Patent US3865402A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3865402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bicycle
Assignee: Yamaha Corp of America
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A bicycle with a frame suspended on the wheels by telescoping shock absorbers that permit large vertical movements of the wheels when they hit bumps without producing large vertical movements of the bicycle frame, so that pedaling can continue uninterrupted in traversing rough terrain.
Inventors
- 👤 Darwin Zenser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:58
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K25/00; B62K25/04; B62K25/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
440 words
A bicycle comprising: a frame having a tubular primarily vertical front member for receiving a handlebar shaft, a tubular primarily vertical rear member for receiving a seat shaft, an elongated lower member for coupling the front member to the bottom of the rear member, a multiple connection member at the intersection of the lower and rear members, and a pair of elongated shock mount members joined to the vertical rear member and extending rearwardly therefrom; a pair of wheels with tires along their rims, including a front wheel at the front of the frame and a rear wheel at the rear of the frame; a pedal assembly rotatably mounted on the multiple connection member; a swing arm having a front end pivotally mounted on the multiple connection member and having a bifurcated rear end with arms on either side of the rear wheel and coupled to the rear wheel; a pair of rear shock absorbers, each including two telescoping tubes and a spring urging the tubes apart, one tube of each shock absorber having an upper end mounted on a mount member and the other tube having a lower end coupled to the swing arm; the distance between the pivot axis at the front of the swing arm and the upper end of the rear shock absorbers being equal to the distance between said front swing arm pivot axis and the lower end of the rear shock absorbers; a handlebar assembly having a shaft extending into the tubular front member to pivot thereon; upper and lower shock absorber brackets, the upper bracket lying at the top of the tubular front member and the lower bracket lying at the bottom of the tubular front member, each bracket being fixed to the handlebar assembly to pivot therewith; a pair of forward shock absorbers, each including two telescoping tubes and a spring urging the tubes apart, one tube of each front shock absorber having an upper end fixed to the two shock absorber brackets to fix the position and orientation of the tube, and the other of each front shock aobsorber coupled to the front wheel; and a pair of front fender members, including a short lower fender member extending in a loop closely around the tire of the front wheel and fixed to the lower tubes of the front shock absorber, and an upper fender member normally lying at least a few inches above the lower fender member and fixed with respect to the upper tubes, so that the upper fender member moves toward and away from the lower fender member when the front wheel passes over a bump in the road.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
440 words
A bicycle comprising: a frame having a tubular primarily vertical front member for receiving a handlebar shaft, a tubular primarily vertical rear member for receiving a seat shaft, an elongated lower member for coupling the front member to the bottom of the rear member, a multiple connection member at the intersection of the lower and rear members, and a pair of elongated shock mount members joined to the vertical rear member and extending rearwardly therefrom; a pair of wheels with tires along their rims, including a front wheel at the front of the frame and a rear wheel at the rear of the frame; a pedal assembly rotatably mounted on the multiple connection member; a swing arm having a front end pivotally mounted on the multiple connection member and having a bifurcated rear end with arms on either side of the rear wheel and coupled to the rear wheel; a pair of rear shock absorbers, each including two telescoping tubes and a spring urging the tubes apart, one tube of each shock absorber having an upper end mounted on a mount member and the other tube having a lower end coupled to the swing arm; the distance between the pivot axis at the front of the swing arm and the upper end of the rear shock absorbers being equal to the distance between said front swing arm pivot axis and the lower end of the rear shock absorbers; a handlebar assembly having a shaft extending into the tubular front member to pivot thereon; upper and lower shock absorber brackets, the upper bracket lying at the top of the tubular front member and the lower bracket lying at the bottom of the tubular front member, each bracket being fixed to the handlebar assembly to pivot therewith; a pair of forward shock absorbers, each including two telescoping tubes and a spring urging the tubes apart, one tube of each front shock absorber having an upper end fixed to the two shock absorber brackets to fix the position and orientation of the tube, and the other of each front shock aobsorber coupled to the front wheel; and a pair of front fender members, including a short lower fender member extending in a loop closely around the tire of the front wheel and fixed to the lower tubes of the front shock absorber, and an upper fender member normally lying at least a few inches above the lower fender member and fixed with respect to the upper tubes, so that the upper fender member moves toward and away from the lower fender member when the front wheel passes over a bump in the road.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
183 words
An assembly for a bicycle that includes front and rear wheels, and that also includes a frame with a front tubular part that extends downwardly and forwardly towards the front wheel to form a steering shaft bearing, comprising: upper and lower brackets for mounting respectively above and below the front tubular part of the frame; a pair of telescoping shock absorbers each having upper and lower shock members that telescope into one another, each upper shock member attached to both the upper and lower brackets; a lower fender member connecting together the upper ends of the lower shock members; an upper fender located between the lower bracket and the lower fender member, and coupled to the lower bracket to move up and down with it, the upper fender located above the top of the lower fender member by a disTance greater than the widest tire that can be received between the lower shock members under the lower fender member; and means at the lower ends of the lower shock members for mounting the lower shock members on the front wheel of the bicycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
183 words
