Anti-dive front suspension

• US 6,896,276 B1
• Filed: 09/07/1999
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ultimate Sports Engineering Limited
• Original Assignee: Ultimate Sports Engineering Limited
• Inventors: Sparrow, Roger Lionel David
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lum, L.
• Application Number:
  US09/786,871
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: 280/276, 280/277, 280/124.104, 280/275, 280/283, 180/219
• US Class Current: 280/276
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel

Abstract

The forks of a bicycle are carried by a head tube shaft and are angled forward and comprise two outer support tubes, one on either side of the wheel. An inner suspension tube is telescopically housed in the outer tube and connects to the wheel axle. A suspension spring within the outer tube urges down. A torque reaction arm is journalled on the axle and carries a brake calliper within which passes a brake disc. At the rear end of the arm, a rear link is pivotally connected and leads up to an upper pivot point on the outer tube. Application of braking torque causes the rear link to act upwards on the outer tube, providing anti-dive.

Claims

1. An anti-dive front suspension for a bicycle having a frame with a head tube, comprising:

a head tube shaft adapted to be steeringly mounted in the head tube;

a suspension support member extending down from the head tube, whereby it is steerable in the bicycle;

a torque reaction arm carrying a front wheel brake, such that braking torque may be reacted to the arm, wherein the torque reaction arm includes a rear end, and a length thereof from a front wheel axle to a pivotal connection thereof to a rear link;

connecting means for connecting a forward portion of the torque reaction arm to the suspension support member;

the front wheel axle being carried by the connecting means or the torque reaction arm, the front wheel axle being steeringly connected to the torque reaction arm;

a suspension spring acting between the suspension support member and the connecting means or the torque reaction arm, the suspension spring being loaded by a wheel load tending to close the suspension;

the rear link extending at an angle obliquely from the suspension support member to the rear end of the torque reaction arm where it is pivotally connected thereto, the connecting means and the rear link holding the torque reaction arm with a fore and aft component of direction in the bicycle, when steered straight ahead wherein the rear link includes ends; and

steering angle transmitting bearings at the ends of the rear link connected respectively to the suspension support member and the torque reaction arm for transmitting a steering angle from the head tube shaft to the front wheel axle via the torque reaction arm;

the suspension being such that braking torque applied to the torque reaction arm tends to rotate it to lift its rear end and open the suspension in an anti-dive manner;

wherein the rear link is shorter than the length of the torque reaction arm from the front wheel axle to the pivotal connection to the rear link.

2. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the rear link is connected to the suspension support member at a point within a radius of a front wheel.

3. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the torque reaction arm is inclined downwards in a forwards direction, at least when the bicycle is unladen and standing on a level surface.

4. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the torque reaction arm is angled forwardly down when the bicycle is laden by a rider.

5. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the suspension support member is a single member cantilevered to one side of a front wheel.

6. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the suspension support member is a fork having two fork members on respective sides of a front wheel.

7. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the front wheel axle is carried on the torque reaction arm in front of the connection of the torque reaction arm to the connecting means, the suspension support member being angled back or cranked back from the head tube shaft to maintain castor trail.

8. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means includes a member slidably mounted on the suspension support member and pivotally connected to the torque reaction arm.

9. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 8, wherein the slidable member is telescopically accommodated in the suspension support member and the suspension spring is accommodated within the suspension support member.

10. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 9, wherein the rear link is connected to the suspension support member at a point where the slidable member extends within the suspension support member.

11. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a front link pivotally connected between the suspension support member and the torque reaction arm, and wherein the front link includes ends.

12. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 11, wherein the front link is shorter than the rear link.

13. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 11, wherein the front link is more shallowly angled than the rear link.

14. An anti-dive suspension as according to claim 11, wherein steering angle transmitting bearings are provided at the ends of the front link.

15. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means includes steering angle transmitting bearings at the ends of the rear link and a front link, provided for transmitting a steering angle from the head tube shaft to the front wheel axle.

16. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein a geometry of the anti-dive suspension is such that an angle variance of the torque reaction arm is between 0.05°

and 0.30°

per mm wheel stroke.

17. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 16, wherein the angle variance is between 0.14°

and 0.19°

per mm.

18. An anti-dive suspension according to claim 1, wherein an angle variance of the torque reaction arm is between 0.09°

°

and 0.13°

per mm.