US3860259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rear suspension system for motor vehicle
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1973-12-03
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A rear suspension system for a motor vehicle according to this disclosure has a pair of cantilever leaf springs that are supported at their forward ends in channel shape portions of the vehicle chassis and pivotally connected at their rearward ends to bracket assemblies secured to an axle tube. A pair of telescopic shock absorber struts interconnect the chassis and the axle tube bracket assemblies. The struts are rigidly secured to the bracket assemblies and function as reaction means to prevent axle windup that might otherwise result from acceleration or braking.
Inventors
- 👤 William D Allison
- 👤 Donald G Sippel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G11/00; B60G11/32; B60G11/34; B60G11/38; B60G15/00; B60G15/02; B60G15/06; B60G9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a transversely extending rigid axle, left and right road wheels rotatably supported at the outer ends of said axle, vehicle body structure, left and right axle positioning members having their forward ends pivotally connected to said body structure, left and right bracket means, said left and right axle positioning members being pivotally connected to said left and right bracket means, respectively, left and right telescopic shock absorbers, said shock absorbers having their lower ends rigidly secured to said left and right bracket means and their upper ends connected to said body structure, resilient means connecting said bracket means to said axle housing, said resilient means defining a longitudinal extending pivot axis between each of said brackets and said axle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a transversely extending rigid axle, left and right road wheels rotatably supported at the outer ends of said axle, vehicle body structure, left and right axle positioning members having their forward ends pivotally connected to said body structure, left and right bracket means, said left and right axle positioning members being pivotally connected to said left and right bracket means, respectively, left and right telescopic shock absorbers, said shock absorbers having their lower ends rigidly secured to said left and right bracket means and their upper ends connected to said body structure, resilient means connecting said bracket means to said axle housing, said resilient means defining a longitudinal extending pivot axis between each of said brackets and said axle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a transversely extending rigid axle, left and right road wheels rotatably supported at the outer ends of said axle, vehicle body structure, left and right generally longitudinally extending leaf springs having their forward ends connected to said body structure, load bearing means interposed between said body structure and a midpoint of said leaf springs, left and right bracket means, the rearward ends of said left and right leaf springs being pivotally connected to said left and right bracket means, respectively, left and right telescopic shock absorbers, said left and right shock absorbers having their lower ends rigidly secured to said left and right bracket means and their upper ends connected to said body structure, means connecting said left and right bracket means to said axle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a transversely extending rigid axle, left and right road wheels rotatably supported at the outer ends of said axle, vehicle body structure, left and right generally longitudinally extending leaf springs having their forward ends connected to said body structure, load bearing means interposed between said body structure and a midpoint of said leaf springs, left and right bracket means, the rearward ends of said left and right leaf springs being pivotally connected to said left and right bracket means, respectively, left and right telescopic shock absorbers, said left and right shock absorbers having their lower ends rigidly secured to said left and right bracket means and their upper ends connected to said body structure, means connecting said left and right bracket means to said axle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A motor vehicle suspension system according to claim 2 and including: said body structure including left and right channel members, the forward portions of said leaf springs being situated in said channel members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A motor vehicle suspension system according to claim 2 and including: said body structure including left and right channel members, the forward portions of said leaf springs being situated in said channel members, said load bearing members each comprising a generally U-shape resilient element interposed between one of said leaf springs and one of said channel members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A motor vehicle suspension system according to claim 4 and including: each of said U-shape resilient elements being of elastomeric construction and bonded to one of said leaf springs and channel members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A motor vehicle suspension system according to claim 2 and including: said means connecting said left and right bracket means to said axle being laterally resilient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A motor vehicle suspension system according to claim 2 and including: left and right axle brackets secured to said axle, resilient attachment means securing said left and right bracket means to said left and right brackets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A motor vehicle suspension system according to claim 2 and including: left and right axle brackets secured to said axle, resilient attachment means securing said left and right bracket means to said left and right axle brackets, said attachment means comprising longitudinally spaced apart resilient elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
A motor vehicle suspension system according to claim 2 and including: said body structure including left and right channel members, the forward ends of said leaf springs being situated in said channel members, said load bearing members each comprising a resilient element interposed between one of said leaf springs and one of said channel members, left and right axle brackets secured to said axle, resilient attachment means securing said left and right bracket means to said left and right axle brackets, said attachment means comprising longitudinally spaced apart resilient elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a transversely extending rigid axle, left and right road wheels rotatably supported at the outer ends of said axle, vehicle body structure, left and right axle positioning members having their forward ends pivotally connected to said body structure, left and right brackets, said left and right axle positioning members being pivotally connected to said left and right brackets, respectively, left and right telescopic shock absorbers, said shock absorbers having their lower ends rigidly secured to said left and right brackets and their upper ends connected to said body structure, means connecting said left and right brackets to said axle housing, said left and right shock absorbers being constructed to resist rotation of said axle about the axis of said wheels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a transversely extending rigid axle, left and right road wheels rotatably supported at the outer ends of said axle, vehicle body structure, left and right axle positioning members having their forward ends pivotally connected to said body structure, left and right brackets, said left and right axle positioning members being pivotally connected to said left and right brackets, respectively, left and right telescopic shock absorbers, said shock absorbers having their lower ends rigidly secured to said left and right brackets and their upper ends connected to said body structure, means connecting said left and right brackets to said axle housing, said left and right shock absorbers being constructed to resist rotation of said axle about the axis of said wheels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 10 and including: said means including resilient elements operatively interposed between said brackets and said axle housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
128 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a transversely extending rigid axle, left and right road wheels rotatably supported at the outer ends of said axle, vehicle body structure, left and right longitudinally extending leaf springs having their forward ends connected to said body structure, left and right brackets, said left and right leaf springs being connected to said left and right brackets, respectively, left and right telescopic shock absorbers, said left and right shock absorbers having their lower ends rigidly secured to said left and right brackets and their upper ends connected to said body structure, means connecting said left and right brackets to said axle, said left and right shock absorbers being constructed to resist rotation of said axle about the axis of said wheels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a transversely extending rigid axle, left and right road wheels rotatably supported at the outer ends of said axle, vehicle body structure, left and right longitudinally extending leaf springs having their forward ends connected to said body structure, left and right brackets, said left and right leaf springs being connected to said left and right brackets, respectively, left and right telescopic shock absorbers, said left and right shock absorbers having their lower ends rigidly secured to said left and right brackets and their upper ends connected to said body structure, means connecting said left and right brackets to said axle, said left and right shock absorbers being constructed to resist rotation of said axle about the axis of said wheels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 12 and including: said means including resilient elements operatively interposed between said brackets and said axle housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 12 and including: said left and right leaf springs being pivotally connected to said left and right brackets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3444947A
Cited
US3599955A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |