US PATENT SUBCLASS 280 / 5.5
SUSPENSION MODIFICATION ENACTED DURING TRAVEL (I.E., ACTIVE SUSPENSION CONTROL)

Current as of: June, 1999
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280 /   HD   LAND VEHICLES

5.5SUSPENSION MODIFICATION ENACTED DURING TRAVEL (I.E., ACTIVE SUSPENSION CONTROL) {9}
5.501  DF  .~> Including fail-safe override of hazardous condition {1}
5.503  DF  .~> Priority assignment between diverse control criterion
5.504  DF  .~> Including condition or parameter adjustment occurring at longitudinally spaced vehicle axles {2}
5.507  DF  .~> Lateral and longitudinal vehicle attitude control (e.g., combinations of antidive, antipitch, antiroll, antisquat, antisway, antiyaw, riding, or suspension height)
5.508  DF  .~> Lateral vehicle disposition {2}
5.513  DF  .~> Longitudinal vehicle disposition (e.g., antidive, antipitch, antisquat)
5.514  DF  .~> Riding or suspension height (e.g., ground-clearance, "trim height")
5.515  DF  .~> Suspension stiffness for ride comfort (e.g., damping coefficient, spring rate) {3}
5.52  DF  .~> Suspension geometry (e.g., camber, caster, toe-in/toe-out, wheel track, road contact) {2}

DEFINITION

Classification: 280/5.5

SUSPENSION MODIFICATION ENACTED DURING TRAVEL (I.E., ACTIVE SUSPENSION CONTROL):

(under the class definition) Vehicle comprising a regulatable elastic means intermediate a vehicle body, chassis, or frame and ground engaging means thereof for supporting the weight of the vehicle body, chassis, or frame (i.e., sprung mass) upon the ground engaging means (e.g., axle, runner, ski, skid, sled, tire, unsprung mass, wheel, wheel assembly, wheel carrier) wherein the regulatable elastic means is caused to alter its elasticity property responsive to a force encountered while the vehicle is in surface traversing motion to control a handling or ride posture characteristic of the vehicle.

(1) Note. A named "vehicle suspension system or unit" responsive to a limitation, either expressly or inferentially claimed, representing a force associated with a traveling vehicle is properly classifiable herein whether or not mechanical parts (e.g., axle, control arm, linkage, pivot, runner, shock absorber, ski, skid, sled, spring, tire, wheel, wheel assembly, wheel carrier) constituting the regulatable elastic means or the ground engaging means are claimed.

(2) Note. A named "vehicle suspension system or unit", per se, lacking the limitation of responsiveness to a force associated with a vehicle in traveling motion is not properly classifiable herein. Thus, the feature of a "vehicle suspension system or unit" responding to a "load or loading condition", lacking a specific vehicular traversing motion limitation by either sole disclosure of dynamic loading experienced by the regulatable elastic means or explicit claim language, is not proper for classification in this or the indented subclasses but is provided for later in the class schedule.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

6.15+, for a general utility land vehicle including means interposed between the vehicle body, chassis, or frame and running gear thereof, for altering height or levelness of the vehicle body, chassis, or frame without vehicular traversing motion.

8+, for a vehicle having both wheel and runner support.

80.1+, for specific running gear associated with a general utility wheeled land vehicle, especially subclass 86.5 for an auxiliary axle assembly, subclasses 86.75+ for running gear provided with geometric or spatial alignment adjustment, or subclasses 124.1+ for a particular running gear suspension arrangement. 200+, for wheeled occupant-propelled-type land vehicle running gear, especially subclasses 274+ or 281.1+. Additionally, in accordance with the (2) Note of subclass 200, motorcycle frames and running gear, without features causing classification in Class 180, Motor Vehicles, are included in these subclasses.

400+, for running gear of an articulated vehicle or plural interconnected vehicles (i.e., vehicle train).

830+, wherein a vehicle frame is specially adapted to carry a tank or boiler, especially subclass 7 for means for leveling the tank or boiler portion responsive to an actual or incipient nonlevel condition.

845+, for a vehicle having a sliding engagement with the travel surface, especially subclass 25 which includes a spring support.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

180, Motor Vehicles, appropriate subclasses, for a general utility self-propelled land vehicle including a feature as specified in Class 180 definition. Class 180 is superior to Class 280 in the class hierarchy.

188, Brakes,

2+, for a retarding or stopping mechanism employed upon a vehicle; or subclasses 266+ for a retarding or stopping mechanism employing an internal resistance medium.

267, Spring Devices,

2+, for a spring device employed upon a vehicle.

301, Land Vehicles: Wheels and Axles, appropriate subclasses, for specific wheel or axle construction. Class 301 is subordinate to Class 280 in the class hierarchy. 701, Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location,

37+, for computer controlled auxiliary automotive vehicle systems including active suspension control.