US4058292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle leveling system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-06-02
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Granted: 1977-11-15
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Expires: 1997-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A system for leveling a vehicle parked on uneven terrain is disclosed. The wheel of the vehicle on the lowest position on the terrain is determined together with the relative amount that the low wheel must be raised to level the vehicle. An inclined ramp is adapted to be disposed proximate the low wheel of the vehicle, and the ramp is nonrigidly linked to the vehicle at a position on the vehicle disposed relatively behind the base of the ramp. The linking means includes coded indicia to indicate the appropriate length of the linking means required to allow the vehicle to travel up the ramp until the vehicle is substantially level. The vehicle is then motivated to cause the low wheel to travel up the ramp until the linking means becomes taut, to stop the vehicle in the level position.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold E. Goodrich
- 👤 Dolores M. Fabel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:29
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F7/00; B66F7/24; B66F7/243; B60; B60S; B60S11/00; B60S13/00; B60T; B60T3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A system for leveling a vehicle parked on uneven terrain comprising: means for determining the wheel of the vehicle on the lowest position on the terrain, said determining means including means for indicating the relative amount that said low wheel should be raised to level the vehicle; an inclined ramp adapted to be disposed proximate the low wheel of the vehicle; and means for nonrigidly linking the ramp to the vehicle at a position on the vehicle disposed relatively behind the base of said ramp when the ramp is located proximate the low wheel of the vehicle so that the vehicle can be motivated to cause the low wheel to travel up the ramp until the linking means becomes taut, said linking means including coded indicia corresponding to the determining means to indicate the appropriate length of said linking means required to allow the vehicle to travel up the ramp until the vehicle is substantially level, the linking means then becoming taut to stop the vehicle in the level position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A system for leveling a vehicle parked on uneven terrain comprising: means for determining the wheel of the vehicle on the lowest position on the terrain, said determining means including means for indicating the relative amount that said low wheel should be raised to level the vehicle; an inclined ramp adapted to be disposed proximate the low wheel of the vehicle; and means for nonrigidly linking the ramp to the vehicle at a position on the vehicle disposed relatively behind the base of said ramp when the ramp is located proximate the low wheel of the vehicle so that the vehicle can be motivated to cause the low wheel to travel up the ramp until the linking means becomes taut, said linking means including coded indicia corresponding to the determining means to indicate the appropriate length of said linking means required to allow the vehicle to travel up the ramp until the vehicle is substantially level, the linking means then becoming taut to stop the vehicle in the level position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the ramp comprises four rigid members hinged together at their ends to form an enclosed loop, said rigid members being foldable from a flat configuration for storage into a ramp configuration for use to level the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising a hook located on the vehicle at said position on the vehicle disposed relatively behind the base of said ramp for attachment on the linking means thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the linking means comprises a chain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the determining means includes coded indicia and the indicia of the linking means are coded in corresponding colors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the determining means comprises a liquid filled container having a convex, transparent upper surface, said container containing an air bubble which moves along the underside of the convex surface to indicate the highest point of said surface, said coded indicia being located on said convex surface to indicate the low wheel and the relative amount that said low wheel should be raised to level the vehicle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
195 words
A system for leveling a vehicle parked on uneven terrain comprising: means for determining the wheel or wheels of the vehicle on lower positions on the terrain relative to one or more other wheels on the vehicle, said determining means including coded indicia indicating the relative amount that said lower wheel or wheels should be raised to level the vehicle; one or more inclined ramps adapted to be disposed proximate the respective lower wheel or wheels of the vehicle; and means for nonrigidly linking the ramps to the vehicle at positions on the vehicle disposed relatively behind the base of said ramps when the ramps are located proximate the lower wheel or wheels of the vehicle so that the vehicle can be motivated to cause the lower wheel or wheels to travel up the ramps until the linking means become taut, said linking means including coded indicia corresponding to the coded indicia on the determining means to indicate the appropriate length of said linking means required to allow the vehicle to travel up the ramps until the vehicle is substantially level, the linking means then becoming taut to stop the vehicle in the level position.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
