Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
In a front suspension for a bicycle having a frame supporting front and rear wheels with a front end which includes a head tube and a support shaft rotationally received therein and supporting on its lower end a fork frame which rotationally supports the front wheel, and at its opposite end, a handle bar support member, the improved support shaft which comprises: a. a first cylinder of uniform, first diameter rotationally received within said head tube and fixedly secured at its upper end to said handle bar support member; b. a second cylinder of uniform, second diameter with its upper end slidably engaged with said first cylinder in a concentric and telescopic assembly and fixedly secured at its lower end to said fork frame; c. rotational indexing means between said first and second cylinders including a longitudinal bearing track therebetween; d. a plurality of rolling surface bearings in rolling reception in said bearing track; and e. resilient compressive means within said first cylinder and located between said first and second cylinders to bias said cylinders in an extended telescoping position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a front suspension for a bicycle having a frame supporting front and rear wheels with a front end which includes a head tube and a support shaft rotationally received therein and supporting on its lower end a fork frame which rotationally supports the front wheel, and at its opposite end, a handle bar support member, the improved support shaft which comprises: a. a first cylinder of uniform, first diameter rotationally received within said head tube and fixedly secured at its upper end to said handle bar support member; b. a second cylinder of uniform, second diameter with its upper end slidably engaged with said first cylinder in a concentric and telescopic assembly and fixedly secured at its lower end to said fork frame; c. rotational indexing means between said first and second cylinders including a longitudinal bearing track therebetween; d. a plurality of rolling surface bearings in rolling reception in said bearing track; and e. resilient compressive means within said first cylinder and located between said first and second cylinders to bias said cylinders in an extended telescoping position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The improvement of claim 1 including a rod coaxially received within said second cylinder and fixedly secured at its upper end to the upper end of said first cylinder, and a plug received on the upper end of said second cylinder, sealing its interior, and having a central aperture which slidably receives said rod, with said rod bearing at its lower end, a piston which is slidably received within said second cylinder beneath said plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said resilient compressive means is a compression spring, and including a spring retainer slidably received on said rod and seated on the upper, received end of said second cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said spring retainer includes a cylindrical boss which is received within said second cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein said boss has an annular groove and including an annular resilient ring to seal the upper end of said second cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said piston has an annular groove and includes an annular ring seated therein to provide a sliding seal within said second cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein the lower end of said second cylinder receives a closure plug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said closure plug includes a drain aperture with a drain plug threaded therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 6 including a cylindrical resilient body mounted on said rod between said piston and said spring retainer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 9 wherein said resilient body is a hollow cylindrical rubber plug.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein said rubber plug has a plurality of apertures in its side wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improvement of claim 2 including external threads on the upper end of said rod and also including a cap received on the upper end of said first cylinder and having a central threaded aperture which engages said external threads on the upper end of said rod, whereby the tension of said resilient compressive means can be fixedly adjusted.