Patent US1331166A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3853349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light-weight, wreck-resistant vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-09-15
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1992-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle, adapted for land travel, having strong, light-weight walls, comprising curved, joined-together rows of parallel-axes, thin-metal, cylindrical or corrugated cans, fastened by bonding material and screws between strips of mesh or pipe strap, and optionally sheathed in V-shaped strips or masses of foam plastic or other insulation, between the cans and vehicle skin means. Four such rows, extending longitudinally or transversely of the vehicle, may be end-joined at four corners by overlapping ends of the mesh or pipe strap in each of a plurality of elongated loops, forming the framework of the upright walls. These may be topped by a substantially flat roof comprising curved rows that extend longitudinally of the vehicle, oppositely curved in opposite , left and right halves of the top. The sidewall rows are fixed at the bottom of the vehicle''s sidewalls to curved deck rows that are similar to the roof rows. And to the deck of these rows (comprising a sheet of tough rubber, other plastic or plywood over the vertical-axes cans) a lower, vehicle-driving part is strongly attached along a longitudinally-extending central portion of the vehicle. This part preferably comprises curved can rows that are closer together than those of the sidewalls with their strips of mesh or pipe strap that are at the same level end-joined at rounded corners to form a loop. Within these loops a forward steering wheel, a rear driving wheel, and motive means powering the rear wheel are mounted. Curved rows of vertical, parallel-axes bumper cans, having doorway spaces between bumper can-row ends, filled with fiberglass shredded foam plastic, shredded bark, preservative-treated popcorn or other shockabsorbing material, are fixed on the outside of the vehicle at and above the deck level. The vehicle may have three or four road-engaging wheels; but preferably it has two motorcycle-like wheels and a sidewheel on each side, optionally and normally clear of the road, limiting and stopping excessive rolls. The vehicle is optionally somewhat stabilized by balloons at its top; and if the balloons are large enough (with or without small wings jutting thru the sidewalls) the vehicle may be a wheeled aircraft.
Inventors
- 👤 A Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:57
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D29/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A vehicle, adapted to travel over land, including: body structure comprising: at least four elongated, fastenedtogether, body-sidewall can-rows, each of which includes a plurality of aligned cans having substantially parallel axes that extend across the length of the row, each pair of said cans being in contact with each other at contiguous side portions and free of contact with sides of cans of other sidewall rows, and means for fastening the cans of each row together comprising at least one elongated, apertured strip of row-strength-providing material, lying on and across ends of the parallel-axes cans of the row, and means extending thru holes in said strip for fastening the strip and said can-ends together, at least one of the said strips being located between each adjacent pair of the can-rows, the said body structure further including: means, fixed to said strips, for fastening the can-rows together in sidewall framework on each side of the vehicle; forward and rearward end-wall frameworks, comprising tubular members; means fastening said end-wall tubular members to said sidewall rows; top framework, comprising tubular members; means fastening said top framework to portions of said sidewall rows; deck framework, comprising tubular members; means fastening said deck framework to portions of said sidewall rows; skin means, sheathing the said sidewall, top and deck frameworks; and gaseous material within each of said cans and tubular members; front wheel-supporting means on said body structure, pivotal for steering, comprising bearings and bearing-support means connected to portions of said frameworks; rear wheel-supporting means on said body structure, comprising rotary wheel bearings and bearing-support means; and wheels supported by said front and rear wheel-supporting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A vehicle, adapted to travel over land, including: body structure comprising: at least four elongated, fastenedtogether, body-sidewall can-rows, each of which includes a plurality of aligned cans having substantially parallel axes that extend across the length of the row, each pair of said cans being in contact with each other at contiguous side portions and free of contact with sides of cans of other sidewall rows, and means for fastening the cans of each row together comprising at least one elongated, apertured strip of row-strength-providing material, lying on and across ends of the parallel-axes cans of the row, and means extending thru holes in said strip for fastening the strip and said can-ends together, at least one of the said strips being located between each adjacent pair of the can-rows, the said body structure further including: means, fixed to said strips, for fastening the can-rows together in sidewall framework on each side of the vehicle; forward and rearward end-wall