U.S. patent application number 11/475426 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for shock absorber.
Invention is credited to Tan-Cheng Huang.
Application Number | 20060237272 11/475426 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35446485 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060237272 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Tan-Cheng |
October 26, 2006 |
Shock absorber
Abstract
A shock absorber for a bicycle comprises a base, a clutch
assembly, a control assembly and a shock-absorbing spring. The
shock-absorbing spring provides damper elastic force for the
respective components of the shock absorber. The shock-absorbing
function can be turned off when riding up slope, so it prevents the
drag force from being increased by the up and down motion of the
shock absorber. The shock-absorbing function can be turned off when
riding on a horizontal road, and it can be turned off again when
riding down a slope, thus preventing the increase of the front tilt
angle of the bike and leading to turnover.
Inventors: |
Huang; Tan-Cheng; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET
THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
35446485 |
Appl. No.: |
11/475426 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10860962 |
Jun 4, 2004 |
7097014 |
|
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11475426 |
Jun 26, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
188/299.1 ;
188/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16F 9/461 20130101;
B62K 2025/047 20130101; B62K 25/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
188/299.1 ;
188/300 |
International
Class: |
F16F 9/34 20060101
F16F009/34; F16F 9/32 20060101 F16F009/32 |
Claims
1. A shock absorber comprising a base, a clutch assembly, a control
assembly and a shock-absorbing spring, the shock-absorbing spring
providing damper elastic force for the respective components of the
shock absorber, wherein: the clutch assembly includes a positioning
member, an axial tube, a clutch member and a control element, the
positioning member is formed with the positioning grooves, the
axial tube is formed with positioning holes, the positioning member
and the axial tube are telescopically disposed, the clutch member
is received in the positioning holes of the axial tube, the control
element is formed with annular cone-shaped step portion that
divides the control element into a big diameter portion and a small
diameter portion, the big diameter portion and the small diameter
portion serve to push the clutch member to move, motion of the
clutch member can produce relative slide and engagement between the
positioning member and the axial tube, through this way, the
shock-absorbing function of the shock absorber can be turned
on/off.
2. The shock absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the base has
a first end fixed to a body of a bike, and a second end of the base
is received with a receiving tube, a first end of the receiving
tube is moveably disposed in the base, and a second of the
receiving tube is fixed at a corresponding position on the body of
a bike, the receiving tube is able to move relative to the base;
the control assembly is positioned at an end of the receiving tube
of the base; the shock-absorbing spring is received in the base and
biased between the control assembly and the base.
3. The shock absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the control
assembly includes a body, a control shaft, a control spring, a
back-moving spring and an abutting member, the body is formed with
a through hole for reception of an end of the control shaft,
another end of the control shaft is formed with a plurality of
driving threads for meshing with a plurality of driving threads at
an end of the abutting member, another end of the abutting member
serves to abut against the control element of the clutch assembly,
the control shaft is under control of the steel cord, the steel
cord is controlled by user, the user can rotate the control shaft
by pulling the steel cord, the rotation of the shaft can enable the
abutting member to move the control element of the clutch assembly,
the back-moving spring serves to push the control shaft back to its
original position, an end of the control spring is compressed and
decompressed by the control shaft and serves to move the control
element of the clutch assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a shock absorber, and more
particularly to a shock absorber that is used on the bike.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The conventional shock absorber used on the bike usually
comprises inner spring, cylinder base and other components that
cooperate with each to produce a shock-absorbing effect (whether
the operation space for the inner spring is filled with hydraulic
oil is not the essential condition of the present invention,
further discussions on this matter will be omitted). A conventional
shock absorber, used on the bike, includes base, axial shaft and
shock-absorbing spring. The base is mounted to the fork of the
bike, and the axial shaft is mounted on the frame of the bike. The
shock-absorbing spring is biased between the base and the axial
shaft. This kind of shock absorber has been used on different kinds
of mechanisms and bikes, there are still some defects need to be
improved as follows:
[0005] First, the buffering function of the conventional shock
absorber cannot be turned off. When riding up a slope, the
up-and-down motion of the shock absorber will increase the drag
force because the motion of the shock absorber counteracts the
pedaling force applied by the user.
[0006] Second, due to the buffering function of the conventional
shock absorber cannot be turned off. When riding down a slope, the
up-and-down motion of the shock absorber will change the front tilt
angle of the bike, especially when the front shocker is moving
downward, the front tilt angle of the bike will be increased
substantially. Thereby, there is a danger of falling over.
[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
shock absorber, wherein the shock-absorbing function the shock
absorber can be turned on/off. The shock absorber comprises a base,
a clutch assembly, a control assembly and a shock-absorbing spring.
