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...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.

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Class 280 - Land vehicles

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940 Subclasses


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Definition

This class includes vehicles, adapted to travel on land and not elsewhere classified. The term "vehicle" includes some form of running gear as an essential element, which running gear usually supports a load carrier, but may support a load directly, and adapts the vehicle to move over a surface. The basic purpose of those devices commonly called vehicles is the carrying of a load, either freight or passengers, from one place to another. The idea of towing a load, as by locomotives, traction engines, or tractors, has also long been associated with the term "vehicle."

(1) Note. The term "vehicle" also includes devices that are for special purposes identical with those in which a form of running gear is an essential element, and further includes such attachments for vehicles as are not limited in their position to any particular part of the vehicle. (2) Note. This class includes the combination between running gear and load carriers not otherwise classified. (3) Note. The running gear of various portable machines is also included when the machine is not claimed or is claimed by name only and the running gear is capable of general use. However, when the claimed running gear is solely disclosed for an agricultural, earth working, or harvesting implement, proper classification is in the appropriate agricultural, earth working, or harvesting implement class, even without specific claimed limitations of such agricultural, earth working, or harvesting implement. See the class definition (Class 280), EARTH OR TRAVELED SURFACE, TRAVERSING AND WORKING OR TREATING DEVICES,and also subclass 400 herein, the (1) Note, directed to an articulated vehicle or plural interconnected vehicles (i.e., a vehicle train). (4) Note. The relationship of vehicles which are primarily intended for transportation purposes to working devices of various types, which may or may not travel while performing their primary function, and to various related arts is discussed in the following search notes presented in the sequence of the following "OUTLINE OF NOTES".

Lines with other classes and within this class

Where the articulated vehicle is solely disclosed for use in an earth working or harvesting environment, the proper classification is in Class 172, Earth Working,. No specific recitation in the claims of an earth working implement or harvester is necessary to cause an assignment in Class 172. Thus, where the articulative feature is disclosed solely in the performance of an earth working or harvesting operation, the body of art is not collected in Class 280. See (3) Note in the Class Definition above

See References To Other Classes, below, for classes related to the following art areas:

A. COMBINED WITH EXTERNAL MEANS OR DEVICES:

1. Remote control;

2. With external loading or unloading means;

3. With rails or tracks

B. CONVERTIBLE:

1. To nonvehicular devices: (a. To work platforms; b. Miscellaneous);

2. To different types of vehicle

This class (Class 280) provides for general utility land vehicles having both wheels and runners; for velocipedes convertible to or from plural occupant forms; for velocipedes convertible to or from occupant propulsion; for miscellaneous convertible velocipedes; for general utility wheeled land vehicles convertible to nonvehicular devices; for vehicles convertible to work platforms including means interposed between the vehicle body, chassis, or frame and running gear thereof for altering height or levelness or including vertical adjustment of a wheel upon the running gear; for tiltable, handle-propelled wheeled vehicles convertible to devices having no load transporting function; or miscellaneous convertible articulated vehicles. See Subclass References to the Class, below, for references to these areas.

C. EARTH OR TRAVELED SURFACE TRAVERSING AND WORKING OR TREATING DEVICES:

These devices commonly perform their main function of physically treating or affecting the surface while traveling and are equipped with running gear generally equivalent to the vehicular type. Portable or transportable machines having proximate function unrelated to transporting, supporting, or handling material or distributing material during traverse are seldom included in this class (Class 280), but will be found in the class appropriate to the type of work performed, e.g., agitating, ironing, comminuting, etc. However, subcombinations pertaining to the running gear of various art devices may be classified in Class 280 if of general utility.

D. SELF LOADING AND/OR UNLOADING VEHICLES AND PORTABLE MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES

1. Traversing type. The load is usually distributed over or gathered from the area traversed by the vehicle;

2. Miscellaneous. These devices include vehicles which are loaded or unloaded while stationary also handling mechanisms which are ordinarily used to perform their chief function while stationary, running gear being provided for convenience in moving the device from place to place.

E. VEHICLE TYPES OTHERWISE CLASSIFIED

1. Water;

2. Rail;

3. Motor;

4. Receptacle and support types. The distinction between receptacles and supports provided with wheels and land vehicles has not been clearly established, and many warehouse and factory type trucks and work supports will be found in Class 280, Land Vehicles, and in the classes in References To Other Classes, below, that reference this section, without any stated line or perceptible distinction;

F. VEHICLE PARTS, INSTALLATIONS, ATTACHMENTS AND FURNISHINGS

1. Bodies;

2. Wheels;

3. Miscellaneous

 
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