초록 ▼

A caster-camber plate assembly has a fastener plate including fastening members. A lower adjustment plate has a first side face positioned adjacent a first side face of the fastener plate such that fastening members of the fastening plate extend therethrough. The lower adjustment plate is moveable w

A caster-camber plate assembly has a fastener plate including fastening members. A lower adjustment plate has a first side face positioned adjacent a first side face of the fastener plate such that fastening members of the fastening plate extend therethrough. The lower adjustment plate is moveable with respect to the fastener plate along first and second translation axes. An upper adjustment plate has a first side face thereof positioned adjacent a second side face of the lower adjustment plate with the fastening members extending therethrough. The upper adjustment plate and the lower adjustment plate are jointly configured for allowing the upper adjustment plate to be moveable with respect to the fastener plate along the second translation axis. A plate interlocking structure accommodates relative movement between the adjustment plates along the first translation axis and effectively inhibits relative movement between the adjustment plates along the second translation axis.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A caster-camber plate assembly, comprising: a plurality of chassis fastening members each engaged with and extending from a first side face of at least one fastener plate; a lower adjustment plate having a first side face thereof positioned adjacent the first side face

The invention claimed is: 1. A caster-camber plate assembly, comprising: a plurality of chassis fastening members each engaged with and extending from a first side face of at least one fastener plate; a lower adjustment plate having a first side face thereof positioned adjacent the first side face of said at least one fastener plate such that said chassis fastening members extend therethrough, wherein the lower adjustment plate is moveable with respect to the fastener plate along a first translation axis and a second translation axis, and wherein the second translation axis extends in a substantially non-parallel manner with respect to the first translation axis; a first plate interlocking structure integral with the lower adjustment plate, wherein the first plate interlocking structure includes a central bore configured for having a portion of a bearing assembly exposed therein; an upper adjustment plate having a first side face thereof positioned adjacent a second side face of the lower adjustment plate such that said chassis fastening members extend therethrough, wherein the upper adjustment plate and the lower adjustment plate are jointly configured for allowing the upper adjustment plate to be moveable with respect to the fastener plate along the second translation axis; a second plate interlocking structure integral with the upper adjustment plate, wherein the second plate interlocking structure engages the first plate interlocking structure for allowing relative movement between said adjustment plates along the first translation axis and for effectively inhibiting relative movement between said adjustment plates along the second translation axis and a spring perch component group mounted directly on the first plate interlocking structure, wherein the spring perch component group includes a strut top mounting bearing, a thrust bearing and a spring perch, wherein the strut top mounting bearing is mounted within a bore of a portion of the first plate interlocking structure extending below a second side face of the fastener plate, wherein the spring perch is coupled to the first plate interlocking structure, wherein the thrust bearing is coupled between only the spring perch and the first plate interlocking structure, wherein the spring perch is mounted entirely on the first plate interlocking structure such that all forces exerted on the spring perch by a coil spring engaged therewith are transmitted through the thrust bearing to the first plate interlocking structure and wherein a central axis of said first plate interlocking structure central bore, a central axis of the strut top mounting bearing and a central axis of the spring perch are effectively aligned. 2. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper adjustment plate includes an upper adjustment plate fastening member integral therewith and extending from a second side face thereof. 3. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper adjustment plate is effectively constrained to movement with respect to the fastener plate along the second translation axis. 4. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 3 wherein: the lower adjustment plate has a plurality of slot-shaped apertures extending therethrough; the upper adjustment plate has a plurality of slot-shaped apertures extending therethrough; a longitudinal axis of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate extends generally parallel with the first translation axis; a longitudinal axis of each one of said slots of the upper adjustment plate extends generally parallel with the second translation axis; said slots of said plates are aligned such that each one of said chassis fastening members extends through respective aligned ones of said slots; and a width of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate is configured for accommodating translation of the upper adjustment plate with respect to said chassis fastening members. 5. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 1 wherein: the first plate interlocking structure protrudes above the second side face of the lower adjustment plate; and the protruding portion of the first plate interlocking structure is constrained between opposing edge portions of the second plate interlocking structure for allowing relative movement between said adjustment plates along the first translation axis and for effectively inhibiting relative movement between said adjustment plates along the second translation axis. 6. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 5 wherein: the first plate interlocking structure includes a shoulder protruding above the second side face of the lower adjustment plate; and the second plate interlocking structure includes an elongated slot having opposing edge portions; and the protruding portion of the first plate interlocking structure is constrained between said opposing edge portions of the second plate interlocking structure. 7. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 6 wherein the upper adjustment plate includes an upper adjustment plate fastening member integral therewith and extending from a second side face thereof. 8. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a bearing cup body fixedly engaged with the lower adjustment plate; and the first interlocking structure is an integral portion of the bearing cup body, wherein a central bore of the bearing cup body defines the central bore of the first interlocking structure. 9. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 8 wherein: the lower adjustment plate has a plurality of slot-shaped apertures extending therethrough; the upper adjustment plate has a plurality of slot-shaped apertures extending therethrough; a longitudinal axis of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate extends generally parallel with the first translation axis; a longitudinal axis of each one of said slots of the upper adjustment plate extends generally parallel with the second translation axis; said slots of said plates are aligned such that each one of said chassis fastening members extends through respective aligned ones of said slots; and a width of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate is configured for accommodating translation of the upper adjustment plate with respect to said chassis fastening members. 10. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 9 wherein the width of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate is approximately equal to an effective travel length of said slots of the upper adjustment plate. 11. A caster-camber plate assembly, comprising: a fastener plate including a plurality of chassis fastening members fixedly engaged therewith and extending from a first side face thereof; a lower adjustment plate having a first side face thereof positioned adjacent the side face of the fastener plate such that said chassis fastening members extend therethrough, wherein the lower adjustment plate is moveable with respect to the fastener plate along a first translation axis and a second translation axis, and wherein the second translation axis extends substantially perpendicular to the first translation axis; a bearing cup body fixedly engaged with the lower adjustment plate, wherein a shoulder of the bearing cup body protrudes above a second side face of the lower adjustment plate; an upper adjustment plate having a first side face thereof positioned adjacent the second side face of the lower adjustment plate such that said chassis fastening members extend therethrough, wherein the upper adjustment plate is effectively constrained to movement with respect to the fastener plate along the second translation axis, wherein the upper adjustment plate includes an elongated aperture extending therethrough, wherein the upper adjustment plate and the lower adjustment plate are jointly configured for allowing the upper adjustment plate to be moveable with respect to the fastener plate along the second translation axis, wherein the protruding portion of the bearing cup body is constrained between opposing edge portions of the elongated aperture for allowing relative movement between said adjustment plates along the first translation axis and for effectively inhibiting relative movement between said adjustment plates along the second translation axis; an upper adjustment plate fastening member integral with and extending from a second side face of the upper adjustment plate; a support member engaged between the upper adjustment plate fastening member and at least one of said chassis fastening members; and a spring perch component group mounted directly on the bearing cup body, wherein the spring perch component group includes a strut top mounting bearing, a thrust bearing and a spring perch, wherein the strut top mounting bearing is mounted within a bore of a portion of the bearing cup body extending below a second side face of the fastener plate, wherein the spring perch is coupled to the bearing cup body, wherein the thrust bearing is coupled between only the spring perch and the bearing cup body, wherein the spring perch is mounted entirely on the bearing cup body such that all forces exerted on the spring perch by a coil spring engaged therewith are transmitted through the thrust bearing to the bearing cup body and wherein a central axis of the bearing cup body, a central axis of the strut top mounting bearing and a central axis of the spring perch are effectively aligned. 12. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 11 wherein: the lower adjustment plate has a plurality of slot-shaped apertures extending therethrough; the upper adjustment plate has a plurality of slot-shaped apertures extending therethrough; a longitudinal axis of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate extends generally parallel with the first translation axis; a longitudinal axis of each one of said slots of the upper adjustment plate extends generally parallel with the second translation axis; said slots of said plates are aligned such that each one of said chassis fastening members extends through respective aligned ones of said slots; and a width of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate is configured for accommodating translation of the upper adjustment plate with respect to said chassis fastening members. 13. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 12 wherein the width of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate is approximately equal to an effective travel length of said slots of the upper adjustment plate. 14. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 11 wherein: the support member includes a first aperture therein through which one of said chassis fastening members extends and a second aperture therein through which said upper adjustment plate fastening member extends; and at least one of said apertures is a slotted aperture. 15. A caster-camber plate assembly kit, comprising: a backing plate; a plurality of chassis fastening members, wherein each one of said chassis fastening members is one of fixedly attached to the backing plate and engagable with the backing plate, wherein said chassis fastening members extend from a first side face of the backing plate when attached thereto or engaged therewith; a lower adjustment plate having a first side face thereof configured for being positioned adjacent the side face of the fastener plate such that said chassis fastening members extend therethrough when the first side face of the lower adjustment plate is positioned adjacent the side face of the fastener plate, wherein the lower adjustment plate is configured for being moveable with respect to the fastener plate along a first translation axis and a second translation axis when positioned adjacent the side face of the fastener plate with said chassis fastening members extending therethrough, and wherein the second translation axis extends in a non-parallel manner with respect to the first translation axis; a bearing cup body that is one of fixedly engagable with and fixedly engaged with the lower adjustment plate, wherein a shoulder of the bearing cup body protrudes above a second side face of the lower adjustment plate when the bearing cup body is fixedly engaged with the lower adjustment plate; an upper adjustment plate having a first side face thereof configured for being positioned adjacent the second side face of the lower adjustment plate and for having said chassis fastening members extending therethrough when the first side face of the upper adjustment plate is positioned adjacent the second side face of the lower adjustment plate, wherein the upper adjustment plate is effectively constrained to movement with respect to the fastener plate along the second translation axis when the first side face of the upper adjustment plate is positioned adjacent the second side face of the lower adjustment plate, wherein the upper adjustment plate and the lower adjustment plate are jointly configured for allowing the upper adjustment plate to be moveable with respect to the fastener plate along the second translation axis, wherein the upper adjustment plate includes an elongated aperture, and wherein the protruding portion of the bearing cup body and opposing edge portions of the elongated aperture are jointly configured for constraining the protruding portion of the bearing cup body between said opposing edge portions of the elongated aperture for allowing relative movement between said adjustment plates along the first translation axis and for effectively inhibiting relative movement between said adjustment plates along the second translation axis; and a spring perch component group mounted directly on the bearing cup body, wherein the spring perch component group includes a strut top mounting bearing, a thrust bearing and a spring perch, wherein the strut top mounting bearing is mounted within a bore of a portion of the bearing cup body extending below a second side face of the fastener plate, wherein the spring perch is coupled to the bearing cup body, wherein the thrust bearing is coupled between only the spring perch and the bearing cup body, wherein the thrust bearing is coupled between only the spring perch and the bearing cup body, wherein the spring perch is mounted entirely on the bearing cup body such that all forces exerted on the spring perch by a coil spring engaged therewith are transmitted through the thrust bearing to the bearing cup body and wherein a central axis of the bearing cup body, a central axis of the strut top mounting bearing and a central axis of the spring perch are effectively aligned. 16. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 15 wherein the upper adjustment plate includes an upper adjustment plate fastening member integral therewith and extending from a second side face thereof. 17. The caster-camber plate assembly of claim 15 wherein: the lower adjustment plate has a plurality of slot-shaped apertures extending therethrough; the upper adjustment plate has a plurality of slot-shaped apertures extending therethrough; a longitudinal axis of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate extends generally parallel with the first translation axis; a longitudinal axis of each one of said slots of the upper adjustment plate extends generally parallel with the second translation axis; said slots of said plates are aligned such that each one of said chassis fastening members extends through respective aligned ones of said slots; and a width of each one of said slots of the lower adjustment plate is configured for accommodating translation of the upper adjustment plate with respect to said chassis fastening members.