US 5,326,119 A · Bicycle and moped suspension

Abstract

A suspension system includes a long-travel suspension configuration for the seat of a bicycle. For instance, this long-travel arrangement could take the form of either a spring-loaded telescoping seat tube mechanism or a single-leaf spring extending horizontally from the seat to a forward attachment point fairly near the steering head. In order to prevent the constant bobbing up and down that this type of suspension usually causes when the rider is pedaling, the suspension also includes a second suspension mechanism which allows the pedal-and-crank assembly to move substantially in unison with the seat. However, this coordinated suspension movement occurs only over bumps and obstacles of relatively moderate size because the total suspension travel of the pedal-and-crank assembly, on a sort of reversed swingarm arrangement, is only about half the overall travel of the seat. A simple cable connection between the two otherwise separate suspension mechanisms transfers upward spring force to the pedal-and-crank assembly and, most importantly, permits the seat to continue its jounce suspension travel well after the pedal-and-crank assembly has bottomed out. In this way, the seat has a long, comfortable suspension travel with neither an excessively high seating position for the rider nor pedal clearance problems at full suspension jounce.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A suspension system for a bicycle, comprising:

means for providing a range of predominantly vertical motion of a seat used by a rider while pedaling the bicycle, said range of motion being relative to a main structure of the bicycle which positions a front wheel and a rear wheel of the bicycle relative to each other,
means for providing a spring force for suspending said seat and thus the bicycle rider within said range of motion of said seat,
means for providing a range of predominantly vertical motion of a pedal-and-crank assembly used by the rider for pedaling the bicycle, said range of motion of said pedal-and-crank assembly being relative to said main structure,
means for placing a downward limit on said range of motion of said pedal-and-crank assembly to thereby provide ground clearance for pedals of said pedal-and-crank assembly, and
means for mechanically coupling predominantly vertical motion of said seat, relative to said main structure, to predominantly vertical motion of said pedal-and-crank assembly, also relative to said main structure,
whereby pedaling by the rider does not cause constantly recurring, significant change in distance between said seat and said pedal-and-crank assembly.

3 more elements

Bicycle suspension apparatus for providing an overall range of jounce suspension motion for the torso of a rider of a bicycle, said overall range of motion comprising (a) a first range of jounce suspension action sufficient to accommodate relatively small bumps and irregularities encountered by wheels of the bicycle on a road surface over which the bicycle is being ridden and (b) a second range of jounce suspension action which follows said first range of jounce action to thereby accommodate larger bumps and irregularities encountered by the bicycle, the apparatus comprising:

first means for providing only said first range of jounce suspension action for a pedal-and-crank assembly used by the rider for pedaling the bicycle, thereby giving said pedal-and-crank assembly a variable suspension position relative to include said wheels of the bicycle, and
second means for providing both of said first and second ranges of jounce suspension action for a seat used by the rider while pedaling the bicycle, thereby giving said seat a variable suspension position relative to said wheels of the bicycle,
whereby a comfortable ride is available with neither continuous bobbing up and down of said seat as the rider pedals the bicycle nor a high seating position caused by excessive suspension travel of said pedal-and-crank assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bicycle and moped suspension

Life of this patent

Bicycle and moped suspension

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20