US PATENT SUBCLASS 180 / 291
.~ Having specific motor-to-body-frame relationship

Current as of: June, 1999
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180 /   HD   MOTOR VEHICLES

54.1  DF  POWER {19}
291.~ Having specific motor-to-body-frame relationship {6}
292  DF  .~.~> Including change-speed gearing, or clutch, mounted in common with motor {3}
296  DF  .~.~> Including means on body frame or motor for handling exhaust
297  DF  .~.~> Having motor shaft parallel to rotational axis of driven wheel
298  DF  .~.~> Including means enabling repositioning of motor
299  DF  .~.~> Including auxiliary frame for motor and resilient means for connecting auxiliary frame to body frame
300  DF  .~.~> Including means of nonsupporting nature for minimizing operation-induced movement of motor

DEFINITION

Classification: 180/291

Having specific motor-to-body-frame relationship:

(under subclass 54.1) Vehicle wherein either (1) the device which develops the power for propelling the vehicle or (2) the device of (1) plus an attached or integral accessary (e.g., clutch, transmission, etc.) therefor, or (3) the device of (1) plus some other component (e.g., fender, front wheel suspension, etc.) of the vehicle, or any combination of (1), (2), or (3) is either (a) related peculiarly to the body frame of the vehicle (e.g., by giving it a particular location thereon) or (b) related to a body frame which, in itself, is more than a mere support--provided that no other locus for such subject matter exists.

(1) Note. The line between this area, formerly subclass 64, and subclasses 55+ is not clear. While the art found in former subclass 64 has been broken down and identified in this and the indented subclasses, no attempt has been made to reconcile its locus with that of the art of subclass 55 or its indented subclasses.

(2) Note. While the definition of former subclass 64 referred to "the main or body frame as distinguished from an under-frame" (in contrast, of course, with the definition of subclass 55), the terms are not meaningfully definable nor, in the art, are the two kinds of frames necessarily either (a) readily identifiable or (b) clearly distinguishable; moreover, vehicle structures frequently utilize only one such frame or the other and, in some instances, neither.

(3) Note. In view of the provision in inferior subclasses 65.1+ for a motor vehicle having an electric motor, and in inferior subclasses 301, 302+, and 305+ (all of which were developed from former subclasses 66+) for a motor vehicle having a fluid motor, the art which had accumulated in former subclass 64, and which comprises the bulk of the art in this (291) and the indented subclasses, tended to be that pertaining principally to the mounting of a motor of the internal combustion engine type.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

228, for a motor vehicle having a wheel arrangement comprising two wheels in tandem relationship and wherein the vehicle includes resilient means for mounting its motor.

232, for a motor vehicle provided with means for (a) protecting its motor from the impact of a collision, (b) utilizing the mass of the motor to absorb the force of a collision, or (c) protecting its occupant region from an impact-induced shifting of its motor. SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

105, Railway Rolling Stock,

133+, for the locating or securing of a motor on a vehicle of that class.

244, Aeronautics,

54, for the mounting of a power plant on an aircraft.

248, Supports,

560+, for supports which are resilient in nature; and subclasses 637+ for supports for machinery. While the supporting of a nominally claimed vehicle frame is not beyond the scope of Class 248, nevertheless classification in Class 180 is proper when the claims develop specific motor or frame or vehicle aspects of which the following are exemplary: (a) structure of the motor which is in addition to that necessary for receiving the support provided by the frame, (b) motor (e.g., crankcase parting flange) or motor component (e.g., timing gear cover) structure which has, in addition to its support function, a function peculiar to the motor, (c) structure of the frame which is in addition to that necessary for providing support to the motor, (d) one or more frame members which, while serving to support the motor, are disclosed as performing a frame-related function (e.g., rigidifying the frame), and (e) vehicle structure not involved solely in supporting the motor.

280, Land Vehicles,

781+, for a general utility wheeled land vehicle running gear including specific frame construction.