Single arm bicycle suspension fork
OwnerPaul H. Brigdeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle fork is used with a bicycle having a conventional head tube. The fork has a steering column that is supported in the head tube and carries a forwardly-connecting stem on which the handle bars are mounted. At the bottom end of the steering column is a control arm pivotally connected to the steering column and extending forwardly to be connected pivotally to the fork crown. The fork crown is connected to the stem at the top of the steering column by a spring-damping shock-absorbing strut, pinned at the top to the stem. The system may be used on a standard bicycle without altering the head tube or the bicycle geometry to provide a shock-absorbing action at the front of the bicycle. By arranging the control arm at an appropriate angle to the strut, an anti-diving action is incorporated into the fork.
Claims12
A bicycle fork for use with a bicycle having a frame with a head tube, said fork comprising:
- a steering assembly including:
- a steering column adapted to be mounted rotatably in the head tube;
- and
- steering means secured to the steering column for rotating the steering column;
- a strut comprising a linearly extendible and contractible shock absorber with an upper end and a lower end movable linearly with respect to the upper end;
- a fork mounted rigidly on the lower end of the strut to prevent any relative movement of the fork on the lower end of the strut, the fork extending downwardly from the strut for mounting a bicycle wheel for rotation about a lateral wheel axis;
- upper strut mounting means connecting the upper end of the strut to the steering assembly for pivotal movement only of the strut and fork relative to the steering assembly about a single lateral strut axis fixed with respect to the steering column;
- control arm means;
- first control arm pivot means connecting the control arm means to the steering column for pivotal movement about a rear lateral axis;
- and
- second control arm pivot means connecting the control arm means to the fork below the strut for pivotal movement about a forward lateral axis.
In a bicycle having a frame including a head tube, a steering column rotatably mounted in the head tube, handle bars, handle bar mounting means securing the handle bars to the steering column for rotating the steering column, and a fork connected to the steering column to rotate therewith, the improvement wherein:
- a strut has a lower end rigidly mounted on the fork to prevent any relative movement of the lower end of the strut and the fork;
- the strut extending upwardly from the fork forwardly of the head tube;
- the strut being an extendible and collapsible shock absorber;
- the strut having an upper end pivotally connected to the handle bar mounting means to travel therewith;
- and
- a control arm is pivotally connected to the steering column below the head tube and to the fork below the strut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.