Patent Publication Number: US-2011068555-A1

Title: Quick Release Disk Brake System and Steering Lock-Suspension System

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to releasable wheel-disk brake combinations and steering lock suspension system combinations for vehicles. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/244,664. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Vehicles, especially those propelled by human exertion, such as bicycles, strollers, stroller-cycles and joggers, often provide means for quick and convenient disassembly. A convertible stroller-cycle, for example, may be operated as a single vehicle whereby a cycle portion propels a stroller portion such that, e.g., an adult cycle rider may transport a child seated in the stroller portion. The stroller portion is ideally adapted to quickly and easily disassemble from the cycle portion such that the cycle portion and stroller portion may be operated independently. Such disassembly would generally involve removal of one or more wheels from the vehicle. Exemplary convertible stroller-cycles are described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2010/0032925 (Ehrenreich, et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,184 (Ehrenreich, et al.), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Disk brakes are sometimes used on vehicles propelled by human exertion. Typically with such vehicles, e.g., a bicycle, the disk brake is unitary with the wheel hub. A portion of the disk brake is usually surrounded on both sides by a brake caliper with pistons that are adapted to press against the disk when actuated in order to achieve braking. With this configuration, the wheel cannot be disassembled from the vehicle in a direction in line with the axis of rotation of the wheel because the brake caliper obstructs removal of the wheel in that direction. Thus, the wheel must be removed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel. Some vehicles, however, such as the stroller portion of the stroller-cycle described above, are configured in such a way as not to allow for disassembly of a wheel in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel. Accordingly, what is needed is a vehicle that is braked with a disk brake which allows for removal of a wheel in a direction in line with the axis of rotation of the wheel. 
     Further, a vehicle such as the stroller portion of the stroller-cycle described above may include rear wheels which are adapted for steering when the stroller is assembled with the cycle. These wheels, however, are ideally prevented from steering when the stroller portion is disassembled from the cycle. A steering lock may be used to prevent steering in such situations. Also, a vehicle such as the stroller portion of the stroller-cycle, ideally would include a shock absorption system to increase comfort of a passenger and reduce wear and tear on the vehicle. 
     However, the combination of both a steering lock and suspension system on such a vehicle has not been implemented, likely because a typical suspension system includes a spring which obstructs the mating surface that would otherwise interlock with a steering lock. Accordingly, what is needed is a combination suspension system and steering lock for a wheel assembly on such a vehicle. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a disk brake rotatably mounted thereto and a wheel that is removably securable to the disk brake. The disk brake and wheel form a single rotational unit when secured to each other. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of removing a wheel from a vehicle is provided. The wheel has a central axis of rotation. A disk brake is rotatably mounted to the vehicle. The disk brake and wheel have interlocking mating pieces that when interlocked, unite the disk brake and wheel into a single rotational unit. The method includes separating the wheel from the disk brake in a direction in line with the axis of rotation of the wheel. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination suspension system and steering lock for a wheel assembly on a vehicle. The wheel assembly is secured to a steering post which is adapted to provide steering rotation of a wheel on the wheel assembly. The steering post is inserted through first and second flanges of the vehicle. The combination includes a spring around at least a portion of the steering post between the first and second flanges and a locking post adjacent to the steering post. The locking post is adapted to engage the steering post in a locked position wherein steering rotation of the wheel is prevented. The locking post is further adapted to release the steering post in an unlocked position wherein steering rotation of the wheel is enabled. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawing in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exemplary fully assembled vehicle for pushing and riding, e.g., a stroller-cycle; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exemplary pushing section of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of a wheel-disk brake combination in a released state and a combination suspension system and steering lock. 
         FIG. 4  shows an isolated isometric view of the disk brake and a portion of the wheel of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5A  shows an isometric view of the combination suspension system and steering lock of  FIG. 3  in a locked position. 
         FIG. 5B  shows an isometric view of the combination suspension system and steering lock of  FIG. 3  in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 6A  shows a sectional view along section line  6 A- 6 A of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6B  shows a sectional view along section line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 5B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exemplary vehicle  2  for pushing and riding, e.g., a convertible stroller-cycle. The vehicle  2  has a pushing section  4  comprising a stroller for a passenger and a riding section  6  comprising a cycle for a rider. As explained in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2010/0032925 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,184, the pushing section  4  and riding section  6  may be operated independently of one another. That is, the pushing section  4  may be used, e.g., as a stroller that can be pushed by a user while walking or running and the riding section  6  may be operated independently as a cycle. 
