Automatic suspension system

Claim 3

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid regulating means is selected from the group consisting of air regulating means and hydraulic regulating means.

Claim 4

The invention set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for measuring the suspension characteristics of said suspension means and means coupling said control means to said measuring means.

Claim 5

The invention set forth in claim 3 further comprising indicator means coupled to said control means and to said measuring means to visually indicate any deviation in suspension characteristics from those characteristics required to maintain said suspension means in its second position.

Claim 6

The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein said measuring means is selected from the group consisting of means for measuring the fluid pressure of said suspension means or means for measuring the length of said suspension means.

Claim 7

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid regulating means comprises pump means for supplying fluid to said suspension means and exhaust means for permitting fluid to be exhausted from said suspension means.

Claim 8

The invention se forth in claim 1 further comprising suspension selection means coupled to said control means to change said second position of said suspension means.

Claim 9

The invention set forth in claim 7 wherein said selection means is selected from the group consisting of a selection means providing a continual range pf second positions and a selection means providing at least two different preselected second positions for said suspension means.

Claim 10

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means is selected from the group consisting of relay means or microprocessor means.

Claim 11

A motorcycle having front and rear suspension systems, the improvement comprising an apparatus for causing said motorcycle to be placed in a first lower position when said motorcycle is at rest or is being operated below a preselected speed and/or is decelerating at or above a predetermined rate and for causing said motorcycle to be elevated from said first position when said motorcycle is being operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a predetermined rate, said apparatus comprising: means for continuously sensing the speed of said motorcycle and for generating a signal responsive thereto; means for selectively extending the length and increasing the spring rate and/or preload of said front and rear suspension systems to elevate said motorcycle from said first lower position; control means coupled to said sensing means and to said extending means, said control means being responsive to said signal from said sensing means and said control means including means for causing said extension means to elevate said motorcycle from said first lower position when said motorcycle is being operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a preselected rate.

Claim 12

A motorcycle having front and rear suspension systems, the improvement comprising an apparatus for causing said motorcycle to be placed in a first lower position when said motorcycle is at rest or is being operated below a preselected speed and/or is decelerating at or above a predetermined rate and for causing said motorcycle to be elevated from said first position when said motorcycle is being operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a predetermined rate, said apparatus comprising: means for continuously sensing the speed of said motorcycle and for generating a signal responsive thereto; means for selectively extending the length and increasing the spring rate and/or preload of said front and rear suspension systems to elevate said motorcycle from said first lower position; control means coupled to said sensing means and to said extending means, said control means being responsive to said signal from said sensing means and said control means including means for causing said extension means to elevate said motorcycle from said first lower position when said motorcycle is being operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a preselected rate.

Claim 13

The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein said extending means includes means for supplying fluid to and exhausting fluid from said suspension systems.

Claim 14

The invention set forth in claim 11 wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of air and hydraulic fluid.

Claim 15

The invention set forth in claim 11 wherein said supplying means includes pump means.

Claim 16

The invention set forth in claim 10 further comprising means for measuring the suspension characteristics of said suspension systems and means coupling said measuring means to said control means.

Claim 17

The invention set forth in claim 14 further comprising indicator means coupled to said control means and to said measuring means to visually indicate any deviation in suspension characteristics from those characteristics required to maintain said motorcycle is in its elevated position.

Claim 18

The invention set forth in claim 11 wherein said measuring means is selected from the group consisting of means for measuring the fluid pressure of said suspension means and means for measuring the length of said suspension means.

Claim 19

The invention set forth in claim 10 further comprising selection means coupled to said control means to change the amount of said elevation of said motorcycle.

Claim 20

The invention set forth in claim 17 wherein said selection means is selected from the group consisting of a selector means providing a continual range of different elevated positions and a selection means providing at least two different preselected elevated positions for said motorcycle.

Claim 21

The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein said control means is selected from the group consisting of relay means or microprocessor means.

Claim 22

A motorcycle including a fluid adjustable front fork suspension system and fluid adjustable rear shock absorbers, said motorcycle further comprising: fluid regulating means to selectively alter the front fork suspension system and said rear shock absorbers from a first position wherein said front fork suspension system and rear shock absorbers have a first length and first spring rate to a second position wherein said front fork suspension system and said rear shock absorbers have an increased length and increased spring rate; means for sensing motorcycle speed, said sensing means generating a first signal means indicative thereof; control means coupled to said sensing means and to said fluid regulating means, said control means including means to generate a second signal to said fluid regulating means in response to said first signal, measuring means coupled to said control means and to said front fork suspension system and to said rear shock absorbers for measuring the length or spring rate thereof, said measuring means including means to generate a third signal to said control means and said control means including means for generating a fourth signal to said fluid regulating means in response to said third signal; whereby said motorcycle is at a first lower height when said motorcycle is at rest or is moving below a preselected speed or is decelerating at or above a predetermined rate and is elevated and maintained at an elevated height when said motorcycle is operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a predetermined rate.

Claim 23

A motorcycle including a fluid adjustable front fork suspension system and fluid adjustable rear shock absorbers, said motorcycle further comprising: fluid regulating means to selectively alter the front fork suspension system and said rear shock absorbers from a first position wherein said front fork suspension system and rear shock absorbers have a first length and first spring rate to a second position wherein said front fork suspension system and said rear shock absorbers have an increased length and increased spring rate; means for sensing motorcycle speed, said sensing means generating a first signal means indicative thereof; control means coupled to said sensing means and to said fluid regulating means, said control means including means to generate a second signal to said fluid regulating means in response to said first signal, measuring means coupled to said control means and to said front fork suspension system and to said rear shock absorbers for measuring the length or spring rate thereof, said measuring means including means to generate a third signal to said control means and said control means including means for generating a fourth signal to said fluid regulating means in response to said third signal; whereby said motorcycle is at a first lower height when said motorcycle is at rest or is moving below a preselected speed or is decelerating at or above a predetermined rate and is elevated and maintained at an elevated height when said motorcycle is operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a predetermined rate.