US3866946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motorcycle steering head angle adjustment
Assignee: Bombardier Inc
•
Filing: 1973-10-11
•
Granted: 1975-02-18
•
Expires: 1993-10-11
Abstract
Abstract The front fork of a motorcycle is carried by a steering spindle mounted for angular rotation about the axis of the steering spindle in the steering head member of a motorcycle frame. The steering spindle is rotatable in bearing assemblies at opposite ends of the steering head member of the motorcycle frame, and provision is made for adjustment of the steering head angle by the inclusion in at least one of these bearing assemblies of an eccentric member. The eccentric member is arranged for assembly alternatively in either of two diametrically opposed angular orientations to position the axis of steering spindle in a corresponding one of two angular positions in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the motorcycle frame. A series of eccentric members of different eccentricity may be provided so that a wide range of steering head angle adjustment may be provided. It is known to mount the front fork of a motorcycle in an angularly adjustable pivoted harness to achieve adjustment of the steering head angle, but this is prone to maladjustment during use, while adding to the weight and detracting from the aesthetic value of the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary A Robison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:54
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K19/00; B62K19/30; B62K19/32; B62K21/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A mechanism for adjustment of the steering head angle of the front fork of a motorcycle, said mechanism comprising; a steering head spindle; two bearing means arranged at locations spaced longitudinally of the spindle, said bearing means mounting said spindle in a motorcycle frame for angular rotation about a generally upright axis in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the motorcycle; means coupling said front fork to said spindle in fixed relation thereto for rotation with said spindle; one of said bearing means including adjustment means operable to vary the angular position of said axis in said vertical plane thereby to vary the steering head angle of said front fork.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A mechanism for adjustment of the steering head angle of the front fork of a motorcycle, said mechanism comprising; a steering head spindle; two bearing means arranged at locations spaced longitudinally of the spindle, said bearing means mounting said spindle in a motorcycle frame for angular rotation about a generally upright axis in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the motorcycle; means coupling said front fork to said spindle in fixed relation thereto for rotation with said spindle; one of said bearing means including adjustment means operable to vary the angular position of said axis in said vertical plane thereby to vary the steering head angle of said front fork.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An adjustment mechanism according to claim 1 wherein each of said bearing means includes such adjustment means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
An adjustment mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises an eccentric member in said bearing means, said eccentric member being selectively engageable in said bearing means alternatively in either of two diammetrically opposed orientations to position said axis in a corresponding one of two angular positions in said plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An adjustment mechanism according to claim 3 wherein each of said bearing means includes such an adjustment means such that each bearing means is independently selectively engageable to provide two alternative angular positions for said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
An adjustment means according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes a steering head member through which said spindle extends, said bearing means comprising self-aligning spherical ball or roller thrust bearing assemblies mounted at opposite ends of said steering head member, said bearing assemblies each including relatively rotatable inner and outer races in fixed relation to the spindle and steering head member respectively, said adjustment means comprising an eccentric member in One of said bearing assemblies mounted between one of said races and the associated spindle or steering head member, said eccentric member being engageable alternatively in two diammetrically opposed angular orientations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adjustment mechanism according to claim 5 wherein such adjustment means is provided in both of said bearing assemblies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
An adjustment mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes a steering head member through which said spindle extends, said bearing means each comprising a tubular journal bearing fitting over said spindle and carried in an annular bearing retainer the bearing retainer being received in an annular seating surface in a bearing cup, mounted in a respective end of said steering head member, at least one of said bearing cups having a seating surface which is eccentric with respect to the end of the steering head member and being engageable therewith alternatively in two diammetrically opposed angular orientations, in each bearing means the bearing surface of said bearing cup and the mating surface of said bearing retainer being spherically curved to accommodate alignment of the spindle in each of the orientations of the eccentric bearing cup.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adjustment mechanism according to claim 7 wherein each of said bearing cups includes such an eccentric seating surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An adjustment mechanism according to claim 8 in combination with a series of replacement bearing cups of different eccentricities which can be added to the assembly to provide a range of variations in the steering head angle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
An adjustment mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said eccentric member comprises a bearing cone having an eccentric bore in which said spindle is rotatably received, and a spherically curved outer surface received in a mating surface in a cup carried in a steering head member of the motorcycle frame, said bearing cone being engageable in said cup selectively in either of two diammetrically opposed orientations said bearing means including key means operative to prevent relative rotation between said bearing cone and said cup.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1478052A
Cited
US1972840A
Cited
US2180046A
Cited
US2986086A
Cited
US3342507A
Cited
US3635103A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |