Patent ID: 6186487
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A shock absorbing post assembly for crutch and bicycle seat applications, comprising:(a) an elongated outer tube including an exterior surface with circumferential portions lying along an outer cylinder encompassing said outer tube and a plurality of outer races formed longitudinally along and circumferentially spaced apart from one another about said outer tube and disposed within said outer cylinder between and inwardly of said circumferential portions of said exterior surface of said outer tube;(b) an elongated inner shaft partially received in said outer tube such that said inner shaft extends beyond said outer tube, said inner shaft including an exterior surface with circumferential portions lying along an inner cylinder encompassing said inner shaft and a plurality of inner races formed longitudinally along and circumferentially spaced apart from one another about said inner tube and respectively in alignment with said outer races of said outer tube so as to provide a plurality of pairs of aligned outer and inner races, said inner races being disposed within said inner cylinder between and inwardly of said circumferential portions of said exterior surface of said inner shaft;(c) a plurality of guide elements disposed between and extending within said pairs of aligned outer and inner races so as to permit said inner shaft to undergo reciprocatory sliding movement relative to said outer tube and thereby extend from and retract into said outer tube between corresponding extended and depressed positions relative to said outer tube, wherein said guide elements include a plurality of elongated rods; and(d) means disposed in said outer tube for yieldably supporting said inner shaft at said extended position relative to said outer tube while permitting said inner shaft to retract into said outer tube toward said depressed position in response to said post assembly receiving a shock impact thereon.