US5076389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine block mount
Assignee: GOOR ASSOCIATES Inc
•
Filing: 1990-12-19
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Granted: 1991-12-31
•
Expires: 2010-12-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a vehicle engine block mount whereby an engine is mounted on a set of rails having springs biased in outward and inward directions for separating the inertial load of the engine from the automobile frame in the event of a substantial frontal impact. The set of rails are longitudinally mounted within the vehicle to direct the engine inward and downward into the ground by virtue of creating a path-of-least-resistance which, upon an impact of substantial magnitude, will prevent the engine block from invading the passenger compartment. The engine block is mounted to the rails by bearings which provide dampening of engine vibration and permit forward and backward movement against the springs during impact. In another embodiment of the invention, pivots are located towards the front of the engine block and bearings are located in the back of the block and guided by tracks which direct the engine towards the ground in the event of collision. The invention therefore provides an apparatus which absorbs a significant amount of impact force and which redirects it towards the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan Goor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60K; B60K5/00; B60K5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An engine block mount assembly for a passenger vehicle, comprising: a set of rails longitudinally disposed in the vehicle, each of said rails having a first portion disposed in a direction away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a second portion curving towards the ground; at least one bearing located on each side of the engine and movably attached to said set of rails to direct movement along said first and second portions of said rails; a connecting member for connecting said bearings to the engine block, whereby the connected engine can travel along said rails; means for biasing the engine block in a direction away from said first rail portions; and means for biasing the engine block in a direction away from said second rail portion curving towards the ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
An engine block mount assembly for a passenger vehicle, comprising: a set of rails longitudinally disposed in the vehicle, each of said rails having a first portion disposed in a direction away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a second portion curving towards the ground; at least one bearing located on each side of the engine and movably attached to said set of rails to direct movement along said first and second portions of said rails; a connecting member for connecting said bearings to the engine block, whereby the connected engine can travel along said rails; means for biasing the engine block in a direction away from said first rail portions; and means for biasing the engine block in a direction away from said second rail portion curving towards the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 1 wherein said biasing means are springs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 1 wherein said biasing means further provide dampening to engine vibration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 1 further including dampening material placed between said bearings and said biasing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 1 wherein said rails have a cross-sectional oval shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 1 wherein said bearings are rotatably mounted within said rails.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 1 wherein said biasing means permit movement of the engine block along said rails only when a predetermined level of force is reached.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 1 wherein said connecting members are rotatably fixed to the engine block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 1 wherein said rails contain grooves for movably engaging said bearings and permitting the engine block to travel along said rails.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
165 words
An engine block mount assembly for a passenger vehicle, comprising: a set of rails longitudinally disposed in the vehicle and curving towards the ground; at least one bearing located on each side of the engine and movably attached to said set of rails to direct movement along said rails; a connecting member for connecting said bearings to the engine block, whereby the connected engine can travel along said rails; a pivot located on each side of the engine, said pivot attached to the engine and to a portion of the frame of the vehicle at a distance from said rails and at a point low to the ground to permit rotation of the engine with respect to the frame of the vehicle and redirection of its movement toward the ground along said rails when the distance between said rails and said pivots is decreased during a collision involving the vehicle; and means for biasing the engine block in a direction away from said rail portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
165 words
An engine block mount assembly for a passenger vehicle, comprising: a set of rails longitudinally disposed in the vehicle and curving towards the ground; at least one bearing located on each side of the engine and movably attached to said set of rails to direct movement along said rails; a connecting member for connecting said bearings to the engine block, whereby the connected engine can travel along said rails; a pivot located on each side of the engine, said pivot attached to the engine and to a portion of the frame of the vehicle at a distance from said rails and at a point low to the ground to permit rotation of the engine with respect to the frame of the vehicle and redirection of its movement toward the ground along said rails when the distance between said rails and said pivots is decreased during a collision involving the vehicle; and means for biasing the engine block in a direction away from said rail portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 10 wherein said biasing means are springs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 10 wherein said biasing means further provide dampening to engine vibration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 10 further including dampening material placed between said bearings and said biasing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 10 wherein said rails have a cross-sectional oval shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 10 wherein said bearings are rotatably mounted within said rails.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 10 wherein said biasing means permit movement of the engine block along said rails only when a predetermined level of force is reached.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 10 wherein said connecting members are rotatably fixed to the engine block.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The engine block mount assembly of claim 10 wherein said rails contain grooves for movably engaging said bearings and permitting the engine block to travel along said rails.
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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) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |