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:
Jun. 29, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 15, 1997
James R Kerlin, Evans, GA (US);
J Douglas Smith, Ocoee, FL (US);
Club Car, Inc., Augusta, GA (US);
Abstract
A carrier member for carrying the drive train components of a small, off-road, gasoline-powered vehicle. The carrier is a sheet metal structure having a base panel for carrying a small engine, a rear panel for carrying a transaxle that includes axle shafts extending to the rear drive wheels, and a front panel for receiving a front mount adapted to engage the vehicle frame at a transverse frame cross member. The carrier and associated drive train components constitute a unitized drive train assembly that is suspended from the frame by a pair of leaf springs or a pair of coil springs. Optionally, a torsion bar can be provided to minimize roll of the vehicle during turns. One embodiment of the suspension system includes a Watts link arrangement for minimizing side-to-side movement of the drive train assembly, and a ball-type front mount for connection of the drive train assembly with the vehicle frame in a manner to minimize transfer to the frame of vibrations and torque from the drive train assembly.