Patents Assigned to Champion Bus, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10500982
    Abstract: A modular sidewall for a passenger vehicle. The modular sidewall comprises an outer frame, and a plurality of individual sections configured to be secured together at least partially within the outer frame. The plurality of individual sections includes —a main section presenting at least one window opening, and a standard section presenting at least one window opening. The standard section has a width that is smaller than a width of the main section. The modular sidewall may also include a seat rail for supporting one or more seats within the passenger vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Champion Bus, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10464617
    Abstract: A modular sidewall for a passenger vehicle. The modular sidewall comprises an outer frame, and a plurality of individual sections configured to be secured together at least partially within the outer frame. The plurality of individual sections includes a main section presenting at least one window opening configured to receive a window, and a standard section presenting at least one window opening configured to receive a window. The said standard section has a width that is smaller than a width of said main section. The modular sidewall may also include a seat rail for supporting one or more seats within the passenger vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Champion Bus, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Findley, Allan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10112541
    Abstract: A vehicle for transporting passengers. The vehicle comprises a chassis including a front axle, a rear axle, and a frame that includes a front section that supports the front axle and a rear section that supports the rear axle. The vehicle further comprises a drop frame insert located between the front section of the frame and the rear section of the frame. A top surface of the drop frame insert is positioned lower than a top surface of the frame, and at least a portion of a bottom surface of the drop frame insert is generally coplanar with a bottom surface of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Champion Bus, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Portney, James Scott, John Resnik
  • Patent number: 8967669
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle for transporting passengers can include a chassis, a support member, and a labyrinthine girder. The support member can be rigidly engaged to and project from the chassis. The labyrinthine girder can include a coupling platform that is coupled to the support member. The labyrinthine girder can form a partial enclosure that surrounds a portion of the frame rail. An offset distance can be disposed between the labyrinthine girder and the frame rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Champion Bus, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kane, Shawn Yopp, John Smyczak
  • Patent number: 8936275
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle for transporting passengers can include a passenger section, an elevated passenger section, a subfloor discontinuity, and a retractable step. The subfloor discontinuity can be located between the passenger section and the elevated passenger section. The subfloor discontinuity can span the elevation change. The retractable step can be located at the subfloor discontinuity. The retractable step can include a housing, a riser door, and an articulating tread. The housing can at least partially surrounds a volume. The riser door can be in rotatable engagement with the housing such that the riser door rotates into and out of the volume of the housing. The articulating tread can be in rotatable engagement with the housing such that the riser door rotates into and out of the volume of the housing. The retractable step can articulate between a step position and a ramp position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Champion Bus, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kane, Shawn Yopp, John Smyczak