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US 4,421,337 AGranted
Bicycle with resiliently yieldable wheel supports
OwnerThomas A. Prattinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle and method of making same are provided wherein such bicycle has an improved system associated with its front and/or rear wheel which in each instance allows large and abrupt vertical movement of the wheel associated therewith while allowing the frame and bicycle rider to remain comparatively free of such movements. The bicycle may also be provided with an improved support structure for its pedal assembly.
Claims27
In a bicycle comprising;
- a front wheel;
- a rear wheel;
- a frame having a tubular forward portion;
- means mounting said frame on said wheels;
- a pedal assembly;
- a support structure supporting said pedal assembly on said frame;
- said mounting means comprising, a front axle for rotatably supporting said front wheel, a first fork assembly having a first tubular member rotatably mounted within said tubular forward portion, a first pair of front wheel embracing legs extending from the lower end of said first tubular member, a first pair of toggle links disposed on opposite end portions of said front axle, each toggle link of said first pair of toggle links having an inner end pivotally fastened to the lower end portion of an associated one of said first pair of legs and an outer end having opening means for receiving an associated end portion of said front axle, a top plate detachably fastened to said first tubular member for rotation therewith, a second fork assembly having a second pair of front wheel embracing legs, fastening means pivotally fastening an associated leg of said second fork assembly to an associated toggle link of said first pair of toggle links, attaching means for attaching said front axle to said first pair of toggle links with said front axle having its opposite end portions disposed within said opening means, said second fork assembly comprising a U-shaped singlepiece component having a bight and a pair of parallel legs, a second tubular member fixed to and extending upwardly from the center of said bight, and yielding means operatively connected between said top plate and said second tubular member, said yielding means allowing large and abrupt vertical movements of said front wheel while maintaining said frame comparatively free of said movements;
- the improvement comprising a second pair of toggle links also disposed on opposite end portions of said front axle, each toggle link of said second pair cooperating with an associated toggle link of said first pair, each toggle link of said second pair also having an inner end pivotally fastened to the lower end portion of an associated one of said first pair of legs and an outer end having opening means for receiving an associated end portion of said front axle, said fastening means pivotally fastening an associated leg of said second fork assembly to an associated toggle link of said first pair of toggle links also serving to pivotally fasten the associated leg of said second fork assembly to an associated toggle link of said second pair of toggle links, and said attaching means also serving to attach said front axle to said second pair of toggle links with said front axle also having its opposite end portions disposed within said opening means in said toggle links of said second pair.
5 more elements
In a bicycle having a front wheel;
- a rear wheel;
- a frame;
- means mounting said frame on said wheels;
- a pedal assembly;
- a support structure supporting said pedal assembly on said frame;
- said mounting means comprising, a first arm construction having an inner end pivotally supported adjacent said support structure and an outer end which has said rear wheel rotatably mounted thereto, a second arm construction operatively connected between said outer end of said first arm construction and said frame, and yielding means comprising said second arm construction, said yielding means allowing large and abrupt vertical movements of said rear wheel while maintaining said frame comparatively free of said movements;
- the improvement in which said support structure comprises, a substantially semicylindrical housing fixed to said frame and having a concave inside surface, a substantially cylindrical sleeve fixed to and defining said inner end of said first arm construction, said sleeve having a convex outside surface adapted to be disposed within said concave surface, a pair of flat annular rings fixed to opposite end edges of said housing, and a pair of retainers disposed concentrically between said sleeve and said housing, said retainers serving the dual purpose of retaining said inner end of said first arm construction within said housing while allowing pivoting movements of said first arm construction and defining spaced bearings physically interposed between said sleeve and housing.
4 more elements
In a bicycle having a front wheel;
- a rear wheel;
- a frame;
- means mounting said frame on said wheels;
- a pedal assembly;
- a support structure supporting said pedal assembly on said frame;
- said mounting means comprising, a first arm construction having an inner end pivotally supported adjacent said support structure and an outer end which has said rear wheel rotatably mounted thereto, a second arm construction operatively connected between said outer end of said first arm construction and said frame, and yielding means comprising said second arm construction, said yielding means allowing large and abrupt vertical movements of said rear wheel while maintaining said frame comparatively free of said movements;
- the improvement in which said support structure comprises, a substantially semicylindrical housing fixed to said frame and having a concave inside surface, a substantially cylindrical sleeve fixed to and defining said inner end of said first arm construction, said sleeve having a convex outside surface adapted to be disposed within said concave surface, a pair of flat annular rings fixed to opposite end edges of said housing, a pair of retainers disposed concentrically between said sleeve and said housing, said retainers serving the dual purpose of retaining said inner end of said first arm construction within said housing while allowing pivoting movements of said first arm construction and defining spaced bearings physically interposed between said sleeve and housing, each of said retainers having a right circular cylindrical portion adjoined by an annular flange, each right circular cylindrical portion being disposed in sandwiched relation between associated end portions of said housing and sleeve and serving as a sleeve bearing while preventing movement of said sleeve away from said housing, each annular flange being fastened to an associated one of said rings, said sleeve having a given axial length with said retainers being substantially identical, each right circular cylindrical portion of each retainer having an axial length which is less than half of said given axial length, each of said retainers being made of a high strength synthetic plastic material with its right circular cylindrical portion and flange as a single-piece structure, and a stop detachably fixed to said sleeve, said stop serving to limit pivoting movements of said first arm construction away from said frame.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.