US3575251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lightweight, wreck-resistant car
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-02-04
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1989-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle, especially adapted for land travel, having strong, lightweight walls, comprising thin metal, cylindrical or corrugated cans, between skins, and surrounded by foamed plastic. These receptacles are sealed, thin-walled pipes or tubes; or rows of aligned short cans, end-to-end-glued together. The skins may be: metal sheets, epoxy glued or brazed to the cans; or metallic mesh attached to the cans by brazing or glue and/or bolts, coated with stucco. Optionally, each of the rows may comprise a plurality of aligned cans with adjoining end-caps that are strongly glued together, or a single, elongated, preferably corrugated tube. This invention pertains to lightweight and strong vehicles. Although its basic structure may be utilized in water-traversing vehicles, it is preferably incorporated in a wheeled vehicle, adapted for use on the land and also optionally in the air and in amphibious operation. One of its features comprises stabilization against roll of a two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle by providing balloon-lift approximately above its center of gravity.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin E Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:00
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B59/00; B63B59/02; B63C; B63C13/00; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A lightweight, heavier-than-air vehicle, having a longitudinal axis, adapted to travel over land, and having: body structure comprising: skin means; framework having tubular members; gaseous material in said members; a rear wheel support, adapted to mount a rear wheel for rotation approximately in a plane containing said longitudinal axis; a front wheel support, adapted to mount a front wheel for rotation approximately in said plane; and a pair of sidewheel supports, located on opposite sides of said axis; a rear wheel, rotatably connected to said rear wheel support; a front wheel, rotatably connected to said front wheel support; a pair of sidewheels connected to said sidewheel supports, said sidewheels and sidewheel supports being constructed and arranged to provide clearance between both sidewheels and the ground during normal land travel of the vehicle over a substantially level surface, and to allow rolling, stabilizing engagement of a sidewheel with the ground on sidewise tipping of the vehicle by a substantially predetermined amount; and stabilizing means, facilitating stabilization of said body structure and vehicle against rolling, vehicle-tipping motions, comprising lighter-than-air balloon means, connected to an upper part of said body structure, exerting aerostatic lift on said structure, and having a center of lift approximately located in said plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A lightweight, heavier-than-air vehicle, having a longitudinal axis, adapted to travel over land, and having: body structure comprising: skin means; framework having tubular members; gaseous material in said members; a rear wheel support, adapted to mount a rear wheel for rotation approximately in a plane containing said longitudinal axis; a front wheel support, adapted to mount a front wheel for rotation approximately in said plane; and a pair of sidewheel supports, located on opposite sides of said axis; a rear wheel, rotatably connected to said rear wheel support; a front wheel, rotatably connected to said front wheel support; a pair of sidewheels connected to said sidewheel supports, said sidewheels and sidewheel supports being constructed and arranged to provide clearance between both sidewheels and the ground during normal land travel of the vehicle over a substantially level surface, and to allow rolling, stabilizing engagement of a sidewheel with the ground on sidewise tipping of the vehicle by a substantially predetermined amount; and stabilizing means, facilitating stabilization of said body structure and vehicle against rolling, vehicle-tipping motions, comprising lighter-than-air balloon means, connected to an upper part of said body structure, exerting aerostatic lift on said structure, and having a center of lift approximately located in said plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which a plurality of said tubular members comprise upright, juxtaposed, jointed, sealed elements that have: tubular walls, containing chambers that inclose said gaseous material; and partitions forming ends of said chambers, separating them from each other, and providing strength-providing joints in said tubular members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 2, in which each of said chambers is in a can, and each of said partitions comprises a pair of closely adjacent end caps of said cans and bonding material, securely holding faces of said end caps together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 3, in which said bonding material comprises strong glue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 3, in which: each adjoining pair of said end caps are of different areas; each end cap comprises a portion that is indented from an end of the can to which it is attached and toward the center of the can, thus forming a can-end recess; the smaller end cap of each pair nests within the larger end cap of the pair; and said bonding material comprises strong glue in the larger of said recesses and between said end caps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said tubular members comprise corrugated walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which: said skin means comprises two aDjacent skins; at least some of said tubular members are located between said skins and have walls that are curved; some of the tubular members are closely juxtaposed to one of said two skins and to each other, and form V-shaped recesses between their curvatures; others of the tubular members are closely juxtaposed to the other one of said two skins and comprise a tubular member that is closely nested in each of said recesses between curvatures, strengthening said framework.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which each of said tubular members comprises corrugated walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said body structure comprises a top, having an upper, exterior surface that is shaped to exert an aerodynamic lifting force on said top and body structure, and in which the normal center of lift of said aerodynamic force is approximately located in said plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said body structure further comprises an impact-resistant buffer extending around at least a substantial portion of said framework, projecting outward from the framework in position to bear the brunt of forceful contact between the vehicle and other objects, comprising: receptacles having resilient walls that are curved convexly toward shocks from other objects; in each of said receptacles, a multiplicity of small, separate, contiguous, shock-absorbing filler elements; said receptacles and shock-absorbing elements being constructed and arranged to cause a portion of said elements to rise in the receptacles when said convexly curved walls are partially collapsed inward under impact.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 10, in which said shock-absorbing elements are crushable filaments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 10, in which said shock-absorbing elements are in the form of pellets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 10, in which said receptacles comprise elongated, upright, hollow members, and said shock-absorbing elements are loosely positioned in said members, capable of being settled together under the forces of gravity and shocks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
