Granted Patent B2

US 12,617,488 · App. 17/931,046 · Granted May 5, 2026

Inventor: Peter Zawistowski (Lakewood, CO)

Assignee: YETI CYCLING, LLC

B62K25/286B62K19/30B62M9/16

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . An idler assembly for a two-wheeled vehicle comprising:

an idler mount on a suspended body of a two-wheeled vehicle, the idler mount defining a selectively positionable idler axis; and

a cog configured to rotate about the idler axis, wherein the idler axis is selectively positionable by removing the idler mount from the idler assembly and installing a second idler mount defining a second idler axis about which the cog is configured to rotate.

2 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the idler axis or the second idler axis is selectively positionable within two or fewer degrees of freedom.

3 . The idler assembly of claim 2 , wherein the idler mount or the second idler mount is reconfigurable to move the respective idler axis or second idler axis with one or fewer degrees of freedom with respect to the suspended body.

4 . The idler assembly of claim 3 , wherein the idler mount or second idler mount includes a first plurality of cam surfaces and a second plurality of cam surfaces formed in respective slots formed in the respective idler mount or second idler mount.

5 . The idler assembly of claim 4 , wherein the idler mount or the second idler mount is releasably securable to two anchors associated with the suspended body by respective fasteners that guide the respective idler mount or second idler mount along the respective first and second plurality of cam surfaces.

6 . The idler assembly of claim 3 , wherein the idler mount or the second idler mount includes one or more curved cam surfaces formed therein.

7 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the idler axis or the second idler axis is separate from an instantaneous velocity center of a suspension linkage of the vehicle.

8 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the idler axis or the second idler axis is independently moveable with respect to an instantaneous velocity center of a suspension linkage of the vehicle.

9 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the idler axis or the second idler axis is moveable to a position where at least a portion of the idler overlaps with an IVC of a suspension linkage of the vehicle.

10 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the idler axis or the second idler axis is moveable to a position concentric with an IVC of a suspension linkage of the vehicle.

11 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the idler mount or the second idler mount is reconfigurable within a plane defined by a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

12 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the idler mount or the second idler mount includes one or more cam surfaces formed therein.

13 . The idler assembly of claim 12 , wherein the idler mount or the second idler mount is releasably securable to an anchor associated with the suspended body by a fastener that guides the respective idler mount or second idler mount along the one or more cam surfaces.

14 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cam surfaces are formed in a slot formed in the idler mount or the second idler mount.

15 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the idler mount or the second idler mount is reconfigurable to move the respective idler axis or second idler axis to at least two discrete positions with respect to the suspended body.

16 . The idler assembly of claim 1 , wherein selectively positioning the idler axis affects a performance characteristic of a suspension linkage.

17 . An idler assembly for a two-wheeled vehicle comprising:

an idler mount on a suspended body of a two-wheeled vehicle, the idler mount defining a selectively positionable idler axis; and

a cog configured to rotate about the idler axis, wherein the idler mount comprises:

an inner bracket including a first boss having a first face;

an outer bracket including a second boss having a second face, wherein the first and second faces are arranged in a facing relationship to form an idler mount structure suitable to receive an inner race of a bearing, and the cog is coupled to an outer race of the bearing.

18 . An idler assembly for a two-wheeled vehicle comprising:

a cog configured to rotate about an idler axis;

an idler mount selectively positionable on a suspended body of the two-wheeled vehicle, the idler mount including:

an inner bracket including a first boss having a first face;

an outer bracket including a second boss having a second face, wherein:

the first and second faces are arranged in a facing relationship to form a structure suitable to receive an inner race of a bearing, and

the cog is coupled to an outer race of the bearing.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)