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US4417635A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Rapid fixing device consisting of a spring unit

Assignee: Renault SA
•
Filing: 1981-08-19
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Granted: 1983-11-29
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Expires: 2001-08-19
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Abstract

Abstract An arrangement for mounting a cooling system radiator in the engine compartment of an automobile vehicle, the radiator including a base portion and a top portion and the engine compartment including a beam structure having a horizontal bottom beam member for supporting and positioning the base portion of the radiator, a horizontal top beam member and a horizontal intermediate stiff beam member, the top and intermediate beam members being transversely offset on the same side with respect to the bottom beam member, the arrangement further including a one-piece spring wire unit having a first and second leg connected together at one end thereof so as to extend substantially perpendicular to one another when the spring wire unit is not strained, the spring wire unit being mounted under strain so that the first leg extends from a connection with a second leg from above the top beam member substantially horizontally over the radiator, a free end of the first leg being pressed downwardly on the top portion of the radiator, the second leg extending from a connection with the first leg from above the top beam member substantially vertically downwardly through the top beam member while being movable and guided vertically in the top beam member, wherein a free end of the second leg further includes a mechanism for fixing the free end of the second leg to the spring wire unit so as to transfer to the intermediate beam the impression force supplied by the free end of the first leg of the spring wire unit to the top portion of the radiator.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yves Thepault

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 22:14
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K11/00; B60K11/02; B60K11/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44017; Y10T24/44026

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 264 words
An arrangement for mounting a cooling system radiator in the engine compartment of an automobile vehicle, said radiator comprising a base portion and a top portion and said engine compartment comprising a beam structure including a horizontal bottom beam member for supporting and positioning said base portion of said radiator, a horizontal top beam member and a horizontal intermediate stiff beam member, said top and intermediate beam members being transversely offset on the same side with respect to said bottom beam member, said arrangement comprising: a one-piece spring wire unit including a first leg and a second leg connected together at one end thereof so as to extend substantially perpendicular to one another when the spring wire unit is not strained, said spring wire unit being mounted under strain so that said first leg extends from a connection with said second leg from above said top beam member substantially horizontally over said radiator, a free end of said first leg being pressed downwardly on said top portion of said radiator, and said second leg extending from a connection with said first leg from above said top beam member substantially vertically downwardly through said top beam member while being movable and guided vertically in said top member, wherein a free end of said second leg further comprises means for fixing the free end of said second leg to said spring wire unit so as to transfer to said intermediate beam member a compression force supplied by the free end of the first leg of the spring wire unit to the top portion of the radiator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 264 words
An arrangement for mounting a cooling system radiator in the engine compartment of an automobile vehicle, said radiator comprising a base portion and a top portion and said engine compartment comprising a beam structure including a horizontal bottom beam member for supporting and positioning said base portion of said radiator, a horizontal top beam member and a horizontal intermediate stiff beam member, said top and intermediate beam members being transversely offset on the same side with respect to said bottom beam member, said arrangement comprising: a one-piece spring wire unit including a first leg and a second leg connected together at one end thereof so as to extend substantially perpendicular to one another when the spring wire unit is not strained, said spring wire unit being mounted under strain so that said first leg extends from a connection with said second leg from above said top beam member substantially horizontally over said radiator, a free end of said first leg being pressed downwardly on said top portion of said radiator, and said second leg extending from a connection with said first leg from above said top beam member substantially vertically downwardly through said top beam member while being movable and guided vertically in said top member, wherein a free end of said second leg further comprises means for fixing the free end of said second leg to said spring wire unit so as to transfer to said intermediate beam member a compression force supplied by the free end of the first leg of the spring wire unit to the top portion of the radiator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said spring wire unit further comprises a loop portion connecting said first leg to said second leg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 58 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said bottom beam member includes at least one radiator positioning hole formed therein and said base portion of the radiator further comprises at least one stud surrounded by an elastic member, said elastic member being partly engaged with said hole and partly supported by said bottom beam member around said hole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said top portion of said radiator further comprises an elastic pad on which is pressed the free end of said first leg of said spring wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 75 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, said intermediate beam member having a hole formed therein wherein said spring wire unit further comprises first and second parallel wire portions each of which includes a first and second leg wherein free ends of the first legs are connected together and free ends of the second legs further comprise an opposite bent hook-shaped portion for hooking said free ends into said hole formed in said intermediate beam member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said free ends of the first legs further comprises bent free ends so as to be hook-shaped at a connection portion thereof bearing against the top portion of the radiator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 43 words
The arrangement according to claim 5, further comprising a clip mounted on said top beam member through which passes said second legs of said spring wire unit such that said clip provides vertical guidance of said second legs of said spring wire unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 283 words
An arrangement for mounting a cooling system radiator in the engine compartment of an automobile vehicle, said radiator comprising a base portion and a top portion and said engine compartment comprising a beam structure including a horizontal bottom beam member for supporting and positioning said base portion of said radiator, a horizontal top beam member and a horizontal intermediate stiff beam member, said top and intermediate beam members being transversely offset on the same side with respect to said bottom beam member, said arrangement comprising: a one-piece spring wire unit including a first leg and a second leg connected together at one end thereof so as to extend substantially perpendicular to one another when the spring wire unit is not strained, said spring wire unit being mounted under strain so that said first leg extends from a connection with said second leg from above said top beam member substantially horizontally over said radiator, a free end of said first leg being pressed downwardly on said top portion of said radiator, and said second leg extending from a connection with said first leg from above said top beam member substantially vertically downwardly through said top beam member while being movable and guided vertically in said top member, wherein a free end of said second leg further comprises means for fixing the free end of said second leg to said spring wire unit so as to transfer to said intermediate beam member a compression force supplied by the free end of the first leg of the spring wire unit to the top portion of the radiator and wherein said spring wire unit further comprises a loop portion connecting said first leg to said second leg.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 283 words
An arrangement for mounting a cooling system radiator in the engine compartment of an automobile vehicle, said radiator comprising a base portion and a top portion and said engine compartment comprising a beam structure including a horizontal bottom beam member for supporting and positioning said base portion of said radiator, a horizontal top beam member and a horizontal intermediate stiff beam member, said top and intermediate beam members being transversely offset on the same side with respect to said bottom beam member, said arrangement comprising: a one-piece spring wire unit including a first leg and a second leg connected together at one end thereof so as to extend substantially perpendicular to one another when the spring wire unit is not strained, said spring wire unit being mounted under strain so that said first leg extends from a connection with said second leg from above said top beam member substantially horizontally over said radiator, a free end of said first leg being pressed downwardly on said top portion of said radiator, and said second leg extending from a connection with said first leg from above said top beam member substantially vertically downwardly through said top beam member while being movable and guided vertically in said top member, wherein a free end of said second leg further comprises means for fixing the free end of said second leg to said spring wire unit so as to transfer to said intermediate beam member a compression force supplied by the free end of the first leg of the spring wire unit to the top portion of the radiator and wherein said spring wire unit further comprises a loop portion connecting said first leg to said second leg.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 58 words
The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said bottom beam member includes at least one radiator positioning hole formed therein and said base portion of the radiator further comprises at least one stud surrounded by an elastic member, said elastic member being partly engaged with said hold and partly supported by said bottom beam member around said hole.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said top portion of said radiator further comprises an elastic pad on which is pressed the free end of said first leg of said spring wire unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 75 words
The arrangement according to claim 8, said intermediate beam member having a hole formed therein wherein said spring wire unit further comprises first and second parallel wire portions each of which includes a first and second leg wherein free ends of the first legs are connected together and free ends of the second legs further comprise an opposite bent hook-shaped portion for hooking said free ends into said hole formed in said intermediate beam member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 37 words
The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said free ends of the first legs further comprises bent free ends so as to be hook-shaped at a connection portion thereof bearing against the top portion of the radiator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 43 words
The arrangement according to claim 9, further comprising a clip mounted on said top beam member through which passes said second legs of said spring wire unit such that said clip provides vertical guidance of said second legs of said spring wire unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 376 words
An arrangement for mounting a cooling system radiator in the engine compartment of an automobile vehicle, said radiator comprising a base portion and a top portion and said engine compartment comprising a beam structure including a horizontal bottom beam member for supporting and positioning said base portion of said radiator, a horizontal top beam member and a horizontal intermediate stiff beam member, said top and intermediate beam members being transversely offset on the same side with respect to said bottom beam member, said arrangement comprising: a one-piece spring wire unit including a first leg and a second leg connected together at one end thereof so as to extend substantially perpendicular to one another when the spring wire unit is not strained, said spring wire unit being mounted under strain so that said first leg extends from a connection with said second leg from above said top beam member substantially horizontally over said radiator, a free end of said first leg being pressed downwardly on said top portion of said radiator, and said second leg extending from a connection with said first leg from above said top beam member substantially vertically downwardly through said top beam member while being movable and guided vertically in said top member, wherein a free end of said second leg further comprises means for fixing the free end of said second leg to said spring wire unit so as to transfer to said intermediate beam member a compression force supplied by the free end of the first leg of the spring wire unit to the top portion of the radiator; said intermediate beam member having a hole formed therein wherein said spring wire unit includes first and second parallel wire portions each comprising a first and second leg, the free ends of the first legs being connected together and the free ends of the second legs having an opposite bent hook-shaped portion for hooking said free ends into said hole formed in said intermediate beam member, free ends of said first legs including bent first legs so as to be hook-shaped at a connection portion bearing against the top portion of the radiator; and wherein said spring wire unit further comprises a loop portion connecting said first leg to said second leg.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 376 words
An arrangement for mounting a cooling system radiator in the engine compartment of an automobile vehicle, said radiator comprising a base portion and a top portion and said engine compartment comprising a beam structure including a horizontal bottom beam member for supporting and positioning said base portion of said radiator, a horizontal top beam member and a horizontal intermediate stiff beam member, said top and intermediate beam members being transversely offset on the same side with respect to said bottom beam member, said arrangement comprising: a one-piece spring wire unit including a first leg and a second leg connected together at one end thereof so as to extend substantially perpendicular to one another when the spring wire unit is not strained, said spring wire unit being mounted under strain so that said first leg extends from a connection with said second leg from above said top beam member substantially horizontally over said radiator, a free end of said first leg being pressed downwardly on said top portion of said radiator, and said second leg extending from a connection with said first leg from above said top beam member substantially vertically downwardly through said top beam member while being movable and guided vertically in said top member, wherein a free end of said second leg further comprises means for fixing the free end of said second leg to said spring wire unit so as to transfer to said intermediate beam member a compression force supplied by the free end of the first leg of the spring wire unit to the top portion of the radiator; said intermediate beam member having a hole formed therein wherein said spring wire unit includes first and second parallel wire portions each comprising a first and second leg, the free ends of the first legs being connected together and the free ends of the second legs having an opposite bent hook-shaped portion for hooking said free ends into said hole formed in said intermediate beam member, free ends of said first legs including bent first legs so as to be hook-shaped at a connection portion bearing against the top portion of the radiator; and wherein said spring wire unit further comprises a loop portion connecting said first leg to said second leg.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 62 words
The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said bottom beam member includes at least one radiator positioning hole formed therein and said base portion of said radiator further comprises at least one stud surrounded by an elastic member, said elastic member being partly engaged with said radiator positioning hole and partly supported by said bottom beam portion around said radiator positioning hole.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 34 words
The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said top portion of said radiator further comprises an elastic pad on which is pressed the free end of said first leg of said spring wire unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 41 words
The arrangement of claim 14, further comprising a clip mounted on said top beam member through which passes said second legs of said spring wire unit such that said clip provides vertical guidance of said legs of the spring wire unit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US2881721A Cited
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US4121682A Cited
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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) 1986-11-28 1987-05-30 1987-11-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-11-28 1991-05-30 1991-11-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-11-28 1995-05-30 1995-11-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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