Oregon Patent of the Month – January 2023
Level One Engineering LLC is a company that specializes in creating high-performance bicycle suspension systems. Their latest creation is a rear suspension system for bicycles that combines a six-bar linkage design with a shock absorber to create a system that is both comfortable and performant.
Bicycles with rear suspension systems provide a smoother and more comfortable ride on rough terrain and improve performance by increasing traction between the bike and the ground. Level One Engineering’s six-bar linkage design includes a chainstay link and a seat stay link, with the bicycle frame serving as the second ternary link. The first binary link is positioned below the second binary link, providing a unique level of stability and control.
The shock absorber in the system is coupled to the fourth binary link and the bicycle frame. This allows for a smooth transition from an uncompressed state to a fully compressed state, providing a comfortable and forgiving response to bumps and rough terrain. The system is also designed to provide a firm response to pedaling inputs, reducing the unwanted loss of pedaling energy due to shock absorption.
Level One Engineering’s six-bar linkage design has many advantages over previous designs. It provides decoupled anti-squat and anti-rise values, resulting in improved riding characteristics – or a smoother ride. Additionally, the system’s pedal-related variables are independent of variables related to the shock absorber, providing a more consistent and reliable performance.
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