US3559976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable stiffness suspension system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-10-17
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1988-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle suspension system including two springs connected in series, with one of the springs being stiffer than the other, and with the springs being so related that under normal load conditions the softer of the two springs is effective to provide a very gently cushioned ride, while upon the imposition of heavier load forces, the vehicle is supported more stiffly and primarily by the stronger spring. The conversion between these two conditions may be effected automatically, by engagement under heavy load conditions of a pair of stop shoulders acting to limit compression of the light spring. Similarly, upon excessive extension of the springs, an additional set of stop shoulders may automatically become effective to limit the amount of extension of the softer spring and cause the stiffer spring to resist further extension. A shock absorber may be utilized in conjunction with the springs, and may itself carry or include one or more of the stop shoulders.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Jerz Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:12
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F3/00; F16F3/02; F16F3/04; B; B60; B60G; B60G11/00; B60G11/14; B60G11/32; B60G11/48; B60G7/00; B60G7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
In a vehicle suspension system having a wheeled first member and a second member mounted for relative upward and downward movement, the combination comprising a spring structure interposed operatively between said two members to resiliently support said second member from the first member, said structure having two coil spring portions connected in series and in compression between said members with first ends of the two portions exerting load supporting force oppositely against said two members respectively and with intermediate second ends exerting force against one another in load transmitting relation, one of said coil spring portions being relatively soft and the other relatively stiff so that upon application of a load force said soft portion will initially compress more rapidly than the stiff portion, means forming first and second shoulders facing essentially in opposite axial directions and operatively connected essentially to said second ends of said two spring portions for movement therewith, a third shoulder engageable by said first shoulder in a relation resisting further compression of said soft spring portion after predetermined initial compression thereof so that further downward movement of said second member is resisted primarily by the strength of said stiff portion, and a fourth shoulder acting upon predetermined upward movement of said second member relative to said first member to engage and block movement of said second shoulder in a relation causing further upward movement of said second member to be resisted by the strength of said stiff spring portion independently.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a vehicle suspension system having a wheeled first member and a second member mounted for relative upward and downward movement, the combination comprising a spring structure interposed operatively between said two members to resiliently support said second member from the first member, said structure having two coil spring portions connected in series and in compression between said members with first ends of the two portions exerting load supporting force oppositely against said two members respectively and with intermediate second ends exerting force against one another in load transmitting relation, one of said coil spring portions being relatively soft and the other relatively stiff so that upon application of a load force said soft portion will initially compress more rapidly than the stiff portion, means forming first and second shoulders facing essentially in opposite axial directions and operatively connected essentially to said second ends of said two spring portions for movement therewith, a third shoulder engageable by said first shoulder in a relation resisting further compression of said soft spring portion after predetermined initial compression thereof so that further downward movement of said second member is resisted primarily by the strength of said stiff portion, and a fourth shoulder acting upon predetermined upward movement of said second member relative to said first member to engage and block movement of said second shoulder in a relation causing further upward movement of said second member to be resisted by the strength of said stiff spring portion independently.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, in which one of said first and third shoulders has resilience to allow some continued deformation of the soft spring portion after engagement of the first and third shoulders but with increased resistance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said two spring portions are formed separately, there being a connector structure securing said second ends of the spring portions together and forming said first and second shoulderS.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, including a unit connected to said second ends of the spring portions and containing an opening and carrying said second shoulder, and an elongated member connected to one of said members and projecting through said opening and having an enlargement forming said fourth shoulder for engaging said second shoulder on said unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, including an additional spring positioned to commence resisting movement of said second ends and compression of said soft spring portion after some movement of said second ends but prior to engagement of said first and third shoulders.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, including a unit connected to said second ends of the spring portions and containing an opening and carrying said first and second shoulders, an elongated member connected to one of said members and projecting through said opening and having an enlargement forming said fourth shoulder for engaging said second shoulder on said unit, and an additional coil spring disposed about said elongated member and engageable by said unit to commence resisting movement of said second ends and compression of said soft spring portion after some movement of said second ends but prior to engagement of said first and third shoulders.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination as recited in claim 6, in which the engagement between said first and third shoulders has some resilience but is stiffer than said soft spring portion or said additional spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, including a shock s absorber extending generally vertically within said coil spring portions and resisting relative vertical movement of said first and second members, said third and fourth shoulders being carried by said shock absorber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, in which said third shoulder is a structure connected to said first member essentially about said soft spring portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination as recited in claim 9, including an essentially annular removable shim connectable to said third shoulder about said soft spring portion to change the point at which said shoulders become effective.