Klein Bicycle Corporation

Other

Trek Bicycle Corporation

Gary G Klein

Darrell W Voss

Lonney Pauls

Richard W Randall

Sean O'Connor

Tye Travis Gribb

Chan K Fong

Extruded structural building component for robotics

A robotic building system includes a first through third sets of extruded elements integrally joined at lengthwise edges and corners to rails. The second set of extruded elements has at least three adjoining sides surrounding a hollow opening, where each side is integrally joined to a rail. A third set of extruded elements has an asymmetrical inside angle shaped element formed by a first web and a second web oriented generally perpendicular to the first web, where each web is integrally affixed between a pair of opposing rails and each web shares a common rail. The rails may be tapped or drilled to accept a fastener, and each extruded element of the first set, second set and third set of extruded elements are adapted to be flush mounted to any of the other extruded elements or to the same shape extruded elements.

High efficiency structural building system for robotics

A rear suspension road bicycle frame uses an integrated rear shock absorbing assembly installed in a typical diamond bicycle frame with a head tube, down tube, top tube, seat tube, tubular chainstays, tubular seat stays, brake bridge at the top of the seat stays connecting them, the shock absorbing assembly having an elastomer shock absorbing spring member with a slide affixed to the brake bridge, and a sliding bearing in the upper wishbone so that the preloaded spring member absorbs shock and the frame absorbs flexing tending to unload the spring member.

Ultra lightweight, high efficiency bicycle suspension

This invention relates to front fork, telescoping type suspension systems for bicycles. The main focus of the invention is the brake bridge assembly, the fork crown assembly and the joinder of these assemblies to form the fork suspension. The brake bridge assembly serves two main functions: 1) it provides a stiff structural connection between the right and left telescoping struts, to reduce wheel wobble during high speed wheel impacts, and 2) it provides a structural support for the brake cable stop. The invention provides for increased stiffness and lower stresses in the brake bridge, which translates into improved directional stability for the front wheel, less displacement for the brake cable stop .(when the brake loads are applied) and improved fatigue life for the assembly. It also provides for a simpler and less expensive means for mounting the brake bridge to the fork assembly. The invention also encompasses the fork crown producing a lightweight structure with high torsional and bending rigidity. The connections of the stanchions to the crown are achieved through a variety of methods including, (a) interference fit and bonding, (b) collet assembly and (c) &ldquo;pinch-bolt&rdquo; connections.

Telescoping-type front fork bicycle suspensions

A bicycle frame suspension comprises a single main tube having fore and aft ends and left and right sides with a head tube for rotatably mounting the front steering forks and front wheel secured to said fore end and a seat retention tube for mounting the seat secured to the aft end and bearings attached to either side of the main tube. A rigid rear triangle assembly has a bottom bracket for rotatably mounting the pedal and crank assembly. Left and right chain stay tubes have forward and trailing ends. A wheel fixing dropout is secured to each trailing end, respectively. The forward ends are secured to the bottom bracket. Left and right seat stay tubes have trailing ends secured in the proximity of the trailing ends of the chain stay tube and the dropouts, respectively. Pivot struts have upper and lower ends with the lower ends being secured to the bottom bracket, the upper ends being provided with bearing fittings and spaced apart a distance D and joined to forward ends of the seat stay tubes. A suspension spring assembly has one end connected to the bottom bracket and the other end connected to said main tube and proximate the aft end of the single main tube.

High efficiency bicycle frame suspension

A lightweight, high strength bicycle seat post for securing a bicycle seat to a seat tube of a bicycle frame. It comprises a hollow metal tubular member having a seat tube portion for reception in and securement to the seat tube of a bicycle frame, and an integral head portion comprised of four planar walls diverging in an upward direction to form an open space. A pair of the sidewalls are oriented in a fore and aft direction to the fore and aft direction of the bicycle seat and a pair of end walls which are transverse to the fore and aft direction and connects the fore and aft ends of the pair of sidewalls together defining the open space, which, preferably, is generally rectangular. The upper edges of the sidewalls have arcuate load reacting edges, which define a seat angle adjustment path, and a clamp assembly secures the bicycle seat to the load reacting edges so that the seat loads are transferred directly to the load reacting edges at any seat angle. In a preferred embodiment, the integral head portion is formed by a metal swaging process from an extruded metal tube and the metal tube is selected from steel, aluminum, or titanium alloy. The arcuate load reacting edges of the sidewalls can include a lip which is normal to the load reacting edges, and the clamp parts include washer members which have arcuate grooves for receiving the lip.

Bicycle seat post flare post

A method of making a bicycle front fork of molded composite laminates of fiber in a resin matrix, the front fork including a steerer portion, a tubular crown portion, a pair of tubular blade portions. Each has upper ends joined by said crown to the steerer, respectively, and lower ends adapted to receive dropouts. According to the invention, the front fork is molded in two substantially mirror image halves having mutually congruent joining surfaces in said steerer portion.

Bicycle front forks and methods of making same

A high efficiency bicycle front fork suspension system in which the front fork and wheel assembly are isolated from the remaining parts of the bicycle frame by a leading, 3-point linkage arrangement configured to produce a trailing link action at the wheel. The suspension system, in its preferred configuration, includes one or more fluid logic, rotary dampers and one or more high performance elastomeric or conventional spring elements carried in rear stub or shortened fork blades.

High efficiency, high performance leading link fork design for bicycle

The invention disclosed herein is a very durable, lightweight, front fork assembly for use on competition bicycles. The invention provides improved fatigue and impact resistance compared to prior art designs. The invention makes maximum use of advanced, high strength composite materials and high strength, lightweight metal alloys, improving its stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios. The superior structural performance of the invention is provided by a unique section geometry and ply configuration that efficiently utilizes the material to maximize bending and torsional stiffness while minimizing weight. The improved strength also comes from the superior control of the molding process, made possible with a removable pressure bladder that remains connected to the pressure source, and is regulated, during the molding process. The invention is produced using an efficient, 'cigar' roll-up procedure where the fiber lay-up is first made in a flat pattern and later rolled up into the final 'cigar' roll-up configuration.

This invention relates to front fork, telescoping type suspension systems for bicycles. The main focus of the invention is the brake bridge assembly, the fork crown assembly and the joinder of these assemblies to form the fork suspension. The brake bridge assembly serves two main functions: 1) it provides a stiff structural connection between the right and left telescoping struts, to reduce wheel wobble during high speed wheel impacts, and 2) it provides a structural support for the brake cable stop. The invention provides for increased stiffness and lower stresses in the brake bridge, which translates into improved directional stability for the front wheel, less displacement for the brake cable stop .(when the brake loads are applied) and improved fatigue life for the assembly. It also provides for a simpler and less expensive means for mounting the brake bridge to the fork assembly. The invention also encompasses the fork crown producing a lightweight structure with high torsional and bending rigidity. The connections of the stanchions to the crown are achieved through a variety of methods including, (a) interference fit and bonding, (b) collet assembly and (c) 'pinch-bolt' connections.

A bicycle having an improved suspension system including a rotary damper and composite springs. Springs which closely control the direction of allowable movement in the suspension preclude rocking, twisting or unwanted lateral deflections.

High efficiency bicycle suspension

A high efficiency lightweight bicycle handlebar using strong, stiff fibers and a structural resin is disclosed. Relatively low modulus fibers are used in the axial direction and relatively high modulus fibers in the transverse or hoop direction. The hoop fibers are placed on the inside and outside diameters.

Composite bicycle handlebar

A lightweight handlebar/steerer locking mechanism for use on road and mountain bicycles. The invention provides higher fatigue and impact resistance, lower material and production costs, and improved adjustability, compared to prior art designs, all at a reduced weight. The superior structural performance of the invention is provided by a unique, 3-dimensional, sliding, compression wedge. The 3-dimension wedge improves the stress distributions within the device my introducing a more uniform wedging (locking) action on the circumference of the steerer tube. This allows the mating parts to be designed lighter, thereby reducing the total weight of the assembly. The configuration of the design also lends itself to modern metal working methods. This further improves the strength of the parts by increasing the material allowables. Also, these metal working operations help to reduce material scrap, thus reducing material costs. The invention improves the adjustability of the handle-bar assembly by allowing the locking and un-locking function to be accomplished by hand, without any assistance from a special tool. The locking function is activated and de-activated by the twisting of a tightening cap. This can be done by hand, from the sitting position of the bicycle rider.

Handlebar to steerer clamping device for bicycles

The invention disclosed herein is a light weight, mountain bicycle competition wheel rim. The invention provides improved fatigue and impact resistance compared to prior art designs. The invention makes maximum use of advanced, high strength aluminum alloy materials, improving its stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios. The superior structural performance of the invention is provided by a unique truss type section geometry that efficiently utilizes the material to maximize bending and torsional stiffness and strength while minimizing weight.

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Chehalis, WA, United States of America

Gary G Klein