Patent ID: 7077410

Claim:
A suspension system connecting a wheel axle to a vehicle frame, comprising: (a) a single trailing arm connected to the wheel axle for pivotal movement with respect to the frame about a pivot axis; (b) a pair of coaxial extension members connected to a first end of the trailing arm and extending along the pivot axis to define a pair of trailing arm support regions displaced apart from one another along the pivot axis, at least one of the support regions positioned remote from the central longitudinal axis of the trailing arm; (c) a support connected to the frame extending along the pivot axis adjacent the trailing arm support regions; (d) a pair of extension bearing members interposed between the extension members and the support each adjacent a corresponding trailing arm support region rotatably connecting the extension members and support together, the extension bearing members acting together to restrict axial movement of the trailing arm along the pivot axis and radial movement of the trailing arm away from the pivot axis so that rotational movement of the trailing arm about an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis is restricted; (e) an axle connector connecting the trailing arm to the wheel axle; and (f) an axle connector bearing member positioned coaxially with respect to the trailing arm longitudinal axis between the trailing arm and the axle connector, the axle connector bearing member permitting rotational movement of the axle with respect to the trailing arm about the trailing arm longitudinal axis.