Bicycle wheel travel path for selectively applying chainstay lengthening effect and apparatus for providing same
OwnerJames B. Klassen, Jamie W. Caloninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rear suspension system for a bicycle. The system directs the rear wheel along a predetermined, S-shaped path as the suspension is compressed. The path is configured to provide a chainstay lengthening effect only at those points where this is needed to counterbalance the pedal inputs of the rider; at those points in the wheel travel path where there is a chainstay lengthening effect, the chain tension which results from the pedal inputs exerts a downward force on the rear wheel, preventing unwanted compression of the suspension. The system employs a dual eccentric crank mechanism mounted adjacent the bottom bracket shell to provide the desired control characteristics.
Claims15
A bicycle comprising:
- a chain drive, in which the distance from the axis of a drive sprocket to the axis of a rear wheel hub is represented by a variable value CSL;
- and
- a compressible rear suspension having a linkage for moving said hub along a controlled wheel travel path as said suspension is compressed, said controlled wheel travel path having an arc radius which is greater towards a lower end of said path and smaller towards an upper end of said path.
A bicycle comprising:
- a chain drive having a drive sprocket and a rear wheel hub;
- and
- a compressible rear suspension having a linkage for moving said hub along a controlled wheel travel path as said suspension is compressed, said controlled wheel path having an arc radius which is greater towards a lower end of said path and smaller towards an upper end of said path;
- said linkage comprising:
- a rear frame section having a rearward end to which said wheel is mounted and a forward end;
- and
- a pivot mechanism mounted to said forward end of said rear frame section, said pivot mechanism comprising:
- upper and lower link members interconnecting said forward end of said rear frame section to a front frame section of said bicycle, said link members being mounted so as to rotate in opposite directions as said suspension is compressed;
- said upper link member having an outer end which is mounted to said rear frame section and a pivot end which is mounted to said front frame section forward of an axis which extends from a seat location to a bottom bracket of said bicycle, and said lower link member having an outer end which is mounted to said rear frame section and a pivot end which is mounted to said forward frame section rearward of said axis which extends from said seat location to said bottom bracket;
- said upper link member having an axis from said pivot end to said outer end which extends in a downward and forward direction when said suspension is in an uncompressed position, and said lower link member having an axis from said pivot end to said outer end which extends in a downward and rearward direction when said suspension is in said uncompressed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.