Abstract: A bicycle frame suspension comprises a single main tube having fore and aft ends and left and right sides with a head tube for rotatably mounting the front steering forks and front wheel secured to said fore end and a seat retention tube for mounting the seat secured to the aft end and bearings attached to either side of the main tube. A rigid rear triangle assembly has a bottom bracket for rotatably mounting the pedal and crank assembly. Left and right chain stay tubes have forward and trailing ends. A wheel fixing dropout is secured to each trailing end, respectively. The forward ends are secured to the bottom bracket. Left and right seat stay tubes have trailing ends secured in the proximity of the trailing ends of the chain stay tube and the dropouts, respectively. Pivot struts have upper and lower ends with the lower ends being secured to the bottom bracket, the upper ends being provided with bearing fittings and spaced apart a distance D and joined to forward ends of the seat stay tubes.

Abstract: A method of making a bicycle front fork of molded composite laminates of fiber in a resin matrix, the front fork including a steerer portion, a tubular crown portion, a pair of tubular blade portions. Each has upper ends joined by said crown to the steerer, respectively, and lower ends adapted to receive dropouts. According to the invention, the front fork is molded in two substantially mirror image halves having mutually congruent joining surfaces in said steerer portion.

Abstract: A bicycle rear wheel dropout assembly comprising a wheel dropout body member having a wheel axle receiving slot, a surface for securement of the rear end of a bicycle chainstay, and a seatstay projection a pivot pin projecting laterally from the wheel side of said seatstay projection, the seatstay tube having a lower edge, and means permanently securing said seatstay tube on the projection with said lower edge in engagement with said pivot pin in a predetermined angular orientation for a given bicycle size. In a second embodiment the seatstay projection is spherically shaped and the lower edge of the seat tube has a pivot pin notch with the pivot pin seated in the notch.

Abstract: A bicycle frameset having a front frame portion and a rear triangle swing arm portion, a head tube mounted don the forward end and a seat tube mounted on the trailing end. The rear triangle swing arm incorporates a rigid channel member having a pair of reinforced legs joined by an integral base piece. The lower end of the channel has a shaped edge which is shaped complementary to the shape of the external surface of the bottom bracket. The swing arm bearing and pivot connection to the front frame portion utilizes a clevis-like member bridging the upper ends of the legs of the rigid channel member.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a very durable, lightweight, front fork assembly for use on competition bicycles. The invention provides improved fatigue and impact resistance compared to prior art designs. The invention makes maximum use of advanced, high strength composite materials and high strength, lightweight metal alloys, improving its stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios. The superior structural performance of the invention is provided by a unique section geometry and ply configuration that efficiently utilizes the material to maximize bending and torsional stiffness while minimizing weight. The improved strength also comes from the superior control of the molding process, made possible with a removable pressure bladder that remains connected to the pressure source, and is regulated, during the molding process.

Abstract: A bicycle having an improved suspension system including a rotary damper and composite springs. Springs which closely control the direction of allowable movement in the suspension preclude rocking, twisting or unwanted lateral deflections.

Abstract: A high efficiency lightweight bicycle handlebar using strong, stiff fibers and a structural resin is disclosed. Relatively low modulus fibers are used in the axial direction and relatively high modulus fibers in the transverse or hoop direction. The hoop fibers are placed on the inside and outside diameters.

Abstract: A lightweight handlebar/steerer locking mechanism for use on road and mountain bicycles. The invention provides higher fatigue and impact resistance, lower material and production costs, and improved adjustability, compared to prior art designs, all at a reduced weight.The superior structural performance of the invention is provided by a unique, 3-dimensional, sliding, compression wedge. The 3-dimension wedge improves the stress distributions within the device my introducing a more uniform wedging (locking) action on the circumference of the steerer tube. This allows the mating parts to be designed lighter, thereby reducing the total weight of the assembly. The configuration of the design also lends itself to modern metal working methods. This further improves the strength of the parts by increasing the material allowables. Also, these metal working operations help to reduce material scrap, thus reducing material costs.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a light weight, mountain bicycle competition wheel rim. The invention provides improved fatigue and impact resistance compared to prior art designs. The invention makes maximum use of advanced, high strength aluminum alloy materials, improving its stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios. The superior structural performance of the invention is provided by a unique truss type section geometry that efficiently utilizes the material to maximize bending and torsional stiffness and strength while minimizing weight.