The shock-absorbing spring provides damper elastic force for the
respective components of the shock absorber. The shock-absorbing
function can be turned off when riding up a slope, so as to prevent
the drag force being increased by the up and down motion of the
shock absorber. The shock-absorbing function can be turned on when
riding on a horizontal road, and it can be turned off again when
riding down a slope, so as to prevent the increase of the front
tilt angle of the bike and leading to turnover.
[0009] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations
only, the preferred embodiments in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a shock absorber in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the shock absorber in
accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view in accordance with the
present invention for showing the shock absorber in a state of
being unlocked;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view in accordance with the
present invention for showing the shock absorber in a state of
being locked.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a shock absorber for a bicycle in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
shown and generally comprises: a base 10, a clutch assembly 20, a
control assembly 30 and a shock-absorbing spring 40.
[0015] The base 10 is formed at a lower end thereof with a gap 11
that is to be coupled to the front wheel axle of a bike. At the
bottom of the inner space of the base 10 is fixed a baseboard 12
that is centrally formed with a threaded hole 121. A mid sleeve 13
is disposed adjacent to the top end of the inner space of the base
10, and in the mid sleeve 13 is received a receiving tube 14. An
upper end of the receiving tube 14 is fixed to the front fork of
the bike, and at a lower end of the receiving tube 14 is provided a
slide bush 15. The mid sleeve 13 cooperates with the slide bush 15
to allow the receiving tube 14 to freely slide in the base 10. The
receiving tube 14 is provided at an end thereof with a bottom 141
that is located towards the baseboard 12.
[0016] The clutch assembly 20 includes a positioning member 21, an
axial tube 22, a clutch member 23 and a control element 24.
[0017] At a first end of the positioning member 21 is provided with
a plurality of threads 211 to be screwed in the threaded hole 121
of the baseboard 12 of the base 10, and a second end of the
positioning member 21 is formed with a plurality of locking grooves
212. By using of several positioning retainers 213, washers 214 and
a buffer cushion 215, the positioning member 21 is able to position
the receiving tube 14. In addition, the positioning member 21 is
provided at the outer periphery thereof with plural positioning
grooves 216.
[0018] The axial tube 22 is interiorly formed with a through hole
221 for slidably receiving the positioning member 21. Plural
positioning holes 222 are formed in the outer surface of the axial
tube 22. At a first end of the axial tube 22 are formed plural
retaining grooves 223 to be fixed to the bottom 141 of the
receiving tube 14 of base 10 by plural retaining rings 224 and
washers 225. A second end of the axial tube 22 facing the buffer
cushion 215 is formed with a step periphery 226 and a retaining
groove 227 respectively. A limit piece 229 is fixed in the
retaining groove 227 by a retaining ring 228. In the outer
periphery of the limit piece 229 are provided a plurality of gaps
2240.
[0019] The clutch member 23 is slidably received in the positioning
hole 222 of the axial tube 22.
[0020] The control element 24 is slidably mounted on the exterior
periphery of the axial tube 22, and in the control element 24 is
formed an annular cone-shaped step portion 241 that divides the
inner space of the control member 24 into a big diameter portion
242 and a small diameter portion 243. The annular cone-shaped step
portion 241 is located correspondingly to the positioning holes 222
of the axial tube 22. At an end of the outer periphery of the
control element 24 is formed a step periphery 244 that is located
toward the bottom 141 of the receiving tube 14.
[0021] The control assembly 30 comprises a body 31, a control shaft
32, a rotary knob 33, a back-moving spring 34, an abutting member
35 and a control spring 36.
[0022] The body 31 is screwed to an upper end of the receiving tube
14 of the base 10 by means of a seal ring 311. A first end of the
body 31 is formed with an inner hole 312, while a second end the
body 31 is formed with a slot 313, and a through hole 314 is
located between the inner hole 312 and the slot 313. Furthermore,
plural holes 315 are formed adjacent to the through hole 314 for
insertion of the spring.
[0023] A first end of the control shaft 32 is inserted in the
through hole 314 of the body 31 and is positioned therein by a seal
ring 321, approximately at the center of the control shaft 32 is
formed a retaining groove 322 in which is disposed a retaining
member 322, so that the control shaft 32 is positioned in the base
by the retaining member 322. A second end of the control shaft 32
is formed with a plurality of driving threads 324.
[0024] The rotary knob 33 will rotate if the user pulls the steel
cord A (the steel cord is controlled by user). The rotary knob 33
is fixed to the control shaft 32 by positioning screws 331. A hole
333 is formed in a bottom of the outer periphery 332 at a first end
of the rotary knob 33 for insertion of spring. The steel cord A is
fixed to a second end of the rotary knob 33 by screws 334 and
positioning cushions 335. The rotary knob 33 is rotatable relative
to the body 31.
[0025] The back-moving spring 34 is mounted on the outer periphery
332 of the rotary knob 33 and serves to produce a rotating elastic
force in a predetermined direction. A first end of the back-moving
spring 34 is inserted in the holes 315 of the body 31 (can be
inserted in any of the holes 315 so as to produce different elastic
forces). A second end of the back-moving spring 34 is inserted in
the hole 333 of the rotary knob 33.
[0026] The abutting member 35, at a first end of which is disposed
an axial bush 351, and inside the axial bush 351 are formed a
plurality of driving threads 3511 for meshing with the driving
threads 323 at the end of the control shaft. In this case, the
first end of the abutting member 35 can be interactively connected
to the control shaft 32 via the axial bush 35 (the abutting member
35 can transmit motion to the control shaft 32, and vice versa).
The second end of the abutting member 35 is inserted in the gaps
2240 of the limit piece 229 at an end of the axial tube 22 and
abuts against the end surface of the control element 24 of the
clutch assembly 20.
[0027] The control spring 36 is installed on the outer periphery of
the axial tube 22 of the clutch assembly 20 and biased between the
step periphery 244 of the control member 24 and the bottom 141 of
the receiving tube 14 of the base 10.
[0028] The shock-absorbing spring 40 is biased between the
baseboard 12 of the base 10 and the step periphery 151 of the slide
bush 15 at the lower end of the receiving tube 14.
[0029] For a better understanding of the present invention, its
operation and function, reference should be made then to FIGS. 3
and 4.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, when wanting to turn on the shock
absorbing function of the shock absorber, the user can pull a
length of the steel cord A and fix it (the method of pulling and
fixing the steel cord A belongs to conventional technology, so
further remarks on this matter will be omitted), causing the rotary
knob 33 and the control shaft 32 to rotate and making the
back-moving spring 34 be compressed. Meanwhile, the driving threads
323 at the end of the control shaft 32 will move the abutting
member 35 (since the driving threads 3511 of the axial bush 351 at
the first end of the abutting member 14 is interactively connected
to the driving threads 323 at the end of the control shaft, and the
abutting member 35 is unrotatable due to its outer periphery is
confined by the slot 313 at the end of the body 31, furthermore,
the second end of the abutting member 35 abuts against the end
surface of the control element 24 after passing through the gap
2240 of the limit piece 229). At this moment, the abutting member
35 will move the control element 24 and synchronously compress the
control spring 36, enabling the clutch member 23 to slide from the
small diameter portion 243 of the annular cone-shaped step portion
241 of the control element 24 into the big diameter portion 242.
Thus, the clutch member 23 will slide out of the positioning
grooves 216 of the positioning member 21. And as a result, the
positioning member 21 and the axial tube 22 can move relative to
each other. At this moment, the base 10, the receiving tube 14 and
the shock-absorbing spring 40 are able to produce a buffering
effect.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, when riding up or down a slop, and the
shock absorbing function of the shock absorber should be turned off
for safe purpose (to prevent the tilt angle being increased by the
motion of the shock absorber and causing the bike fall over), the
user can release a length of the steel cord A. The rotary knob 33
and the steel cord A will be pushed by the back-moving spring 34 to
their original position. The control shaft 32 will be driven to
rotate in opposite direction. The threads on the control shaft will
drive the abutting member 35 to move, so as to form a space between
the end of the abutting member 35 and the end surface of the
control element 24. Meanwhile, the control spring 36 will push the
control element 24 to move. The small diameter portion 243 of the
annular cone-shaped step portion 241 inside the control element 24
will push the clutch member 23 to move from the positioning hole
222 of the axial tube 22 and make it engage in one of the plural
positioning grooves 216 of the positioning member 21. At this
moment, the positioning member 21 will be locked with the axial
tube 22, and the base 10 and the receiving tube 14 will not be
moveable relative to each other. Thus, the shock absorbing function
is turned off.
[0032] The shock absorber still will move up and down if the
positioning groove 216 of the positioning member 21 is not meshed
with the clutch member 23. During an instant period of motion of
the shock absorber, when the clutch member 23 is in alignment with
one of the positioning grooves 216, the control spring 36 will
instantly move the control element 24, and the small diameter
portion 243 of the annular cone-shaped step portion 241 of the
control element A10 pushes the clutch member 23 to move into the
positioning groove 216 of the positioning member 21. Since the
positioning member 21 is provided with plural positioning grooves
216, in real operation, the clutch member 23 can be pushed by the
control spring 36 and engages into one of the positioning grooves
216 of the positioning member 21. That is to say that the shock
absorbing function of the shock absorber can be turned on/off
according to needs.
[0033] While we have shown and described various embodiments in
accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those
skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *