Steering and Suspension Systems

Abstract

A vehicle suspension system includes a spring, a neck assembly, and a rod. The neck assembly has an outer shell housing a hollow stem having an upper end and a lower end. The stem is rotatable respect to outer shell. The upper end is coupled to an upper bracket having a control arm pivotally coupled thereto. The lower end is coupled to a lower bracket having a linkage pivotally connected thereto. The rod has a first end coupled to the spring and a second end coupled to the linkage. The rod extends through the hollow stem. The linkage is further coupled to a wheel assembly.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for a suspension system, comprising:
 a hollow shell;   a hollow stem having a lower end, where the shell houses the stem and the lower end is coupled to a lower bracket, where the stem and the lower bracket are rotatable with respect to the shell; and   a linkage having a flange, the linkage pivotally connected to the lower bracket, the flange coupled to a first member that extends through said hollow stem, and the first member coupled to a second member.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  where the first member comprises a rod. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  where the first member is substantially concentric with an axis of rotation of the hollow stem. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20  where the second member is a leaf spring. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising third member coupled to the second member and the hollow shell. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  where the third member comprises a damper. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24  where the third member comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 20  where the stem further comprises an upper end coupled to an upper bracket, where the upper bracket is rotatable with respect to the shell. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising an upper control arm having a first end pivotally connected to the upper bracket. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  where the upper control arm further includes a second end pivotally connected to a first front fork member and a second front fork member. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  where said upper control arm comprises two upper linkages with one upper linkage being pivotally attached on each side of said upper bracket. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , where the linkage further comprises a lower control arm having a second end pivotally connected to the first front fork member and the second front fork member. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 27  where said upper bracket is configured for attaching a pair of handlebars. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a taper roller bearing between said shell and said stem. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus for a suspension system, comprising:
 a hollow shell;   a hollow stem having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the shell houses the stem and the upper end is coupled to an upper bracket and the lower end is coupled to a lower bracket, wherein the stem, the upper bracket, and the lower bracket are rotatable with respect to the shell;   an upper control arm having a first end pivotally connected to the upper bracket and a second end pivotally connected to a first front fork member and a second front fork member;   a linkage having a lower control arm and a flange, the linkage pivotally connected to the lower bracket, the lower control arm pivotally connected to the first front fork member and the second front fork member, the flange coupled to a rod that extends through the hollow stem, the rod coupled to a leaf spring, the rod substantially concentric with an axis of rotation of the hollow stem;   a taper roller bearing between said shell and said stem; and   a member coupled to the leaf spring and the shell.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  where the member is a damper. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 34  where the member is a coil spring.