Patent ID: 6152472
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B62K

Abstract:
A stability maintaining and shock absorbing bicycle front fork assembly for mounting a front bicycle wheel on a bicycle for rotation of the front bicycle wheel about a displaceable axis of rotation, comprising:a steering spindle for pivotal mounting on a front frame portion of a bicycle, said steering spindle defining a steering axis longitudinally thereof;a top crown member and a bottom crown member each rigidly attached to said steering spindle for pivotal movement therewith;a single arm fork member having a top end and a bottom end, and being rigidly attached adjacent its top end to said top and bottom crown members so as to depend therefrom;a swing arm assembly pivotally mounted on said single arm fork member, for pivotal movement of said swing arm assembly about a swing arm pivot axis oriented generally parallel to said displaceable axis of rotation of said front bicycle wheel and generally perpendicular to said steering axis, and disposed forwardly of said steering axis;hub means defining said displaceable axis of rotation for a front bicycle wheel, and disposed on said swing arm assembly so as to permit mounting of a front bicycle wheel thereon, whereby the front bicycle wheel can rotate about said displaceable axis of rotation;wherein, when a front bicycle wheel is mounted on said hub means, said swing arm assembly is pivotally movable between a forward position whereat said displaceable axis of rotation is disposed forwardly of said steering axis and between said steering axis and said swing arm pivot axis, and a trailing position whereat the displaceable axis of rotation is disposed closer to said steering axis than when in said forward position, and is also displaced vertically closer to said swing arm pivot axis than when in said forward position;variable length shock absorbing means comprising an upper component and a lower component, wherein said upper and lower components are slidably engaged one with the other for relative movement between an extended configuration and a compressed configuration, with said upper component securely mounted on said single arm fork member; anda linkage arm assembly having a top end and a bottom end, and being pivotally mounted at its bottom end to said swing arm assembly for pivotal movement about a linkage arm lower axis, and pivotally mounted at its top end to said lower component of said shock absorbing means for pivotal movement about a linkage arm upper axis, with said linkage arm upper and lower axes being substantially parallel to said displaceable axis of rotation;wherein said linkage arm assembly comprises a lower linkage arm and an upper shock linkage arm assembly pivotally mounted one to the other, wherein said lower linkage arm includes said bottom end, and said upper shock linkage arm assembly has a first end and a second end;wherein said upper shock linkage arm assembly is pivotally mounted at said first end to said lower linkage arm, and is pivotally mounted at said second end to said single arm fork member, and includes said top end; andwherein said variable length shock absorbing means is spring biased to said extended configuration so as to bias said swing arm assembly to its forward position.