An assembly for a bicycle that includes front and rear wheels, and that also includes a frame with a front tubular part that extends downwardly and forwardly towards the front wheel to form a steering shaft bearing, comprising: upper and lower brackets for mounting respectively above and below the front tubular part of the frame; a pair of telescoping shock absorbers each having upper and lower shock members that telescope into one another, each upper shock member attached to both the upper and lower brackets; a lower fender member connecting together the upper ends of the lower shock members; an upper fender located between the lower bracket and the lower fender member, and coupled to the lower bracket to move up and down with it, the upper fender located above the top of the lower fender member by a disTance greater than the widest tire that can be received between the lower shock members under the lower fender member; and means at the lower ends of the lower shock members for mounting the lower shock members on the front wheel of the bicycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
326 words
A bicycle comprising: front and rear wheels having axles; a frame having forward and rearward ends, the forward end having a pair of front mount locations above the level of the front wheel axle and the rearward end having a pair of rear mount locations above the level of the rear wheel axle, the frame having a multiple connection member located between the wheels and forming a pedal bearing and a swing arm bearing, and the frame including a tubular rear frame member extending upwardly and rearwardly from the connection member and a lower frame member extending forwardly and upwardly from the connection member, said connection member connecting said rear and lower frame members; a seat mounted on the frame for holding a rider, said seat including a shaft adjustably mounted in said tubular rear member and including a seat at the top; a pedal assembly rotatably mounted on the pedal bearing, for rotational driving by the rider; chain means coupling the pedal assembly to the rear wheel; a swing arm having a forward end rotatably mounted on the swing arm bearing and a rearward end rotatably connected to the rear wheel; a pair of telescoping rear shock absorbers connecting the rear mount locations of the frame to the rearward end of the swing arm; and a pair of telescoping front shock absorbers having upper portions connected to the front mount location of the frame and having lower portions rotatably coupled to the front wheel; the frame including a front member (26) coupled to the front end of the lower frame member and also including a pair of elongated shock-mount members (40, 42) extending rearwardly from a location near the front of the lower frame member, said mount members extending on opposite sides of the rear frame member and joined thereto and said mount members extending behind the rear frame member, each of said rear shock absorbers joined to a different one of the mount members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
326 words
A bicycle comprising: front and rear wheels having axles; a frame having forward and rearward ends, the forward end having a pair of front mount locations above the level of the front wheel axle and the rearward end having a pair of rear mount locations above the level of the rear wheel axle, the frame having a multiple connection member located between the wheels and forming a pedal bearing and a swing arm bearing, and the frame including a tubular rear frame member extending upwardly and rearwardly from the connection member and a lower frame member extending forwardly and upwardly from the connection member, said connection member connecting said rear and lower frame members; a seat mounted on the frame for holding a rider, said seat including a shaft adjustably mounted in said tubular rear member and including a seat at the top; a pedal assembly rotatably mounted on the pedal bearing, for rotational driving by the rider; chain means coupling the pedal assembly to the rear wheel; a swing arm having a forward end rotatably mounted on the swing arm bearing and a rearward end rotatably connected to the rear wheel; a pair of telescoping rear shock absorbers connecting the rear mount locations of the frame to the rearward end of the swing arm; and a pair of telescoping front shock absorbers having upper portions connected to the front mount location of the frame and having lower portions rotatably coupled to the front wheel; the frame including a front member (26) coupled to the front end of the lower frame member and also including a pair of elongated shock-mount members (40, 42) extending rearwardly from a location near the front of the lower frame member, said mount members extending on opposite sides of the rear frame member and joined thereto and said mount members extending behind the rear frame member, each of said rear shock absorbers joined to a different one of the mount members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
A bicycle comprising: front and rear wheels; a frame coupled to said front and rear wheels, said frame having a front tubular part that extends downwardly and forwardly towards the front wheel to form a steering shaft bearing; upper and lower brackets mounted respectively above and below said front tubular part of the frame; a pair of telescoping shock absorbers each having upper and lower shock members that telescope into one another, each upper shock member attached to said upper and lower brackets; a lower member connecting together the upper ends of the lower shock members; an upper fender located between the lower bracket and the lower member, and coupled to the lower bracket to move up and down with it, the upper fender located above the top of the lower member by a distance greater than the widest tire that can be received between the lower shock members under the lower member; and means at the lower ends of the lower shock members for mounting the lower shock members on the front wheel of the bicycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
177 words
A bicycle comprising: front and rear wheels; a frame coupled to said front and rear wheels, said frame having a front tubular part that extends downwardly and forwardly towards the front wheel to form a steering shaft bearing; upper and lower brackets mounted respectively above and below said front tubular part of the frame; a pair of telescoping shock absorbers each having upper and lower shock members that telescope into one another, each upper shock member attached to said upper and lower brackets; a lower member connecting together the upper ends of the lower shock members; an upper fender located between the lower bracket and the lower member, and coupled to the lower bracket to move up and down with it, the upper fender located above the top of the lower member by a distance greater than the widest tire that can be received between the lower shock members under the lower member; and means at the lower ends of the lower shock members for mounting the lower shock members on the front wheel of the bicycle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |