High efficiency bicycle suspension
AssigneeKlein Bicycle Corporation
InventorsGary G. Klein, Darrell W. Voss, Lonney Pauls
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle having an improved suspension system including a rotary damper and composite springs. Springs which closely control the direction of allowable movement in the suspension preclude rocking, twisting or unwanted lateral deflections.
Claims8
A bicycle having a frame and handlebar-steering and seat assemblies attached to said frame, front and rear ground engaging wheel assemblies attached to said frame, a suspension unit comprising a linkage of pivots and lever arms including as a part of said linkage at least one spring element and at least one rotary shock absorber having a fluid filled cavity and a rotary blade element in said fluid-filled cavity for causing fluid in said fluid-filled cavity to be displaced from one side of said rotary blade element to the other side of said rotary blade element in a substantially friction-free manner, means mounting said suspension unit between said frame and at least one of said handlebar-steering, seat, front and rear ground engaging wheel assemblies and wherein said rotary shock absorber has dynamic resistance, walls and a fluid metering gap between said walls and said rotary blade element, the fluid metering gap between the walls of said fluid-filled cavity and the rotating blade of said rotary shock absorber changes cross-sectional area at different angles of rotation of said vane, in order to change said dynamic resistance of said rotary shock absorber.
A bicycle having a frame and handlebar-steering and seat assemblies attached to said frame, front and rear ground engaging wheel assemblies attached to said frame, a suspension unit comprising a linkage of pivots and lever arms including as a Dart of said linkage at least one spring element and at least one rotary shock absorber having a fluid filled cavity and a rotary blade element in said fluid-filled cavity for causing fluid in said fluid-filled cavity to be displaced from one side of said rotary blade element to the other side of said blade element in a substantially friction-free manner, and means mounting said suspension unit between said frame and at least one of said handlebar-steering, seat, front and rear ground engaging wheel assemblies, said at least one spring element having a spring rate which provides positive centering force to reposition said at least one of said handlebar-steering, seat, front and rear ground engaging wheel assemblies at a normal equilibrium position after being moved from said normal equilibrium position and wherein the said metering gap is reduced in the region of said equilibrium position, increasing in dimension as said rotary blade is rotated away from said equilibrium position.
A bicycle having a frame and handlebar-steering and seat assemblies attached to said frame, front and rear ground engaging wheel assemblies attached to said frame, a suspension unit comprising a linkage of pivots and lever arms including as a part of said linkage (1) at least one spring element made of a composite material utilizing high strength fibers, and (2) at least one rotary shock absorber having a fluid-filled cavity and a rotary blade element having two sides in said fluid-filled cavity for causing fluid in said fluid-filled cavity to be displaced from one of said two sides of said rotary blade element to the other of said two sides of said blade element in a substantially friction-free manner, and means mounting said suspension unit between said frame and at least one of said handlebar-steering, seat, front and rear ground engaging wheel assemblies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.