Back to results
US 9,981,711 B2Granted
Suspended spindle assembly for recumbent tricyles
AssigneeBig Cat Human Powered Vehicles, LLC
InventorsPaulo Camasmie, Justin Calla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspended spindle assembly is disclosed for each of the front wheels of recumbent tricycles which absorb vibration and bumps to reduce rider fatigue while improving trike handling and rider comfort.
Claims26
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a spindle body adapted to connect to a frame of a bicycle or tricycle;
- an axle body pivotally mounted to said spindle body such that said axle body is movable toward and away from said spindle body, said axle body being adapted to mount to an axle of a wheel of the bicycle or tricycle;
- a shock absorbing body connected between said spindle body and said axle body, said shock absorbing body undergoing compression in the course of movement of said axle body toward said spindle body, said shock absorbing body being formed of an elastomeric material which exhibits progressive spring behavior wherein the rigidity of said shock absorbing body increases with increasing compression applied thereto;
- a first spindle link having a first end pivotally connected to said spindle body and a second end, a second spindle link having a first end pivotally connected to said axle body and a second end, said second end of said first spindle link being pivotally connected to said second end of said second spindle link, said first and second spindle links being movable toward and away from one another in response to pivotal movement of said axle body.
1 more element
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a spindle body, said spindle body being adapted to connect to a frame of a bicycle or tricycle;
- an axle body, said axle body being adapted to connect to an axle of a wheel of the bicycle or tricycle;
- a first portion of said axle body being pivotally mounted to a first portion of said spindle body such that a second portion of said axle body is movable toward and away from a second portion of said spindle body;
- a shock absorbing body located between said second portion of said axle body and said second portion of said spindle body, said shock absorbing body undergoing compression in the course of movement of said axle body toward said spindle body, said shock absorbing body being formed of an elastomeric material which exhibits progressive spring behavior wherein the rigidity of said shock absorbing body increases with increasing compression applied thereto;
- a spindle linkage assembly connected between said second portion of said axle body and said second portion of said spindle body.
2 more elements
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a spindle body, said spindle body being adapted to connect to a frame of a bicycle or tricycle;
- an axle body, said axle body being adapted to connect to an axle of a wheel of the bicycle or tricycle;
- a first portion of said axle body being pivotally mounted to a first portion of said spindle body such that a second portion of said axle body is movable toward and away from a second portion of said spindle body;
- a shock absorbing body connected between said second portion of said axle body and said second portion of said spindle body;
- a linkage assembly pivotally connected to said second portion of said spindle body and to said second portion of said axle body;
- a bumper element connected at one end to said linkage assembly, said bumper element being movable into engagement with said axle body causing said axle body to move toward said spindle body thereby applying a pre-compression to said shock absorbing body, said shock absorbing body undergoing further compression in the course of movement of said axle body toward said spindle body in response to operation of the bicycle or tricycle.
3 more elements
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a spindle body adapted to connect to a frame of a bicycle or tricycle;
- an axle body pivotally mounted to said spindle body in such a way that said axle body is movable toward and away from said spindle body, such axle body being adapted to mount to an axle of the bicycle or tricycle;
- a shock absorbing body connected between said spindle body and said axle body;
- a linkage assembly comprising a first spindle link pivotally connected to said spindle body and a second spindle link pivotally connected to said axle body, said first and second spindle links being pivotally connected to one another and movable toward and away from one another in response to movement of said axle body toward and away from said spindle body;
- a bumper element connected to said second spindle link, said bumper element being movable with said second spindle link in a direction toward and away from said first spindle link, said bumper element being engageable with said axle body so as to prevent contact of said axle body with said second spindle link of said linkage assembly.
2 more elements
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a spindle body adapted to connect to a frame of a bicycle or tricycle;
- an axle body mounted to said spindle body in such a way that said axle body pivots about a first axis toward and away from said spindle body, said axle body being connected to an axle which mounts a wheel carrying a tire such that a plane of motion of the tire is substantially perpendicular to the ground;
- a shock absorbing body connected between said spindle body and said axle body, said shock absorbing body being formed of an elastomeric material which exhibits progressive spring behavior wherein the rigidity of said shock absorbing body increases with increasing compression applied thereto;
- a first spindle link connected to said spindle body and pivotal about a second axis, a second spindle link connected to said axle body and pivotal about a third axis, said first and second spindle links being connected and pivotal relative to one another about a fourth axis;
- said first, second, third and fourth axes being substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to said plane of motion of the tire so that in the course of movement of said axle body toward and away from said pivot body said plane of motion of the tire remains substantially perpendicular to the ground.
2 more elements
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a spindle body adapted to connect to a frame of a bicycle or tricycle;
- an axle body having spaced first and second bearings, said axle body being pivotally mounted to said spindle body by a shaft extending between said first and second bearings such that said axle body is movable toward and away from said spindle body, said axle body being connected to an axle which mounts a wheel carrying a tire of the bicycle or tricycle, a torsional force being applied to said spindle assembly in response to turning of the bicycle or tricycle;
- a shock absorbing body connected between said spindle body and said axle body;
- a first spindle link having spaced first and second arms each having a first end pivotally mounted to said spindle body and a second end, a second spindle link having spaced third and fourth arms each having a first end pivotally mounted to said axle body and a second end, said second end of each of said first and second arms of said first spindle link being pivotally mounted to respective third and fourth arms of said second end of said second spindle link, said first, second, third and fourth arms collectively forming a four-bar linkage structure;
- said first and second bearings which pivotally mount said axle body to said spindle body and said four-bar linkage structure collectively enhancing torsional rigidity of said spindle assembly.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.