     Separate pushing and riding sections  4 , 6  may be easily and quickly coupled to one another and thus converted into to the vehicle  2  without tools, e.g., in the manner described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2010/0032925 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,184, so that a rider on the riding section  6  may transport a passenger on the pushing section  4 . The vehicle  2  may also be easily separated without tools, in the manner described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2010/0032925 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,184, so that the pushing section  4  and riding section  6  may be used separately. The vehicle  2  described and shown herein is merely illustrative of a vehicle with which aspects of the present invention may be implemented. It is contemplated that various aspects of the present invention may be implemented with any vehicle, especially those propelled by human exertion, including, but not limited to, bicycles, strollers, stroller-cycles and joggers. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an exemplary pushing section  4  of the vehicle  2  of  FIG. 1 . The pushing section  4  includes a pair of wheels  12  towards the rear thereof and a pair of casters  14  towards the front thereof, the casters  14  balancing the pushing section  4  when the pushing section  4  is operated separately from the riding section  6 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in one aspect, the present invention relates to a quick release disk brake system  30 . The quick release disk brake system  30  may be incorporated, e.g., onto the pushing section  4  of the vehicle  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For example, a disk brake  32  of the quick release disk brake system  30  may be rotatably mounted to the pushing section  4  and adapted for rotary motion about a central axis of rotation  38 . Preferably, the disk brake  32  is secured to a tubular wheel mount  33 , which is rotatable about the central axis of rotation  38 . The wheel mount  33  includes a hole  35  that is aligned with the center of the disk brake  32 . 
     The quick release disk brake system  30  further includes a wheel hub  40  and an axle  42  protruding axially therefrom, the wheel hub  40  being central to and integral with the wheel  12 . The axle  42  is adapted to fit tightly inside the hole  35  of the wheel mount  33  and provide load bearing support for the pushing section  4 . Once the axle  42  is fully inserted into the wheel mount  33 , the axle  42  is preferably retained therein by a quick release mechanism (not shown) such as that described in ¶84 of U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2010/0032925, thereby securely fastening the wheel  12  to the pushing section  4  until released, e.g., via the quick release mechanism. 
     The disk brake  32  further comprises a disk mating piece  44  that is located about the center of the disk brake  32 , on the side facing the wheel  12 . The wheel hub  40  further comprises a hub mating piece  46  that is located on the side of the wheel hub  40  facing the disk brake  32 . The disk mating piece  44  preferably has a generally circular interior with a pattern of hills and valleys  48  and the hub mating piece  46  preferably has a generally circular exterior with a pattern of hills and valleys  50 . The patterns of hills and valleys  48 , 50  are adapted to interlock with each other in order to secure the mating pieces  44 , 46  to each other and form a single rotational unit comprising the wheel  12  and the disk brake  32 . Although patters of hills and valleys  48 , 50  are preferred, various alternative interlocking geometries may be used to achieve the same objective. 
     When a user wishes to secure the wheel  12  to the wheel mount  33 , the user inserts the axle  42  into the hole  35  in the wheel mount  33  and pushes the wheel  12  in a direction in line with the central axis of rotation  38 , towards the wheel mount  33 . This is done until the hub mating piece  46  is inserted into the disk mating piece  44  such that the respective patterns of hills and valleys  48 , 50  interlock and thus mate with each other. In this position, the wheel  12  and disk brake  32  form a single rotational unit wherein the wheel  12  is rotationally dependent on the disk brake  32 , such that when the disk brake  32  is actuated to slow down and/or stop, so too is the wheel  12 . Additionally, in this position, the wheel  12  is secured to the wheel mount  33  such that removal of the wheel  12  therefrom preferably requires actuation of the quick release mechanism. Once the quick release mechanism is actuated, the wheel  12  is no longer secured to the wheel mount  33  and may thus be removed by pulling the wheel  12  away from the wheel mount  33  in a direction in line with the central axis of rotation  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the pushing section  4  further includes a standard brake caliper  34  having pistons  36  on both sides of the disk brake  32 . When a user actuates a braking mechanism (not shown), e.g., a hand brake, such action causes the pistons  36  to press against the disk brake  32 , thereby slowing or stopping rotation of the disk brake  32  and wheel  12 , thus achieving braking. 