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination as recited in claim 1, including means for adjusting the effective position of one of said shoulders to thereby alter the point at which two of said shoulders engage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a vehicle suspension system having a wheeled first member and a second member mounted for relative upward and downward movement, the combination comprising a spring structure interposed operatively between said two members to resiliently support said second member from the first member, said structure having two coil spring portions connected in series between said members with first ends of the two portions exerting load supporting force oppositely against said two members respectively and with intermediate second ends exerting force against one another in load transmitting relation, one of said coil spring portions being relatively soft and the other relatively stiff so that upon application of a load force said soft portion will initially deform more rapidly than the stiff portion, and a shock absorber connected in parallel with said soft spring portion but not said stiff spring portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a vehicle suspension system having a wheeled first member and a second member mounted for relative upward and downward movement, the combination comprising a spring structure interposed operatively between said two members to resiliently support said second member from the first member, said structure having two coil spring portions connected in series between said members with first ends of the two portions exerting load supporting force oppositely against said two members respectively and with intermediate second ends exerting force against one another in load transmitting relation, one of said coil spring portions being relatively soft and the other relatively stiff so that upon application of a load force said soft portion will initially deform more rapidly than the stiff portion, and a shock absorber connected in parallel with said soft spring portion but not said stiff spring portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
The combination as recited in claim 12, including means forming a first shoulder operatively connected essentially to said second ends of said two spring portions for movement therewith, and a coacting additional shoulder engageable by said first shoulder in a relation resisting further deformation of said soft spring portion after predetermined initial deformation thereof so that further downward movement of said second member is resisted primarily by the strength of said stiff portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a vehicle having a wheeled first member and a second member mounted for relative upward and downward movement, the combination comprising spring means which in at least one condition thereof are interposed operatively between said two members to resiliently support said second member from the first member, said spring means having two coil spring portions which in said one condition are interposed in series between the members, one of said portions being relatively soft and the other relatively stiff, said spring portions being under compression in said one condition thereof, said stiff spring portion being returnable to an uncompressed and under undeformed condition upon predetermined upward movement of said second member relative to said first member, and being deformable beyond said uncompressed and undeformed condition to an axially extended condition in which it yieldingly resists further relative upward movement of said second member, means connecting a first end of said stiff spring portion to one of said members in a relation to exert a yielding force thereagainst for resisting said further relative upward movement of the second member, means forming a stop shoulder operatively connected to said stiff portion near a second end thereof, and a coacting second shoulder engageable by said first mentioned shoulder after predetermined relative separation of said members in a relation thereafter resisting separation of said members by the force of said extended stiff spring portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a vehicle having a wheeled first member and a second member mounted for relative upward and downward movement, the combination comprising spring means which in at least one condition thereof are interposed operatively between said two members to resiliently support said second member from the first member, said spring means having two coil spring portions which in said one condition are interposed in series between the members, one of said portions being relatively soft and the other relatively stiff, said spring portions being under compression in said one condition thereof, said stiff spring portion being returnable to an uncompressed and under undeformed condition upon predetermined upward movement of said second member relative to said first member, and being deformable beyond said uncompressed and undeformed condition to an axially extended condition in which it yieldingly resists further relative upward movement of said second member, means connecting a first end of said stiff spring portion to one of said members in a relation to exert a yielding force thereagainst for resisting said further relative upward movement of the second member, means forming a stop shoulder operatively connected to said stiff portion near a second end thereof, and a coacting second shoulder engageable by said first mentioned shoulder after predetermined relative separation of said members in a relation thereafter resisting separation of said members by the force of said extended stiff spring portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
The combination as recited in claim 14, in which said connecting means connect the upper end of said stiff spring portion to said second member, said soft spring portion having its upper end connected to the lower end of said stiff portion and its lower end connected to said first member, said first mentioned stop shoulder being carried by the lower end of said stiff portion and the upper end of said soft portion, and said coacting shoulder being connected to said first member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination as recited in claim 14, including a shock absorber within said spring portions and connected at opposite ends to said members respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a vehicle having a wheeled first member and a second member mounted for relative upward and downward movement, the combination comprising coil spring means which in at least one condition thereof are interposed operatively between said two members to resiliently support said second member from the first member, said spring means being under compression in said one condition thereof and having a coil spring portion returnable to an uncompressed and undeformed condition upon predetermined upward movement of said second member relative to said first member, said portion being deformable beyond said uncompressed and undeformed condition to an axially extended condition in which it yieldingly resists further relative upward movement of said second member, means connecting a first end of said spring portion to one of said members in a relation to exert a yielding force thereagainst for resisting said further relative upward movement of the second members, means forming a stop shoulder operatively connected to said spring portion near a second end thereof, and a coacting second shoulder engageable by said first mentioned shoulder after predetermined relative separation of said members in a relation thereafter resisting separation of said members by the force of said extended spring portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a vehicle having a wheeled first member and a second member mounted for relative upward and downward movement, the combination comprising coil spring means which in at least one condition thereof are interposed operatively between said two members to resiliently support said second member from the first member, said spring means being under compression in said one condition thereof and having a coil spring portion returnable to an uncompressed and undeformed condition upon predetermined upward movement of said second member relative to said first member, said portion being deformable beyond said uncompressed and undeformed condition to an axially extended condition in which it yieldingly resists further relative upward movement of said second member, means connecting a first end of said spring portion to one of said members in a relation to exert a yielding force thereagainst for resisting said further relative upward movement of the second members, means forming a stop shoulder operatively connected to said spring portion near a second end thereof, and a coacting second shoulder engageable by said first mentioned shoulder after predetermined relative separation of said members in a relation thereafter resisting separation of said members by the force of said extended spring portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2301742A
Cited
GB618602A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |