US5743316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic steerable wheel spring
Assignee: American Mobility Systems Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-02
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2015-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A dynamic steerable spring for axially mounting for supporting a compressive load as it would experience as a vehicle wheel, the load from such vehicle being distributed being evenly transferred to a spring hub, as a replacement for a conventional pneumatic or non pneumatic tire. The spring is preferably manufactured from a single flat sheet of a spring steel type material that is formed into a circular disk that is cut by identical equally spaced radial slots from the disk circumference to a radial distance from the disk center, that is the spring hub wherethrough radially spaced lug bolt holes are formed, with the disk elements between the slots being identical and each terminating in essentially a rectangular end portion. The flat disk is fitted between opposing male and female dies, or the like, that are moved together to bend the disk into the spring where the elements, spaced at equal distances from the hub and bent outwardly from the hub plane, and are then curved to where the finger portions extend across the hub plane. A pair of springs can be joined at the hubs, with the lug holes aligning and the finger end portions interdigitating to form a dual steerable spring. The single or dual spring can receive one or more non-elastic hoops fitted over and under the fingers, and the spring fingers can receive an elastomeric cap formed therearound, and an elastomeric side can be formed around the elements above the hub to form the wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis S. Chrobak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C7/00; B60C7/10; B60C7/14; B60B; B60B9/00; B60B9/02; B60B9/04; B60C7/101; B60C7/24; B60C7/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring comprising, a pair of units each individually formed from a single section of a spring steel material having a uniform thickness with said section of spring steel manufactured to have a flat circular center hub having hole means formed therein for axial mounting, and where, from an outer edge of said hub, identical equidistantly spaced segments extend radially outwardly that are each identically bent outwardly from the plane of said hub at identical points therealong and with said elements each sloping outwardly from said plane of said hub, are bent inwardly at identical points therealong towards the plane of said hub, and each element, at a top portion is bent inwardly at a same radius to form segment ends that are each at an identical distance from, the circumference of and cross at right angles to said hub to form a plurality of equal spaced apart fingers; and the hubs of said pair of units are secured together such that the hole means in said hubs are aligned and the fingers of one of each said units interdigitate with and fit alongside to be equally spaced apart from the fingers of the other unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring comprising, a pair of units each individually formed from a single section of a spring steel material having a uniform thickness with said section of spring steel manufactured to have a flat circular center hub having hole means formed therein for axial mounting, and where, from an outer edge of said hub, identical equidistantly spaced segments extend radially outwardly that are each identically bent outwardly from the plane of said hub at identical points therealong and with said elements each sloping outwardly from said plane of said hub, are bent inwardly at identical points therealong towards the plane of said hub, and each element, at a top portion is bent inwardly at a same radius to form segment ends that are each at an identical distance from, the circumference of and cross at right angles to said hub to form a plurality of equal spaced apart fingers; and the hubs of said pair of units are secured together such that the hole means in said hubs are aligned and the fingers of one of each said units interdigitate with and fit alongside to be equally spaced apart from the fingers of the other unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 1, wherein the unit is formed from the sheet of a spring steel material as a circular disk having identical slots formed at equal equal spaced intervals inwardly from around said disk outer circumference and radially to the outer circumference of the hub; and the hole means are identical spaced holes formed at equal radial distances from a center of said hub.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 2, wherein the spring steel material is formed by bending into the unit in a single operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 2, wherein the thin spring steel material wherefrom the disk is formed of steel types used to produce automative wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 1, wherein the fingers are identical and each has a width of from 0.1 to 0.5 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 1, further including covering each finger with an equal amount and height of an elastomeric cap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 1, further including fitting a hoop of a non resilient material around to contain the fingers, and encapsulating said fingers and covering hoop in an elastomeric cap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 1, wherein the joined pair of dynamic steerable springs are encapsulated with an elastomer material covering the fingers and radial segments outwardly from said hub.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 8, wherein the elastomer material is a composite of a polyether urethane elastomeric particle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
187 words
A dynamic steerable spring comprising a dynamic steerable wheel spring comprising, a unit formed from a single section of a spring steel material having a uniform thickness with said section of spring steel manufactured to have a flat circular center hub having hole means formed therein for axial mounting, and where, from an outer edge of said hub, identical equidistantly spaced segments extend radially outwardly that are each identically bent outwardly from the plane of said hub at identical points therealong and with said elements each sloping outwardly from said plane of said hub, are bent inwardly at identical points therealong towards the plane of said hub, and each element, at a top portion is bent inwardly at a same radius to form segment ends that are each at an identical distance from the circumference of and cross and are at right angles to said hub to form a plurality of equal spaced apart fingers; and a first hoop of a non resilient material is positioned within and adjacent to a circle formed by said fingers; and said fingers and hoops are encapsulated in an elastomeric cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
187 words
A dynamic steerable spring comprising a dynamic steerable wheel spring comprising, a unit formed from a single section of a spring steel material having a uniform thickness with said section of spring steel manufactured to have a flat circular center hub having hole means formed therein for axial mounting, and where, from an outer edge of said hub, identical equidistantly spaced segments extend radially outwardly that are each identically bent outwardly from the plane of said hub at identical points therealong and with said elements each sloping outwardly from said plane of said hub, are bent inwardly at identical points therealong towards the plane of said hub, and each element, at a top portion is bent inwardly at a same radius to form segment ends that are each at an identical distance from the circumference of and cross and are at right angles to said hub to form a plurality of equal spaced apart fingers; and a first hoop of a non resilient material is positioned within and adjacent to a circle formed by said fingers; and said fingers and hoops are encapsulated in an elastomeric cap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 10, further including fitting a hoop of a non resilient material around to contain the fingers; and encapsulating said fingers and covering hoop in an elastomeric cap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 10, wherein the unit is formed from the sheet of a spring steel material as a circular disk having identical slots formed at equal equal spaced intervals inwardly from around said disk outer circumference and radially to the outer circumference of the hub; and the hole means are identical spaced holes formed at equal radial distances from a center of said hub.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 12, wherein the spring steel material is formed by bending into the unit in a single operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 10, wherein the fingers are identical and each has a width of from 0.1 to 0.5 inches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A dynamic steerable spring as recited in claim 10, further including the hubs of two units are secured together such that the hole means in each said hub are aligned and the fingers of one of said unit interdigitate with and are alongside the fingers of the other unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
189 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring comprising a dynamic steerable wheel spring comprising a unit formed from a single section of a spring steel material having a uniform thickness with said section of spring steel manufactured to have a flat circular center hub having hole means formed therein for axial mounting, and where, from an outer edge of said hub, identical equidistantly spaced segments extend radially outwardly that are each identically bent outwardly from the plane of said hub at identical points therealong and with said elements each sloping outwardly from said plane of said hub, are bent inwardly at identical points therealong towards the plane of said hub, and each element, at a top portion is bent inwardly at a same radius to form segment ends that are each at an identical distance from the circumference of and cross and are at right angles to said hub to form a plurality of equal spaced apart fingers; and the segments and fingers are encapsulated in an elastomer to form elastomeric cap over said fingers as a tread and to cover said segments from the hub outwardly as an elastomeric side.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
189 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring comprising a dynamic steerable wheel spring comprising a unit formed from a single section of a spring steel material having a uniform thickness with said section of spring steel manufactured to have a flat circular center hub having hole means formed therein for axial mounting, and where, from an outer edge of said hub, identical equidistantly spaced segments extend radially outwardly that are each identically bent outwardly from the plane of said hub at identical points therealong and with said elements each sloping outwardly from said plane of said hub, are bent inwardly at identical points therealong towards the plane of said hub, and each element, at a top portion is bent inwardly at a same radius to form segment ends that are each at an identical distance from the circumference of and cross and are at right angles to said hub to form a plurality of equal spaced apart fingers; and the segments and fingers are encapsulated in an elastomer to form elastomeric cap over said fingers as a tread and to cover said segments from the hub outwardly as an elastomeric side.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16, wherein the elastomer is formed over the fingers and segments so as to leave a cavity beneath said fingers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16, wherein the elastomer material is a composite of a polyether urethane and elastomeric particles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
A dynamic steerable spring as recited in claim 16, further including the hubs of two units are secured together such that the hole means in each said hub are aligned and the fingers of one of said unit interdigitate with and are alongside the fingers of the other unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16, wherein the unit is formed from the sheet of a spring steel material as a circular disk having identical slots formed at equal equal spaced intervals inwardly from around said disk outer circumference and radially to the outer circumference of the hub; and the hole means are identical spaced holes formed at equal radial distances from a center of said hub.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16, wherein the spring steel material is formed by bending into the unit in a single operation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16, wherein the spring steel material wherefrom the disk is formed of steel types used to produce automotive wheels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16, wherein the fingers are identical and each has a width of from 0.1 to 0.5 inches.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16, further including covering each finger with an equal amount and height of an elastomeric cap.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16, further including fitting a hoop of a non resilient material around to contain the fingers; and encapsulating said fingers and covering hoop in an elastomeric cap.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A dynamic steerable wheel spring as recited in claim 16 further including a first hoop of a non resilient material is positioned within and adjacent to a circle formed by the fingers; and said fingers and hoops are encapsulated in an elastomeric cap.
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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) | 2001-04-27 | 2001-10-27 | 2002-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-27 | 2005-10-27 | 2006-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-27 | 2009-10-27 | 2010-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |