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US4511160A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Vehicle rear wheel suspension

Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1983-05-26
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Granted: 1985-04-16
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Expires: 2003-05-26
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Abstract

Abstract A vehicle suspension mechanism including a wheel hub carrying a vehicle rear wheel for rotation about its axis of rotation, a pair of lateral links extending substantially transversely and having inward ends connected with the vehicle body for vertical and fore-and-aft swinging movements. The lateral links have outward ends swingably connected with the wheel hub, with the longitudinal distance between the inward ends of the lateral links being larger than the longitudinal distance between the outward ends whereby a toe-in displacement is produced in the rear wheel when the wheel hub means is rearwardly displaced. The suspension mechanism further includes a longitudinal link having one end swingably connected with the vehicle body and the other end swingably connected with the wheel hub and a suspension strut assembly secured to the wheel hub and swingably connected with the vehicle body. The longitudinal link is inclined rearwardly and downwardly with respect to a line passing through the inward ends of the lateral links and a toe-in displacement is produced in the rear wheel when the rear wheel is upwardly bumped.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hitoshi Inoue

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 08:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G15/00; B60G15/02; B60G15/06; B60G15/07; B60G3/00; B60G3/18; B60G3/20; B60G3/202; B60G3/205; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/10; B60G2200/14; B60G2200/144; B60G2200/1442; B60G2200/18; B60G2200/182; B60G2200/40; B60G2200/462

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 183 words
A vehicle rear suspension mechanism comprising wheel hub means carrying a vehicle rear wheel for rotation about its axis of rotation, a pair of lateral links extending substantially transversely and having transverse inward ends connected with a longitudinal distance therebetween to vehicle body means for vertical and fore-and-aft swinging movements, said lateral links having transverse outward ends swingably connected with a longitudinal distance therebetween to said wheel hub means, said longitudinal distance between the transverse inward ends of the lateral links being larger than the longitudinal distance between the transverse outward ends, a longitudinal link having one end connected with the vechicle body means and the other end connected with an assembly of the wheel hub means and said lateral links, to transmit a longitudinal force, the improvement comprising a suspension strut assembly which is comprised of damper means and a spring means, said strut assembly having a lower end secured to said wheel hub means and an upper end swingably connected with the vehicle body means, said strut assembly being inclined rearwardly with respect to a line perpendicular to said longitudinal link.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 183 words
A vehicle rear suspension mechanism comprising wheel hub means carrying a vehicle rear wheel for rotation about its axis of rotation, a pair of lateral links extending substantially transversely and having transverse inward ends connected with a longitudinal distance therebetween to vehicle body means for vertical and fore-and-aft swinging movements, said lateral links having transverse outward ends swingably connected with a longitudinal distance therebetween to said wheel hub means, said longitudinal distance between the transverse inward ends of the lateral links being larger than the longitudinal distance between the transverse outward ends, a longitudinal link having one end connected with the vechicle body means and the other end connected with an assembly of the wheel hub means and said lateral links, to transmit a longitudinal force, the improvement comprising a suspension strut assembly which is comprised of damper means and a spring means, said strut assembly having a lower end secured to said wheel hub means and an upper end swingably connected with the vehicle body means, said strut assembly being inclined rearwardly with respect to a line perpendicular to said longitudinal link.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
A vehicle rear suspension mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which said longitudinal link has an axis which passes through said one end and said other end and is inclined rearwardly and downwardly with respect to a line passing through the transverse inward ends of the lateral links.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 59 words
A vehicle rear suspension mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which said longitudinal link is a trailing link having a forward end swingably connected with the vehicle body means and a rear end pivotably connected with the wheel hub means, said trailing link being inclined rearwardly and downwardly and making said strut assembly an angle greater than 90°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
A vehicle rear suspension mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which said longitudinal link is a leading link having a forward end pivotably connected with the wheel hub means and a rear end swingably connected with the vehicle body means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3892284A Cited
US3830516A Cited
US4157840A Cited
US4269432A Cited
US4245853A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-04-15 1988-10-15 1989-04-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-04-15 1992-10-15 1993-04-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-04-15 1996-10-15 1997-04-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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