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US 6,712,373 B2Granted
Bicycle rear suspension
AssigneeSpecialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
InventorsJason L. Chamberlain, Christopher P. D'Aluisio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle including a frame having a main frame portion and an articulating frame portion pivotally mounted to the main frame portion and carrying a rear wheel of the bicycle at a hub axis. A shock absorber is operably connected between the main frame portion and the articulating frame portion to provide resistance to articulating motion of the articulating frame portion. A rearward end of the shock absorber preferably is pivotally mounted to the articulating frame portion at a location near the hub axis. The shock absorber preferably is positioned within a perimeter defined in a vertical plane generally by the articulating frame portion.
Claims5
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a main frame portion;
- an articulating frame portion comprising:
- a pair of lower arms having a forward end and a rearward end, said forward ends being pivotally connected to said main frame portion at a first pivot axis;
- a pair of upper arms having a lower end and an upper end, said lower ends being pivotally connected near said rearward ends of said lower arms at a second pivot axis, one of said rearward ends of said lower arms and said lower ends of said upper arms defining a hub axis;
- a link pivotally connected to said upper ends of said upper arms at a third pivot axis and pivotally connected to said main frame portion at a fourth pivot axis;
- and
- a shock absorber pivotally connected to one of frame portion and said link at a fifth pivot axis and pivotally connected to said articulating frame portion at a sixth pivot axis, said sixth pivot axis being located near said hub axis;
- wherein said fourth pivot axis and said fifth pivot axis are at least proximate one another, and wherein said fourth pivot axis and said fifth pivot axis are coaxial.
5 more elements
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a main frame portion;
- an articulating frame portion comprising:
- a pair of lower arms having a forward end and a rearward end, said forward ends being pivotally connected to said main frame portion at a first pivot axis;
- a pair of upper arms having a lower end and an upper end, said lower ends being pivotally connected near said rearward ends of said lower arms at a second pivot axis, one of said rearward ends of said lower arms and said lower ends of said upper arms defining a hub axis;
- a link pivotally connected to said upper ends of said upper arms at a third pivot axis and pivotally connected to said main frame portion at a fourth pivot axis;
- and
- a shock absorber pivotally connected to one of said main frame portion and said link at a fifth pivot axis and pivotally connected to said articulating frame portion at a sixth pivot axis, said sixth pivot axis being located near said hub axis;
- and
- wherein said hub axis is defined by said upper arms.
6 more elements
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a main frame portion;
- an articulating frame portion comprising:
- a pair of lower arms having a forward end and a rearward end, said forward ends being pivotally connected to said main frame portion at a first pivot axis;
- a pair of upper arms having a lower end and an upper end, said lower ends being pivotally connected near said rearward ends of said lower arms at a second pivot axis, one of said rearward ends of said lower arms and said lower ends of said upper arms defining a hub axis;
- a link pivotally connected to said upper ends of said upper arms at a third pivot axis and pivotally connected to said main frame portion at a fourth pivot axis;
- and
- a shock absorber pivotally connected to one of said main frame portion and said link at a fifth pivot axis and pivotally connected to said articulating frame portion at a sixth pivot axis, said sixth pivot axis being located near said hub axis;
- wherein said fifth pivot axis and said sixth pivot axis are non-parallel.
5 more elements
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a main frame portion;
- an articulating frame portion comprising:
- a pair of lower arms having a forward end and, a rearward end said forward ends being pivotally connected to said main frame portion at a first pivot axis;
- a pair of upper arms having a lower end and an upper end, said lower ends being pivotally connected near said rearward ends of said lower arms at a second pivot axis, one of said rearward ends of said lower arms and said lower ends of said upper arms defining a hub axis;
- a link pivotally connected to said upper ends of said upper arms at a third pivot axis and pivotally connected to said main frame portion at a fourth pivot axis;
- and
- a shock absorber pivotally connected to one of said main frame portion and said link at a fifth pivot axis and pivotally connected to said articulating frame portion at a sixth pivot axis, said sixth pivot axis being located near said hub axis;
- wherein said lower arms, said upper arms, said link and said main frame portion define a perimeter in a vertical plane, said shock absorber comprising a main shock body, said main shock body being positioned substantially within said perimeter;
- and
- wherein said shock absorber additionally comprises a reservoir connected to said main shock body, said reservoir being positioned substantially outside of said perimeter.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.