frameworks, comprising tubular members; means fastening said end-wall tubular members to said sidewall rows; top framework, comprising tubular members; means fastening said top framework to portions of said sidewall rows; deck framework, comprising tubular members; means fastening said deck framework to portions of said sidewall rows; skin means, sheathing the said sidewall, top and deck frameworks; and gaseous material within each of said cans and tubular members; front wheel-supporting means on said body structure, pivotal for steering, comprising bearings and bearing-support means connected to portions of said frameworks; rear wheel-supporting means on said body structure, comprising rotary wheel bearings and bearing-support means; and wheels supported by said front and rear wheel-supporting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said can-rows comprise: cans of the used type, having holes in can ends; and means sealing the said holes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 2, in which said hole-sealing means comprises adhesive tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the said strip is apertured and the said means fastening the cans of each row together comprises: a second apertured strip of row-strength-providing material, forming with said first-named strip a pair of such strips, one of which is located on one can-end side of said row and the other being located on the other can-end side of the row; and bonding material between each of said strips and row-arranged cans.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which: the said means fastening the cans of each row together further comprises rod-like elements extending thru apertures in said strips and fastened to ends of the cans; and portions of said bonding material cover said rod-like elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which each of said pair of strips is a band of metallic mesh, having a flange on each side of said can row, each flange embracing can-sidewall portions at one set of the ends of the row-arranged cans, the said flanges on each of said strips extending toward the center of the can row and toward oppositely extending flanges on the other of said strips.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said frameworks comprise a plurality of four-part can-row structures, each of which includes: four end-joined rows of parallel-axes cans; gaseous material in said cans; a pair of apertured strips of row-strength-providing material on opposite can-ends of each row; bonding material between said strips and can-ends; and means fastening together each adjacent pair of row ends in a strength-providing corner of the vehicle, comprising extended end portions of a said pair of the apertured strips which jut beyond cans to which the strips are fastened and straddle a row-end can and its associated, overlapped end portions of an adjacent pair of apertured strips, and further comprising a screw, passing thru apertures of each of said extended end portions and said associated end portions and into said end can, at each can-end side of said four-part structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 in which said apertured strips are bands of metallic mesh, having integral, bent flanges at their sides that embrace can-sidewall portions, the said flanges terminating opposite a can at said extended end portions, and the said end portions being in substantially planar condition, adapted to closely overlap end portions of adjacent apertured strips and end cans.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which said rows of parallel-axes cans and associated apertured strips are outwardly curved, in a direction from the interior of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which: each of said end-wall tubular members of each of said end-wall frameworks is a row of parallel-axes cans, at substantially the same level as a pair of said body-sidewall can-rows and as an opposite end-wall row of parallel-axes cans; each set of four can rows at substantially the same level being joined at four corners; each of said corners comprising: extended end portions of a pair of the apertured strips which jut beyond the cans of a can-row, and overlap and hold between them a can and its can-end-engaging portions of apertured strips; and means fastening said extended portions to said can-end-engaging portions and to adjacent can ends.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 10, in which said apertured strips comprise metallic mesh, having side flanges embracing can sidewalls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4 in which: each of said tubular members of said deck framework is a row of parallel-axes cans; and the said skin means comprises a layer of solid material on said deck framework.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which: each of said tubular members of said top framework is a row of parallel-axes cans; and a portion of said skin means is fixed to can ends of said top rows.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which: each of said tubular members is a row of parallel-axes cans.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
