US3884322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Noise controlling housing
Assignee: Garden Way Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-27
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A noise controlling housing for lawn or garden tractors providing a sound barrier between the noise source within the housing and the space outside the housing. The housing is formed from a plurality of tightly fitted compound curved walls. The walls define noise barriers which because of their tight fit minimize pressure pulsations of incident sound waves from being transmitted through unnecessary openings in the housing, and because of the compound curved walls prevent the pressure pulsations from the noise source from vibrating or flexing the walls thereby generating sound waves outside the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark S Nemschoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:21
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/16; B; B62; B62D; B62D49/00; B62D49/06; B62D49/0664; B62D49/0671; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/08; B60R13/0838; B60R13/0884
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
In a garden tractor or the like having an engine and a muffler together defining a noise source supported on a wheeled chassis and having grille and curved hood means on said tractor adjacent said engine, the improvement comprising: a noise-controlling housing including front, side, and top portions fully enclosing said engine and said muffler on the front, top and sides, said housing front portion including said grille, said housing top portion including said curved hood, said housing side portions constituting side panels extending rearwardly from said grille and beneath the side edges of said hood, the major area of said housing front portion defining a compound curved surface bowed about two axes lying in different planes substantially normal to each other, the major area of said housing side panels each defining like opposed compound curved surfaces each bowed about two axes lying in different planes substantially normal to each other, said compound curved surfaces of said housing front, side and top portions thereby together defining substantially nonresonating curved sheet metal walls whereby said housing is effective to reduce externally thereof the sound emitted from said sound source to a level substantially below that of a tractor having a comparable noise source but without said enclosing housing having said compound curved surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a garden tractor or the like having an engine and a muffler together defining a noise source supported on a wheeled chassis and having grille and curved hood means on said tractor adjacent said engine, the improvement comprising: a noise-controlling housing including front, side, and top portions fully enclosing said engine and said muffler on the front, top and sides, said housing front portion including said grille, said housing top portion including said curved hood, said housing side portions constituting side panels extending rearwardly from said grille and beneath the side edges of said hood, the major area of said housing front portion defining a compound curved surface bowed about two axes lying in different planes substantially normal to each other, the major area of said housing side panels each defining like opposed compound curved surfaces each bowed about two axes lying in different planes substantially normal to each other, said compound curved surfaces of said housing front, side and top portions thereby together defining substantially nonresonating curved sheet metal walls whereby said housing is effective to reduce externally thereof the sound emitted from said sound source to a level substantially below that of a tractor having a comparable noise source but without said enclosing housing having said compound curved surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
A noise controlling housing according to claim 1 wherein said grille includes at least one opening covered by a perforated compound curved wall; wherein said perforated wall has a radius of curvature of between 60 and 200 inches about an axis lying in a generally horizontal plane, and has a radius of curvature of between about 100 and 180 inches lying in a genErally vertical plane; wherein said grille includes a compound curved forward stiffening wall having a radius of curvature about the same axes as said perforated wall, and wherein the radii of curvatures are about one inch greater than that of said perforated compound curved wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A noise controlling housing according to claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature of each side panel is about one axis lying in a generally horizontal plane and lies within a range of about 30 to 80 inches, and wherein the radius of curvature is about another axis lying in a generally vertical plane and is within the range of about 100 to 180 inches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
A noise controlling housing according to claim 3 wherein the grille includes at least one opening covered by a perforated, compound curved wall; wherein said perforated wall has a radius of curvature of between 60 and 200 inches generated about an axis lying in a generally horizontal plane, and has a radius of curvature of between about 100 and 180 inches generated about an axis lying in a generally vertical plane wherein said hood includes an upper wall having air vents defined by louvres formed therein and has a radius of curvature generated about a generally horizontal longitudinally extending axis lying within the range of about 30-80 inches.
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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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |