US3845977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic shock absorbing tire bumper system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-22
•
Granted: 1974-11-05
•
Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract In a highway type motor vehicle, a vehicle wheel and wheel mounted pneumatic tire positioned in the front or rear of the vehicle, with the wheel and tire substantially parallel to the highway surface about the height of a standard automobile bumper and having means for supporting the approximate center and rear portion of said tire and wheel securely in a housing with a kingpin and slotted hole and/or the alternative track each having members being connected to the frame of the vehicle so that the front exposed tire and wheel will act as a pneumatic bumper system having on each side of the tire and wheel a lateral motion, fulcrum-hinged, bumper-bars, that are thrust inward against the spare tire, as they move aft upon collision, into an obstruction, at the front or corner of the vehicle, dissipating the energy of motion into the pneumatic tire, instead of destruction of the sheet metal, because the energy of motion is used up in the 360* compression of the spare tire and wheel (front, rear, R side, L side) upon collision into an obstruction at the front or corner areas of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 C Eshelman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:39
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D43/00; B62D43/02; B62D43/04; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/18; B60R19/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a motor vehicle, an energy absorbing bumper system comprising in combination, a wheel mounted pneumatic tire positioned horizontally on the forward end of the vehicle so as to extend forwardly of most vehicular elements, said wheel and tire being carried by structural means on the vehicle which is constructed and arranged to accommodate limited movement of the wheel and tire rearwardly of the vehicle upon striking an obstruction forwardly of the vehicle, and a pair of movable bumper bars extending horizontally and transversely of the vehicle, one bar on each side of said wheel and tire with a bar end in contact with the tire, and fulcrum-hinge means for each bumper bar for connecting it to an adjacent part of the vehicle so that said bumper bar will be thrust forcibly against the tire when the bumper bar strikes an obstruction before it.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a motor vehicle, an energy absorbing bumper system comprising in combination, a wheel mounted pneumatic tire positioned horizontally on the forward end of the vehicle so as to extend forwardly of most vehicular elements, said wheel and tire being carried by structural means on the vehicle which is constructed and arranged to accommodate limited movement of the wheel and tire rearwardly of the vehicle upon striking an obstruction forwardly of the vehicle, and a pair of movable bumper bars extending horizontally and transversely of the vehicle, one bar on each side of said wheel and tire with a bar end in contact with the tire, and fulcrum-hinge means for each bumper bar for connecting it to an adjacent part of the vehicle so that said bumper bar will be thrust forcibly against the tire when the bumper bar strikes an obstruction before it.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which the structural means which carries the wheel and tire includes a slotted aperture longitudinally of the vehicle, a king-pin in the aperture for mounting the wheel and tire, and a stop for limiting the rearward movement of the wheel and tire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which the fulcrum-hinge means comprises a structural element extension of the vehicle frame having an arm parallel to the bumper bar, and horizontally swingable connecting means between the bumper-bar and parallel arm whereby the bumper-bar is provided with limited horizontal movement both transversely and longitudinally of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3, in which the horizontally swingable connecting means comprises a plurality of parallel hinge links each being pivotally connected to said parallel arm and said bumper bar, said hinge links being always pointed toward the forward extension of the vehicle center line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, having means for easy removal of the wheel and tire comprising a removable king-pin, a pair of hub spacers, and a wing nut, said wheel and tire being clamped by the wing nut on the king-pin between the hub spacers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which an adjustment retainer is provided on each bumper bar to limit its movement in a direction away from the wheel and tire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which the end of each bumper bar adjacent the wheel and tire is provided with a large U-shaped foot to partially surround and support the wheel and tire.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US1792157A
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US2131746A
Cited
US2196225A
Cited
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Cited
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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) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |