Torsion suspension system for motorcycles having improved center of gravity
First Claim
1. A motorcycle having an improved center of gravity, the motorcycle having:
- (a) a torsion bar suspension system;
(b) a frame having a front and rear wheels with a motor located in said frame and a driver'"'"'s seat mounted on said frame;
(c) a swing arm having a pivot point on one of the frame and the motor, comprises at least one arm supporting a wheel, the swing arm permitting the wheel to rotate about a generally horizontal axis and to move in a generally vertical direction with respect to the pivot point axis of said swing arm;
(d) a torsion bar suspension member having a first end portion and a second end portion and mounted at an angle with respect to the pivot point axis, the first end portion secured to one of said frame and said motor, and said second end portion being rotatably carried by one of said frame and said motor;
(e) a lever arm having a first end and a second end, the first end rigidly attached to said torsion bar; and
(f) a linkage means pivotally connected to said swing arm and to said second end of said lever arm, said swing arm, linkage means, lever arm and torsion bar connected such that movement of the swing arm displaces said linkage means thereby forcing said lever arm to twist said torsion bar, the linkage means and the lever arm connected so as to provide an apparent increase in spring rate of the torsion bar as the wheel displaces the swing arm; and
(g) a fuel tank having at least a portion thereof fixedly mounted in said frame below said driver'"'"'s seat.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motorcycle having improved center of gravity is disclosed. The motorcycle has a torsion suspension system and a frame having front and rear wheels with a motor located in the frame and a driver'"'"'s seat mounted on an upper supporting structure of the frame. A swing arm having a pivot point on one of the frame and the motor is provided, the swing arm having at least one arm supporting a wheel, the swing arm permitting the wheel to rotate about a generally horizontal axis and to move in a generally vertical direction with respect to the pivot point axis of said swing arm. A fuel tank is provided having at least a portion thereof fixedly mounted in said frame below said driver'"'"'s seat, thereby improving said motorcycle center of gravity by providing for lowered weight.
15 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A motorcycle having an improved center of gravity, the motorcycle having:
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(a) a torsion bar suspension system; (b) a frame having a front and rear wheels with a motor located in said frame and a driver'"'"'s seat mounted on said frame; (c) a swing arm having a pivot point on one of the frame and the motor, comprises at least one arm supporting a wheel, the swing arm permitting the wheel to rotate about a generally horizontal axis and to move in a generally vertical direction with respect to the pivot point axis of said swing arm; (d) a torsion bar suspension member having a first end portion and a second end portion and mounted at an angle with respect to the pivot point axis, the first end portion secured to one of said frame and said motor, and said second end portion being rotatably carried by one of said frame and said motor; (e) a lever arm having a first end and a second end, the first end rigidly attached to said torsion bar; and (f) a linkage means pivotally connected to said swing arm and to said second end of said lever arm, said swing arm, linkage means, lever arm and torsion bar connected such that movement of the swing arm displaces said linkage means thereby forcing said lever arm to twist said torsion bar, the linkage means and the lever arm connected so as to provide an apparent increase in spring rate of the torsion bar as the wheel displaces the swing arm; and (g) a fuel tank having at least a portion thereof fixedly mounted in said frame below said driver'"'"'s seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A motorcycle having an improved center of gravity, the motorcycle having:
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(a) a torsion bar suspension system; (b) a frame having a front and rear wheel with a motor located in said frame and a driver'"'"'s seat mounted on said frame; (c) a swing arm having a pivot point on one of the frame and the motor, comprises at least one arm supporting a wheel, the swing arm permitting the wheel to rotate about a generally horizontal axis and to move in a generally vertical direction with respect to the pivot point axis of said swing arm; (d) a torsion bar suspension member having a first end portion and a second end portion and mounted at an angle with respect to the pivot point axis, the first end portion secured to one of said frame and said motor, and said second end portion being rotatably carried by one of said frame and said motor; (e) a lever arm having a first end and second end, the first end rigidly attached to said torsion bar; and (f) a linkage means pivotally connected to said swing arm to said second end of said lever arm, said swing arm, linkage means, lever arm and torsion bar connected such that movement of the swing arm displaces said linkage means thereby forcing said lever arm to twist said torsion bar, the linkage means and the lever arm connected so as to provide an apparent increase in spring rate of the torsion bar as the wheel displaces the swing arm; and (g) a shock absorber mounted on said linkage means so as to provide an increased rate of damping in response to the wheel displacing the swing arm. (h) a fuel tank having at least a portion thereof fixedly mounted in said frame below said driver'"'"'s seat. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. In a motorcycle having an improved center of gravity,
(a) a torsion suspension system; -
(b) a frame having front and rear wheels with a motor located in said frame and a driver'"'"'s seat mounted on an upper supporting structure of said frame; (c) a swing arm having a pivot point on one of the frame and the motor is provided, the swing arm having at least one arm supporting a wheel, the swing arm permitting the wheel to rotate about a generally horizontal axis and to move in a generally vertical direction with respect to the pivot point axis of said swing arm; and (d) a fuel tank is provided having at least a portion thereof fixedly mounted in said frame below said driver'"'"'s seat, thereby improving said motorcycle center of gravity by providing for lowered weight.
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Specification