US3695374A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dirigible wheel vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-08-07
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle with a vehicle frame including a pair of substantially horizontal rear members extending longitudinally of the vehicle at its rear. The forward part of the vehicle frame is made up of a pair of elongated forward members joined to said rear members and projecting forwardly and inclining upwardly therefrom. The forward members have front portions which converge on each other progressing forwardly and upwardly in the vehicle thus to form a tongue. Rear wheels support the rear members of the frame, and a single dirigible wheel disposed under such tongue supports the forward part of the frame. The engine for powering the vehicle is mounted on said frame with such lodged between the forward members adjacent where they join with the rear members, and located rearwardly of the tongue. Journaling the dirigible wheel on the tongue, is an upright spindle fixed to the tongue and with the upper and lower ends projecting above and below the tongue. Stabilizing collars snugly embrace the upper and lower ends of the spindle and are also joined to the tongue, these being left unjoined to the spindle. Above and below these stabilizing collars are upper and lower bearings which are mounted on a wheel mounting bracket which supports the dirigible wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 Ward T Commons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/02; B60G17/04; B60G17/052; B62; B62D; B62D61/00; B62D61/06; B62D61/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A vehicle comprising a vehicle frame including a pair of laterally spaced, substantially horizontal elongated rear members extending longitudinally of the vehicle at its rear, and a pair of elongated forward members joined to said rear members and projecting forwardly and inclining upwardly therefrom, said forward members having front portions which converge on each other progressing forwardly and upwardly in the vehicle thus to form a tongue at the front end of the vehicle, a pair of rear wheels supporting said rear members and a single dirigible wheel under said tongue and supporting said forward members, means journaling said dirigible wheel on said tongue permitting swinging of said wheel about a substantially upright axis, said means including an upright spindle secured to said tongue at the forward end of the tongue, said spindle having an upper end extending above the tongue and a lower end extending below the tongue, a wheel mounting bracket having the dirigible wheel rotatably supported at its lower extremity, a bearing mounted on an upper portion of said bracket journaled on the upper end of the spindle, and a bearing mounted on an intermediate portion of said bracket journaled on the lower end of the spindle, a motor for powering the vehicle mounted on said frame and lodged between said forward members adjacent where such join with said rear members, drive means connecting said motor to said rear wheels for driving said rear wheels, and an operator''s cab supported on said forward members above said motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A vehicle comprising a vehicle frame including a pair of laterally spaced, substantially horizontal elongated rear members extending longitudinally of the vehicle at its rear, and a pair of elongated forward members joined to said rear members and projecting forwardly and inclining upwardly therefrom, said forward members having front portions which converge on each other progressing forwardly and upwardly in the vehicle thus to form a tongue at the front end of the vehicle, a pair of rear wheels supporting said rear members and a single dirigible wheel under said tongue and supporting said forward members, means journaling said dirigible wheel on said tongue permitting swinging of said wheel about a substantially upright axis, said means including an upright spindle secured to said tongue at the forward end of the tongue, said spindle having an upper end extending above the tongue and a lower end extending below the tongue, a wheel mounting bracket having the dirigible wheel rotatably supported at its lower extremity, a bearing mounted on an upper portion of said bracket journaled on the upper end of the spindle, and a bearing mounted on an intermediate portion of said bracket journaled on the lower end of the spindle, a motor for powering the vehicle mounted on said frame and lodged between said forward members adjacent where such join with said rear members, drive means connecting said motor to said rear wheels for driving said rear wheels, and an operator''s cab supported on said forward members above said motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means journaling said dirigible wheel further comprises a pair of vertically spaced stabilizing collars joined to the tongue adjacent its upper and lower margins and snugly embracing upper and lower end portions of the spindle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said wheel mounting bracket comprises a pair of spaced upright legs straddling said dirigible wheel, said upper portion of the mounting bracket comprises an upper cross member extending between and interconnecting the upper ends of said legs, and said intermediate portion of the mounting bracket comprises a lower cross member extending between and interconnecting the legs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
201 words
