US3881765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bus body
Assignee: WAYNE CORPORATIOND
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A bus body comprises elongated, one-piece panels extending substantially the entire length of the body and defining exterior and interior body sides and roof. A multiplicity of generally Ushaped, one-piece rib members, spaced at intervals along the length of the body and coupled adjacent their ends to the bus floor in an inverted position, are located between the interior and exterior panels and are joined to all of the panels. A plurality of stringer members, located along the joints between the exterior roof panels and the joints between the interior roof panels, define elongated roof stringers that extend substantially the entire length of the bus body and are secured to substantially every rib member. The rib members, stringer members, and elongated panels afford a minimal number of body joints and present a minimal number of member and panel edges, thereby increasing the safety of passengers in the bus body in the event of a collision or upset.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony M Cerra
- 👤 Robert B Kurre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:58
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D31/00; B62D31/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
318 words
A bus body comprising at least two elongated one-piece exterior roof panels extending substantially the entire length of the bus body and defining an exterior body roof, at least two elongated one-piece interior roof panels extending substantially the entire length of the bus body and defining an interior body roof, at least two elongated one-piece exterior side panels extending substantially the entire length of the bus body, one on either side thereof, and defining exterior body walls, at least two elongated one-piece interior side panels extending substantially the entire length of the bus body, one on either side thereof, and defining interior body walls, at least one floor panel defining an elongated body floor, at least three generally U-shaped one-piece rib members spaced at intervals along the length of the body and coupled adjacent the ends of said rib members to the body floor in an inverted position, the rib members being located between the interior and exterior side panels and between the interior and exterior roof panels and being joined to sAid panels, a gusset secured to each upper corner of each rib where the roof portion of the rib meets the respective side wall portion of the rib, each gusset having a right angle flange portion along an inwardly disposed edge thereof and each interior roof panel being shaped to match the shape of said flange portion of the respective gusset and being joined thereto, and upper side wall stringers installed between adjacent ribs, each stringer being generally U-shaped in cross section to define an inwardly open space and having a flange portion joined to a corresponding interior roof panel adjacent the outward margin thereof, the rib members and elongated panels affording a minimal number of body joints and presenting a minimal number of member and panel edges, thereby increasing the safety of passengers in the bus body in the event of a collision or upset.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
318 words
A bus body comprising at least two elongated one-piece exterior roof panels extending substantially the entire length of the bus body and defining an exterior body roof, at least two elongated one-piece interior roof panels extending substantially the entire length of the bus body and defining an interior body roof, at least two elongated one-piece exterior side panels extending substantially the entire length of the bus body, one on either side thereof, and defining exterior body walls, at least two elongated one-piece interior side panels extending substantially the entire length of the bus body, one on either side thereof, and defining interior body walls, at least one floor panel defining an elongated body floor, at least three generally U-shaped one-piece rib members spaced at intervals along the length of the body and coupled adjacent the ends of said rib members to the body floor in an inverted position, the rib members being located between the interior and exterior side panels and between the interior and exterior roof panels and being joined to sAid panels, a gusset secured to each upper corner of each rib where the roof portion of the rib meets the respective side wall portion of the rib, each gusset having a right angle flange portion along an inwardly disposed edge thereof and each interior roof panel being shaped to match the shape of said flange portion of the respective gusset and being joined thereto, and upper side wall stringers installed between adjacent ribs, each stringer being generally U-shaped in cross section to define an inwardly open space and having a flange portion joined to a corresponding interior roof panel adjacent the outward margin thereof, the rib members and elongated panels affording a minimal number of body joints and presenting a minimal number of member and panel edges, thereby increasing the safety of passengers in the bus body in the event of a collision or upset.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A bus body according to claim 1, wherein there are four interior side panels, two on either side of the body, a first panel on each side of the body being located above and generally parallel to a second panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A bus body according to claim 2, wherein the second interior side panel on each side of the body has an integral flange projecting toward the interior of the bus for supporting a portion of a seat thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A bus body according to claim 2, wherein the interior side panels are laterally spaced from the exterior side panels and a portion of each second interior side panel is formed to extend generally perpendicularly toward the corresponding exterior side panel adjacent the body floor and subsequently to extend parallel to said corresponding exterior panel, adjacent thereto and substantially covered thereby.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A bus body according to claim 1, wherein each rib member in cross section has a rectilinear central portion and a flange portion at each end of and at right angles to the central portion, the flange portions extending away from the central portion in opposite directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A bus body according to claim 5, wherein the exterior roof and side panels are secured to one flange portion of each rib member and the interior roof and side panels are secured to the second flange portion of each rib member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A bus body according to claim 1, further comprising at least one roof stringer member defining an elongated roof stringer extending substantially the entire length of the bus body, the roof stringer being secured to substantially every rib member and being located adjacent a roof panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A bus body according to claim 7, wherein roof stringer members are located along joints between exterior roof panels and joints between interior roof panels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bus body according to claim 1, wherein one medial exterior roof panel and two marginal exterior roof panels are provided, the medial panel being lapped externally over the marginal panels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
A bus body according to claim 1 wherein each interior side panel includes along the lower edge thereof a generally L-shaped flange having a horizontal portion disposed substantially at right angles to the major wall portion of the panel and abutting a zone of the floor panel along the lateral edge of the floor panel and a vertical portion extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, and wherein the respective free ends of each rib are supported on and are joined to the horizontal portion of the respective interior side panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
A bus body according to claim 1, further comprising an underbody qusset joined to the floor panel generally at each rib located along the length of the bus body, each underbody gusset including a right angle flange along the outer edge thereof generally coplanar with the respective exterior wall panel of the body, and at least one facing member on each side of the body joined to the respective underbody gusset along said outer edge.
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) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |