Suspension Mechanism

Abstract

An improved suspension unit which is quite and compact is revealed. The suspension unit includes a hanger member having a load bearing portion and a front face with an aperture and a control arm having a front face with an aperture and a load bearing portion. The control arm is pivotally attached to and depends from the hanger such that the front face of the hanger and the front face of the control arm are opposed one another with the aperture on the front face of the hanger being aligned with the aperture on the front face of the control arm and with the load bearing portion of the hanger positioned above the load bearing portion of the control arm. A jounce spring and a rebound spring are coaxially mounted to a shaft having opposite first and second ends, the shaft being mounted through the aperture of the front face of the hanger and the aperture of the front face of the control arm, the rebound spring being positioned between the front face of the hanger and the front face of the control arm, the jounce spring being positioned to one side of both the front face of the hanger and the front face of the control arm.

Therefore, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suspension unit comprising:
 a. a hanger member for coupling beneath the load, the hanger member having a load bearing portion and a front face;   b. a control arm for coupling to the wheel, the control arm having a front face with an aperture and a load bearing portion;   c. the control arm being pivotally attached to and depending from the hanger such that the front face of the hanger and the front face of the control arm are opposed one another with the aperture on the front face of the hanger being aligned with the aperture on the front face of the control arm and with the load bearing portion of the hanger positioned above the load bearing portion of the control arm;   d. a jounce spring and a rebound spring coaxially mounted to a shaft having opposite first and second ends, the shaft being mounted through the aperture of the front face of the hanger and the aperture of the front face of the control arm, the rebound spring being positioned between the front face of the hanger and the front face of the control arm, the jounce spring being positioned to one side of both the front face of the hanger and the front face of the control arm.   
     
     
         2 . The suspension unite of  claim 1  wherein the jounce spring is oriented away from the load bearing portion of the hanger and the load bearing portion of the control arm. 
     
     
         3 . The suspension unite of  claim 2  wherein the front face of the hanger is at an angle from the load bearing portion of the hanger and wherein the front face of the control arm is at an angle from the load bearing portion of the control arm, the hanger and control arm being pivotally mounted to each other such that the load bearing portions of the control arm and hanger are roughly parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The suspension unite of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the shaft is provided with a stop to prevent the jounce spring from slipping off the shaft and wherein the jounce spring is positioned between the stop and one of the faces of the hanger and control arm such that when the load bearing portions of the control arm and the hanger move towards each other the jounce spring is compressed. 
     
     
         5 . The suspension unite of  claim 4  wherein the second end of the shaft is provided with a retaining pin extending perpendicularly to the shaft, the retaining pin having opposite ends which are engaged in a guide groove formed on one of the hanger and control arm.