposed outer wall extending downwardly from the top wall, a bottom wall including a substantially radially disposed outer portion extending inwardly from the outer wall and an angularly downwardly extending inner portion, and an inner wall extending angularly downwardly and inwardly from the top wall to the bottom wall and intersecting with the inner portion of the bottom wall to define a sealing lip at the lower inner edge of the packing member, and a plurality of holes formed in the packing member at spaced points around the inner portion of the bottom wall, all of said holes extending into the packing member substantially axially and through a substantial portion of the distance between the top and bottom walls, said holes for permitting the packing member to distribute itself more uniformly during the use of the packing member and thereby form a more effective seal, for reducing stress concentrations and thereby reducing wear, and for accommodating eccentricities between the component parts of a cylinder incorporating the packing member.

Claim 3

The packing member according to claim 1 wherein the inner wall extends angularly downwardlY and inwardly from the inner edge of the top wall to the inner edge of the inner portion of the bottom wall for cooperation with the inner portion of the bottom wall to form an angularly downwardly and inwardly extending sealing lip.

Claim 4

The packing member according to claim 2 wherein the holes formed in the packing member are all substantially equal in diameter and wherein each hole is separated from the next adjacent hole by a distance equal to about one diameter.

Claim 5

The packing member according to claim 3 wherein each of the holes has a depth equal to about one-half the width between the top wall and the bottom wall.

Claim 6

The packing member according to claim 4 further including a layer of reinforcing material molded into the annular body of the elastomeric material and extending at least across the inner portion of the top wall, along the entire length of the inner wall, across the entire width of the inner portion of the bottom wall, and across at least the inner portion of the outer portion of the bottom wall.

Claim 7

A packing member comprising an annular body of elastomeric material having a substantially radially disposed top wall, a substantially axially disposed outer wall extending substantially perpendicularly to the top wall, a bottom wall including a substantially radially disposed outer portion extending substantially parallel to the top wall and an inner portion extending angularly downwardly from the inner edge of the outer portion, and an inner wall extending angularly downwardly and inwardly from the top wall to the inner edge of the inner portion of the bottom wall and intersecting with the inner portion of the bottom wall to define an angularly downwardly and inwardly extending sealing lip, and a plurality of substantially axially extending holes all formed in the packing member at substantially equally spaced points around the inner portion of the bottom wall and each having a depth equal to about one-half of the thickness of the annular body.

Claim 8

A packing member comprising an annular body of elastomeric material having a substantially radially disposed top wall, a substantially axially disposed outer wall extending substantially perpendicularly to the top wall, a bottom wall including a substantially radially disposed outer portion extending substantially parallel to the top wall and an inner portion extending angularly downwardly from the inner edge of the outer portion, and an inner wall extending angularly downwardly and inwardly from the top wall to the inner edge of the inner portion of the bottom wall and intersecting with the inner portion of the bottom wall to define an angularly downwardly and inwardly extending sealing lip, and a plurality of substantially axially extending holes all formed in the packing member at substantially equally spaced points around the inner portion of the bottom wall and each having a depth equal to about one-half of the thickness of the annular body.

Claim 9

The packing member according to claim 6 further including a layer of reinforcing material molded into the annular body of elastomeric material and extending at least across the inner part of the top wall, along the entire length of the inner wall, across the entire width of the inner portion of the bottom wall, and across the inner part of the outer portion of the bottom wall.

Claim 10

The packing member according to claim 6 wherein all of the axially extending holes are substantially equal in diameter and are separated from one another by a distance of about one diameter.

Claim 11

A packing member comprising an annular body of elastomeric material having a substantially radially disposed top wall, a substantially axially disposed outer wall extending downwardly from the outer edge of the top wall and substantially perpendicularly with respect thereto, a bottom wall including a substantially radially disposed outer portion extending inwardly from the bottom edge of the outer wall substantially parallel to the top wall and an inner portion extending angularly downwardly from the inner edge of the outer portion of the bottom wall, and an inner wall extending angularly downwardly and inwardly from the inner edge of the top wall to the inner edge of the inner portion of the bottom wall and intersecting with the inner portion of the bottom wall to define an angularly downwardly and inwardly extending sealing lip, and a plurality of substantially axially extending holes all formed in the packing member at substantially equally spaced points around the inner portion of the bottom wall and each having a depth equal to about one-half the distance between the top wall and the bottom wall, said holes being substantially equal in diameter and being spaced apart by a distance equal to about one diameter, said holes for permitting the packing member to distribute itself more uniformly during use and thereby form a more effective seal for reducing stress concentrations in the packing member and thereby reducing wear, and fOr accommodating eccentricities between the component parts of a cylinder incorporating the packing member.

Claim 12

A packing member comprising an annular body of elastomeric material having a substantially radially disposed top wall, a substantially axially disposed outer wall extending downwardly from the outer edge of the top wall and substantially perpendicularly with respect thereto, a bottom wall including a substantially radially disposed outer portion extending inwardly from the bottom edge of the outer wall substantially parallel to the top wall and an inner portion extending angularly downwardly from the inner edge of the outer portion of the bottom wall, and an inner wall extending angularly downwardly and inwardly from the inner edge of the top wall to the inner edge of the inner portion of the bottom wall and intersecting with the inner portion of the bottom wall to define an angularly downwardly and inwardly extending sealing lip, and a plurality of substantially axially extending holes all formed in the packing member at substantially equally spaced points around the inner portion of the bottom wall and each having a depth equal to about one-half the distance between the top wall and the bottom wall, said holes being substantially equal in diameter and being spaced apart by a distance equal to about one diameter, said holes for permitting the packing member to distribute itself more uniformly during use and thereby form a more effective seal for reducing stress concentrations in the packing member and thereby reducing wear, and fOr accommodating eccentricities between the component parts of a cylinder incorporating the packing member.

Claim 13

The packing member according to claim 9 further including a layer of reinforcing material molded into the body of elastomeric material and extending at least across the inner part of the top wall, along the entire length of the inner wall, across the entire width of the inner portion of the bottom wall, and across the inner part of the outer portion of the bottom wall.