Patent ID: 6357546
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B62K

Abstract:
A motorcycle suspension system, comprisinga motorcycle main frame, said motorcycle main frame having a first hanger and a second hanger, said first and second hangers being essentially flat and parallel, said first hanger having a first lug, and said second hanger having a second lug, said first lug has a first hole defined therein, said second lug having a second hole defined therein, said first hole and said second hole defining a first pivot axis; a pivoting assembly, said pivoting assembly comprising a front bag bracket, a rear bag bracket, an air bag and a swing arm, said pivoting assembly being located between said first hanger and said second hanger of said motorcycle main frame; said swing arm having a first side and a second side, said first side and said second side being disposed in a parallel relationship and having an upper support and a lower support to maintain said parallel relationship, said first side and said second side being essentially flat, said first side having a first boss, said first boss being located medially between said upper support and said lower support, and said second side having a second boss, said second boss being medially located between said upper support and said lower support, said first boss having a hole defined therein, and said second boss having a hole defined therein, said holes in said first boss and said second boss defining a fourth pivot axis therebetween, said fourth pivot axis being located co-incident with said first pivot axis, allowing said swing arm to pivotably move in an arcuate manner, said first side and said second side being disposed between said first hanger and said second hanger of said main frame; said front bag bracket having a frame attach pad, said frame attach pad attaching said front bag bracket to said motorcycle main frame, said front bag bracket having a third pivot axis defined therein, said third pivot axis being co-incident with said first pivot axis positioning said front bag bracket, said front bag bracket is positioned inside said rear bag bracket; said rear bag bracket being attached to a swing arm mount, said swing arm mount being attached to said lower support of said swing arm, said rear bag bracket having a second pivot axis defined therein, said second pivot axis being co-incident with said first and third pivot axes, and allowing said rear bag bracket to pivot thereabout, said rear bag bracket is pivotably mounted inside said swing arm; said air bag being made from an elastomeric material and being attached to said front bag bracket and said rear bag bracket, and having the properties of a suspension spring under compressive and extensive loading conditions; a shock absorber, said shock absorber being mounted to said motorcycle main frame and attached to said rear bag bracket and said swing arm mount located on said swing arm, damping the relative motions of said swing arm and said rear bag bracket; said swing arm pivots in an arcuate manner about said fourth pivot axis, said rear bag bracket will pivot about said second pivot axis compressing or extending said air bag, said shock absorber will extend or compress damping the relative motion of the swing arm said air bag being located between said front bag bracket and said rear bag bracket, said air bag having means to inflate and deflate; and a swing arm axis tube, said swing arm axis tube being inserted through said first hole in said first lug and said second hole in said second lug of said first and said second hanger, said hole in said first boss of said first side of said swing arm, said hole in said second boss of said second side of said swing arm, a third hole and a fourth hole of said rear bag bracket, and a fifth hole and a sixth hole of said front bag bracket, fixing said front bag bracket and allowing said rear bag bracket and said swing arm to pivotably move, said swing arm axis tube being fixed in place by a pivot bolt and a lock washer located on each side of said swing arm axis tube.