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US4572312A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Mechanism for enabling a vehicle bonnet to be opened and closed

Assignee: Case Poclain Corp Ltd
•
Filing: 1982-08-20
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Granted: 1986-02-25
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Expires: 2002-08-20
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Abstract

Abstract To enable a tractor bonnet to be opened and closed it is pivotably connected near its front end to longer arms of respective laterally-spaced interconnected bell-crank levers which are pivotably mounted about a common transverse axis on an upstanding sub-frame secured to the tractor's main frame. When the bonnet has been initially moved forwardly, thus pivoting the levers relative to both the bonnet and the sub-frame, the shorter arms of the levers abut against the sub-frame whereafter the rear end of the bonnet is secondarily moved upwardly and forwardly into opened position by pivoting the bonnet relative to the stationary levers. The bonnet is closed by performing the same movements in reverse sequence, a transverse arch preferably being so fixed relative to the main frame as to guide the bonnet near the end of its initial closing movement.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael France
  • 👤 Rodney Booth

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 08:59
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05D; E05D3/00; E05D3/06; E05D3/12; E05D3/125; B; B62; B62D; B62D25/00; B62D25/08; B62D25/10; B62D25/12; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/536

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 208 words
Mechanism for enabling a vehicle bonnet to be opened and closed comprising two laterally-spaced bell-crank levers pivotable about a common axis disposed transversely on the vehicle's frame near the front end thereof, two side waist-rails secured to the frame, two members projecting downwardly from the respective sides of the bonnet near the rear end thereof, one arm of each lever extending rearwardly when the bonnet is closed and being pivotably connected to the adjacent side of the bonnet, and the other arm of each lever being arranged to abut against a stop on the frame when the bonnet has been initially moved forwardly by simultaneously pivoting the bonnet relative to the lever and the lever relative to the frame, whereafter the rear end of the bonnet is secondarily moved upwardly and forwardly into opened position by pivoting the bonnet relative to the stationary lever, the bonnet being closed by performing the same movements in reverse sequence, and an arch member secured between the side waist-rails to guide the bonnet near the end of its initial closing movement so as to ensure that the members projecting downwardly from the bonnet engage the inner surfaces of the respective side waist-rails and thus locate the rear end of the bonnet laterally.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 208 words
Mechanism for enabling a vehicle bonnet to be opened and closed comprising two laterally-spaced bell-crank levers pivotable about a common axis disposed transversely on the vehicle's frame near the front end thereof, two side waist-rails secured to the frame, two members projecting downwardly from the respective sides of the bonnet near the rear end thereof, one arm of each lever extending rearwardly when the bonnet is closed and being pivotably connected to the adjacent side of the bonnet, and the other arm of each lever being arranged to abut against a stop on the frame when the bonnet has been initially moved forwardly by simultaneously pivoting the bonnet relative to the lever and the lever relative to the frame, whereafter the rear end of the bonnet is secondarily moved upwardly and forwardly into opened position by pivoting the bonnet relative to the stationary lever, the bonnet being closed by performing the same movements in reverse sequence, and an arch member secured between the side waist-rails to guide the bonnet near the end of its initial closing movement so as to ensure that the members projecting downwardly from the bonnet engage the inner surfaces of the respective side waist-rails and thus locate the rear end of the bonnet laterally.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 57 words
Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the side waist-rails converge rearwardly and the sides of the rear end of the bonnet, which is arched in transverse cross-section, are sprung apart by the arch member near the end of the initial opening movement of the bonnet and spring together as the secondary closing movement of the bonnet progresses.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2193111A Cited
GB622046A Cited
US3767001A Cited
US3805909A Cited
US4125170A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-02-24 1989-08-26 1990-02-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-02-24 1993-08-26 1994-02-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-02-24 1997-08-26 1998-02-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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