US5772228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated rear suspension for a bicycle frame
Assignee: BeYond Beryllium Fabrications
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Filing: 1995-09-08
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2015-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A bicycle frame which includes a shock absorber assembly which is coaxial and integral with the top tube of the frame. The entire shock absorber assembly is positioned within the top tube and thus completely forward of the seat tube and rearward of the head tube. The frame typically comprises two rear wheel support tubes each of which is integral with a rear wheel dropout at their lower end and each of which is detachably connected to one of two compression struts at its upper end. Each of the compression struts is separately, detachably and pivotally connected to the shock absorber assembly. The rear wheel dropout holds the axle of a rear wheel. The frame is configured such that when the rear wheel moves upward as in traversing a bump on the road the rear wheel dropout undergoes an arcuate motion which is translated to a linear motion of a piston in the shock absorber assembly via the rear wheel support tube and compression struts.
Inventors
- 👤 Mon Spencer Owyang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:40
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K25/00; B62K25/04; B62K25/28; B62K25/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
A bicycle frame, comprising: a linear top tube having a forward tube component and a rear tube component, each tube component having a first and a second end; a head tube connected at a substantially perpendicular angle to said first end of said forward tube component; a down tube having a first and second end, said first end attached to said head tube at an acute angle relative to said top tube; a seat tube having a top end comprising a seat post opening and a bottom end comprising a foot crank opening member, said seat tube attached to said rear tube component at a point adjacent to said top end of said seat tube and attached to said down tube at said foot crank opening member of said bottom end such that said seat tube is positioned at an acute angle relative to said down tube; a pivot member positioned between said down tube and said seat tube adjacent to said seat tube opening; a linear lower tube having a first and second end, said first end pivotably connected to said pivot member and said second end integral with a rear wheel drop out; a rear wheel support tube having a first and second end, said first end integral with said rear wheel drop out; and a shock absorber assembly comprising: a rigid shock body, a forward shock end connection member, and a rear shock end connection member; a releasable connection to the forward tube component at said forward shock end connection member; and a releasable connection to said rear tube component at said forward shock end connection; wherein said shock absorber assembly is removable from said linear top tube and replaceable in said linear tube, and wherein replacement of said shock absorber assembly rigidly joins said rear tube component and said forward tube component of said linear top tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
A bicycle frame, comprising: a linear top tube having a forward tube component and a rear tube component, each tube component having a first and a second end; a head tube connected at a substantially perpendicular angle to said first end of said forward tube component; a down tube having a first and second end, said first end attached to said head tube at an acute angle relative to said top tube; a seat tube having a top end comprising a seat post opening and a bottom end comprising a foot crank opening member, said seat tube attached to said rear tube component at a point adjacent to said top end of said seat tube and attached to said down tube at said foot crank opening member of said bottom end such that said seat tube is positioned at an acute angle relative to said down tube; a pivot member positioned between said down tube and said seat tube adjacent to said seat tube opening; a linear lower tube having a first and second end, said first end pivotably connected to said pivot member and said second end integral with a rear wheel drop out; a rear wheel support tube having a first and second end, said first end integral with said rear wheel drop out; and a shock absorber assembly comprising: a rigid shock body, a forward shock end connection member, and a rear shock end connection member; a releasable connection to the forward tube component at said forward shock end connection member; and a releasable connection to said rear tube component at said forward shock end connection; wherein said shock absorber assembly is removable from said linear top tube and replaceable in said linear tube, and wherein replacement of said shock absorber assembly rigidly joins said rear tube component and said forward tube component of said linear top tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
169 words
The bicycle frame of claim 1, the shock absorber assembly further comprising: a piston having at least two compression shafts extending radially relative to said top tube; a compression strut having a forward and rear end, said forward end pivotably connected to said compression shafts such that arcuate motion of the rear wheel drop out translates to linear motion of the piston via said compression strut; a rigid shock body encasing said piston in a compression chamber wherein said compression shafts extend radially from said piston to the exterior of said shock body in a deflection path opening of said shock body; and an adjustment means comprising a retaining disk and a coupler; wherein said shock body and said retaining disk are rigidly connected by attachment means with a portion of said coupler positioned between said shock body and said retaining disk, wherein adjustment of said attachment means limits the rotation of said shock body, allowing for selective adjustment of the orientation of said compression shafts and said piston.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The bicycle frame of claim 1, further comprising: a pivot arm having an upper and lower end, said lower end pivotably connected to said pivot member and said upper end pivotably connected at the forward end of said compression strut.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bicycle frame of claim 3, wherein said pivot arm is detachable from said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bicycle frame of claim 3 wherein the lower end of the pivot arm forms a Y junction and is connected to the pivot member at two points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bicycle frame of claim 3 wherein the upper end of the pivot arm forms a Y junction and is connected to the compression strut at two points.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |