Patent ID: 8262111
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: B60G,B62K

Abstract:
1. A suspension for a motorized vehicle having a steerable front wheel, a pair of spaced apart rear wheels and an elongate frame supporting an engine, a transmission and a driver's seat, the invention comprising a central frame member longitudinally fixed to the elongate frame of the motorized vehicle, the central frame member oriented substantially perpendicularly to a surface on which the motorized vehicle is supported when the suspension is in a non-leaning position, the central frame member oriented at a substantial nonperpendicular to the surface on which the motorized vehicle is supported when the suspension is in a leaning position, the central frame member having a left side and an opposing right side, the central frame member further comprising a top edge and bottom edge, a first upper control arm hinged at a proximal end thereof to the central frame member and extending from the left side thereof, the first upper control arm hinged at a distal end thereof to a left wheel mounting assembly, a second upper control arm hinged at a proximal end thereof to the central frame member and extending from the right side thereof, the second upper control arm hinged at a distal end thereof to a right wheel mounting assembly, a first lower control arm hinged at a proximal end thereof to the central frame member and extending from the left side thereof, the first lower control arm hinged at a distal end thereof to a left wheel mounting assembly, a second lower control arm hinged at a proximal end thereof to the central frame member and extending from the right side thereof, the second lower control arm hinged at a distal end thereof to the right wheel mounting assembly, the proximal ends of the first and second upper control arms defining a first axis aligned with a plane defined by the central frame member, the proximal ends of the first and second lower control arms defining a second axis aligned with the plane defined by the central frame member, the first upper control arm substantially parallel to the first lower control arm, the second upper control arm substantially parallel to the second lower control arm, the first upper control arm substantially coplanar with the second upper control arm, the first lower control arm substantially coplanar with the second lower control arm, a rocking member pivotally retained to the central frame member, the rocking member disposed over the top edge of the central frame member when the suspension is in the non-leaning position, the rocking member pivotal about an axis located between the top edge and a bottom edge of the central frame member, the rocking member including a left side and an opposing right side, at least one connection element extending from each of the left side and the opposing right side of the rocking member, a first damping member interconnecting the at least one connection element extending from the left side of the rocking member to the first lower control arm, a second damping member interconnecting the at least one connection element extending from the right side of the rocking member to the second lower control arm, the pair of rear wheels comprises a left side wheel and a right side wheel, the left side wheel mounted to the left side wheel mounting assembly, the right side wheel mounted to the right side wheel mounting assembly, each of the left side wheel and the right side wheel having a vertical centerline, each of the distal ends of the first upper control arm and the first lower control arm defining a plane substantially coplanar with the vertical centerline of the left side wheel, each of the distal ends of the second upper control arm and the second lower control arm defining a plane substantially coplanar with the vertical centerline of the right side wheel, a drive member selectively driving the rear wheels, the elongate frame of the vehicle leaning to the left when the suspension is in a left leaning position and the elongate frame of the vehicle leaning to the right when the suspension is in a right leaning position, the rocking member pivoting to the right side of the central frame member when the suspension is in a left leaning position and the rocking member pivoting to the left side of the central frame member when the suspension is in a right leaning position.