195 words
A system for leveling a vehicle parked on uneven terrain comprising: means for determining the wheel or wheels of the vehicle on lower positions on the terrain relative to one or more other wheels on the vehicle, said determining means including coded indicia indicating the relative amount that said lower wheel or wheels should be raised to level the vehicle; one or more inclined ramps adapted to be disposed proximate the respective lower wheel or wheels of the vehicle; and means for nonrigidly linking the ramps to the vehicle at positions on the vehicle disposed relatively behind the base of said ramps when the ramps are located proximate the lower wheel or wheels of the vehicle so that the vehicle can be motivated to cause the lower wheel or wheels to travel up the ramps until the linking means become taut, said linking means including coded indicia corresponding to the coded indicia on the determining means to indicate the appropriate length of said linking means required to allow the vehicle to travel up the ramps until the vehicle is substantially level, the linking means then becoming taut to stop the vehicle in the level position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as recited in claim 7 wherein each ramp comprises four rigid members hinged together at their ends to form a closed loop, said rigid members being foldable from a flat configuration for storage into a ramp configuration for use to level the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as recited in claim 7 and additionally comprising hooks located on the vehicle at said positions on the vehicle disposed relatively behind the bases of said ramps for attachment of the linking means thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as recited in claim 9 and additionally comprising secondary hooks located on the vehicle at positions spaced a preselected distance behind said other hooks relative to the base of said ramps for initial attachment of the linking means to position the ramps at appropriate locations on the terrain for subsequent leveling of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
232 words
A system for leveling a vehicle parked on uneven terrain comprising: means for determining the wheel or wheels of the vehicle on lower positions of the terrain relative to one or more other wheels on the vehicle, said determining means including coded indicia indicating the relative amount that said lower wheel or wheels should be raised to level the vehicle; one or more inclined ramps adapted to be disposed proximate the respective lower wheel or wheels of the vehicle; pairs of spaced attachment means located on the vehicle relatively behind said ramps disposed proximate the respective lower wheel or wheels of the vehicle; and nonrigid linking means for connecting the ramps to the attachment means furthest behind said ramps when the ramps are located proximate the lower wheel or wheels of the vehicles, said linking means including coded indicia corresponding to the coded indicia on the determining means to indicate the appropriate length of said linking means required to allow the vehicle to travel up the ramps until the vehicle is substantially level, said ramps being moved toward the respective wheels until the linking means are taut to position the ramp proximate said wheels, said linking means then being reattached to the attachment means closer to the respective wheels and the vehicle moved on to the ramps until the linking means again become taut to stop the vehicle in the level position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
232 words
A system for leveling a vehicle parked on uneven terrain comprising: means for determining the wheel or wheels of the vehicle on lower positions of the terrain relative to one or more other wheels on the vehicle, said determining means including coded indicia indicating the relative amount that said lower wheel or wheels should be raised to level the vehicle; one or more inclined ramps adapted to be disposed proximate the respective lower wheel or wheels of the vehicle; pairs of spaced attachment means located on the vehicle relatively behind said ramps disposed proximate the respective lower wheel or wheels of the vehicle; and nonrigid linking means for connecting the ramps to the attachment means furthest behind said ramps when the ramps are located proximate the lower wheel or wheels of the vehicles, said linking means including coded indicia corresponding to the coded indicia on the determining means to indicate the appropriate length of said linking means required to allow the vehicle to travel up the ramps until the vehicle is substantially level, said ramps being moved toward the respective wheels until the linking means are taut to position the ramp proximate said wheels, said linking means then being reattached to the attachment means closer to the respective wheels and the vehicle moved on to the ramps until the linking means again become taut to stop the vehicle in the level position.
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) | 1980-11-14 | 1981-05-16 | 1981-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-14 | 1985-05-16 | 1985-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-14 | 1989-05-16 | 1989-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |