Adjustable vehicle suspension

• US 5,527,059 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Simon Lee Jr
• Original Assignee: Simon Lee Jr
• Inventors: Lee, Simon Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US08/354,719
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 280/688, 280/6.1, 280/840, 280/43.23, 280/DIG. 1, 180/209, 446/466, 446/469
• US Class Current: 446/466
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/004 Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0157 non-fluid unit, e.g. electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/016 characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input B60G17/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/124 Mounting of coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0114 Independent suspensions on subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0116 Integrated distribution control units with valves, accumulators, PCB's or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/20 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 Pitch; Nose dive

Abstract

A remotely operated vehicle height adjustment apparatus for toy or model wheeled vehicles. A motor is provided for each road wheel, the output being reduced in reduction gears. A lever or suspension arm is fixed to the output shaft of the gearset, and is pivotally driven, or angularly displaced. Each road wheel is fixed to the end of one suspension arm, and is raised and lowered relative to the vehicle body when the motor is operated. Inertial and frictional forces within the motor and gearset maintain the vehicle raised or lowered after the motor is deenergized. Wheels are individually controlled, the resultant vehicle attitude mimicking any of several real world vehicle effects, such as acceleration, cornering, and the like. The vehicle is remotely controlled from a switch controlling the various wheels individually, and is connected to the vehicle by communication cables.

Claims

1. A model wheeled vehicle having independently adjusted wheel height with respect to the body, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a plurality of road wheels attached to said body; and

a plurality of vehicle height adjustment apparatuses attached to said road wheels, there being one said apparatuses attached to one road wheel, each of said apparatuses comprising;

a motor providing a rotational output, and

a suspension arm angularly displaced by said motor responsive to said rotational output, and having proximal and distal ends, said suspension arm connected to said rotational output at said proximal end, and one of said road wheels attached to said suspension arm at said distal end, whereby pivoting of said suspension arm moves an attached said road wheel vertically with respect to said vehicle body.

2. The model wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a battery, conductors conducting energy from said battery to each said motor of said vehicle height adjustment apparatuses, and a switch controlling said conductors individually, whereby vehicle height is adjusted individually at each said road wheel.

3. The model wheeled vehicle according to claim 2, said conductors extending remotely from said body, and said switch being located remotely from said body.

4. The model wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising reduction gears connected to said motor, for reducing said rotational output relative to the speed of said motor, said motor and said reduction gears having friction and inertial forces, whereby wheel attitude is maintained after an associated said motor is deenergized due to said friction and said inertial forces.

5. A model wheeled vehicle having independently adjusted wheel height with respect to the body, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a plurality of road wheels attached to said body;

a plurality of vehicle height adjustment apparatuses attached to said road wheels, there being one of said apparatuses for each one road wheel, each of said apparatuses comprising;

a motor providing a rotational output,

a suspension arm angularly displaced by said motor responsive to said rotational output, and having proximal and distal ends, said suspension arm connected to said rotational output at said proximal end, and one of said road wheels attached to said suspension arm at said distal end, whereby pivoting of said suspension arm moves an attached said road wheel vertically with respect to said vehicle body, and

reduction gears connected to said motor, for reducing said rotational output relative to the speed of said motor, said motor and said reduction gears having friction and inertial forces, whereby wheel attitude is maintained after an associated said motor is deenergized due to said friction and said inertial forces; and

a battery, conductors conducting energy from said battery to each said motor of said vehicle height adjustment apparatuses, and a switch controlling said conductors individually, whereby vehicle height is adjusted individually at each said road wheel, said conductors extending remotely from said body, and said switch being located remotely from said body.