US3882558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspension system for overland vehicles sleeping beds
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-08
•
Granted: 1975-05-13
•
Expires: 1994-08-08
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are suspension systems including a horizontal topframe underlying a sleeping mattress and adapted for ready installation within overland vehicles such as upon the lofty rearward shelf-like stratum of a truck operator''s cab. The suspension system generally comprises: a horizontal elongated bottom-frame adapted to stably rest upon the shelf-like stratum and provided with a pair of longitudinally separated revolvable drums each rotatable about a transversely extending central-axis, a longitudinally lengthwise horizontal top-frame overlying the bottom-frame and in vertically reciprocatable relationship therewith through connection to the respective revolvable drums therebeneath, leveling means preferably as a figure-8 taut cable rigidly attached to the drums to maintain the top-frame horizontal during vertical movements thereof, and downwardmovement limitation means for the top-frame of the yieldable resistance type and preferably of the Boyles'' Law gas spring or shock-absorber type and also providing comfort to the reclining passenger, together with desireable compensator means for passenger weight.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheldon L Christensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:29
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60M; B60M1/00; B60M1/02; B60M1/10; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/32; B60N2/34; B62; B62D; B62D33/00; B62D33/06; B62D33/0612
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A suspension system for overland vehicles sleeping beds and particularly adapted for removably resting upon the rearward elevated shelf-like stratum portion of an overland truck operator''s cab, said suspension system comprising: A. A substantially horizontal bottom-frame adapted to stably rest at constant elevation upon a said shelf stratum, the bottom-frame extending longitudinally lengthwise and also transversely widthwise and including a pair of longitudinally separated transverse-ends, said bottom-frame being provided with a pair of longitudinally separated revolvable drums each rotatable about a transversely extending central-axis therefor whereby an elongated longitudinal-gap exists between the two central-axes; B. A generally rectangular horizontal top-frame overlying the bottom-frame and in vertically reciprocatably movably attached relationship thereto through connnections to the respective revolvable drums, said top-frame extending longitudinally lengthwise and having a relatively narrow transverse-width and adapted to support a horizontal sleeping mattress thereabove; C. Leveling means to maintain the top-frame horizontal during vertical movements thereof; and D. Downward-movement limitation means of the yieldable resistance type for the top-frame and extending actuatably therefrom to the constant elevation bottom-frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A suspension system for overland vehicles sleeping beds and particularly adapted for removably resting upon the rearward elevated shelf-like stratum portion of an overland truck operator''s cab, said suspension system comprising: A. A substantially horizontal bottom-frame adapted to stably rest at constant elevation upon a said shelf stratum, the bottom-frame extending longitudinally lengthwise and also transversely widthwise and including a pair of longitudinally separated transverse-ends, said bottom-frame being provided with a pair of longitudinally separated revolvable drums each rotatable about a transversely extending central-axis therefor whereby an elongated longitudinal-gap exists between the two central-axes; B. A generally rectangular horizontal top-frame overlying the bottom-frame and in vertically reciprocatably movably attached relationship thereto through connnections to the respective revolvable drums, said top-frame extending longitudinally lengthwise and having a relatively narrow transverse-width and adapted to support a horizontal sleeping mattress thereabove; C. Leveling means to maintain the top-frame horizontal during vertical movements thereof; and D. Downward-movement limitation means of the yieldable resistance type for the top-frame and extending actuatably therefrom to the constant elevation bottom-frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The suspension system of claim 1 wherein the leveling means comprises a taut cable rigidly attached to the drums a like distance from the respective central-axes whereby the drums are forced to revolve in equal angular extent during vertical movements of the top-frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The suspension system of claim 2 wherein the taut cable is of figure-8 configuration lying within a vertical-plane and the respective cable loops surrounding the central-axes whereby the drums rigidly attached thereto are forced to revolve in opposite angular directions during vertical movement of the top-frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The suspension system of claim 3 wherein the connection between top-frame and the respectiVe drums is through sheet material strips partially wrapped around and terminally attached to each drum, and terminally attached strips on respective drums facing each other to ensure opposite angular rotations of the drums during vertical movement of the top-frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The suspension system of claim 4 wherein there is a pair of transversely separated arcuately wrapped sheet material strips terminally attached to each drum, the figure-8 cable being attached to the drum between said sheet material strips; wherein the horizontal bottom-frame is of generally rectangular configuration and the drums directly underly the top-frame; and wherein there are upward-movement limitation means for the top-frame relative to the constant elevation bottom-frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The suspension system of claim 1 wherein the downward-movement limitation means possess progressively increasing resistance to the downwardly moving top-frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The suspension system of claim 6 wherein the downward-movement limitation means comprises a gaseous type shock-absorber having a constant gaseous molecular content and acting in accordance with Boyles'' Law, the shock-absorber being rigidly attached to the drums radially outwardly from the central-axes with at least one longitudinally extending horizontal band whereby the fixed molecular content of confined gas both compresses and gradually increases in pressure as the drums are forced to rotate by the downwardly moving top-frame thereby providing progressively increasing resistance thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The suspension system of claim 7 wherein the shock-absorber comprises a pair of horizontal telescoping and slidably engaged tubes and each tube carrying an upright terminal pulley; and wherein there is a single cable-band passing around both pulleys and connecting the telescoping tubes type piston to the respective drums whereby top-frame downward-movement tends to compress the telescoping tubes into each other against the resistance of the confined gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The suspension system of claim 8 wherein compressed air is supplied into the telescoping tubes type shock-absorber through an intervening load-leveler valve equipped with an air exhaust-port and also with a generally horizontal lever located below the top-frame and for controlling the proportion of air exhausted from the load-leveler valve, there being an upright pivotal link connection between the lever and the overlying top-frame to permit a comfortable underlying support for reclining persons of various body weights.
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) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |