SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY HAVING AN INTEGRATED STABLE STORAGE PLATFORM

• US 20080258416A1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sway Motorsports, INC.
• Original Assignee: Joseph Wilcox
• Inventors: Wilcox, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/124.103
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/12 Wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/82 left and right unit on same axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/122 Trikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/124 Quads
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/01 the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide camber maintaining means B60G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A suspension system for a vehicle is provided that allows for the vehicle body to be tilted wherein the tilt is controlled by the operator'"'"'s legs in a manner that greatly enhances the stability of the vehicle while producing a fun vehicle to operate. Further, the bottom member of the suspension system is structured in a manner that provides storage capacity for installation of heavy items such as battery banks in order to preserve a lowered center of gravity for the vehicle. The tilting suspension may be used in the context of three-wheeled vehicle having a single rear drive tire and two forward wheels, but apply equally to a four wheeled vehicle as well as to water craft operating on pontoons or snow vehicles operating on skis.

Claims

1. A suspension system for a tilting vehicle that travels on a surface, comprising:

a central frame having a front, a rear and a support means for a rider;

a front suspension arrangement including a top suspension bar and a bottom suspension bar each having a respective left end and right end and a left suspension bar and a right suspension bar each having a respect top end and bottom end wherein said left ends of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally attached to said respective top and bottom ends of said left suspension bar and right ends of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally attached to said respective top and bottom ends of said right suspension bar such that said top and bottom suspension bars are substantially parallel to one another and said left and right suspension bars are substantially parallel to one another, wherein a central portion of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally affixed to the front of the central frame; and

a storage region created by a rearward extension of said bottom suspension bar,

wherein tilting of said central frame displaces said top suspension bar relative to said bottom suspension bar causing said left and right suspension bars to tilt at an angle equal to the tilt of the central frame.

2. The suspension system of claim 1, further comprising two front travel surface interfaces affixed to said left and right suspension bars and a third travel surface interface the rear of said central frame.

3. The suspension system of claim 2, wherein said two front travel surface interfaces are pivotally affixed to said left and right suspension bars.

4. The suspension system of claim 2, wherein said travel surface interface is selected from the group consisting of:

wheels, skis and pontoons.

5. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the rider uses their legs to control the tilting of said central frame by exerting a force against one of the top or bottom suspension bars.

6. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein said storage compartment is a battery compartment.

7. The suspension system of claim 1 further comprising:

a rear suspension arrangement including a top suspension bar and a bottom suspension bar each having a respective left end and right end and a left suspension bar and a right suspension bar each having a respect top end and bottom end wherein said left ends of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally attached to said respective top and bottom ends of said left suspension bar and right ends of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally attached to said respective top and bottom ends of said right suspension bar such that said top and bottom suspension bars are substantially parallel to one another and said left and right suspension bars are substantially parallel to one another, wherein a central portion of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally affixed to the rear of the central frame

8. The suspension system of claim 7, further comprising two front travel surface interfaces affixed to said left and right suspension bars of said front suspension arrangement and two rear travel surface interfaces affixed to said left and right suspension bars of said rear suspension arrangement.

9. The suspension system of claim 8, wherein said two front travel surface interfaces are pivotally affixed to said left and right suspension bars of said front suspension arrangement.

10. A suspension system for a tilting vehicle that travels on a surface comprising:

a central frame having a front, a rear and a support means for a rider;

a rear suspension arrangement including a top suspension bar and a bottom suspension bar each having a respective left end and right end and a left suspension bar and a right suspension bar each having a respect top end and bottom end wherein said left ends of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally attached to said respective top and bottom ends of said left suspension bar and right ends of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally attached to said respective top and bottom ends of said right suspension bar such that said top and bottom suspension bars are substantially parallel to one another and said left and right suspension bars are substantially parallel to one another, wherein a central portion of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally affixed to the rear of the central frame; and

a storage region created by a forward extension of said bottom suspension bar,

wherein tilting of said central frame displaces said top suspension bar relative to said bottom suspension bar causing said left and right suspension bars to tilt at an angle equal to the tilt of the central frame.

11. The suspension system of claim 10, further comprising two rear travel surface interfaces affixed to said left and right suspension bars and a third travel surface interface the front of said central frame.

12. The suspension system of claim 11, wherein said third travel surface interface is pivotally affixed to the front of said central frame.

13. The suspension system of claim 11, wherein said two rear travel surface interfaces are pivotally affixed to said left and right suspension bars.

14. The suspension system of claim 11, wherein said travel surface interface is selected from the group consisting of:

wheels, skis and pontoons.

15. The suspension system of claim 10, wherein the rider uses their legs to control the tilting of said central frame by exerting a force against one of the top or bottom suspension bars.

16. The suspension system of claim 10, wherein said storage compartment is a battery compartment.

17. The suspension system of claim 16, wherein a battery in said storage compartment powers electric motors positioned within the wheel hubs to drive wheels directly.