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US 10,180,171 B2Granted
Suspension system
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Laird, William M. Becker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension system includes a first suspension member movable relative to a second suspension member, a fluid reservoir having a volume, the volume variable in response to a relative movement between the first and second suspension members, and a fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with the fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with an isolated suspension location, the fluid flow circuit comprising a first valve, a second valve and a third valve, wherein said first and third valves are in parallel with each other and the second valve is in series with each of the first and third valves.
Claims32
A suspension system comprising:
- a first suspension member movable relative to a second suspension member;
- a lock-out valve configured for inhibiting telescopic movement between said first suspension member and said second suspension member;
- a fluid reservoir having a volume, said volume variable in response to a relative movement between said first and second suspension members;
- and
- a fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with said fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with an isolated suspension location, said isolated suspension location defined by an outer surface of a cylinder of said suspension system and by an inner surface of flexible tubing disposed within said suspension system, said fluid flow circuit comprising a first valve, a second valve and a third valve, wherein said isolated suspension location comprises:
- an inlet in fluidic communication with said second end of said fluid flow circuit;
- an end barrier;
- and
- an annular enclosing wall defining an interior fluid pressure cavity between said inlet and said end barrier, said annular enclosing wall comprising:
- an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said inner surface of said annular enclosing wall comprises an outer surface of a cylinder, and wherein said outer surface of said annular enclosing wall comprises a flexible tubing.
7 more elements
A suspension system comprising:
- a first tube;
- a second tube telescopically receiving at least a portion of said first tube;
- a lock-out valve configured for inhibiting telescopic movement between said first tube and said second tube;
- a cylinder disposed at least partially within at least one of said first tube and said second tube, said cylinder having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said cylinder at least partially bounding a fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir having a volume which is variable in response to a relative movement between said first tube and said second tube;
- a flexible tubing coupled with said cylinder;
- an isolated suspension location;
- and
- a fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with said fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with said isolated suspension location, said fluid flow circuit comprising a first valve, a second valve and a third valve, wherein said isolated suspension location comprises:
- an inlet in fluidic communication with said second end of said fluid flow circuit;
- an end barrier;
- and
- an annular enclosing wall defining an interior fluid pressure cavity between said inlet and said end barrier, said annular enclosing wall comprising:
- an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said inner surface of said annular enclosing wall comprises an outer surface of a cylinder, and wherein said outer surface of said annular enclosing wall comprises a flexible tubing.
10 more elements
A suspension system comprising:
- a first suspension member movable relative to a second suspension member;
- a lock-out valve configured for inhibiting telescopic movement between said first suspension member and said second suspension member;
- a fluid reservoir having a volume, said volume variable in response to a relative movement between said first and second suspension members;
- and
- a fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with said fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with an isolated suspension location, said isolated suspension location including flexible tubing configured for expanding as damping fluid enters said isolated suspension location, said flexible tubing further configured for compressing as said damping fluid exits said isolated suspension location, said fluid flow circuit comprising a first valve, a second valve and a third valve, wherein said isolated suspension location comprises:
- an inlet in fluidic communication with said second end of said fluid flow circuit;
- an end barrier;
- and
- an annular enclosing wall defining an interior fluid pressure cavity between said inlet and said end barrier, said annular enclosing wall comprising:
- an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said inner surface of said annular enclosing wall comprises an outer surface of a cylinder, and wherein said outer surface of said annular enclosing wall comprises a flexible tubing.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.