Cross elastomer mount

Abstract

A cross elastomer mount comprising a body composed of an elastomer and having a plurality of legs, a first platform for supporting a first member and a second platform for supporting a second member, a plurality of rigid platform arms pivotally attached to the platforms, and a plurality of hinges pivotally attaching the rigid platform arms to the legs of the cross elastomer mount whereby the plurality of legs bow or arc under a shock and vibration force to allow the cross elastomer mount to attenuated the forces while providing a tension and shearing resistance to the shocks and vibrations.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A shock isolator comprising: 
 a. an isolator body composed of an elastomer, said isolator body having a first side and a second side, said isolator body having a first leg and a second leg;    b. a first platform, said first platform having a first attaching area and a second attaching area, said first platform for supporting a first member proximate the first side of said isolator body; and    c. a first rigid platform arm and a second rigid platform arm, said first rigid platform arm having a first end pivotally connected to the first attaching area of said first platform and a second end connected to said first leg, said second rigid platform arm having a first end pivotally connected to the second attaching area of said first platform and a second end connected to said second leg whereby the first leg and the second leg bow or arc under a shock and vibrational force to allow the cross elastomer mount to attenuated the shock and vibrational force while providing a tension and shearing resistance to the shocks and vibrational forces.    
     
     
         2 . The shock isolator of  claim 1  wherein the first leg of said isolator body and the second leg of said isolator body have the same length.  
     
     
         3 . The shock isolator of  claim 1  including a third leg and a fourth leg.  
     
     
         4 . The shock isolator of  claim 3  including a second platform, said second platform having a first attaching area and a second attaching area, said second platform supporting a second member proximate the second side of said isolator body.  
     
     
         5 . The shock isolator of  claim 4  including a third rigid platform arm and a fourth rigid platform arm, said third rigid platform arm pivotally connected to the first attaching area of said second platform, said fourth rigid platform arm pivotally connected to the second attaching area of said second platform.  
     
     
         6 . The shock isolator of  claim 1  including a first hinge and a second hinge, said first hinge pivotally connecting the first leg of said isolator body to said first rigid platform arm and said second hinge pivotally connecting the second leg of said isolator body to said second rigid platform arm.  
     
     
         7 . The shock isolator of  claim 6  wherein said platform has a circular shape.  
     
     
         8 . The shock isolator of  claim 6  wherein the platforms are composed of a rigid material.  
     
     
         9 . A cross elastomer mount comprising: 
 a. a mount body composed of an elastomer, said mount body having a first side and a second side, said mount body having a first leg, a second leg, a third leg, and a fourth leg;    b. a first platform, said first platform having a first attaching area and a second attaching area, said first platform for supporting a first member proximate the first side of said mount body;    c. a second platform, said second platform having a first attaching area and a second attaching area, said second platform for supporting a second member proximate the second side of said mount body;    d. a first rigid platform arm, a second rigid platform arm, a third rigid platform arm, and a fourth rigid platform arm, said first rigid platform arm pivotally connected to the first attaching area of said first platform, said second rigid platform arm pivotally connected to the second attaching area of said first platform, said third rigid platform arm pivotally connected to the first attaching area of said second platform, said fourth rigid platform arm pivotally connected to the second attaching area of said second platform; and    e. a first hinge, a second hinge, a third hinge, and a fourth hinge, said first hinge pivotally connecting the first leg of said mount body to said first rigid platform arm, said second hinge pivotally connecting the second leg of said mount body to said second rigid platform arm, said third hinge pivotally connecting the third leg of said mount body to said third rigid platform arm, and said fourth hinge pivotally connecting the fourth leg of said mount body to said fourth rigid platform arm whereby the legs of said cross elastomer mount elongate to provide tension and shearing resistance to a shock force or a vibration force.    
     
     
         10 . The shock isolator of  claim 9  wherein the first leg, the second leg, the third leg, and the fourth leg of said mount body are of equal length.  
     
     
         11 . The cross elastomer mount of  claim 9  wherein said platform has a circular shape.  
     
     
         12 . The shock isolator of  claim 9  wherein the platforms are composed of a rigid material.  
     
     
         13 . A method of damping dynamic forces comprising: 
 a. forming a cross elastomer mount having a plurality of legs and having a first rigid platform for supporting a first member and a second rigid platform for supporting a second member;    b. securing the first platform to a first member; and    c. mounting the second platform to a second member whereby said cross elastomer mount through the elongation of the legs provide tension and shearing resistance to shocks and vibrations.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  including the step of securing the first platform of said cross elastomer mount to a housing.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  including the step of securing the second platform of said cross elastomer mount to a support surface.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of forming a cross elastomer mount comprise forming a cross elastomer mount with legs mutually perpendicular to each other.  
     
     
         17 . An elastomer mount comprising: 
 a. a mount body composed of an elastomer, said mount body having a longitudinal axis, said mount body having a first end and a second end;    b. a first rigid arm, said first rigid arm having a first end and a second end, said second end of said first rigid arm connected to the first end of said mount body; and    c. a second rigid arm, said second rigid arm having a first end and a second end, said second end of said second rigid arm connected to the second end of said mount body and said first end of said first rigid arm pivotally connected to said first end of said first rigid arm whereby a shock or vibration force having a non-parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the mount body produces a lengthening of the mount body to thereby attenuate the shock or vibrational force.    
     
     
         18 . The elastomer of  claim 17  wherein the mount body is supported by a surface to permit sliding of said mount body along said surface in response to the shock or vibration force.  
     
     
         19 . The elastomer mount of  claim 17  wherein the first rigid arm and the second rigid arm are of equal length.  
     
     
         20 . The elastomer mount of  claim 17  wherein the first end of said mount body forms a living hinge to the second end of said first rigid arm and said second end of said mount body forms a living hinge to the first end of said second rigid arm.  
     
     
         21 . The elastomer mount of  claim 17  including a semi-circular shaped plate attached to the body mount whereby a shock or vibrational force results in the semi-circular shaped plate forcing the elastomer body into shear.  
     
     
         22 . The elastomer mount of  claim 17  wherein the mount body has a circular body.