Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-18
2004-02-10
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S283000, C267S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06688626
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a bicycle according to the preambles of one of claims 1, 30 and 47.
Such a bicycle is known from WO 99/03721. The bicycle described there comprises a pneumatically sprung front fork with two fork arms as well as a pneumatically sprung rear-wheel suspension, each being formed by double-acting pneumatic cylinders. A piston positioned inside the cylinder divides each of the pneumatic cylinders into a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. The first cylinder chamber forms a first gas-pressurized spring and counteracts a “springing in” of the fork or of the rear-wheel suspension, respectively, and the second cylinder chamber forms a second gas-pressurized spring that counteracts a “springing out”. The pneumatic cylinders each comprise valves for the separate filling or ventilating, respectively, of the first and second cylinder chambers, which enables a length adjustment or a variation of the “spring strength”, respectively.
DE 298 10 431 U1 discloses a so-called mountain bike that is in particular suited for riding on hilly ground. It comprises a sprung front fork with telescopic fork arms, the length of which is adjustable in steps. Each fork arm comprises a locking pin for fixing the adjusted “fork length” or “fork height”, respectively. In the interior of the telescopic fork arms, a helical spring is positioned which at least partially buffers shocks that are introduced via the front wheel, and thus improves the riding comfort. The rear wheel is mounted on a swing arm rear suspension that is pivotable around the pedal bearing axis and that is supported toward the frame by a shock-absorbing leg that takes up pressure forces. The shock-absorbing leg is fastened to the frame by means of quick release means, with several “fastening points” being provided, which enables a step-wise adjustment of the angle between the swing arm rear suspension and the frame, i.e. a step-wise “height adjustment” of the rear wheel. Due to the individual “adjustability in height” of the front wheel suspension and the rear wheel suspension, an approximately horizontal sitting position can be adjusted both when riding uphill and when riding downhill. It is of advantage in particular when riding downhill that the front wheel is “extended” and the rear wheel is “retracted” since this causes the center of gravity to be transferred backwards and the risk of overturning on actuation of the front wheel brake to be reduced. Furthermore, it is of advantage when riding uphill that the front spring element is retracted and the rear one is extended in order to transfer the cyclist's center of gravity further to the front. The cyclist thus takes up a more relaxed position which increases the efficiency when riding uphill.
DE 41 01 745 A1 discloses a bicycle with a sprung swing arm rear suspension that is connected with the bicycle frame via a resilient spring element, wherein a locking device comprising a cable pull is provided for locking the suspension.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,044,940, 2,115,072, and 4,159,105 disclose pneumatic or hydraulic piston/cylinder assemblies that are used as spring or damping elements, respectively.
Furthermore, DE 198 55 161 C1 discloses a height adjusting device comprising a tension spring for adjusting the height of a seat pillar of a bicycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,866 discloses an off-road motorcycle, wherein the front-wheel and the rear-wheel suspensions can be adjusted in height by means of a hydraulic lifting device, with a pressure generating device being provided for generating a hydraulic pressure. The height adjustment of the front-wheel suspension and the rear-wheel suspension is performed simultaneously, so that the frame remains in a substantially horizontally orientated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,276 discloses a racing motorcycle comprising a front fork that is pneumatically adjustable in height, wherein the fork is completely lowered prior to the start so as to avoid taking off of the front wheel during the starting phase. During riding, the front wheel is pneumatically extended to normal height.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose adjusting device that can be adjusted easily and comfortably, in particular for adjusting the height of the front-wheel suspension, the rear-wheel suspension, the saddle or the steering stem, respectively, of a bicycle.
This object is solved by the features of claims 1, 30 and 47. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention may be taken from the subclaims.
The basic principle of the invention consists in a mechanical adjusting device comprising at least one double-acting piston/cylinder assembly which can be extended “automatically”.
In a first basic variant of the invention, at least two adjusting devices are provided, e.g. the height adjusting devices of the front-wheel suspension and of the rear-wheel suspension, which are coupled such that the rear wheel is “automatically extended” when the front wheel is “retracted”, and vice versa.
The adjusting devices for the height adjustment of the front-wheel and rear-wheel suspensions each comprise at least one double-acting piston/cylinder assembly with respective “plus chambers” and “minus chambers” which are coupled via pressurizing medium lines and at least one shut-off device. For adjusting the riding inclination, the shut-off device is opened. By pressing down the handle bar or by weight transfer of the cyclist, respectively, the piston/cylinder assembly of the front wheel is retracted, this causing the “front wheel height” to be reduced and the piston/cylinder assembly of the rear wheel to be extended. Pressurizing medium thus flows from the plus chamber of the “front” piston/cylinder assembly to the plus chamber of the “rear” piston/cylinder assembly and from the minus chamber of the rear piston/cylinder assembly to the minus chamber of the front one. The “plus circuit” and the “minus circuit” may have approximately equal pressures.
Vice versa, by pressing down the frame in the rear section, the piston/cylinder assembly of the rear wheel can be retracted and the piston/cylinder assembly of the front wheel can be extended, this elongating the front fork and the range of spring. After the adjustment has been effected, the shut-off device will be closed again.
According to a further development of the invention, the piston/cylinder assemblies and the pressurizing medium lines are filled with a gas, e.g. with air. The piston/cylinder assemblies then additionally serve as “pneumatic shock-absorbing legs”, this increasing the riding comfort, in particular during off-road uphill or downhill riding.
In accordance with a further development of the invention, a locking device is provided for locking the piston/cylinder assembly of the rear wheel. Optionally, a corresponding locking device may also be provided for the piston/cylinder assembly of the front wheel. The locking device may, for instance, be a double-acting hydraulic cylinder that is integrated into the housing of the piston/cylinder assembly intended for height adjustment, and that is e.g. filled with oil. Two chambers of the hydraulic cylinder are connected with one another via a hydraulic line and a shut-off device, wherein “hydraulic” locking is possible by shutting off the shut-off device. As an alternative to a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, a mechanical locking device may also be provided. The hydraulic cylinder also may have one chamber only which is connected with a hydraulic reservoir via a check valve.
According to a further development of the invention, one shut-off device is provided in each of the two pressurizing medium lines that connect the piston/cylinder assemblies. Preferably, these tow shut-off devices can be actuated by a common actuator. Furthermore, one single actuator may be provided for the shut-off devices and the locking device. Furthermore, both pressurizing medium lines may be connected with one another via a bypass line that can be shut off, so as to compensate the pressure in both pressure circuits.
In a
Albrecht Stephan
Felsl Andreas
Heslin Rothenberg Farley & & Mesiti P.C.
Hurley Kevin
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