Abstract:
An electromagnetic shock absorber for dampening the vertical physical movement transferred from the wheel assembly of a vehicle to the frame assembly of the vehicle. The electromagnetic shock absorber includes a housing with a perimeter wall extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, a first electromagnetic assembly positioned within the housing and coupled to the first end portion of the housing, a second electromagnetic assembly positioned within the housing and coupled to the second end portion of the housing, a rod assembly with a first portion being slideably positionable in the housing, and a moving electromagnetic assembly coupled to a first end of the first portion and positioned between the first electromagnetic assembly and the second electromagnetic assembly within the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to shock absorbers and more particularly pertains to a new electromagnetic shock absorber for dampening the vertical physical movement transferred from the wheel assembly of a vehicle to the frame assembly of the vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of shock absorbers is known in the prior art. More specifically, shock absorbers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,303,804; 4,893,699; 3,941,402; 4,892,328; 4,900,054; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 207,572. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new electromagnetic shock absorber. The inventive device includes a housing with a perimeter wall extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, a first electromagnetic assembly positioned within the housing and coupled to the first end portion of the housing, a second electromagnetic assembly positioned within the housing and coupled to the second end portion of the housing, a rod assembly with a first portion being slideably positionable in the housing, and a moving electromagnetic assembly coupled to a first end of the first portion and positioned between the first electromagnetic assembly and the second electromagnetic assembly within the housing. 
     In these respects, the electromagnetic shock absorber according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of dampening the vertical physical movement transfered from the wheel assembly of a vehicle to the frame assembly of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shock absorbers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new electromagnetic shock absorber construction wherein the same can be utilized for dampening the vertical physical movement transferred from the wheel assembly of a vehicle to the frame assembly of the vehicle 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the shock absorbers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new electromagnetic shock absorber which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art shock absorbers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a housing with a perimeter wall extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, a first electromagnetic assembly positioned within the housing and coupled to the first end portion of the housing, a second electromagnetic assembly positioned within the housing and coupled to the second end portion of the housing, a rod assembly with a first portion being slideably positionable in the housing, and a moving electromagnetic assembly coupled to a first end of the first portion and positioned between the first electromagnetic assembly and the second electromagnetic assembly within the housing. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the shock absorbers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new electromagnetic shock absorber which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art shock absorbers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such electromagnetic shock absorber economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber for dampening the vertical physical movement transferred from the wheel assembly of a vehicle to the frame assembly of the vehicle. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber which includes a housing with a perimeter wall extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, a first electromagnetic assembly positioned within the housing and coupled to the first end portion of the housing, a second electromagnetic assembly positioned within the housing and coupled to the second end portion of the housing, a rod assembly with a first portion being slideably positionable in the housing, and a moving electromagnetic assembly coupled to a first end of the first portion and positioned between the first electromagnetic assembly and the second electromagnetic assembly within the housing. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber that can be retrofitted to existing vehicles. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new electromagnetic shock absorber that provides enhanced performance over conventional shock absorbers. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is schematic perspective view of a new electromagnetic shock absorber according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the present invention in use. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new electromagnetic shock absorber embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the electromagnetic shock absorber  10  generally comprises an housing  20 , a first electromagnet assembly  30 , a second electromagnet assembly  40 , a moving electromagnet assembly  50 , and a rod assembly  60 . 
     The housing  20  includes a first end portion  21  and a second end portion  23 . The housing  20  includes a perimeter wall  27 , which extends from the first end portion  21  to the second end portion  23 . The second end portion  23  includes a rod aperture  24 , which extends through the second end portion  23 . 
     The first electromagnet assembly  30  is positioned within an interior of the housing  20  defined by the first  21  and second end portions  23  and the perimeter wall  27  of the housing  20 . The first electromagnet assembly  30  is positioned adjacent the first end portion  21  of the housing  20 . 
     The second electromagnet assembly  40  is positioned within an interior of the housing  20  defined by the first  21  and second end portions  23  and the perimeter wall  27  of the housing  20 . The second electromagnet assembly  40  is positioned adjacent the second end portion  23  of the housing  20 . 
     The rod assembly  60  includes a rod member with a rod member first portion  62  and a rod member second portion  64 . The rod member first portion  62  extends into the housing  20  through the rod aperture  24 . 
     The moving electromagnet assembly  50  is coupled to the rod member first portion  62 . The moving electromagnet assembly  50  is positioned within the housing  20 . 
     The first electromagnet assembly  30  comprises an upper plate member  31 , a lower plate member  33 , a shaft portion  35 , a conductive member  36 , and a pair of conductive terminals  38 . 
     The upper plate  31  is coupled to the first end portion  21  of the housing  20 . The upper plate  31  and the lower plate  33  are in a substantially parallel spaced relationship. The shaft portion  35  extends between the upper plate  31  and the lower plate  33 . 
     The shaft portion  35  includes an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is coupled to a medial portion of the upper plate member  31 . The lower end is coupled to a medial portion of the lower plate member  33  such that the first electromagnet assembly  30  is fixedly positioned adjacent to the first end portion  21  of the housing  20 . 
     The first end portion  21  of the housing  20  includes a pair of connecting apertures. The connecting apertures extend through the perimeter wall  27 . 
     Each of the pair of conductive terminals  38  extends through an associated one of the pair of connecting apertures such that a first end of each of the pair of conductive terminals  38  is positioned within the interior of the housing  20 , and a second end of each one of the pair of conductive terminals is positioned without the housing  20 . 
     The conductive member  36  includes a conductive member first end and a conductive member second end. The conductive member first end is coupled with an associated first end of a first one of the pair of conductive terminals  38 . The conductive member second end is coupled with an associated first end of a second one of the pair of conductive terminals  38  such that the first one of the pair of conductive terminals  38  is in electrical communication with the second one of the pair of conductive terminals  38 . 
     The second electromagnet assembly  40  comprising an upper plate member  41 , a lower plate member  43 , a shaft portion  45 , a conductive member  46 , and a pair of conductive terminals  48 . 
     The lower plate  43  is coupled to the second end portion  23  of the housing  20 . The upper plate  41  and the lower plate  43  are in a substantially parallel spaced relationship. The shaft portion  45  extends between the upper plate  41  and the lower plate  43 . 
     The shaft portion  45  includes an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is coupled to a, medial portion of the upper plate member  41 . The lower end is coupled to a medial portion of the lower plate member  43  such that the second electromagnet assembly  40  is fixedly positioned adjacent to the second end portion  23  of the housing  20 . 
     The second end portion  23  of the housing  20  includes a pair of connecting apertures. The connecting apertures extend through the perimeter wall  27 . 
     Each of the pair of conductive terminals  48  extends through an associated one of the pair of connecting apertures such that a first end of each of the pair of conductive terminals  48  is positioned within the interior of the housing  20 , and a second end of each one of the pair of conductive terminals  48  is positioned without the housing  20 . 
     The conductive member  46  includes a conductive member first end and a conductive member second end. The conductive member first end is coupled with an associated first end of a first one of the pair of conductive terminals  48 . The conductive member second end is coupled with an associated first end of a second one of the pair of conductive terminals  48  such that the first one of the pair of conductive terminals  48  is in electrical communication with the second one of the pair of conductive terminals  48 . 
     The lower plate member  43  of the second electromagnet assembly  40  includes a lower rod aperture  44 . The upper plate member  41  of the second electromagnet assembly  40  includes an upper rod aperture  42 . The shaft portion  45  of the second electromagnet assembly  40  includes a shaft aperture. 
     The lower rod aperture  44 , the upper rod aperture  42 , and the shaft aperture each are aligned with the rod aperture  24  of the second end portion  23  of the housing  30  such that the rod member first portion  62  is slidably insertable into the interior of the housing  20 . 
     The conductive member  36  of the first electromagnet assembly  30  includes a length wrapped around, an outside surface of the shaft portion  35 . The conductive member  36  is for conducting an electrical current. The length of the conductive member  36  is wrapped around the shaft portion  35  such that a magnet flux is generated by the electrical current passing through the conductive member  36 . 
     The conductive member  46  of the second electromagnet assembly  40  includes a length wrapped around an outside surface of the shaft portion  45 . The conductive member  46  is for conducting an electrical current. The length of the conductive member  46  is wrapped around the shaft portion  45  such that a magnet flux is generated by the electrical current passing through the conductive member  46 . 
     The upper  31  and lower plates  33  of the first electromagnet assembly  30  comprise a substantially ferrous material such that the upper  31  and lower plates  33  conduct a magnetic flux. 
     The upper  41  and lower plates  43  of the second electromagnet assembly  40  comprise a substantially ferrous material such that the upper  41  and lower plates  43  conduct a magnetic flux. 
     The current is conducted through the conductive member  36  of the first electromagnet assembly  30  is biased such that the lower plate  33  is magnetically charged to a first polarity. 
     The current is conducted through the conductive member  46  of the second electromagnet assembly  40  is biased such that the upper plate  41  is magnetically charged to a polarity opposite the first polarity of the lower plate  33  of the first electromagnet assembly  30 . 
     In an embodiment the lower plate  33  of the first electromagnet assembly  30  is magnetically positively charged and the upper plate  41  of the second electromagnet assembly  40  is negatively charged. 
     The moving electromagnet assembly  50  includes an upper plate  51 , a lower plate  53 , a shaft portion  55 , a conductive member  56 , and a pair of connecting leads  57 . 
     The upper plate  51  and the lower plate  53  are in a substantially parallel spaced relationship. The shaft portion  45  extends between the upper  51  and lower plates  53 . 
     The shaft portion  55  includes an interior cavity defined by a perimeter wall. The shaft member  55  includes a connecting lead aperture. 
     Each of the upper  51  and lower plates  53  and the shaft portion  55  is coupled to the rod member first portion  62  such that sliding the rod member first portion  62  into and out of the interior of the housing  20  through the rod aperture  24  moves the moving electromagnet assembly  50  between the lower plate  33  of the first electromagnet assembly  30  and the upper plate  41  of the second electromagnet assembly  40 . 
     The conductive member  56  of the moving electromagnet assembly  50  includes a first end, a second end, and a length. The length of the conductive member  56  is wrapped around the shaft portion  55 . 
     The first and second ends of the conductive member  56  are positioned through the connecting lead aperture. The first end is coupled to a first one of the connecting leads  57 . The second end is coupled to a second one of the connecting leads  57  such that the connecting leads  57  are in electrical communication through the conductive member  56 . 
     The conductive member  56  of the moving electromagnet assembly  50  includes a length wrapped around an outside surface of the shaft portion  55 . The conductive member  56  is for conducting an electrical current. The length of the conductive member  56  is wrapped around the shaft portion  55  such that a magnet flux is generated by the electrical current passing through the conductive member  56 . 
     The upper  51  and lower plates  53  of the moving electromagnet assembly  50  comprise a substantially ferrous material such that the upper  51  and lower plates  53  conduct a magnetic flux. 
     A housing connector flange  25  has an aperture  26 . The housing connector flange  25  is substantially cylindrical. The housing  20  includes a protrusion  22  extending from a top surface of the housing  20 . The housing connector flange  25  is coupled to the protrusion  22  such that a longitudinal axis of the housing connector flange  25  is substantially perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the housing  20 . The housing connector flange  25  is designed for coupling the housing  20  to a frame of a vehicle. 
     The rod member second portion  64  is a rod flange. The rod flange  64  has an aperture  66 . The rod flange  64  is substantially cylindrical. The rod flange  64  is coupled to the rod member first portion  62  such that a longitudinal axis of the rod flange  64  is substantially perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the rod member first portion  62 . The rod flange  64  is designed for coupling the rod assembly  60  to a control arm of a vehicle. 
     The rod flange  64  includes a pair of conductive terminals  58 . Each of the conductive terminals  58  is electrically coupled to an associated one of a pair of connecting lead  57 . 
     The rod member first portion  62  is substantially hollow. Each of the pair of connecting leads  57  is positioned in the rod member first portion  62 . 
     The conductive members  36 , 46 , 56  of each of the first electromagnet assembly  30 , second electromagnet assembly  40 , and moving electromagnet assembly  50  are in electrical communication with a current source such that the lower plate  33  of the first electromagnet assembly  30  is magnetically charged to a first polarity. The upper plate  51  of the moving electromagnetic assembly  50  is magnetically charged to the same first polarity. 
     The upper plate  41  of the second electromagnetic assembly  40  is magnetically charged to a polarity opposed to the polarity of the lower plate  33  of the first electromagnet assembly  30 . The lower plate  53  of the moving electromagnet assembly  50  is magnetically charged to the same polarity as the upper plate  41  of the second electromagnet  40 . Thus the moving electromagnet assembly  50  is repelled by the lower plate  33  of the first electromagnet assembly  30  and the moving electromagnet assembly  50  is repelled by the upper plate  41  of the second electromagnet assembly  40  such that a sliding motion of the rod assembly  60  is damped by the magnetic flux of the electromagnet assemblies  30 ,  40 ,  50 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.