Suspension System for Small Vehicles

Abstract

A suspension system for a small vehicle is described that includes a shock absorbing spring, a chassis integration assembly, and an adjustment mechanism, wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to be able to adjust a travel range of the shock absorbing spring to adjust a range of compression of the shock absorbing spring relative to a force-bearing capacity range of the small vehicle. The chassis integration assembly may include two attachment supports that are connected by a rod-and-piston in a cylinder that connects to each attachment support using a hinge. The rod traverses the spring, and the spring creates suspension between the two attachment supports. The suspension system may be configured to be controlled by gas or any other means of dampening by extension or compression.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suspension system for a small vehicle, the system comprising:
 a shock absorbing spring having two spring ends, with each spring end abutting a spring actuator that acts on the spring to compress the spring when force is applied downward on the small vehicle; and   a chassis integration assembly having a first portion and a second portion that include at least one attachment support, at least one support hinge connected to the attachment support, and at least one travel assembly spanning the first portion and the second portion;   wherein the support hinge connects the first portion and the second portion, forms a fixed pivot axis between the first portion and the second portion, and allows the first portion and the second portion to pivot relative to each other;   wherein the travel assembly traverses the spring and connects to the spring actuators that engage the spring ends; and   wherein the travel assembly has a first side and a second side that are adapted to travel relative to each other to allow the travel assembly to shorten and lengthen as the first portion and the second portion pivot relative to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adjustment mechanism;   wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to adjust a travel range of the shock absorbing spring to adjust a range of compression of the shock absorbing spring relative to a force-bearing capacity range of the small vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the adjustment mechanism includes a threaded knob that engages threads on the first side or the second side of the travel assembly and that is adapted to move a spring actuator to increase or decrease a distance between the two spring ends.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the travel assembly includes a rod-and-piston on the first side, a cylinder on the second side, and at least one travel hinge;   wherein the rod-and-piston travel within the cylinder as the first or second side pivots at the travel hinge;   wherein the spring spans the rod-and-piston, on the first side, and the cylinder, on the second side, with a spring end at each side;   wherein the rod-and-piston and the cylinder traverse the spring through an open spiral center; and   wherein each of the rod-and-piston and the cylinder each has the spring actuator that abuts the proximate spring end.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first portion includes a foot deck attachment support adapted to attach the suspension system to a foot deck of the small vehicle, and the second portion includes a truck attachment support adapted to attach the suspension system to a truck assembly of the small vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 each of the foot deck attachment support and the truck attachment support includes a travel hinge.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the travel assembly includes a compressed fluid adapted to increase or decrease travel of the travel assembly; and   wherein the compressed fluid is located within the cylinder and in front of the rod-and-piston.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each attachment support is integral to another part of the small vehicle;   wherein the support hinge connects a first another part to a second another part; and   wherein the first portion includes the first another part, and the second portion includes the second another part.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first another part includes a foot deck of the small vehicle, and   the second another part includes a truck assembly of the small vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first instance of the suspension system is located on a first instance of a truck assembly of the small vehicle for use with a first pair of wheels supported by the first instance of a truck assembly; and   a second instance of the suspension system is located on a second instance of a truck assembly of the small vehicle for use with a second pair of wheels supported by the second instance of the truck assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each individual wheel of the small vehicle includes an individual instance of the suspension system.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the small vehicle includes a control pad user interface, and the control pad is adapted to control a functioning of the suspension system.   
     
     
         13 . A method for suspending a small vehicle, the method comprising:
 providing a suspension system for the small vehicle, the suspension system including a shock absorbing spring, a chassis integration assembly, and an adjustment mechanism;
 wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to be able to adjust a travel range of the shock absorbing spring to adjust a range of compression of the shock absorbing spring relative to a force-bearing capacity range of the small vehicle; 
   adjusting the suspension system by adjusting the travel range of the shock absorbing spring to adjust the range of compression of the shock absorbing spring relative to the force-bearing capacity range of the small vehicle; and   applying force to the suspension system, wherein the applied force is within the force-bearing capacity range.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing a small vehicle control user interface system including at least one sensor, at least one processor, at least one control input device, a power source, and a communication device;
 wherein the processor is adapted to control the small vehicle; 
 wherein the small vehicle control user interface is located in a control pad of a handle of the small vehicle, is coupled to the suspension system of the small vehicle, and is adapted to control the suspension system; and 
 wherein the control pad is adapted be sensitive to touch, and the processor is adapted interpret a user's motion and pressure to control the small vehicle and a functioning of the suspension system; 
   sensing levels of the user's motion and pressure for determining the control of the vehicle and the functioning of the suspension system; and   using the control pad and the sensed levels of the user's motion and pressure to determine the control of the vehicle and the functioning of the suspension system.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the shock absorbing spring has two spring ends, with each spring end abutting a spring actuator that acts on the spring to compress the spring when force is applied downward on the small vehicle; and   the chassis integration assembly has a first portion and a second portion that include at least one attachment support, at least one support hinge connected to the attachment support, and at least one travel assembly spanning the first portion and the second portion;   wherein the support hinge connects the first portion and the second portion, forms a fixed pivot axis between the first portion and the second portion, and allows the first portion and the second portion to pivot relative to each other;   wherein the travel assembly traverses the spring and connects to the spring actuators that engage the spring ends; and   wherein the travel assembly has a first side and a second side that are adapted to travel relative to each other to allow the travel assembly to shorten and lengthen as the first portion and the second portion pivot relative to each other.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the adjustment mechanism includes a threaded knob that engages threads on the first side or the second side of the travel assembly and that is adapted to move a spring actuator to increase or decrease a distance between the two spring ends; and   wherein adjusting the suspension system by adjusting the travel range of the shock absorbing spring includes moving the threaded knob to move the spring actuator to increase or decrease the distance between the two spring ends.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the travel assembly includes a rod-and-piston on the first side, a cylinder on the second side, and at least one travel hinge;   wherein the rod-and-piston travel within the cylinder as the first or second side pivots at the travel hinge;   wherein the spring spans the rod-and-piston, on the first side, and the cylinder, on the second side, with a spring end at each side;   wherein the rod-and-piston and the cylinder traverse the spring through an open spiral center; and   wherein each of the rod-and-piston and the cylinder each has the spring actuator that abuts the proximate spring end.   
     
     
         18 . A small vehicle comprising:
 a handle including a control pad and a handle stem, the control pad having a hand grip;   a foot deck connected to and supporting a lower end of the handle;   a chassis connected to and supporting the foot deck, the chassis including a plurality of axles, at least one motor, a plurality of wheels, a suspension system, and a braking system; and   a small vehicle control user interface system located in the handle, coupled to the motor and the braking system, and adapted to control the motor and the braking system;   wherein the suspension system comprises:
 a shock absorbing spring having two spring ends, with each spring end abutting a spring actuator that acts on the spring to compress the spring when force is applied downward on the small vehicle; and 
 a chassis integration assembly having a first portion and a second portion that include at least one attachment support, at least one support hinge connected to the attachment support, and at least one travel assembly spanning the first portion and the second portion; 
 wherein the support hinge connects the first portion and the second portion, forms a fixed pivot axis between the first portion and the second portion, and allows the first portion and the second portion to pivot relative to each other; 
 wherein the travel assembly traverses the spring and connects to the spring actuators that engage the spring ends; and 
 wherein the travel assembly has a first side and a second side that are adapted to travel relative to each other to allow the travel assembly to shorten and lengthen as the first portion and the second portion pivot relative to each other. 
   
     
     
         19 . The small vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the small vehicle control user interface system includes at least one sensor, at least one processor, at least on control input device, a power source, and a communication device; and   the hand grip includes a ring having a shape resembling a donut.   
     
     
         20 . The small vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein:
 a first instance of the suspension system is located on a first instance of a truck assembly of the small vehicle for use with a first pair of wheels supported by the first instance of the truck assembly; and   a second instance of the suspension system is located on a second instance of a truck assembly of the small vehicle for use with a second pair of wheels supported by the second instance of the truck assembly.