Abstract: In a steering mechanism for bicycles, motorcycles or the like a plurality of cylindrical rollers are positioned between an inner and an outer race which are attached, respectively, to the stationary part and the rotatable cylinder of the steering mechanism. The rollers are inclined in opposite directions wth respect to the axis of the steering mechanism.

Abstract: A manually steerable skateboard is provided in which the skateboard has two horizontal, wheeled frame members joined at an articulated joint. A rider standing on a rear frame member can turn a front frame member using a steering assembly connected to grippable handle bars. Embodiments of the steerable skateboard having one or more seats for the rider's use and embodiments in which locomotion is provided by operator driven foot pedals, by electric motors, and by internal combustion engines are disclosed.

Abstract: A fork assembly for use in removably mounting a pair of bicycle fork tubes having longitudinally extending upper and lower brackets on a fork mounting tube of a bicycle frame comprising an inner tube rotatably mounted within the fork mounting tube and a rod extending through the inner tube. The brackets have rearwardly extending slots through which the rod passes to engage the fork assembly. A lower spool on the rod is adapted to engage the under side of the lower bracket and an upper spool on the rod is adapted to engage the under side of the upper bracket. The spools are movable longitudinally with the rod within the inner tube. Spring means within the inner tube yieldingly urges the spools into engagememt with the brackets.

Abstract: A handlebar height adjustment assembly for a bicycle for use with a bicycle having a vertically presented head tube, a stem, and with handlebars engaged to said stem comprising a vertically presented stem tube engaged to the upper portion of the stem and projecting downwardly into a head tube for axially reciprocal shiftable movement relative to the head tube. The stem contains a passage communicating with the interior of the stem tube, with there being a control rod extending downwardly through the stem passage and into the stem tube. A fork tube surrounds the stem tube and is fixed against relative rotative movement with respect to the stem tube; a latch member interengages the control rod and the stem tube for joint shiftable movement thereof and with the latch member being selectively engageable with the fork tube through shifting of the control rod for presenting and maintaining the handlebars in predetermined vertical relationship with respect to the head tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension system for a vehicle road wheel and to vehicles equipped with the suspension system. In particular, the invention provides a road wheel suspension system comprising two arms mounted for oscillatory motion on respective fulcra on a support structure formed by the vehicle chassis or some part of the vehicle body, the two arms being pivoted at their other ends to spaced positions on a wheel-carrying element so that there is provided an articulated quadrilateral, and according to the invention, the wheel-carrying element has an extension beyond the part of that element which extends between the spaced pivots of the two arms, there being the road wheel mounting on this extension of the wheel-carrying element.

Abstract: A collapsible wheeled vehicle having a frame which includes a head tube and bottom bracket interconnected by a down tube. A seat tube, chain stay and strut are pivotally mounted on the bottom bracket. A first cable is connected at one end to the head tube and extends to the end of the chain stay with the intermediate portion of the cable engaging the strut. A second cable is also connected to the head tube and chain stay at its opposite ends, and the intermediate portion of the second cable is connected to the seat tube. When the cables are detached from the strut and seat tube, the vehicle may be collapsed.

Abstract: A steering head set assembly for a bicycle or the like wherein the conventional ball bearings are replaced by obliquely disposed needle or roller bearings, some embodiments including an elastic element to enable the bearings to be pre-stressed and provide vibration isolation.

Abstract: A frame for a motorcycle comprises two or more plate-like members removably secured together in spaced relationship. The plate members are maintained in spaced apart relationship by a number of spacers and secured in place by threaded end portions that extend through apertures in the plate-like members and engage the spacers. The major components of the motorcycle, such as the engine, petrol tank and front fork, are secured between the plate members. The entire frame can be disassembled by removing the threaded end portions and spacers, and then separating the plate members.

Abstract: A protective cover for the bottom fork cases on the front of motorcycles is provided. The cover consists of a hollow, flexible sleeve of non-rigid plastic material which is contoured to the shape of the fork case. A longitudinal slit in the sleeve is provided to permit installation and removal of the sleeve. When made of the preferred material, plastisol, the sleeve is made by heating a form having the shape of the fork case, dipping the heated form in plastisol for a time dependent on the thickness of the coating desired, and then heat curing the coated form. The desired holes are cut in the coating with a heated gasket punch, the slit is made in the coating, and the coating is removed from the form.

Abstract: A bicycle fork end construction including a downwardly facing receiver on the free end of each fork leg for receiving opposite respective ends of a wheel hub axle, fastener means releasably securing the axle ends in respective receivers, a rearward retainer depending from each receiver rearward of the received axle end for retaining the axle ends in the receivers upon accidental unfastening of the axle during forward riding movement, and lower retainers extending forwardly below the receivers to retain the axle upon unfastening and riding over rough terrain.

