US3721455A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel stabilizer
Assignee: STEER SAFE Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-24
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1991-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A spring structure for connection between the oscillatable wheel support of a vehicle and a vehicle chassis relative to which the wheel support is oscillatable about an upstanding axis. The spring structure is operable to yieldingly resist angular displacement of the wheel support structure from a first predetermined position in either direction and includes structure operable to yieldingly resist angular displacement of the wheel support from the first position in either direction with a force gradually increasing at a first rate of increase as the support is displaced from the first position to a second position and thereafter at a second lower rate of increase as the wheel support is displaced passed the second position.
Inventors
- 👤 G Blanton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:03
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
In combination with a chassis including a wheel support oscillatable about an upstanding axis and having a wheel journaled therefrom, there being a first predetermined angular position of said support relative to said chassis, spring means connected between said chassis and said support yieldingly resisting angular displacement of the wheel support from said first position in at least one direction, said spring means including spring flexure modulating means operative to yieldingly resist angular displacement of said support from said first position in at least said one direction with a force increasing at a first rate as said wheel support is displaced from said first position and thereafter increasing at a second lower rate as said support is displaced past a second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
In combination with a chassis including a wheel support oscillatable about an upstanding axis and having a wheel journaled therefrom, there being a first predetermined angular position of said support relative to said chassis, spring means connected between said chassis and said support yieldingly resisting angular displacement of the wheel support from said first position in at least one direction, said spring means including spring flexure modulating means operative to yieldingly resist angular displacement of said support from said first position in at least said one direction with a force increasing at a first rate as said wheel support is displaced from said first position and thereafter increasing at a second lower rate as said support is displaced past a second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring flexure modulating means includes an elongated generally horizontal fulcrum lever supported from said chassis for oscillation in a generally horizontal plane about front to rear spaced apart fulcrum points disposed along said lever intermediate its opposite ends, said spring means including elongated springs connected between opposite end portions of said lever and said wheel support at points spaced forward and rearward of the axis of oscillation of said wheel support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said fulcrum points comprise stationary abutments disposed alongside one longitudinal edge of said lever, said one longitudinal edge including outwardly opening recesses in which said abutments are seatable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said fulcrum points are defined by stationary upstanding guide members carried by said chassis, said lever including a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending arcuate slots through which said guide members are received, said slots including a first set of corresponding end portions, the centers of curvature of said slots being disposed in one set of corresponding ends thereof with the concave sides of said slots disposed adjacent each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 2 including vertically spaced generally horizontal opposing anti-friction bearing surfaces supported from said chassis between which at least the central portion of said lever is received for guiding action thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
In combination with a base from which a support is oscillatably supported for angular displacement about a predetermined axis, there being a first predetermined angular position of said support relative to said base, spring means connected between said base and said support yieldingly resisting angular displacement of the latter from said first position in at least one direction, said spring means including spring flexure modulating means operative to yieldingly resist angular displacement of said support from said first position in said one direction with the force gradually increasing at a first rate as said support is displaced from said first position to a second position and thereafter at a second lower rate as said support is displaced in said direction past said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
In combination with a base from which a support is oscillatably supported for angular displacement about a predetermined axis, there being a first predetermined angular position of said support relative to said base, spring means connected between said base and said support yieldingly resisting angular displacement of the latter from said first position in at least one direction, said spring means including spring flexure modulating means operative to yieldingly resist angular displacement of said support from said first position in said one direction with the force gradually increasing at a first rate as said support is displaced from said first position to a second position and thereafter at a second lower rate as said support is displaced in said direction past said second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said spring flexure modulating means includes an elongated fulcrum lever oscillatable in a plane disposed generally normal to the axis of oscillation of said support about spaced apart fulcrum points spaced along said lever intermediate its opposite ends, said spring means including elongated springs connected between the opposite end portions of said lever and said support at points spaced on remote sides of the axis of oscillation of said support corresponding to the sides of the fulcrum points on which the ends of the springs remote from the support are anchored to the opposite end portions of said lever.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said fulcrum points are stationarily supported from said base and project through thE plane of oscillation of said lever, one side of said lever adjacent said support having longitudinally spaced outwardly opening notches formed therein in which said fulcrum points are seatable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said fulcrum points are defined by guide members stationarily supported from said base and extending through the plane of oscillation of said lever, said lever having a pair of transversely extending closed end slots formed therein spaced longitudinally of said lever, said slots being arcuate with their concave sides opening toward each other, the ends of said slots remote from said support defining the centers of curvature of said slots.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
In combination with a chassis including a wheel support oscillatable about an upstanding axis and having a wheel journaled therefrom, there being a first predetermined angular position of said support relative to said chassis and said support being angularly displaceable, in opposite directions, from said first position to and past corresponding second positions, spring means connected between said chassis and said support yieldingly resisting angular displacement of the wheel support from said first position in either direction, said spring means including spring flexure modulating means operative to yieldingly resist angular displacement of said support from said first position in either direction with a force increasing at a first rate as said wheel support is displaced from said first position and thereafter increasing at a second lower rate as said support is displaced past said second positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
136 words
In combination with a chassis including a wheel support oscillatable about an upstanding axis and having a wheel journaled therefrom, there being a first predetermined angular position of said support relative to said chassis and said support being angularly displaceable, in opposite directions, from said first position to and past corresponding second positions, spring means connected between said chassis and said support yieldingly resisting angular displacement of the wheel support from said first position in either direction, said spring means including spring flexure modulating means operative to yieldingly resist angular displacement of said support from said first position in either direction with a force increasing at a first rate as said wheel support is displaced from said first position and thereafter increasing at a second lower rate as said support is displaced past said second positions.
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) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |