Patent US4458913A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4458913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Independent rear wheel suspension
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1983-10-18
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Granted: 1984-07-10
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Expires: 2003-10-18
Abstract
Abstract An independent rear wheel suspension for a motor vehicle having front wheel drive includes a telescopic strut rigidly mounted to a wheel support member and having its upper end pivotably mounted to the vehicle chassis. Two laterally extending control arms are pivotably connected at their outboard ends to the wheel support member and at their inboard ends to the vehicle chassis. The two control arms are longitudinally spaced apart and having a spring seat bracket pivotably mounted therebetween which seats a coil spring interposed between the bracket and the vehicle chassis. The spring seat is pivotable with respect to the control arms to allow the control arms to undergo jounce and rebound movement while maintaining the spring seat bracket in a near horizontal position. In addition, the spring seat bracket allows the control arms to control the toe angle of the rear wheel during recession of the rear wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Rumpel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G15/00; B60G15/02; B60G15/06; B60G3/00; B60G3/18; B60G3/20; B60G3/202; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/10; B60G2200/14; B60G2200/144; B60G2200/1442; B60G2200/18; B60G2200/182; B60G2200/40; B60G2200/462; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/12; B60G2204/124; B60G2204/1244; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/41; B60G2204/43; B60G2206/00; B60G2206/01; B60G2206/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member for rotatably mounting a wheel; an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member; means pivotably connecting the upper end of said shock absorber to said chassis; tranversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; a spring seat means seating a spring means interposed between said spring seat means and said chassis; and pivot means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms so as to allow said control arms to move relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member for rotatably mounting a wheel; an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member; means pivotably connecting the upper end of said shock absorber to said chassis; tranversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; a spring seat means seating a spring means interposed between said spring seat means and said chassis; and pivot means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms so as to allow said control arms to move relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An independent rear wheel suspension as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a longitudinal link having one end connected to said chassis and its other end connected to said wheel support member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An independent rear suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein: said pivot means comprises bushing means which allows pivotable movement of said spring seat about a substantially longitudinally extending axis and resiliently resists pivotable movement of said spring seat about a vertical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An independent rear wheel suspension as defined in claim 3 further comprising: a longitudinal link having one end connected to said chassis and its other end connected to said wheel support member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An independent rear wheel suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein said wheel support member supports said wheel at a position longitudinally between where the outboard ends of said arms are connected to said wheel support member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; a spring seat located between said front and rear control arms, said spring seat seating a spring interposed between said spring seat and said chassis; and pivot means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms so as to allow movement of said control arms relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; a spring seat located between said front and rear control arms, said spring seat seating a spring interposed between said spring seat and said chassis; and pivot means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms so as to allow movement of said control arms relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An independent rear wheel suspension as defined in claim 6 wherein: said pivot means comprises bushing means, each of which allows pivotable movement of said spring seat about a longitudinally extending axis and resiliently resists pivotable movement of said spring seat about a vertical axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member; an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member; means pivotably connecting the upper end of said shock absorber to said chassis; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected to their invoard ends of said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; a spring seat located between said front and rear control arms, said spring seat comprising a piston member operably engaging an air spring interposed between said piston and said chassis; and pivot means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms so as to allow movement of said control arms relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member; an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member; means pivotably connecting the upper end of said shock absorber to said chassis; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected to their invoard ends of said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; a spring seat located between said front and rear control arms, said spring seat comprising a piston member operably engaging an air spring interposed between said piston and said chassis; and pivot means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms so as to allow movement of said control arms relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member for rotatably mounting a wheel; an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member; means pivotably connecting the upper end of said shock absorber to said chassis; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member, said wheel support member being constructed to support said wheel at a position longitudinally between where the outboard ends of said arms are connected to said wheel support member; means for seating a spring and distributing the spring load onto both of said control arms; and pivot means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms so as to allow movement of said control arms relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member for rotatably mounting a wheel; an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member; means pivotably connecting the upper end of said shock absorber to said chassis; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member, said