US4917209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motorcycle
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-07-15
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Granted: 1990-04-17
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Expires: 2008-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A motorcycle has a frame assembly including a main frame supporting front and rear wheels on a central line thereof. A connecting means mounted on the main frame between the front and rear wheels, and a subframe is mounted on the connecting member and being capable of banking laterally about the connecting member. At least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel. At least the drive wheel is capable of preventing the main frame from banking laterally. Centrifugal forces generated upon cornering are counterbalanced by centripetal forces produced when only the subframe banks laterally. The drive wheel supported on the main frame which does not bank has an increased road gripping force. Thus, high-speed cornering is made possible.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoru Horiike
- 👤 Yasuhiko Nakano
- 👤 Shigetarou Okano
- 👤 Shigeru Kimura
- 👤 Masanobu Matsuzaki
- 👤 Toshiteru Yamamoto
- 👤 Kenji Ooki
- 👤 Eiji Hamano
- 👤 Mikio Kubo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:07
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B61/00; F02B61/02; B; B62; B62K; B62K11/00; B62K25/00; B62K25/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A motorcycle comprising: front and rear wheels, said front and rear wheels including flat tires; a frame assembly and a main frame, said main frame supporting said front and rear wheels on a central line thereof, said main frame being disposed below said frame assembly; a connecting means mounted on said main frame between said front and rear wheels; said frame assembly includes a subframe mounted on said connecting means and disposed above said main frame, said subframe being capable of banking laterally about said connecting means; a steering handle and a driver's riding seat mounted on said subframe; at least one of said front and rear wheels being a drive wheel, said front and rear wheels preventing said main frame from banking laterally.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A motorcycle comprising: front and rear wheels, said front and rear wheels including flat tires; a frame assembly and a main frame, said main frame supporting said front and rear wheels on a central line thereof, said main frame being disposed below said frame assembly; a connecting means mounted on said main frame between said front and rear wheels; said frame assembly includes a subframe mounted on said connecting means and disposed above said main frame, said subframe being capable of banking laterally about said connecting means; a steering handle and a driver's riding seat mounted on said subframe; at least one of said front and rear wheels being a drive wheel, said front and rear wheels preventing said main frame from banking laterally.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A motorcycle according to claim 1, further including footsteps mounted on said main frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A motorcycle according to claim 1, further including a mechanism for limiting a range in which said subframe banks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes a connecting shaft in a longitudinal direction of the frame assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said front wheel is suspended by a first swing arm and said rear wheel is suspended by a second swing arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said rear wheel is a drive wheel and said front wheel is a steering wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A motorcycle according to claim 6, wherein said rear wheel is associated with a rear wheel steering mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said subframe is disposed on said main frame above said front wheel and said rear wheel, and includes a riding seat above said rear wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
A motorcycle comprising: front and rear wheels; a frame assembly and a main frame disposed below said frame assembly, said main frame supporting said front and rear wheels on a central line thereof; connection means mounted on said main frame between said front and rear wheels; said frame assembly includes a subframe mounted on said connecting means and disposed on said main frame above said front wheel and said rear wheel, said subframe being capable of banking laterally about said connecting means and said subframe including a riding seat above said rear wheel; at least one of said front and rear wheels being a drive wheel, said front and rear wheels including a flat tire which prevents said main frame from banking laterally.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A motorcycle comprising: front and rear wheels; a frame assembly and a main frame disposed below said frame assembly, said main frame supporting said front and rear wheels on a central line thereof; connection means mounted on said main frame between said front and rear wheels; said frame assembly includes a subframe mounted on said connecting means and disposed on said main frame above said front wheel and said rear wheel, said subframe being capable of banking laterally about said connecting means and said subframe including a riding seat above said rear wheel; at least one of said front and rear wheels being a drive wheel, said front and rear wheels including a flat tire which prevents said main frame from banking laterally.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
A motorcycle comprising: front and rear wheels, said front and rear wheels including flat tires; a frame assembly and a main frame, said main frame supporting said front and rear wheels on a central line thereof, said main frame being disposed below said frame assembly; a connecting means mounted on said main frame between said front and rear wheels; said frame assembly includes a subframe mounted on said connecting means and disposed above said main frame, said subframe being capable of banking laterally about said connecting means; a steering handle and a driver's riding seat mounted on said subframe; at least one of said front and rear wheels being a drive wheel, said front and rear wheels preventing said main frame from banking laterally, said rear wheel being associated with a rear wheel steering mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
135 words
A motorcycle comprising: front and rear wheels, said front and rear wheels including flat tires; a frame assembly and a main frame, said main frame supporting said front and rear wheels on a central line thereof, said main frame being disposed below said frame assembly; a connecting means mounted on said main frame between said front and rear wheels; said frame assembly includes a subframe mounted on said connecting means and disposed above said main frame, said subframe being capable of banking laterally about said connecting means; a steering handle and a driver's riding seat mounted on said subframe; at least one of said front and rear wheels being a drive wheel, said front and rear wheels preventing said main frame from banking laterally, said rear wheel being associated with a rear wheel steering mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |