Patent Application
20190134520
A vehicle suspension operable to lift and lower the vehicle chassis of a toy vehicle. In particular embodiments, the vehicle suspension transmits sufficient force to the wheels of the toy vehicle to enable the wheels to hop off the ground.
A broad object of particular embodiments can be to provide a vehicle suspension apparatus including one or more of: a central bell crank pivotally mounted on a vehicle chassis to axially pivot along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis; a first link having a first link end connected to a first bell crank pivotally mounted on the vehicle chassis to transversely pivot along a transverse axis across the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis and a second link end connected to the central bell crank; a second link adjacent to the first link and having a first link end connected to a second bell crank pivotally mounted on the vehicle chassis to transversely pivot along a transverse axis across the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis and a second link end connected to the central bell crank; and, a connecting rod pivotally connected at first end to the central bell crank and pivotally connected at a second end to a rotary actuator.
Another broad object of particular embodiments can be to provide a vehicle suspension apparatus including: a first adjustable-length member having a first mount connected to a first bell crank pivotally mounted on the vehicle chassis to transversely pivot along a transverse axis across the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis. A first vertical suspension assembly pivotally connected to the vehicle chassis interconnects a first wheel to a second mount of the first adjustable-length member.
Another broad object of particular embodiments can be to provide a vehicle suspension apparatus including: a second adjustable-length member having a first mount connected to a second bell crank pivotally mounted on the vehicle chassis to transversely pivot along a transverse axis across the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis. A second vertical suspension assembly pivotally connected to the vehicle chassis interconnects a second wheel to a second mount of the first adjustable-length member.
Another broad object of the invention can be to perform a method including one or more of: operating a rotary actuator to generate a pull force via a connecting rod connected to the rotary actuator; generating a radial force axially along a longitudinal axis of a vehicle chassis via a central bell crank connected to the connecting rod; transferring the radial force along a transverse axis across the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis via a first bell crank or a second bell crank linked to the central bell crank; and transmitting said radial force dispersed through the first bell crank or the second bell crank through corresponding first or second adjustable-length members to a first vertical suspension or a second vertical suspension assembly with sufficient force to enable the first or second wheel to hop off a support surface. In particular embodiments, the method can include concurrently transmitting said radial force dispersed through said first bell crank or said second bell crank through corresponding first and second adjustable-length members to a first vertical suspension and a second vertical suspension assembly with sufficient force to enable both first and second wheels to hop off the support surface.
Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.
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In various embodiments, the central bell crank (2), the first bell crank (6), or the second bell crank (10) can be disposed in various structural forms capable of changing motion through an angle. The illustrative examples of the bell cranks (2) (6) or (10) shown in the Figures are not intended to preclude embodiments which incorporate similar or equivalent crank arms, crank levers, angled levers, suspension arms, or rocker arms, currently or prospectively available, and the fixed pivot or the moving pivots of the bell cranks (2) (6) or (10) can, but need not necessarily, further incorporate a bushing assembly or a bearing assembly to align, guide, or support the bell crank (2) (6) or (10) or reduce wear or friction. Further, while the illustrative examples may show pivot axes defined by pivot pins; this is not intended to preclude the use of pivot balls, pivot joints, ball joints, living hinges, or other structures which allow the fixed pivot or moving pivots of the bell cranks (2) (6) (10) to operate in relation to one another. Further, in various embodiments, the rotary actuator (14) can, but need not necessarily, be a commercially available servo motor used with toy and radio control vehicles. As an illustrative example, a servo motor suitable for use in embodiments can be a Redcat Racing Hexfly HX 15s 200 oz waterproof high torque metal gear servo available from Redcat Racing, 3145 East Washington Street, Phoenix, Ariz. 85034. However, this illustrative example of a rotary actuator (14) is not intended to preclude embodiments which incorporate similar or equivalent devices that produce rotary motion or torque, such as high speed and high torque servo motors, currently or prospectively available.
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As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. The invention involves numerous and varied embodiments of a vehicle suspension apparatus, a method of making a vehicle suspension, a method of using a vehicle suspension apparatus to make a remote control car hop, and the component parts thereof, including the best mode.
As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.
It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each step of a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “crank” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “cranking”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “cranking”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “crank” and even a “means for cranking.” Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to be included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.
All numeric values herein are assumed to be modified by the term “about”, whether or not explicitly indicated. For the purposes of the present invention, ranges may be expressed as from “about” one particular value to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value to the other particular value. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all the numeric values subsumed within that range. A numerical range of one to five includes for example the numeric values 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, and so forth. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. When a value is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numeric values that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited numeric value or having the same function or result. Similarly, the antecedent “substantially” means largely, but not wholly, the same form, manner or degree and the particular element will have a range of configurations as a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider as having the same function or result. When a particular element is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “substantially,” it will be understood that the particular element forms another embodiment.
Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity unless otherwise limited. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) the vehicle suspension apparatus disclosed and described, ii) the related methods and systems disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of the structure and method, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.
The background section of this patent application provides a statement of the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. This section may also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain United States patents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter of the claimed invention useful in relating information, problems, or concerns about the state of technology to which the invention is drawn toward. It is not intended that any United States patent, patent application, publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art with respect to the invention.
The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent application or continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
Additionally, the claims set forth in this specification, if any, are further intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.
This U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/584,038, filed Nov. 9, 2017, hereby incorporated by reference in the entirety herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62584038 | Nov 2017 | US |
