Patent ID: 6349957
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: B62J,B62K

Abstract:
A shock absorber for use with a cycle adapted to travel in an upright position along a support surface wherein said cycle includes a rigid frame adapted to rotatably support a plurality of wheels, a drive assembly including a pair of foot supports operative upon actuation to impart rotary movement to one of said wheels, and a seat assembly, said shock absorber adapted to cushion said seat assembly and said drive assembly relative to impacts occurring during operation of said cycle, comprising:(a) an elongated first tubular member associated with said frame and having a longitudinal axis; (b) an elongated second tubular member having a lower end portion adapted for connection to said foot supports and an opposite upper end portion adapted for connection to said seat assembly such that said foot supports and said seat assembly are interconnected for common movement, said second tubular member slidably disposed with respect to said first tubular member for movement along the longitudinal axis away from an initial position as determined by a pre-impact condition; and (c) a biasing assembly coupled between said first tubular member and said second tubular member so that movement of said second tubular member in a first direction along the longitudinal axis away from the initial position is resisted by said biasing assembly, said biasing assembly operative in response to said movement in the first direction to exert a restorative force to urge said second tubular member in a second direction along the longitudinal axis toward the initial position thereby to cushion said seat assembly and said drive assembly relative to impacts occurring during operation of said cycle.