Abstract: A bicycle frame having improved fatigue life of the frame. Cable entry/exit points for internally routed control cables are formed to produce strategically reduced stiffness zones so as to reduce peak stresses in the frame. Preferably, dimples are formed in the bicycle frame tubes with bulkhead walls deformed at an angle between 45 and 90 degrees and transverse to a line through the axial center of the tubes. Cable access holes formed in the bulkhead have a low friction plastic insert cable guide retained in the hole to provide aesthetic enhancement and weather seal for the tubing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a uniquely shaped bicycle chainstay structure produced using modern metal working methods, without the use of welding. The uniqueness of the structure allows a significant shortening of the chainstay length while increasing the tire and chain-ring clearances. An accomplishment not possible using prior art methods.

Abstract: Improved cable guide for bicycle frames which has been found useful for improving the fatigue life of light weight bicycle frames and other stressed tubular structures. One or more welding or brazing-free dimple/bulkhead forming deformations produce strategically reduced stiffness zones so as to reduce peak stresses. The cable guide system also offers an improved method for routing control cables through the frame structure. A plastic cable nozzle insert is disclosed along with pyramid-shaped external dimples and contiguous bulkheads.

Abstract: A bicycle having an improved suspension system including a rotary damper and composite springs. Springs which closely control the direction of allowable movement in the suspension preclude rocking, twisting or unwanted lateral deflections.

Abstract: A high efficiency all terrain bicycle or motorcycle tire having a tread design in which spaced tread blocks are arranged in circumferential rows and overlapped to allow a smooth shift in load from one tread block to another in different circumferential rows with a minimum of casing hysteresis and at the same time provide a low rotating mass, low rolling resistance, high cornering adhesion with high consistency across differing types of ground conditions, high motive and stopping traction. The tread blocks in the different rows have shapes, spacings and orientations which createa plurality of tortous paths for flow of material without excessive constricting of flow in any one spot.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a durable, lightweight, bicycle dropout-fitting design for use on high strength fiber reinforced composite frames and forks of competition bicycles. The invention provides improved fatigue and impact resistance compared to prior art designs. The invention is configured to make maximum use of modern cold metal forming methods to produce the connecting part and adhesive bonding and/or co-curing methods to join the part to the primary structure. The superior structural performance of the invention is provided by a unique geometry that efficiently utilizes the material properties of the part to maximize the rigidity and strength of the joint.

Abstract: A light weight aluminum bicycle fork with positive feel and improved control in rough conditions, and is stiffer in torsional stiffness, fore and aft stiffness and side-to-side stiffness and has a higher overall rigidity than prior art forks. A large diameter steering tube has an hourglass external surface and bearing raceway seats formed therein and a very large diameter head tube has a corresponding bearing raceway seat formed in the lowered end thereof to receive, by way of a press-fit, aircraft-type torque tube bearings. An upper bearing assembly is seated in a raceway seat formed in the upper end of the head tube. Adhesive is used to maintain the bearings in position and prevent their loosening. A pair of large diameter crown miter tubes are welded to the lower end of the steering tube and a pair of large diameter, tapered, blade tubes are welded to the crown miter tubes and have dropouts welded to the lower ends of the blades.

Abstract: An anti-chain wrap device for bicycles has a short mounting plate with large fastener holes for universal adjustments in the plane thereof and a clamp plate fastener with conventional fastener holes. Chain lifter fingers for contacting chain stuck on a chainring have portions bent out of the plane thereof to avoid interference on chainrings having extra teeth thereon. The fastener plate may have a fender mounting tab thereon as well as a control cable guide.

Abstract: An anti-chain wrap device has a plurality of lifters which are raised and curved to be adjacent the rotary path of the chainrings, respectively, to strip or free a struck chain from the chainring. The lifters are finger blade members which are joined near their lower ends to provide a more rigid construction.