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:
Jul. 21, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1994
Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Iwata, JP;
Abstract
The present invention is adapted to be embodied in a steering and suspension arrangement for the front wheel of a motorcycle. Specifically, the invention relates to a front wheel swing arm type steering and suspension arrangement. In the arrangement of the present invention, upper and lower swing arms connect a motorcycle frame to a steering knuckle which extends along one side of the front wheel. The upper swing arm is shorter in length than the lower swing arm and is pivotally connected to the frame of the motorcycle at a point forwardly of a pivotal connection for the lower swing arm. According to the invention, the swing arms are positioned so that forwards and backwards lateral movement of the suspension system is kept to a minimum and the rake angle of the steering arrangement is held nearly constant during suspension travel, as when the motorcycle encounters a bump during operation. The swing arm suspension arrangement of the invention is compact and allows for good maneuverability of the motorcycle and also for easy access to the engine, as for repairs. A telescoping tube assembly having a pair of elongated tubes reciprocal within associated bores, for absorbing the swing motion of the suspension arrangement, also comprises a portion of the steering arrangement of the invention.