The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 26, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 15, 1996
Timothy R Williams, Charlotte, MI (US);
Scott Glandon, Charlotte, MI (US);
Spartan Motors, Inc., Charlotte, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved vehicle chassis for motor homes and busses is provided. According to the invention, the chassis has a front frame chassis subcomponent, a rear chassis subcomponent and a center floor rail system. Each subcomponent has contained within it the appropriate subcomponents associated with the chassis; the front subcomponent, for example, has a suspension unit and steering apparatus while the rear subcomponent has transmission, motor and suspension. The front and rear frame chassis subcomponents have longitudinally extending frame rails which connect to one another via a plurality of longitudinally extending floor rails and perpendicular steel plates found in the center floor rail system. The inventive device integrates the chassis and superstructure. Incorporating the superstructure into the chassis lowers vehicle height, and therefore, the center of gravity. This results in better handling and ride characteristics for the finished vehicle. Underbelly storage capacity of a particular vehicle is increased by approximately five inches without increasing vehicle height or lowering ground clearance.