.~ Riding or suspension height (e.g., ground-clearance, "trim height")
DEFINITION
Classification: 280/5.514
Riding or suspension height (e.g., ground-clearance, "trim height"):
(under subclass 5.5) Subject matter wherein the regulatable elastic means is caused to alter its elasticity property so as to govern distance from various points of a vehicle body, chassis, or frame to the travel surface or vertical separation from running gear components.
(1) Note. This subclass provides for adjusting or maintaining a physically dimensioned separation gap (e.g., "trim height", etc.) between a vehicle body, chassis or frame and land or running gear components, as contrasted with the lateral or longitudinal vehicle attitude or disposition subclasses provided earlier in the class schedule whose proximate utility is regulation of the posture of the vehicle body, chassis, or frame, although the vehicle attitude or disposition subclasses may inherently alter riding or suspension height.
(2) Note. Fluid suspension systems including a "level control valve" provided with means for adjustment of the trip point thereof responding to changes of static loading are not proper for this subclass but are provided for later in the class schedule.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
5.501+, for a riding or suspension height adjustable suspension including fail-safe override.
5.503, for an active suspension responsive to diverse control criterion, one of which may be riding or suspension height.
6.157+, for body elevation or tilt adjustment of a vehicle due to a static load imposed upon the suspension including adjustment of a trip point of a "level control valve" within a fluid suspension system. See the (2) Note supra. 43+, for an extensible vehicle including vertically adjustable wheels for altering a dimension of the vehicle or part thereof.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
267, Spring Devices,
64.16, for a fluid spring device including means for maintaining an effective working range of the fluid spring device.