139 words
A lightweight, heavier-than-air vehicle adapted to travel over land, comprising: floor structure, having an upper, load-supporting surface; load-confining sidewall structure, connected to said floor structure, comprising: a plurality of sealed, upright, juxtaposed, jointed, vehicle-strength-providing tubular members, each of which comprises a plurality of end-to-end joined cans, having walls of dense material that is substantially impermeable to gas, means securely fastening adjoining can-ends together in tube-strengthening partitions that bridge across the center of the tubular member, and gaseous material within said cans; means, comprising skin structure, holding said tubular members in vehicle strength providing relation to each other and to said deck structure; and cell-containing, insulating material in strengthening contact with said skin structure and tubular members; top structure bracingly connected to said sidewall structure; and means, projecting below and connected to said floor structure, for facilitating travel over land.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
139 words
A lightweight, heavier-than-air vehicle adapted to travel over land, comprising: floor structure, having an upper, load-supporting surface; load-confining sidewall structure, connected to said floor structure, comprising: a plurality of sealed, upright, juxtaposed, jointed, vehicle-strength-providing tubular members, each of which comprises a plurality of end-to-end joined cans, having walls of dense material that is substantially impermeable to gas, means securely fastening adjoining can-ends together in tube-strengthening partitions that bridge across the center of the tubular member, and gaseous material within said cans; means, comprising skin structure, holding said tubular members in vehicle strength providing relation to each other and to said deck structure; and cell-containing, insulating material in strengthening contact with said skin structure and tubular members; top structure bracingly connected to said sidewall structure; and means, projecting below and connected to said floor structure, for facilitating travel over land.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which said cans have thin, curved walls of metal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which said cans have curved walls of dense plastic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which said cans have corrugated walls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 17, in which cross-sectional planes containing the axes of said tubular members intersect said corrugated walls in sinuous curves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 17, in which cross-sectional planes that are transverse to axes of said tubular members intersect said corrugated walls in sinuous curves.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which said gaseous material is gas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which said gaseous material comprises cell-containing insulating material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vEhicle as set forth in claim 21, in which said insulating material comprises foamed plastic, having closed gas cells.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which said means for facilitating land travel comprises front and rear wheels that are mounted for rotation approximately in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and in which said vehicle further comprises lighter-than-air balloon means for exerting aerostatic lifting force on said structures, aiding in stabilizing the vehicle, having a center of lift that is located above a horizontal plane that contains the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which said means for facilitating land travel comprises: a front wheel on each side of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and a rear wheel that rotates approximately in a plane that contains the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, further comprising balloon means for exerting vehicle-stabilizing aerostatic force on said structures.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which said top structure has an upper skin and surface that are shaped and arranged to exert an aerodynamic lift on the vehicle when it is in forward travel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
142 words
A lightweight, heavier-than-air vehicle, having a longitudinal axis, adapted to travel over land, and having: body structure comprising: framework; a front wheel support, adapted to mount a front wheel for rotation approximately in a plane containing said longitudinal axis; and rear wheel support means adapted to support rear wheel means; a load-supporting front wheel, rotatably connected to said front wheel support; rear wheel means, rotatably connected to said rear wheel support; means located at a side of the bottom of said body structure for vehicle-stabilizing engagement with the ground on a sidewise tipping of the vehicle by a predetermined amount; and stabilizing means, facilitating stabilization of said vehicle against rolling, vehicle-tipping motions, comprising lighter-than-air balloon means, connected to an upper part of said body structure, exerting aerostatic lift on said structure, and having a center of lift approximately located in said plane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
142 words
A lightweight, heavier-than-air vehicle, having a longitudinal axis, adapted to travel over land, and having: body structure comprising: framework; a front wheel support, adapted to mount a front wheel for rotation approximately in a plane containing said longitudinal axis; and rear wheel support means adapted to support rear wheel means; a load-supporting front wheel, rotatably connected to said front wheel support; rear wheel means, rotatably connected to said rear wheel support; means located at a side of the bottom of said body structure for vehicle-stabilizing engagement with the ground on a sidewise tipping of the vehicle by a predetermined amount; and stabilizing means, facilitating stabilization of said vehicle against rolling, vehicle-tipping motions, comprising lighter-than-air balloon means, connected to an upper part of said body structure, exerting aerostatic lift on said structure, and having a center of lift approximately located in said plane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 27, in which said front wheel is a vehicle steering wheel, and the vehicle further comprises means for pivoting the front wheel for steering.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 27, comprising means for driving said rear wheel means in propelling the vehicle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 27, in which said rear wheel means comprises a wheel mounted for rotation approximately in said longitudinal plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |