Patent ID: 9061729
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: B62K

Abstract:
1. A suspension system for supporting a frame of a vehicle on at least one wheel of the vehicle, the wheel being coupled via a chain to a chain ring located on the frame and the chain ring being rotatable to apply a driving force to the wheel along a tension segment of the chain, the suspension system comprising: a structural member supporting an axle of the wheel; a first linkage arm connecting the structural member to the frame, the first linkage arm including a first anchor pivot joint rotatably coupling the first linkage arm to the frame and a first floating pivot joint rotatably coupling the first linkage arm to the structural member; a second linkage arm connecting the structural member to the frame, the second linkage arm including a second anchor pivot joint rotatably coupling the second linkage arm to the frame and a second floating pivot joint rotatably coupling the second linkage arm to the structural member; a shock absorber coupled between the frame and one of the structural member, the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm, the shock absorber being configured to flexibly maintain a separation between the frame and the structural member, wherein a first linkage line extending through the first floating pivot joint and the first anchor pivot joint intersects with a second linkage line extending through the second floating pivot joint and the second anchor pivot joint to define an instantaneous center of rotation (IC) of the structural member, wherein a perturbation of the suspension system causes a plurality of intersecting axle lines extending from the axle to the IC to define a center of curvature (CC) of the axle at the intersections thereof, wherein the second linkage arm is between the chain ring and the first linkage arm, and wherein a location of the CC is bounded by a first vertical line drawn through the second anchor pivot joint and a second vertical line drawn through the second floating pivot joint, and the CC is disposed within a predetermined radius of a tangent contact point between the tension segment of the chain and the chain ring throughout a range motion of the suspension system, the predetermined radius being less than one half of a radius of the chain ring.