     In typical disk brake configurations (especially with vehicles such as bicycles), the disk brake is unitary with the wheel hub. With such configurations, the wheel is removable from the vehicle in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of rotation of the wheel. However, the position of the caliper and pistons on both sides of the disk brake renders removal of the wheel in a direction in line with the central axis of rotation impossible, because the caliper obstructs removal of the wheel in this manner. For vehicles which do not allow for removal of a wheel in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the quick release disk brake system  30  enables a user to remove (and reapply) a wheel, which is braked with a disk brake, in a direction in line with the central axis of rotation. In other words, unlike typical disk brake configurations, the positioning of the brake caliper  34  relative to the quick release disk brake system  30  does not obstruct removal of the wheel  12  in a direction in line with the central axis of rotation  38 . This is because the unique configuration of the quick release disk brake system  30  allows the wheel  12  to be removed from the disk brake  32 , while the disk brake  32  remains rotatably mounted to the vehicle. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is shown in FIGS.  3  and  5 A- 5 B a combination suspension system and steering lock mechanism  100 , which is adapted to prevent accidental steering by locking the wheel  12  from turning left or right, e.g., when the pushing section  4  is used as a stroller, jogger or trailer. The combination  100  provides shock absorption as well. 
     In one embodiment, the combination  100  includes a bracket  102  mounted to the pushing section  4  above the wheel mount  33 , the bracket  102  having a top flange  104  and a bottom flange  106 . The wheel mount  33  is secured to a steering post  108  that protrudes upwards through a hole in the bottom flange  106 , continuing through the bracket  102  and then into another hole in the top flange  104 . Preferably, a steering apparatus (not shown) is connected to the steering post  108 , the steering apparatus being adapted to provide steering rotation of the steering post  108  and hence, the wheel  12 . 
     A generally circular collar  110  is rigidly secured to the steering post  108  and is preferably located immediately above the bottom flange  106 . A compression spring  112  surrounds a portion of the steering post  108  and sits between the collar  110  and the top flange  104 . 
     The spring  112  provides shock absorption when, for example, the wheel  12  rides over uneven terrain. The steering post  108  is permitted limited movement in an up-down direction. Thus, for example, if the wheel  12  rides over a bump, the steering post  108  moves slightly upwards. This motion compresses the spring  112  against the top flange  104  thus causing the spring  112  to absorb some of the resulting shock. 
     The combination suspension system and steering lock mechanism  100  further comprises a locking post  114 , which is located in the bracket  102 , adjacent and parallel to the steering post  108 . The locking post  114  preferably protrudes through the top flange  104  and may be adjusted, i.e., rotated, by a knob  120  that is rigidly secured to the top of the locking post  114 , above the top flange  104 . On one side of the locking post  114 , there is a vertical cut-away  122 . When the cut-away  122  faces the collar  110 , as shown in  FIG. 5B , there is clearance between the locking post  114  and the collar  110  such that the locking post  114  does not impede the ability of the steering post  108  (as well as the wheel  12 ) to rotate (e.g., for steering). One side of the collar  110  also includes a vertical cut-away  124 , which is most clearly shown in  FIG. 3 . The geometry of this cut-away  124  substantially matches the circular geometry of the circumference of the locking post  114  so as to enable the locking post  114  to mate with the cut-away  124 , e.g., in the manner discussed, infra. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5A , the combination suspension system and steering lock mechanism  100  is shown in a locked position. The locked position is characterized by engagement of the locking post  114  with the cut-away  124  of the collar  110 , which prevents steering rotation of the collar  110  and steering post  108 . This locked position is most clearly illustrated in  FIG. 6A , which is a cross-sectional view along section line  6 A- 6 A of  FIG. 5A . 
     In order to adjust the combination suspension system and steering lock mechanism  100  from its locked position to an unlocked position, a user would rotate the knob  120 , e.g., such that the cut-away  122  of the locking post  114  faces the collar  110 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . As best shown in  FIG. 6B , which is a cross-sectional view along section line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 5B , the unlocked position is characterized by clearance between the locking post  114  and the collar  110 . Accordingly, when the combination suspension system and steering lock mechanism  100  is in its unlocked position, the steering post  108  is free to rotate, e.g., to enable steering of the wheel  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , when the cut-away  122  of the locking post  114  faces the collar  110 , there is clearance between the top of the collar  110  and the ledge  123  of the cut-away  122 . This clearance allows the collar  110  to move up and down so that shock absorption may take place, as described supra. Whether the combination suspension system and steering lock mechanism  100  is in its locked or unlocked positions, the steering post  108  is adapted to move up and down while the spring  112  provides shock absorption. 
     It should be understood that the above description and the accompanying drawing figures are merely exemplary and do not limit the scope of the claimed invention. One skilled in the art would appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made to the above example without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.