Adjustable deflection limiting element for trailing arm assembly

Claim 1

In a trailing arm mechanism having a support frame, a trailing arm pivotally mounted on the support frame, a frame spring anchoring means fixed to the support frame at a position lower than the pivotal axis of the trailing arm, an arm spring anchoring means fixed to the trailing arm at a position on the underside of the arm remote from the pivotal axis thereof, and a coil spring normally under tension connected between the spring anchoring means, and wherein the support frame comprises a pair of vertical parallel plates one on each side of the trailing arm and closely spaced therefrom and extending rearwardly from the pivotal axis to provide lateral support for the trailing arm; the improvement comprising an adjustable stop element for limiting the downward pivotal movement of the trailing arm, said stop element being rotatably transversely mounted between the parallel plates forwardly of the arm spring anchoring means underneath the trailing arm and having an axis of rotation generally parallel to the pivotal axis of the trailing arm, the stop element having a plurality of abutment surfaces at varying distances from the axis of rotation thereof engageable with the underside of the trailing arm, the stop element being adjustably rotatable and fastenable to the support frame to present any selected one of said abutment surfaces to the trailing arm.