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US4295657A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Steering apparatus for vehicles

Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1979-12-28
•
Granted: 1981-10-20
•
Expires: 1999-12-28
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Abstract

Abstract A steering apparatus for a four-wheeled vehicle including a pair of pivotable knuckle arms connected to a pair of respective front wheels and actuatable through a steering gear by rotational movement of a steering wheel. One of the knuckle arms is pivotally connected to one end of a connector rod extending longitudinally of the vehicle, the other end of the connector rod being connected to a cam plate slidable in a housing. The cam plate has an inverted S-shaped cam groove or alternatively an S-shaped cam groove within which is slidably received a pin mounted on a tie rod pivotally connected between a pair of pivotable support arms supporting a pair of rear wheels, respectively. Due to the shape of the cam groove, the rear wheels are turned in the same direction as the front wheels when the steering wheel is rotated through a relatively small angle, and the rear and front wheels are turned in opposite directions when the steering wheel is rotated through a relatively large angle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shoichi Sano
  • 👤 Yoshimi Furukawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 14:04
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/06; B62D7/14; B62D7/15; B62D7/1518; B62D7/1527

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
A steering apparatus for a four-wheeled vehicle wherein a rotational movement of a steering wheel of the vehicle is converted into a straight-line motion through a steering gear for turning the front wheels of the vehicle, wherein: the rear wheels of the vehicle are also dirigible; and means are provided for changing a turning direction of said rear wheels with respect to the front wheels of the vehicle, in response to the amount of rotation of said steering wheel, such that said rear wheels are concurrently turned in the same direction as said front wheels when said steering wheel is rotated through a relatively small angle, and in the opposite direction of said front wheels when said steering wheel is rotated through a relatively large angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 126 words
A steering apparatus for a four-wheeled vehicle wherein a rotational movement of a steering wheel of the vehicle is converted into a straight-line motion through a steering gear for turning the front wheels of the vehicle, wherein: the rear wheels of the vehicle are also dirigible; and means are provided for changing a turning direction of said rear wheels with respect to the front wheels of the vehicle, in response to the amount of rotation of said steering wheel, such that said rear wheels are concurrently turned in the same direction as said front wheels when said steering wheel is rotated through a relatively small angle, and in the opposite direction of said front wheels when said steering wheel is rotated through a relatively large angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
A steering apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a cam member movable in response to the turning of said front wheels; and a follower member engageable with said cam member for turning said rear wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said front wheels are supported on a pivotally movable support member coupled through a connector member with said cam member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
A steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said rear wheels are supported on a pair of pivotally movable support members, respectively, said follower member comprising a tie rod connecting said support members together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
A steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said cam member comprises a cam plate having a cam groove, said follower member having a pin slidably engaging in said cam groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
A steering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: said cam groove includes a pair of lateral arcuate slot segments connected together and extending in substantial point-symmetric relation to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
A steering apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: said cam groove is substantially in the form of an inverted S.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
A steering apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: said cam groove is substantially in the form of an S.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1028866A Cited
CH216854A Cited
CH216655A Cited
US2824749A Cited
US4105086A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-10-19 1985-04-20 1985-10-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-10-19 1989-04-20 1989-10-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-10-19 1993-04-20 1993-10-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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