wheel support member being constructed to support said wheel at a position longitudinally between where the outboard ends of said arms are connected to said wheel support member; means for seating a spring and distributing the spring load onto both of said control arms; and pivot means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms so as to allow movement of said control arms relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member for rotatably mounting a wheel; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member, said wheel support member being constructed to support said wheel at a position longitudinally between where the outboard ends of said arms are connected to said wheel support member; means for seating a spring and distributing the spring load onto both of said controls arms; and pivot means comprising bushing means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms, said bushing means allowing pivotable movement of said spring seat about a longitudinally extending axis and resiliently resisting pivotable movement of said spring seat about a vertical axis while allowing rotational movement of said control arms in a horizontal plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
146 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member for rotatably mounting a wheel; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member, said wheel support member being constructed to support said wheel at a position longitudinally between where the outboard ends of said arms are connected to said wheel support member; means for seating a spring and distributing the spring load onto both of said controls arms; and pivot means comprising bushing means connecting said spring seat means to said control arms, said bushing means allowing pivotable movement of said spring seat about a longitudinally extending axis and resiliently resisting pivotable movement of said spring seat about a vertical axis while allowing rotational movement of said control arms in a horizontal plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member and attached road wheel; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; a spring seat located between the outboard and inboard ends of said control arms; and pivot means attaching said spring seat to said control arms so as to allow said control arms to move relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes as said road wheel recesses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member and attached road wheel; transversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; a spring seat located between the outboard and inboard ends of said control arms; and pivot means attaching said spring seat to said control arms so as to allow said control arms to move relative to said spring seat about substantially vertical axes as said road wheel recesses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle as defined in claim 11, wherein said pivot means allow said control arms to rotate horizontally as said road wheel recesses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The suspension as defined in claim 12, further comprising: a longitudinal link having one end connected to said chassis and its other end connected to said wheel support member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The suspension as defined in claim 12, further comprising: an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The suspension as defined in claim 11, further comprising: a longitudinal link having one end connected to said chassis and its other end connected to said wheel support member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The suspension as defined in claim 11, further comprising: an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
134 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member; an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member; means pivotably connecting the upper end of said shock absorber to said chassis; tranversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected to their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; and a spring seat located between and pivotably connected to said front and rear arms by bushing means and seating a spring interposed between said spring seat and said chassis, said bushing means being constructed to allow pivotably movement of said spring seat about a substantially longitudinally extending axis and to resiliently resist pivotable movement of said spring seat about a vertical axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
134 words
An independent rear wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member; an upwardly extending telescopic shock absorber having its lower end rigidly secured to said wheel support member; means pivotably connecting the upper end of said shock absorber to said chassis; tranversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected to their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; and a spring seat located between and pivotably connected to said front and rear arms by bushing means and seating a spring interposed between said spring seat and said chassis, said bushing means being constructed to allow pivotably movement of said spring seat about a substantially longitudinally extending axis and to resiliently resist pivotable movement of said spring seat about a vertical axis.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
An independent rear suspension as defined in claim 17, further comprising: a longitudinal link having one end connected to said chassis and its other end connected to said wheel support member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
103 words
An independent rear suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member; tranversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; and a spring seat located between and pivotably connected to said front and rear control arms by bushing means and seating a spring interposed between said spring seat and said chassis, said bushing means being constructed to allow pivotably movement of said spring seat about a longitudinally extending axis and to resiliently resist pivotable movement of said spring seat about a vertical axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
103 words
An independent rear suspension for a vehicle comprising: a chassis; a wheel support member; tranversely extending front and rear control arms pivotably connected at their inboard ends to said chassis and at their outboard ends to said wheel support member; and a spring seat located between and pivotably connected to said front and rear control arms by bushing means and seating a spring interposed between said spring seat and said chassis, said bushing means being constructed to allow pivotably movement of said spring seat about a longitudinally extending axis and to resiliently resist pivotable movement of said spring seat about a vertical axis.
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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) | 1987-07-10 | 1988-01-09 | 1988-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-10 | 1992-01-09 | 1992-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-10 | 1996-01-09 | 1996-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |