Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-24
2001-06-26
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S124155
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250659
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle variable height adjustment assembly, and, in particular, to a variable height adjustment assembly that replaces a strut assembly of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Some drivers desire a higher or lower ride of their vehicles. Adjustable suspension components have been developed to allow drivers to raise or lower their vehicles as desired. One type of adjustable suspension assembly that has been developed is a hydraulic adjustable suspension system. The hydraulic system generally has hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic pumps and valves wherein the pumps direct fluids into the cylinders to raise the vehicle and the valves release fluids from the cylinders to lower the vehicle. However, these hydraulic systems may have complicated, cumbersome, and a large number of parts and components. These hydraulic systems are typically expensive and at times may not be very reliable due to the large number of interrelated parts and components.
Other adjustable suspension systems were developed such as air bag systems. Air bags are much less expensive than hydraulic systems, and they are typically much easier to install than hydraulic systems. The air bags are configured to replace coil springs, leaf springs, and/or torsion bars for non-strut vehicles (i.e. vehicles with shock absorbers and coil/leaf springs). The trend is that most vehicles use struts rather than the conventional shock absorber/spring suspension systems. However, the air bag systems are not configured to be used with strut vehicles (i.e. vehicles equipped with struts). Therefore, these air bags are limited to being mounted and used only on non-strut vehicles. For example, the strut assembly has a shock component that is typically mounted within a coil spring, and it is very difficult or is not possible or practical to adapt an air bag for use in an existing strut assembly since in order to replace the coil spring with the air bag, the air bag would have to be configured to allow the shock component to go through the air bag or the shock component would have to be offset a distance from the air bag.
Therefore, the present invention discloses and provides an air bag variable height adjustment system that replaces a strut assembly for a vehicle, and the present air bag system overcomes the problems, disadvantages, and limitations of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Set forth is a brief summary of the invention in order to solve the foregoing problems and achieve the foregoing and other objects, benefits, and advantages in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein.
It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment system that allows coupling of and using a height adjustment air bag that inflates and deflates to respectively raise and lower a vehicle and that also allows coupling of a shock component.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment system that provides stability to the entire structure and prevents wobbling and shifting of its components.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment system that is able to couple to an air bag pressure control system.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment system that is able to couple to a vehicle strut tower and a vehicle control arm.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment assembly that replaces an existing strut assembly and that mounts to a general strut location of a vehicle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable adjustment assembly that operates to adjust the height of a vehicle and that also provides operations of a strut.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment assembly that has a shock component for providing shock absorption for the vehicle and an air bag component for raising and lowering the vehicle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment assembly wherein the components of the assembly do not interfere with the mounting, positioning, and/or operations of the other parts of the vehicle.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment assembly having a height adjustment air bag that inflates and deflates to vary vertical distance in order to raise and lower the vehicle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable height adjustment assembly that has a height adjustment air bag and an air pressure control system for controlling the pressure of the air bag.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a vehicle variable adjustment assembly or system that is inexpensive, light weight, reliable, durable, and relatively simple in components and parts.
The above objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by a vehicle variable height adjustment system. The system allows coupling of and using a height adjustment air bag. The system generally comprises an air bag strut tower coupler and an air bag control arm coupler. The strut tower coupler is adapted to couple to a vehicle strut tower and is also adapted to couple to the height adjustment air bag and a shock absorber. The air bag control arm coupler is adapted to couple to a vehicle control arm and is also adapted to couple to the height adjustment air bag and the shock absorber.
The air bag strut tower coupler further has a strut tower base mount, a support structure, and an air bag strut tower base mount. The strut tower base mount is adapted to mount to the vehicle strut tower. The support structure has an end that is attached to the strut tower base mount. The air bag strut tower base mount is attached to another end of the support structure. The air bag strut tower base mount is adapted to mount to the height adjustment air bag. The support structure may be a helical support structure or a vertical curved support structure. The air bag strut tower base mount has a valve stem access area that allows access to a valve stem of the height adjustment air bag.
An upper shock absorber mount is coupled to the air bag strut tower coupler. The upper shock absorber mount is adapted to couple to the shock absorber. The air bag control arm coupler further has a control arm base mount adapted to couple to the height adjustment air bag. A control arm mount structure is coupled to the control arm base mount wherein the control arm mount structure is adapted to receive and couple to the vehicle control arm. The control arm mount structure is a fork mount structure that is adapted to receive and couple to the vehicle control arm. The fork mount structure has an axle access area for allowing a vehicle axle to be mounted therethrough. The control arm mount structure alternatively may be an insertable mount structure (vertical or horizontal mount structure) that is adapted to receive and couple to the vehicle control arm. A lower shock absorber mount is coupled to the air bag control arm coupler. The lower shock absorber mount is adapted to couple to the shock absorber.
A height adjustment air bag is coupled to the air bag strut tower coupler and the air bag control arm coupler. The height adjustment air bag is inflated and deflated to vary vertical distance between the air bag strut tower coupler and the air bag control arm coupler so that vehicle height is adjusted. An air pressure control system is coupled to the height adjustment air bag, and the air pressure control system controls air bag pressure. A shock absorber is coupled to the air bag strut tower coupler and the air bag control arm coupler. The shock absorber provides vehicle shock absorption.
The above objects and advantages of the invention are also achieved by a method of making a vehicle variable height adjustment system that allows coupling of and using a height adjustment air bag and a shock absorber. An air bag
Dickson Paul N.
Ellis Venable & Busam LLP
Fleming Faye M.
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