Patent ID: 6276706
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B62K

Abstract:
A shock-absorbing joint adapted to interconnect a front wheel-carrying frame member and a rear wheel-carrying frame member of a bicycle, said shock-absorbing joint comprising:a tubular casing adapted to be connected securely to one of the front and rear wheel-carrying frame members, said tubular casing confining an accommodating space which defines a central axis that is disposed horizontally and that extends in a transverse direction relative to a riding direction of the bicycle;a coupling shaft disposed in said accommodating space and extending along the central axis of said accommodating space;a spiral spring plate disposed in said accommodating space, and having an innermost end connected to said coupling shaft and an outermost end connected to said tubular casing, said spiral spring plate being wound about said coupling shaft to form a series of interconnected turns of increasing radius; anda connecting bracket adapted to be connected securely to the other one of the front and rear wheel-carrying frame members, said tubular casing being mounted rotatably on said connecting bracket, said coupling shaft being mounted non-rotatably on said connecting bracket; andwherein said connecting bracket includes a connecting plate that extends in the transverse direction and that has left and right ends, and left and right support plates that extend respectively and transversely from said left and right ends of said connecting plate to flank opposite ends of said tubular casing, said connecting plate being adapted to be connected securely to the other one of the front and rear wheel-carrying frame members, said left and right support plates having said opposite ends of said tubular casing mounted rotatable thereon, and further having opposite end portions of said coupling shaft mounted non-rotatably thereon.