US 6,406,048 B1Granted

Pivotless rear suspension system for bicycles

OwnerJohn P. Castellanoinventor

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Abstract

An improved bicycle rear suspension system with a triangular wheel suspension component comprising three members; a planar truss chainstay member with a wide lateral side and a thin vertical side, adapted to be longitudinally and laterally rigid and vertically flexible; a seatstay member with an integrated shock absorbing means adapted to dampen the suspension movement, the shock absorbing means being a long-travel, short-length shock absorber with angular deflection capability; and a seat tube member, arranged in a triangular configuration wherein one, two, or all three junctions between the members are pivotless, thereby eliminating rotating pivot elements and providing a low maintenance requirement, durability, high reliability, low manufacturing costs, progressive springing and damping, a comfortable ride, a compact size, and light weight, while increasing lateral and torsional rigidity and wheel travel, and maintaining the strength and aesthetic appeal of the traditional diamond frame.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A suspension system for a rotatable wheel vertically mounted in a frame, wherein said wheel has a horizontal axle aligned perpendicular to the plane of the wheel and the frame has a triangular wheel suspension component comprising:

a) a first solid member with a long axis, a wide lateral side, and a relatively thin vertical side, said member being substantially more rigid laterally than vertically, said first member having a solid wide first end, and a bifurcated left/right pair of tapering segments adapted to receive the wheel, the segments having left and right second ends, said first member being solid from said first end to said left and right second ends;
b) a second strut member, with a long axis, longitudinally expandable and compressible, comprising a unitary top segment with a first end and an integrated shock absorbing means adapted to dampen the longitudinal movement, and a bifurcated left/right pair of bottom segments adapted to receive the wheel, the bottom segments having left and right second ends, wherein said second left end of said second member is attached to said second left end of said first member and said second right end of said second member is attached to said second right end of said first member, and a left/right pair of wheel dropouts is integrally located proximal to the second ends of the first member and second ends of the second member and adapted to receive the axle of the wheel;
and
c) a rigid third member with a first and second end wherein said first end is rigidly attached to said first end of said first member, and said second end is attached to said first end of said second member.

1 more element

a) a first member having a first end, and a bifurcated left/right pair of segments adapted to receive the wheel, the segments having left and right second ends,
b) a second strut member, with a long axis, longitudinally expandable and compressible, comprising a unitary top segment with a first end and an integrated long travel short length shock absorber with angular deflectional capability adapted to dampen the longitudinal movement, and a bifurcated left/right pair of bottom segments adapted to receive the wheel, the bottom segments having left and right second ends, wherein said second left end of said second member is attached to said second left end of said first member and said second right end of said second member is attached to said second right end of said first member, and a left/right pair of wheel dropouts is integrally located proximal to the second ends of the first member and second ends of the second member and adapted to receive the axle of the wheel;
and
c) a rigid third member with a first and second end wherein said first end is attached to said first end of said first member, and said second end is rigidly attached to said first end of said second member;
said shock absorber comprising a principal elastomeric element within a shock body wherein the principal element is affixed to the top portion of the strut by a shaft passing through a central bore in the element and fixedly attached to the top portion of the strut, and the body being rigidly attached to the bifurcating bottom segments of the second member and having an inner wall and bottom casing with a central bore to accommodate said shaft, and the body slidably enveloping the principal element creating an interference fit between the shock body and the element, thereby providing a linear bearing that accommodates angular deflection;
and, when the strut is compressed, the bottom casing acts upon the principal element providing a damped spring action.

3 more elements

a) a first solid member with a long axis, a wide lateral side, and a relatively thin vertical side, said member being substantially more rigid laterally than vertically, said first member having a solid wide first end, and a bifurcated left/right pair of tapering segments adapted to receive the wheel, the segments having left and right second ends, said first member being solid from said first end to said left and right second ends;
b) a second strut member, with a long axis, longitudinally expandable and compressible, comprising a unitary top segment with a first end and an integrated shock absorbing means adapted to dampen the longitudinal movement, and a bifurcated left/right pair of bottom segments adapted to receive the wheel, the bottom segments having left and right second ends, wherein said second left end of said second member is rigidly attached to said second left end of said first member and said second right end of said second member is rigidly attached to said second right end of said first member, and a left/right pair of wheel dropouts is integrally located proximal to the second ends of the first member and second ends of the second member and adapted to receive the axle of the wheel;
and
c) a rigid third member with a first and second end wherein said first end is attached to said first end of said first member, and said second end is attached to said first end of said second member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.