Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-04
2001-08-21
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S283000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276706
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a shock-absorbing joint, more particularly to a shock-absorbing joint for interconnecting front and rear wheel-carrying frame members of a bicycle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A shock-absorbing joint for interconnecting front and rear wheel-carrying frame members of a bicycle is known in the art. The known shock-absorbing joint generally includes a hydraulic (or pneumatic) cylinder (or piston) and a spring associated with the cylinder in order to absorb the shock experienced by the bicycle when the latter is in use. However, the following disadvantages result from the use of the known shock-absorbing joint:
(1) In case the known shock-absorbing joint has a relatively long cylinder arm for connection with one of the front and rear wheel-carrying frame members, the cylinder arm can travel a long distance so as to provide sufficient shock-absorbing effects. However, in order to achieve such effects, the spring employed therein must possess a relatively large spring force, thereby reducing the shock-absorbing effect.
(2) In case the known shock-absorbing joint has a relatively short cylinder arm for connection with one of the front and rear wheel-carrying frame members, the distance that is traveled by the cylinder arm is very short, thereby consequently resulting in poor shock-absorbing effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of this invention is to provide a shock-absorbing joint for interconnecting front and rear wheel-carrying frame members of a bicycle and capable of providing excellent shock-absorbing effects.
Accordingly, the shock-absorbing joint of the present invention is adapted to interconnect a front wheel-carrying frame member and a rear wheel-carrying frame member of a bicycle, and includes a tubular casing, a coupling shaft, a spiral spring plate, and a connecting bracket. The tubular casing is adapted to be connected securely to one of the front and rear wheel-carrying frame members. The tubular casing confines an accommodating space which defines a central axis that is disposed horizontally and that extends in a transverse direction relative to a riding direction of the bicycle. The coupling shaft is disposed in the accommodating space, and extends along the central axis of the accommodating space. The spiral spring plate is disposed in the accommodating space, and has an innermost end connected to the coupling shaft and an outermost end connected to the tubular casing. The spiral spring plate is wound about the coupling shaft to form a series of interconnected turns of increasing radius. The connecting bracket is adapted to be connected securely to the other one of the front and rear wheel-carrying frame members. The tubular casing is mounted rotatably on the connecting bracket. The coupling shaft is mounted non-rotatably on the connecting bracket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5205572 (1993-04-01), Buell et al.
patent: 5295702 (1994-03-01), Buell
patent: 5370411 (1994-12-01), Takamiya et al.
patent: 5409248 (1995-04-01), Williams
patent: 5435584 (1995-07-01), Buell
patent: 5553881 (1996-09-01), Klassen et al.
patent: 5570896 (1996-11-01), Collins
patent: 5671936 (1997-09-01), Turner
patent: 5772228 (1998-06-01), Owyang
patent: 5813683 (1998-09-01), Kulhawik et al.
patent: 5865456 (1999-02-01), Busby et al.
Foley & Lardner
Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Lum L.
Swann J. J.
LandOfFree
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