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EP0508134A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Wheel suspension system for bicycle

Assignee: Astemo Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-03-11
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2012-03-11
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Abstract

Abstract A wheel suspension system for a bicycle is provided with a telescopically coupled sliding tube (22) and a fork leg (23) forming a suspension assembly with a shock absorber assembly. The fork leg is provided satisfactorily high rigidity for withstanding torsional torque which is potentially exerted through a brake lever during application of brake. The fork leg with sufficient rigidity can be formed from a tubular material. For this purpose, the wheel suspension system comprises a pair of left and right sliding tubes secured to a steering bracket which is rotatably supported in the front portion of a body frame of the bicycle, a pair of left and right fork legs supporting front wheels of and slidably receiving corresponding one of the sliding tubes, shock absorber assemblies (24) respectively disposed between respective of associated sliding tubes and the fork legs, cross member holders (26) externally mounted on the outer peripheries of the upper portions of the fork legs, and a cross member provided a predetermined torsional strength and bridging over the cross member holders.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toshio C/O Showa Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Ohma

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 22:11
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K25/00; B62K25/04; B62K25/06; B62K25/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
A wheel suspension system for a bicycle comprising: a pair of left and right sliding tubes secured to a steering bracket which is rotatably supported in the front portion of a body frame of the bicycle; a pair of left and right fork legs supporting front wheels of and slidably receiving corresponding one of said sliding tubes; shock absorber assemblies respectively disposed between respective of associated sliding tubes and said fork legs; cross member holders externally mounted on the outer peripheries of the upper portions of said fork legs; and a cross member provided a predetermined torsional strength and bridging over said cross member holders.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 69 words
A wheel suspension system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said cross member holders is provided front and rear mounting sections, a front cross member is provided for bridging between the front mounting sections of said cross member holders on respective of left and right fork legs, and a rear cross member is provided for bridging between the rear mounting sections of said cross member holders.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
A wheel suspension system as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said cross member holder is mounted on the outer periphery of said fork member with establishing projection and recess engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 207 words
A wheel suspension system for a bicycle comprising: a pair of left and right sliding tubes secured to a steering bracket which is rotatably supported in the front portion of a body frame of the bicycle; a pair of left and right fork legs supporting front wheels of and slidably receiving corresponding one of said sliding tubes; shock absorber assemblies respectively disposed between respective of associated sliding tubes and said fork legs; said shock absorber assembly including a piston body defining an upper chamber at the side of said sliding tube and a lower chamber at the side of said fork leg; a first valve disposed in said piston at the side of said upper chamber and normally biased for closing a compression stroke flow passage for fluid flow from said lower chamber to said upper chamber; a second valve disposed in said piston body at the side of said lower chamber sand responsive to a fluid pressure difference between said upper and lower chambers during extention stroke to open a extention stroke flow passage for fluid from said upper chamber to said lower chamber; and a flow restrictive communication passage constantly establishing fluid communication between said upper and lower chambers in a limited fluid flow rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 66 words
A wheel suspension system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said second valve comprises a disc valve which comprises an inner annular portion, an outer annular portion and a connecting portion extending between said inner and outer annular portions, said inner annular portion being secured on said piston body, and said outer annular portion is located at a position closing said extention stroke flow passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 60 words
A wheel suspension system as set forth in claim 4 or 5, wherein a spring seat is provided for said valve spring of said first valve, which spring seat is adjustable of the axial position for varying the spring force to be exerted on said first valve with an adjusting means externally inserted into said sliding tube in rotatable fashion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 98 words
A fork leg for a wheel suspension system of a bicycle formed through a process of forming the fork leg from a tubular material, defining a damping force generating fluid chamber into which a sliding tube is slidably inserted, and forming a wheel axle support at the lower reduced diameter portion of said fork leg, wherein an end member for defining said fluid chamber being arranged within said fork leg, said end member being integrally fixed within said fork leg during reducing forging process for the lower portion of said fork leg to form said reduced diameter portion.

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