Abstract: The fork tube and wedge nut of a bicycle stem and fork tube assembly are provided with complementary, non-circular, interengaging abutment areas which substantially enhance and augment the frictional locking relationship between a conventional wedge nut and fork tube by which a stem is secured to a fork tube.

Abstract: A handlebar system for connecting the bicycle handlebar to the front fork structure in which the portion of the stem in the front fork structure is expandable by the use of a rubber block inside the said stem shank while the connection of the handlebar to the stem is effected by a cap mounted on the stem and removable therefrom to release the handlebar.

Abstract: Open-ended slots in lower ends of bicycle front fork legs receive front wheel axle in usual manner, but to prevent accidental separation of wheel from fork even if regular retaining means on axle became loose, safety means are provided comprising a pair of longitudinally flexible clips mounted at lower ends on axle with retainer means formed integrally therewith at upper ends, and receiver means adjacent lower end of each front fork leg for cooperatively receiving such retainer means, manual flexing of clips being required to effect disengagement of wheel axle from fork.

Abstract: A front fork for a two-wheeled vehicle such as, for example, a motor-cycle and so on, which is constructed with a pair of fork members, each comprising an upper and lower fork bodies which can relatively and mutually extend and retract by slide-movement, a spring member to serve as a buffer against external shock; a bridge member made of a hollow square cylindrical body, at the center part of which the bottom end of a steering stem is fixed, and at both end parts of the lower wall of which there are perforated openings for fitting thereinto each upper end part of the pair of fork members by welding the same to the upper and lower wall of the bridge member; an engagement piece to support the steering stem in a rotatable manner; and a handle stopper fixedly secured to the center part of the bridge member along with the lower end part of the steering stem to restrict the relative rotational range of a steering handle.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes a steered wheel assembly wherein the steered wheel is mounted on a hub member which is rigidly secured to one end of a telescopically sprung fork assembly the other end of which is pivoted to the frame. A radius arm assembly is also pivoted to the frame and to the hub member. The pivotal connection between the fork assembly and the frame is adjustable to alternative frame-fixed positions to vary the steering characteristics of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A hub anti-escape device for a bicycle having a pair of supports, preferably dish-like shaped, which are inserted over a main shaft of a hub for the bicycle to be engageable with portions formed at the outer surfaces of a pair of fork ends of the bicycle frame respectively and subjected to a resistance above a given amount against movement of the supports in the radial direction, i.e., the direction in which the main shaft comes off the fork ends. A spring, mounted on the outside of at least one of the supports, urges the support towards the outer surface of the fork end, and is compressed with tightening structure for the hub, so that the device is adapted to prevent the escape of the main shaft from the two supports by the engagement of each of the supports with each of the fork ends even when the tightening structure loosens or the main shaft is not completely secured.

Abstract: A child's convertible pedal tricycle readily assembled into upright and underslung configurations is disclosed. It has an integral plastic frame member with upright and underslung seating walls on opposite sides, a pair of rear wheels on its rear end, a front fork member removably, reversibly and rotatably mounted on its front end with a pedal driven front wheel on its lower end and a handlebar member removably mounted on its upper end for easy convertibility into either configuration whenever desired.

Abstract: A four wheel, pedal driven vehicle particularly adapted for two persons seated in tandem, wherein each person alone or together can operate the vehicle by pedaling and steering. The vehicle comprises a unitary frame, a front spindle yoke assembly in combination with front handle bars and with front wheel forks of each front wheel, a steering control system in combination with the yoke assembly and rear handle bar means, a continuous drive chain assembly which is in combination with sprockets and pedals of both operator positions and which is in combination with transmission means and a rear drive assembly, whereby the drive chain can be driven from either tandem position. The vehicle has an associated body shell and cowls as well as conventional brakes, lights, etc.

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar stem is made of two separate parts, a tubular shank and a gooseneck. This eliminates or substantially reduces long drilling operation for the stem and it simplifies the forging of the gooseneck. The gooseneck is shaped for forging thereof in a manner such that the meeting of the forging dies does not occur across the top of the stem, and the forging operation can forge identifying insignia on the stem top and/or form a recess of receiving an identification plate. Destruction of the indicia on the plate in the case of a stolen bicycle is easily detected. In order to inhibit commerce in such stolen bicycles the handlebar stem is mounted in the steering column in a manner that requires a special tool to remove it and to replace it by another.

Abstract: A heavy duty off-pavement or dirt bicycle and frame therefor, includes a rear wheel frame portion having a metal alloy, tubular main frame member formed into a broad V-shape, a lower arcuate portion thereof being normally, in use, the lowest part of the frame. A tubular crank hub, having an axis orthogonal to the plane of the main frame member, is welded to an inner, forward side of such member, upwardly from the bottom thereof, so that the hub is within the confines of the main frame member and is protected thereby from damaging contact with large rocks, curbs, etc. The continuous nature of the main frame member greatly increases the strength of the rear frame portion over similar, sectioned frames. A socket joined to the upper forward end of the main frame member, pivotally mounts a front wheel fork assembly.

Abstract: A quick release assembly for supporting a bicycle wheel hub on a bicycle frame component. The assembly includes an elongated rod having an abutment nut threadedly disposed on one end thereof and a cam clamping assembly disposed on the other end. The clamping assembly includes a cup-shaped clamping head for rotatably supporting a cam member having an eccentric cam disposed within the cup-shaped clamping head. The eccentric cam is rotatably disposed in openings in a cylindrical reaction member. The cylindrical reaction member has a bore extending thereinto from one face to an annular flange adjacent the second face and the end of the rod has an enlarged head disposed in the bore of the reaction member and engaging the annular flange. The reaction member and the rod are separate members and the end of the rod has an arcuate recess concentric with the eccentric cam for engaging the eccentric cam to prevent rotation of the rod.

Abstract: A device for raising and setting back the handlebar of a motorcycle. The device is comprised of two spaced mounting plates which are secured to the handlebar supporting means and which extend rearwardly therefrom to carry the handlebar. A dashboard extends across the space between the plates forwardly of the handlebar.

Abstract: A lever arm lock for a conventional quick-release hub assembly includes a cover mountable to a first skewer rod end nut supporting a quick-release lever arm. The cover is secured to the end nut with a locking mechanism (combination, magnetic, key, etc.) and maintains the lever arm in a locked position making it impossible to remove the hub. A second skewer rod end nut opposite the first end nut is formed with a substantially smooth outer surface that is continuously inclined with respect to the axle. This surface configuration prevents removal of the locked hub assembly by turning the second end nut with a pliers or other tool. The lever arm lock also prevents the hub from being jarred loose on impact with curbs, rocks, etc. The end nut assemblies have extensions which abut the frame thereby preventing loosening thereof for unauthorized removal.

Abstract: A steering fork for cycles, e.g., bicycles, motorcycles, etc., preferably moulded from a plastics material, having an upper stock portion with bearings for receiving the cycle frame pivot pin and with a handlebar mounting bracket and having a pair of downwardly extending, spaced apart arms for receiving the cycle front wheel therebetween. The arms have openings and means for mounting brake jaws in the arms so that brake pads on the jaws can pass through the openings and engage the wheel rim. The wheel axle is received in openings at the lower ends of the arms and preferably, the openings are at least partly surrounded by tapered projections receivable in recessed nuts on the axle. The stock portion has one or more tubular portions for receiving one or more handlebar mounting bracket extensions and means for clamping the extensions at the desired height.

Abstract: A motor cycle having brake means mounted on one leg of a steerable front wheel fork for cooperation with a disc or like brake element rotatable with a wheel element mounted by bearings on a torsionally stiff brake torque reaction transmitting spindle that has its ends positively non-rotatably clamped in the fork legs.

Abstract: To prevent the detachment of the front wheel of a bicycle from the front fork formed of a pair of laterally spaced fork arms each having a free end with an open ended slot arranged to receive the hub spindle of the front wheel which is secured to the front fork by washers and hub nuts, the slot is shaped to have at least one portion which is positioned at the place occupied by the hub spindle when it is assembled within the front fork, that is, at the back of the slot, and which is wider than the diameter of the hub spindle and the washer is provided with a hole arranged to receive the hub spindle therein and at least one projection extending from one of its faces along the periphery of the hole. The projections are fitted into the widened portions of the slots so that even though the nuts securing the front wheel to the front fork become loose, the projections of the washers are retained in the corresponding slots in the front fork preventing the detachment of the front wheel.

Abstract: An improved handlebar assembly able to withstand a standard rotational torque test comprises a front fork whose tubular stem has an interior flat area which mates with an exterior flat area on a tubular handlebar post slidably received in the fork stem so that the two members are fixed rotatively, but are free to slide axially to adjust the height of the handlebars. The height adjustment is set by a special tubular collar which slidably engages over the top of the fork post. A set screw threaded into the side of the collar extends through an opening in the wall of the fork stem and bears against the handlebar post, thereby pressing the two flat areas together.