Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-03
2002-10-29
Boehler, Anne Marie (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S279000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06471229
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a vibration dampener and, more particularly, to a vibration dampener for a bicycle steering mechanism and to the methods of using and installing such dampeners.
2. General Background and State of the Art
Today a rider can select from a variety of bicycles to suit individual needs. For example, there are mountain bikes for rough terrain, BMX® bikes for trick rides, and 10-speed bikes for road riding. Furthermore, there have been numerous advances in bicycle technology. For instance, bikes are now lighter but stronger. However, one area that still needs improvement is the steering mechanism of a bicycle. For example, when a mountain bike is ridden over rough terrain, the steering mechanism tends to rattle so that the rider has a difficult time controlling the bike. Further, when a bike is ridden at high speeds down a hill, on a paved road, the steering may be less stable and thus susceptible to being thrown off course by pebbles, rocks, and the like due to the speed of the bike. Foreseeably, loss of control may occur which may ultimately lead to a rider falling off of the bike and an injury occurring.
There have been some attempts to control the steering of the bicycle, but with many shortcomings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 582,279 issued to Gold is directed to a bicycle controller. This patent discloses a bicycle controller that is attached to the upper tubular member of the bicycle frame. One of the problems with this bicycle controller is that it is placed on the bicycles so that a rider's knee may catch onto the sharp objects of the controller and cut the knee. Further, to install the bicycle controller, numerous holes must be drilled into the handlebar and the upper frame of the bicycle, thereby weakening the integrity of the bicycle frame. Moreover, a number of bicycles today do not have an upper frame, i.e., many bicycles no longer utilize traditional triangular body frames. Rather, a single lower diagonal frame is used to couple the front wheel to the pedal of the bicycle. Thus, the bicycle controller disclosed by Gold could not be installed in bicycles, which do not include an upper frame.
Another attempt is U.S. Pat. No. 576,566 issued to Foehl directed to a straightening attachment for bicycles. Here, when the spring X causes a nose U to engage with a notch S on the yoke D, the front wheel substantially aligns with the back wheel so that the bike will travel in a straight direction. However, the nose can be readily disengaged when a rider turns the fork. Thus, there is no dampening effect by the nose U on the yoke D.
A further attempt is U.S. Pat. No. 940,783 issued to Buckland directed to an equalizing attachment for bicycles. This patent discloses an arc shaped device containing an arc shaped rod
20
around which a spring
22
is attached. The device is designed to attach to any vehicle that has a rotary steering member
1
and the device attaches to the rotating steering member
1
. The spring
22
is stationary but the rod
20
rotates in the same direction and along with the steering member
1
. As the rod
20
rotates along with the steering member
1
, the spring
22
is compressed by the wide end
19
of the rod
20
. The resistance from the compressed spring
20
causes the steering member
1
to return to its original position, which is the position at which the spring is completely uncompressed. The purpose of this device is to keep the steering member
1
, at a position to maintain the vehicle on a straight course. This device does not assist in maintaining the steady course of a vehicle in any direction. It is limited to assisting in returning the steering member to its original position only.
An attempt similar to Buckland, in concept, is U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,740 issued to Hopey. Hopey discloses a steering damper for vehicles such as bicycles which uses fluid pressure contained within the steering tube of the vehicle to assist the driver in maintaining a straight course. Like Buckland, the goal of the patent is to assist the driver in returning the steering mechanism of the vehicle to the original, straight position. As the steering tube is rotated away from the original, straight position, fluid within the device is displaced from one compartment to another. This displacement of fluid creates pressure in the steering tube such that the pressure is relieved only by returning the steering tube to the original, straight position. Thus, as with Buckland, Hopey does not teach a device for dampening the steering mechanism of the bike from vibration and wobbling while maintaining a steady course in any position.
Another attempt to provide control to the steering mechanism of a vehicle is U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,457 issued to Johnson. This patent discloses a locking nut
62
which is coupled to a sleeve
50
which is mounted to the steering tube
16
. The locking nut
62
, when tightened, applies pre-load to two sets of bearings
21
upon which the steering mechanism of the vehicle rotates. Increased pre-load to the bearings causes the steering mechanism of the vehicle to become more rigid. This patent only teaches a method for providing more rigidity to the steering mechanism of the vehicle through a device which is attached directly to the steering mechanism of the vehicle. It does not teach a method for dampening vibration and/or wobbling of the steering mechanism.
With the shortcomings discussed above, there is still a need for a dampening mechanism that is out of the way of a rider which may be installed on most bikes, if not all, to dampen the vibration and wobbling of the steering mechanism so that a rider can have better control of the steering at all times to prevent accidents and make the ride more enjoyable.
INVENTION SUMMARY
A general objective of the present invention is to stabilize a bicycle handlebar by reducing vibration and wobbling. That is, when bicycles are ridden in rough terrain or at high speeds, the handlebars of a bicycle tend to wobble or vibrate such that it is difficult for a rider to control the bike. However, with the present invention, much of the vibration and wobbling may be absorbed, thereby stabilizing the handlebars so that a rider can easily control the bike and provide a safer ride.
Another objective of the present invention is being able to couple the present invention to most, if not all, bikes manufactured today.
Yet another objective is to couple the present invention to a bicycle so that it is out of the way of the rider's legs for convenience and comfort.
A further object is to provide a dampener that is adjustable so that the dampening effect may be adjusted.
Still another objective is to provide an expander to easily and economically install a dampener to a steering tube of a cycle.
An additional objective is to provide a dampener that is strong, yet light weight.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, these and other objectives are accomplished by providing an adapter coupled to the fork of the bike and an arc-shaped rod (“arcuate rod”) attached to the adapter. The arcuate rod extends through a cartridge that is adapted to couple to the lower frame of the bicycle. Within the cartridge is a damping material that is between a cap with and an adjustable nut, each with a hole to allow the arcuate rod to pass therethrough. As the adjustable nut is tightened, the friction between the dampening material and the arcuate rod increases to increase the dampening affect on the rod. Furthermore, the cartridge is contained in a cartridge holder which is coupled to a frame holder, and the frame holder is coupled to the bike. The cartridge holder is coupled to the frame holder by a dowel pin which passes through both the cartridge holder and the frame holder, such that the cartridge holder can adjust to any play in the arcuate rod, while providing added support and stability via its coupling to the frame holder.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the above objectives are accomplished by provid
Boehler Anne Marie
Henricks Slavin & Holmes LLP
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