A vehicle comprising A vehicle frame including a pair of laterally spaced, substantially horizontal elongated rear members extending longitudinally of the vehicle at its rear, and a pair of elongated forward members joined to said rear members and projecting forwardly and inclining upwardly therefrom, said forward members having front portions which converge on each other progressing forwardly and upwardly in the vehicle thus to form a tongue at the front end of the vehicle, a pair of rear wheels supporting said rear members and a single dirigible wheel under said tongue and supporting said forward members, and means journaling said dirigible wheel on said tongue permitting swinging of said wheel about a substantially upright axis, said means including an upright spindle secured to said tongue at the forward end of the tongue, said spindle having an upper end extending above the tongue and a lower end extending below the tongue, a wheel mounting bracket having the dirigible wheel rotatably supported at its lower extremity, a bearing mounted on an upper portion of said bracket journaled on the upper end of the spindle, and a bearing mounted on an intermediate portion of said bracket journaled on the lower end of the spindle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
201 words
A vehicle comprising A vehicle frame including a pair of laterally spaced, substantially horizontal elongated rear members extending longitudinally of the vehicle at its rear, and a pair of elongated forward members joined to said rear members and projecting forwardly and inclining upwardly therefrom, said forward members having front portions which converge on each other progressing forwardly and upwardly in the vehicle thus to form a tongue at the front end of the vehicle, a pair of rear wheels supporting said rear members and a single dirigible wheel under said tongue and supporting said forward members, and means journaling said dirigible wheel on said tongue permitting swinging of said wheel about a substantially upright axis, said means including an upright spindle secured to said tongue at the forward end of the tongue, said spindle having an upper end extending above the tongue and a lower end extending below the tongue, a wheel mounting bracket having the dirigible wheel rotatably supported at its lower extremity, a bearing mounted on an upper portion of said bracket journaled on the upper end of the spindle, and a bearing mounted on an intermediate portion of said bracket journaled on the lower end of the spindle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
212 words
A vehicle comprising a vehicle frame including a substantially horizontal elongated rear section extending longitudinally of the vehicle, and a pair of elongated forward members joined to said rear section and projecting forwardly and inclined upwardly therefrom, said forward members having front portions which converge on each other progressing forwardly in the vehicle to form a tongue adjacent the front end of the vehicle, a single dirigible wheel under said tongue for supporting said forward members, and means journaling said wheel on said tongue permitting swinging of the wheel about a substantially upright pivot axis, said means comprising a pair of vertically spaced stabilizing collars joined to said forward members, an upright spindle secured to said forward members and extending through and being snugly embraced by said collars, said spindle having an upper end extending above the forward members and the upper collar in the pair and a lower end extending below the forward members and the lower collar in the pair, a wheel mounting bracket having the wheel rotatably supported at its lower extremity, a bearing mounted on an upper portion of said bracket journaled on the upper end of the spindle, and a bearing mounted on an intermediate portion of said bracket journaled on the lower end of the spindle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
212 words
A vehicle comprising a vehicle frame including a substantially horizontal elongated rear section extending longitudinally of the vehicle, and a pair of elongated forward members joined to said rear section and projecting forwardly and inclined upwardly therefrom, said forward members having front portions which converge on each other progressing forwardly in the vehicle to form a tongue adjacent the front end of the vehicle, a single dirigible wheel under said tongue for supporting said forward members, and means journaling said wheel on said tongue permitting swinging of the wheel about a substantially upright pivot axis, said means comprising a pair of vertically spaced stabilizing collars joined to said forward members, an upright spindle secured to said forward members and extending through and being snugly embraced by said collars, said spindle having an upper end extending above the forward members and the upper collar in the pair and a lower end extending below the forward members and the lower collar in the pair, a wheel mounting bracket having the wheel rotatably supported at its lower extremity, a bearing mounted on an upper portion of said bracket journaled on the upper end of the spindle, and a bearing mounted on an intermediate portion of said bracket journaled on the lower end of the spindle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said wheel mounting bracket comprises a pair of spaced, upright legs straddling said wheel, said upper portion of the wheel mounting bracket comprises an upper cross member extending between and interconnecting the upper ends of said legs, and said intermediate portion of the bracket comprises a lower cross member extending between and interconnecting the legs intermediate their ends.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |