The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 28, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 18, 1992
James D Moore, Torrance, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A bicycle shock absorber system employs a rubber sleeve trapped between two bushings which are spring loaded so as to increase the force on the rubber sleeve as spring force increases with travel. The rubber sleeve and bushings move with the fork stem which is rigidly attached to the fork and wheel and which slide inside an oil coated steerer tube which in turn rotates inside the outermost head tube which is integral with the bicycle frame. Upper and lower drive flexures permit relative sliding motion but rigidly prevent relative rotary motion so that steering forces are rigidly transferred into the fork stem. The internal elements operate in a bath of heavy oil which coats all the sliding elements providing complete lubrication and the viscous 'feel' of a hydraulic shock absorber. Any combination of spring and damping rates may be achieved by changing springs and the oil viscosity. The system is designed to be small and compact enough to fit in a common 'oversize' bicycle headtube. The design is easily adapted to make use of an air spring by adding a small sealed piston and air charging valve.