Bicycle suspension

• US 6,543,799 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Miyoshi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lum, L.
• Application Number:
  US09/758,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 280/283-286, 188/266--26, 188/282--28, 188/284, 188/299.1, 701/37
• US Class Current: 280/283
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/044 Suspensions with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/047 with suspension locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/28 with pivoted chain-stay
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/30 pivoted on pedal crank shelf B62K25/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer controlled suspension system is provided for a bicycle, which can effectively absorb shock and provide stability on rough surfaces regardless of the speed of the vehicle. The suspension system has a control unit, a front suspension, a rear suspension, a front wheel terrain sensor, and a rear controller. The rear suspension is selectively adjustable by the control unit to change stiffness of the rear suspension. When the front suspension hits a bump or a depression in the surface of the ground, a signal is sent to the rear controller so that the rear suspension can react appropriately. In one embodiment, a pedaling torque sensor is operatively coupled to the control unit to input a signal that is indicative of pedaling force, and the rear controller adjusts stiffness of the rear suspension in response to the pedaling force via the control unit. In another embodiment, one or more gear position sensors are operatively coupled to the control unit to input a signal that is indicative of gear position, and the rear controller adjusts stiffness of the rear suspension in response to the gear position force via the control unit. A locking mechanism is provided to operatively coupled to selectively lock the rear suspension in a compressed condition. The front and rear suspension preferably uses at least cylinder with a coil spring and a compressible material located between individual turns of the coil spring.

Claims

1. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a control unit;

a suspension configured to be coupled between first and second parts of a bicycle that are movable relative to each other in response to a shock applied to the bicycle, said suspension being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said suspension;

a bicycle sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a first signal that is indicative of at least bicycle driving force; and

a controller operatively connected to said suspension and said control unit so that said control unit selectively adjusts stiffness of said suspension in response to said bicycle driving force.

3. A bicycle suspension system according to claim 1, wherein

said suspension is a rear suspension assembly.

4. A bicycle suspension system according to claim 1, wherein

said suspension is a front suspension assembly.

5. A bicycle suspension system according to claim 4, further comprising

a rear suspension assembly configured to be coupled between third and fourth parts of the bicycle, said rear suspension assembly being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said rear suspension assembly via a rear controller.

9. A bicycle suspension system according to claim 3, wherein

said velocity sensor is configured to measure revolutions of a crank per unit of time.

10. A bicycle suspension system according to claim 3, wherein

said velocity sensor is configured to measure revolutions of a wheel per unit of time.

11. A bicycle suspension system according to claim 3, wherein

said stiffness of said suspension is made stiffer by said control unit when said control unit calculates a horizontal velocity under a predetermined value.

2. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a control unit;

a suspension configured to be coupled between first and second parts of a bicycle that are movable relative to each other in response to a shock applied to the bicycle, said suspension being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said suspension;

a bicycle sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a first signal that is indicative of at least bicycle driving force; and

a controller operatively connected to said suspension and said control unit so that said control unit selectively adjusts stiffness of said suspension in response to said bicycle driving force, said stiffness of said suspension being made stiffer by said control unit when said control unit calculates that a chain tension indicated by said bicycle sensor exceeds a predetermined value.

6. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a control unit;

a suspension configured to be coupled between first and second parts of a bicycle that are movable relative to each other in response to a shock applied to the bicycle, said suspension being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said suspension;

a bicycle sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a first signal that is indicative of at least bicycle driving force, said bicycle sensor being a crank force sensor; and

a controller operatively connected to said suspension and said control unit so that said control unit selectively adjusts stiffness of said suspension in response to said bicycle driving force.

7. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a control unit;

a suspension configured to be coupled between first and second parts of a bicycle that are movable relative to each other in response to a shock applied to the bicycle, said suspension being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said suspension;

a bicycle sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a first signal that is indicative of at least bicycle driving force, said bicycle sensor being a pedal force sensor; and

a controller operatively connected to said suspension and said control unit so that said control unit selectively adjusts stiffness of said suspension in response to said bicycle driving force.

8. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a control unit;

a suspension configured to be coupled between first and second parts of a bicycle that are movable relative to each other in response to a shock applied to the bicycle, said suspension being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said suspension;

a bicycle sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a first signal that is indicative of at least bicycle driving force, said bicycle sensor being a chain tension sensor; and

a controller operatively connected to said suspension and said control unit so that said control unit selectively adjusts stiffness of said suspension in response to said bicycle driving force.

12. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a control unit;

a suspension configured to be coupled between first and second parts of a bicycle that are movable relative to each other in response to a shock applied to the bicycle, said suspension being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said suspension;

a bicycle sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a first signal that is indicative of at least bicycle driving force, said bicycle sensor being a torque sensor; and

a controller operatively connected to said suspension and said control unit so that said control unit selectively adjusts stiffness of said suspension in response to said bicycle driving force.

13. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a control unit;

a suspension configured to be coupled between first and second parts of a bicycle that are movable relative to each other in response to a shock applied to the bicycle, said suspension being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said suspension;

a bicycle driving sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a first signal that is indicative of bicycle driving force;

a velocity sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a second signal that is indicative of forward velocity, said velocity sensor being configured to measure revolutions of a crank per unit of time; and

a controller operatively connected to said suspension and said control unit so that said control unit selectively adjusts stiffness of said suspension in response to at least one of said bicycle driving force and said velocity sensor, said stiffness of said suspension being made stiffer by said control unit when said control unit determines said revolutions of said crank per unit of time exceeds a predetermined value.

14. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a control unit;

a suspension configured to be coupled between first and second parts of a bicycle that are movable relative to each other in response to a shock applied to the bicycle, said suspension being selectively adjustable by said control unit to change stiffness of said suspension;

a bicycle driving sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a first signal that is indicative of bicycle driving force;

a velocity sensor operatively coupled to said control unit to input a second signal that is indicative of forward velocity; and

a controller operatively connected to said suspension and said control unit so that said control unit selectively adjusts stiffness of said suspension in response to at least said bicycle driving force.