US3783958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Off-road vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-05-10
•
Granted: 1974-01-08
•
Expires: 1992-05-10
Abstract
Abstract An off-road vehicle comprising an endless track for driving the vhicle, front and rear rotary members mounted for rotation upon a fixed frame, the track being trained about the rotary members to define a closed loop having upper and lower lengths of track with respect to those rotary members, and pairs of load-bearing wheels rotatably mounted upon a second frame disposed within the loop, the wheels engaging inside the lower length of track in loadsupporting relation to the fixed frame. Connecting means are provided which connect the second frame to the fixed frame, the connecting means including positioning means operative to maintain a first end pair of wheels at a greater distance from the fixed frame than the other end pair of wheels, the second frame and positioning means being movable with respect to the fixed frame to an orientation in which the first end pair of wheels is at a lesser distance from the fixed frame than the other end pair of wheels for adjusting the position of the lower track run relative to the terrain.
Inventors
- 👤 T Canavan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:58
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M27/00; B62M27/02; B62M2027/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
An off-road vehicle comprising a terrain-contacting steerable support unit and a longitudinally spaced drive unit, said drive unit comprising an endless track for driving the vehicle, front and rear rotary members mounted for rotation upon a longitudinally extending fixed frame, said track being trained about said rotary members to define a closed loop having upper and lower lengths of track with respect to said rotary members and at least one pair of load-bearing members mounted upon a second longitudinally extending frame disposed within said loop, said members engaging inside said lower length of track in loadsupporting relation to said fixed frame, connecting means being provided which connect said second frame to said fixed frame, said connecting means including positioning means operative to adjust said second frame with respect to said fixed frame to an orientation in which a major portion of the lower length of track opposite said load-bearing members is in contact with the terrain for operation of the vehicle on snow, or to a second orientation in which a minor portion of said lower length of track is in contact with the terrain for operation of the vehicle on dirt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
An off-road vehicle comprising a terrain-contacting steerable support unit and a longitudinally spaced drive unit, said drive unit comprising an endless track for driving the vehicle, front and rear rotary members mounted for rotation upon a longitudinally extending fixed frame, said track being trained about said rotary members to define a closed loop having upper and lower lengths of track with respect to said rotary members and at least one pair of load-bearing members mounted upon a second longitudinally extending frame disposed within said loop, said members engaging inside said lower length of track in loadsupporting relation to said fixed frame, connecting means being provided which connect said second frame to said fixed frame, said connecting means including positioning means operative to adjust said second frame with respect to said fixed frame to an orientation in which a major portion of the lower length of track opposite said load-bearing members is in contact with the terrain for operation of the vehicle on snow, or to a second orientation in which a minor portion of said lower length of track is in contact with the terrain for operation of the vehicle on dirt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein said connecting means comprise springs disposed under compressive force between the fixed and second frames.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are provided at least two of said springs generally aligned with each end of said second frame, each said spring being a spiral spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein said load-bearing members comprise pairs of front and rear wheels, said second frame including a pair each of front and rear support surfaces, one said spring resting on each said support surface, each of one of said pairs of support surfaces being disposed further from a reference plane defined by the axes of said front and rear of said pairs of wheels than each of the other of said pairs of support surfaces, said springs being substantially identical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said support surface comprises a surface of a flange rigidly secured to a post attached to said second frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as claimed in claim 5 wherein said connecting means removably connect said second frame to said fixed frame to permit removal of said second frame from said loop and repositioning the same relative to the fixed frame in said loop.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US1186785A
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US1336961A
Cited
US1598778A
Cited
US3358634A
Cited
US3726355A
Cited
US3709312A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |