US3586307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite spring assembly
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-25
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1989-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A composite leaf spring assembly adapted to be interposed between a vehicle body and a supporting axle unit comprises two substantially coextensive individual leaf members, one being a constant width, constant thickness steel element and the other being made mainly of hard tough plastic. The opposite ends of the plastic leaf member carry metal caps also formed to extend around eyes on the ends of the steel member for attachment to the vehicle body. A central rigid boxlike structure fixedly secures intermediate portions of both of said leaf members together and to said axle unit, and this structure encloses and protects the plastic leaf member against crushing. The leaf members have only metal to metal contact in the assembly, the regions between the end caps and rigid central structure being free of contact with each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Nelson R Brownyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F1/00; F16F1/36; F16F1/366; F16F1/368; F16F1/3683; B; B60; B60G; B60G11/00; B60G11/02; B60G11/10; B60G11/12; B60G11/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A composite leaf spring assembly adapted to be interposed between a vehicle body and a supporting axle structure comprising two substantially coextensive individual spring leaf members, one being a metal element of substantially constant width and substantially constant thickness and the other being of substantially constant width and made mainly of hard tough resilient plastic, means at the opposite ends of both of said leaf members for attachment to the vehicle body, and means for fixedly attaching intermediate portions of both of said leaf members together and to said axle structure with the portions of said leaf members extending longitudinally between said intermediate and end attachment means being free of surface contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A composite leaf spring assembly adapted to be interposed between a vehicle body and a supporting axle structure comprising two substantially coextensive individual spring leaf members, one being a metal element of substantially constant width and substantially constant thickness and the other being of substantially constant width and made mainly of hard tough resilient plastic, means at the opposite ends of both of said leaf members for attachment to the vehicle body, and means for fixedly attaching intermediate portions of both of said leaf members together and to said axle structure with the portions of said leaf members extending longitudinally between said intermediate and end attachment means being free of surface contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The composite leaf spring assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said other leaf member comprises an integral plastic leaf element and said Means for attaching the leaf members together comprises rigid means extending around the intermediate portion of said plastic leaf element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The composite leaf spring assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said metal leaf member is an integral steel element having pivot eyes at opposite ends for attachment to the vehicle body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The composite leaf spring assembly defined in claim 2, wherein said plastic leaf member comprises a shaped molded plastic element and said rigid means is a boxlike metal structure protectively enclosing said portion of said plastic leaf element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The composite leaf spring assembly defined in claim 2, wherein said intermediate portion is protected against crushing in the assembly by a rigid enclosure structure in the attachment means therefor, and there being resilient cushioning means compressed between the enclosure and said intermediate portion of said plastic leaf element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The composite leaf spring assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said attachment means at the end of the plastic leaf member comprises an integral metal structure having sliding bearing contact with the adjacent surface of said metal leaf member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The composite leaf spring assembly defined in claim 6, wherein said metal leaf member has eyes at opposite ends for pivotal attachment to the vehicle body and each said metal end structure on the plastic leaf member comprises an arcuate portion extending loosely rockably around the adjacent one of said eyes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a vehicle suspension, a composite leaf spring assembly comprising coextensive leaf members composed essentially respectively of steel and reenforced nonmetallic hard resilient plastic, means attaching said members together in metal-to-metal contact only at their intermediate portions and at their end portions comprising metal structures affixed to said plastic leaf member and having full surface engagement with said metal leaf member, the remainders of said leaf members being free of contact with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a vehicle suspension, a composite leaf spring assembly comprising coextensive leaf members composed essentially respectively of steel and reenforced nonmetallic hard resilient plastic, means attaching said members together in metal-to-metal contact only at their intermediate portions and at their end portions comprising metal structures affixed to said plastic leaf member and having full surface engagement with said metal leaf member, the remainders of said leaf members being free of contact with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the vehicle suspension defined in claim 8, said metal structure at the intermediate portion of said plastic leaf member comprising a rigid hollow body protectively enclosing said intermediate portion, and upon which the intermediate portion of said metal leaf member is clamped in full surface engagement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
In the vehicle suspension defined in claim 9, said leaf members being secured to an axle structure at said intermediate portions by U-bolts having bridges extending over said metal member and parallel legs extending through side guides on said hollow body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the vehicle suspension defined in claim 8, said metal structures being in sliding bearing engagement with said metal leaf element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
A spring leaf member for a vehicle suspension system comprising an integral leaf element of hard tough plastic having substantially constant width, a crush-resistant relatively rigid metal seat structure protectively surrounding an intermediate portion of said spring leaf, and metal end structures secured to the opposite ends of said element, said seat and end structures all having upper surfaces adapted for relatively wide area metal-to-metal contact with a substantially coextensive metal spring leaf member in the suspension.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A spring leaf member for a vehicle suspension system comprising an integral leaf element of hard tough plastic having substantially constant width, a crush-resistant relatively rigid metal seat structure protectively surrounding an intermediate portion of said spring leaf, and metal end structures secured to the opposite ends of said element, said seat and end structures all having upper surfaces adapted for relatively wide area metal-to-metal contact with a substantially coextensive metal spring leaf member in the suspension.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |