Motor vehicle suspension system

Claim 2

A suspension system for a motor vehicle comprising first and second crossover supporting members, said first crossover member extending from substantially a rearward section on a first side of the vehicle to a side front section of the vehicle, and said second crossover member extending from said rearward section on the second side of the vehicle to an opposing side front section of the vehicle, said first and second crossover members crossing each other at least once, first and second means for connecting a front wheel to a front end portion of each of said first and second members respectively, means for integrally connecting rear wheels to rearward portions of said first and second crossover members, said first and second members being free to move relative to one another in a substantially vertical direction at each crossover point of said members, said first member, at least at a rearward portion, being placed under torsion in response to vertical movement of the front end portion of the member, said second member, at least at a rearward portion, being placed under torsion in response to vertical movement of the front end portion of the member, means for restraining longitudinal movement of the front end portions of said crossover members while allowing said respective front end portions to move substantially freely and independently, in the vertical direction, and frame means integrally connecting said rearward portions.

Claim 3

The suspension system of claim 1 wherein said restraining means further restrains lateral movement of the respective front end portions of said crossover members.

Claim 4

The suspension system of claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises first and second longitudinal restraining members, said first restraining member being connected between a first position on said first crossover member forward of a forwardmost crossover point and a second position on said second crossover member rearward of said forwardmost crossover point, and said second restraining member being connected between a third position forward of said forwardmost crossover point on said second crossover member and a fourth position rearward of said forwardmost crossover point on said first crossover member, said forwardmost connections substantially unaffecting vertical motion of said respective front portions.

Claim 5

The suspension system of claim 3 wherein there is one crossover point.

Claim 6

The suspension system of claim 3 wherein there are two crossover points.

Claim 7

The suspension system of claim 1 wherein each crossover member comprises a forward portion having a substantially constant radius of curvature.

Claim 8

The suspension system of claim 1 further comprising a front bumper frame assembly connected to said crossover members rearward of a forwardmost crossover point to provide added lateral and longitudinal stability to said suspension while allowing the crossover members to twist with respect to connecting portions of the bumper frame.

Claim 9

The suspension system of claim 1 including a rigid frame structure positioned rearward of said forwardmost crossover point and rigidly connected to said crossover members rearward of said forwardmost crossover.

Claim 10

The suspension system of claim 1 wherein each crossover member is a single length of circular cross section tubing.

Claim 11

The suspension system of claim 1 wherein said first and second crossover members lie in first and second planes, said planes being at a small angle to each other.

Claim 12

A suspension system for stabilizing the motion of a go cart comprising first and second curved crossover supporting members, the first crossover member extending from substantially a rearward section on a first side of the vehicle to a front section on a second side of the vehicle and said second crossover member extending from a rearward section on the second side of the vehicle to a front section on the first side of the vehicle, said first and second crossover members crossing each other once, first and second means for connecting a front wheel to a front end portion of each of said first and second members respectively, frame means for integrally connecting the rear wheels to a rearward section of the first and second crossover members, the first and second crossover members being free to move relative to one another in substantially a vertical direction at the crossover point of the members and the members not being in contact with each other at the crossover point, the first member, at least at a rearward portion, being placed under torsion in response to vertical movement of the front end portion of the member, said second member, at least at a rearward portion, being placed under torsion in response to vertical movement of a front end portion of the member, and first and second longitudinal movement restraining members, the first restraining member being connected between a first position on the first crossover member forward of the crossover point and a second position on the second crossover member rearward of the crossover point, and the second longitudinal restraining member being connected between a third position forward of the crossover point on the second crossover member and a fourth position on the first crossover member rearward of the crossover point, said connections substantially unaffecting vertical motion of the respective front end portions.

Claim 13

A suspension system for stabilizing the motion of a go cart comprising first and second curved crossover supporting members, the first crossover member extending from substantially a rearward section on a first side of the vehicle to a front section on a second side of the vehicle and said second crossover member extending from a rearward section on the second side of the vehicle to a front section on the first side of the vehicle, said first and second crossover members crossing each other once, first and second means for connecting a front wheel to a front end portion of each of said first and second members respectively, frame means for integrally connecting the rear wheels to a rearward section of the first and second crossover members, the first and second crossover members being free to move relative to one another in substantially a vertical direction at the crossover point of the members and the members not being in contact with each other at the crossover point, the first member, at least at a rearward portion, being placed under torsion in response to vertical movement of the front end portion of the member, said second member, at least at a rearward portion, being placed under torsion in response to vertical movement of a front end portion of the member, and first and second longitudinal movement restraining members, the first restraining member being connected between a first position on the first crossover member forward of the crossover point and a second position on the second crossover member rearward of the crossover point, and the second longitudinal restraining member being connected between a third position forward of the crossover point on the second crossover member and a fourth position on the first crossover member rearward of the crossover point, said connections substantially unaffecting vertical motion of the respective front end portions.