Suspension assembly with compact design with low center of gravity application

• US 6,581,711 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robin Tuluie
• Original Assignee: Robin Tuluie
• Inventors: Tuluie, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRAPER, DEANN L
• Application Number:
  US09/778,483
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 280/284, 280/124.128, 280/124.132, 280/124.148, 180/227
• US Class Current: 180/227
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/286 the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism

Abstract

A vehicle suspension assembly having a compact design and low center of gravity application. The suspension assembly includes a first link arm including a plurality of spaced pivot interfaces. A second link arm is coupled to a second pivot interface of the first link arm spaced from a first pivot interface adapted to coupled to a swing arm assembly. A shock absorber is coupled to the first link arm at a third pivot interface which is spaced from the first and second pivot interfaces with the second pivot interface positioned between the first and third pivot interfaces and the second link arm and shock absorber are coupled to a vehicle frame in stacked relation to provide a suspension assembly with a low center of gravity and small moment of inertia for moving linkages.

Claims

1. A suspension assembly comprising:

a first link arm having a first pivot interface;

a second link arm coupled to the first link arm at a second pivot interface spaced from the first pivot interface; and

a shock absorber coupled to the first link arm at a third pivot interface spaced from the first and second pivot interfaces with the second pivot interface being positioned between the first and third pivot interfaces and the shock absorber and second link arm being interfaced to the first link arm at the third and second pivot interfaces and being in stacked alignment so that the shock absorber supplies a reactive force having a perpendicular force component relative to the first link arm and not the second link arm to rotate the first link arm about the second pivot interface.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 and further comprising:

a suspension block adapted to couple to a vehicle chassis and the second link arm and shock absorber are operably coupled to the suspension block and supported thereby.

3. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the second link arm and shock absorber are coupled to the suspension block at vertically spaced positions.

4. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the second link arm is fixedly coupled to the suspension block.

5. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the shock absorber and second link arm are coupled to the suspension block at a common axis.

6. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the second link arm is pivotally connected to the suspension block.

7. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the suspension block includes a plurality of fastener openings adapted for connection to a vehicle chassis.

8. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the first pivot interface on the first link arm is adapted to coupled to a swing arm supporting a vehicle wheel.

9. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber and the second link arm are in parallel alignment.

10. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber and second link arm are in non-parallel alignment.

11. In combination:

a vehicle chassis;

a first link arm having a first pivot interface;

a second link arm having a first end coupled to the first link arm at a second pivot interface spaced from the first pivot interface and a second end coupled to a vehicle chassis; and

a shock absorber having a first end coupled to the first link arm at a third pivot interface spaced from the first and second pivot interfaces with the second pivot interface being positioned between the first and third pivot interfaces and a second end coupled to the vehicle chassis and the second link arm and shock absorber being in stacked alignment so that shock absorber is aligned with the first link arm to supply a reactive force at the third pivot interface to pivot the first link arm about the second pivot interface to counteract rotation of the first link arm about the first pivot interface and stacked relative to the second link arm so that a reactive force supplied does not impart a counter-rotation to the second link arm at the second end of the second link arm coupled to the vehicle chassis.

12. The combination of claim 11 including a suspension block adapted to coupled to the vehicle chassis and the second ends of the shock absorber and second link arm are coupled to the vehicle chassis through the suspension block.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein the second link arm is fixed to the vehicle chassis.

14. The combination of claim 11 wherein the second link arm is pivotally connected to the vehicle chassis.

15. The combination of claim 11 wherein the second ends of the shock absorber and second link arm are coupled to the vehicle chassis below a swing arm supporting a wheel relative to the vehicle chassis.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the swing arm includes a “

V”

shaped portion having a first portion pivotally coupled to the vehicle chassis and a second portion and a space between the first and second portions and the first pivot interface of the first link arm is coupled to the second portion and the first link arm extends therefrom in the space between the first and second portions of the swing arm.

17. A vehicle comprising:

a swing arm having a first end pivotally connected to a vehicle chassis and a second end coupled to a wheel and an elongated extent therebetween;

a suspension assembly including first and second link arms and a shock absorber and the first link arm is coupled to the swing arm at a first pivot interface and the second link arm is coupled to the first link arm at a second pivot interface and the shock absorber is coupled to the first link arm at a third pivot interface spaced from the first and second pivot interfaces and the second pivot interface is between the first and third pivot interfaces with the second link arm and shock absorber coupled the vehicle chassis below an elongated axis of the swing arm.