Bicycle suspension apparatus and related method
AssigneeAnthony S. Ellsworth
InventorsAnthony S. Ellsworth, Mike Kojima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a shock absorbing wheel suspension apparatus and related method. The preferred wheel suspension includes upper and lower rocker arms pivotably attached to a bicycle frame, rear shockstays pivotably attached to the upper and lower rocker arms, and a shock absorbing element. The preferred configuration of the wheel suspension results in improved performance through the desirable alignment of various force and torque lines over a wide range of loading conditions.
Claims14
A method of improving riding performance of a bicycle having a rear wheel suspension system, which comprises an upper rocker arm and a lower rocker arm, each rocker arm comprising rearward and forward pivot points, the method comprising the step of:
- tracking a chain torque line with an instant center, thereby improving the bicycle's performance by reducing torque reactivity of the suspension system,
- wherein the instant center is defined as a point at the intersection of a first imaginary straight line drawn through the rearward and forward pivot points of the upper rocker arm, and a second imaginary straight line drawn through the rearward and forward pivot points of the lower rocker arm, and wherein the instant center is located in front of a front wheel axle, and above a horizontal line extending through the front wheel axle when the suspension system is not compressed, and a perpendicular distance between the instant center and the chain torque line decreases to zero as the suspension is compressed, and
- wherein the chain torque line is defined as a parallel line extending along the tension side of a chain while the chain is positioned on chain sprockets of the bicycle.
A method of improving riding performance of a bicycle having a rear wheel suspension system, which comprises an upper rocker arm and a lower rocker arm, each rocker arm having a forward and rearward end, the method comprising the step of:
- tracking a chain torque line with an instant center, thereby improving the bicycle's performance by reducing torque reactivity of the suspension system,
- wherein the instant center is defined as a point at the intersection of a first imaginary straight line extending forward from the rear end, along the center, of the upper rocker arm, and a secondary imaginary line extending forward from the rear end, along the center, of the lower rocker arm, and wherein the instant center is located in front of a front wheel axle, and above a horizontal line extending through the front wheel axle when the suspension system is not compressed and a perpendicular distance between the instant center and the chain torque line decreases to zero as the suspension is compressed, and
- wherein the chain force torque line is defined as a parallel line extending along the tension side of a chain while the chain is positioned on chain sprockets of the bicycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.