168 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which said frameworks comprise a plurality of angularly-arranged can-row structures, each of which comprises: an upwardly curved top row of said parallel-axes cans, which is part of said top framework; located at each end of said top row, the upper end of an upright, outwardly curved sidewall row of said parallel-axes cans, which is part of said sidewall framework; means fastening together each adjacent pair of ends of said top and sidewall rows of cans in a strength-providing corner of the vehicle, comprising extended end portions of a said pair of the apertured strips which jut beyond cans to which the strips are fastened and straddle a row-end can and its associated overlapped end portions of the adjacent pair of apertured strips, and further comprising means fastening said overlapping extended end portions to said associated end portions, comprising a screw passing thru apertures of said corner portions and into said end can, at each side of said end can.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 15, in which: each of said tubular members of said deck framework is a straight can-row, comprising parallel-axes cans and a pair of said apertured strips fastened to each can-end of said straight can-row; and the deck further comprises a layer of solid material on said deck framework.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 15, in which each tubular member of said forward and rearward end-wall frameworks comprises: a plurality of end-joined cans; and means fastening said end-joined cans together in an outwardly curved end-wall row, comprising bonding material between can ends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 17, in which each adjacent pair of said end-joined cans are of different cross-sectional areas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
100 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which: said wheels comprise a single front wheel, rotatable in a plane that is substantially at the fore-and-aft center line of the vehicle; and the vehicle further comprises a pair of sidewheel supports and a pair of sidewheels connected to said sidewheel and sidewheel supports being constructed and arranged to provide clearance between each sidewheel and the roadway during normal travel of the vehicle over a substantially level surface and to allow roll-limiting engagement of a sidewheel with the roadway on sidewise rolling of the vehicle by a substantially predetermined amount.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 19, further comprising lighter-than-air balloon means, connected to an upper part of said body structure, having a center of aerostatic lift approximately located in said plane, aiding in stabilizing the vehicle against rolling motion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 19, in which the said wheels comprise a single rear wheel, rotatable in said plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which some of the said body-sidewall can-rows and of said means fastening the cans of each row together have doorway gaps, and the vehicle further comprises: doors in said gaps; bumper can-rows forward and rearward of said doors, comprising bumper cans alongside body-sidewall can-rows, having axes that are substantially parallel to each other and to axes of cans of said body-sidewall can-rows; means fastening the said bumper cans together; and bumper skin means sheathing outer surfaces of said bumper cans.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
129 words
A four-part car-body structure, comprising: four end-joined rows of parallel-axes cans; each of said rows comprising a pair of can-holding strips of row-sTrength-providing material on opposite can-ends of the row and bonding material between said strips and can-ends; and means fastening together each adjacent pair of row ends in a strength-providing corner of the structure, comprising extended end portions of a said pair of the strips which jut beyond cans to which the strips are fastened and straddle a row-end can and its associated, overlapped end portions of an adjacent pair of the strips, and further comprising a rod-like element at each can-end side of said structure, passing thru apertures in one of said extended end portions and one of said associated end portions and into said end can.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
129 words
A four-part car-body structure, comprising: four end-joined rows of parallel-axes cans; each of said rows comprising a pair of can-holding strips of row-sTrength-providing material on opposite can-ends of the row and bonding material between said strips and can-ends; and means fastening together each adjacent pair of row ends in a strength-providing corner of the structure, comprising extended end portions of a said pair of the strips which jut beyond cans to which the strips are fastened and straddle a row-end can and its associated, overlapped end portions of an adjacent pair of the strips, and further comprising a rod-like element at each can-end side of said structure, passing thru apertures in one of said extended end portions and one of said associated end portions and into said end can.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
Structure as set forth in claim 23, in which: said can-holding strips comprise metallic mesh; and said means fastening together each adjacent pair of row ends further comprises bonding material on and between said extended end portions, said associated end portions and said row-end can.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 23, in which at least one of said can-holding strips comprises an integral flange at each side of the strip, flanking and contacting portions of the sides of said cans of the row; the said flanges terminating at flange ends adjacent to the said extended end portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |