Low profile chassis and suspension

Abstract

A low profile chassis and suspension system for a road vehicle. The chassis supports a payload section or cargo compartment, such as for a delivery truck, ambulance, or shuttle bus. The chassis includes a largely planar frame having a top surface which is located beneath the rotational axes of the rear wheels. The wheel suspension system is particularly compact and close to the road surface. A trailing arm-type wheel support supports a stub axle in a cantilevered fashion. A spring urges the wheel support apart from the frame. A planar portion of the wheel support, the wheel support pivot joints, and the spring are located beneath the rotational axis of the wheel. In another embodiment, the frame includes a recessed pocket which facilitates use of ramp for wheel chair access.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for a road vehicle comprising:
 a left rear wheel rotatable about a first rotational axis;   a right rear wheel rotatable about a second rotational axis;   a frame section having right and left sides and a top surface located below said first rotational axis and said second rotational axis, said frame section defining a recessed pocket extending from an inboard portion of said frame section to an outboard portion of said frame section along one of the right or left sides and extending below the top surface, said pocket being adapted and configured for wheelchair access.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said frame section includes an angled member along a boundary of the pocket, said member being angled downward from an inboard portion of said frame section to an outboard portion of said frame section. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the angle is more than about 5 degrees and less than about 18 degrees. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the angle is more than about 14 degrees and less than about 15 degrees. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said frame section includes a substantially planar bottom surface underneath the recessed pocket, and the bottom surface is less than about 9 inches above the road surface. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the outboard edge of the bottom boundary is less than about 9 inches from the road surface, and the inboard edge of the bottom boundary is more than about 20 inches from the outboard edge of the bottom boundary. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein said frame section includes an outboard frame member parallel to the longitudinal axis of said frame section and along an outboard boundary of the pocket, said outboard frame member having a top surface that is more than about 6 inches above the road surface and less than about 9 inches above the road surface. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said pocket is located in front of said left and right wheels. 
   
   
       33 .- 45 . (canceled)