# US 10,308,311 B2 · Telescopic suspension device fitted with a pretension tracking system

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- Number: US 10,308,311 B2
- Document ID: US10308311B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/909,993
- Filed: 2014-07-29
- Published: 2016-06-16
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2013-08-06
- Assignees: Decathlon
- Applicants: Decathlon
- Inventors: Rémi Lozac'h; Sylvain Giovannetti; Antoine Biloe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308311B2

## CPC

- B62K 25/08: for front wheel
- F16F 1/121: {adjustable, e.g. to modify spring characteristics}
- F16F 9/3264: {Arrangements for indicating, e.g. fluid level; Arrangements for checking dampers (F16F9/3292 takes precedence; testing of vehicle damping G01M17/04)}
- B62K 2025/048: {with suspension manual adjustment details}
- B62K 2201/04: Helical springs
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION

## Abstract

Telescopic suspension device (10) attached to the hub (422) of a wheel (424) of the type comprising a first tube (12), a second tube (14) sliding relative to the first tube and a main spring (34) arranged inside said tubes, and further comprising a pretension adjustment stopper (18) of the spring (34) installed at the upper end (16) of said first tube. The suspension device comprises a pretension tracking system (39) of the spring, representative of the weight of the user, connected to the stopper (18).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A telescopic suspension device configured to be attached to the hub of a wheel comprising a first tube, a second tube configured to slide relative to the first tube and a main spring arranged inside said first and second tubes, and further comprising a pretension adjustment stopper of the main spring installed at an upper end of said first tube, wherein the pretension adjustment stopper of the main spring comprises a pretension tracking system of the main spring located within said pretension adjustment stopper and configured to convey information representative of the weight of the user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A bicycle frame comprising at least one suspension device as claimed in claim 1.

### Claim 3

A telescopic suspension device configured to be attached to the hub of a wheel comprising a first tube, a second tube configured to slide relative to the first tube and a main spring arranged inside said first and second tubes, and further comprising a pretension adjustment stopper of the main spring installed at an upper end of said first tube, wherein the pretension adjustment stopper of the main spring comprises a pretension tracking system of the main spring configured to convey information representative of the weight of the user, wherein said pretension adjustment stopper comprises a body fixed to the upper end of the first tube, wherein said body houses a plunger threaded externally and screwed into a tapped inner portion of the body, wherein said plunger is supported against one end of the main spring, and wherein an actuation button is rotatably mounted at an end of the body and rotatably coupled to said plunger by a sliding arrangement having a longitudinal groove and a longitudinal rib.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The telescopic suspension device according to claim 3, wherein said plunger comprises an axial recess with which an extension of the actuation button engages, and wherein said sliding arrangement is defined between said extension and the inner surface of said axial recess.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The telescopic suspension device according to claim 4, wherein the actuation button comprises an external prehension part fitted with a window, wherein said actuation button is fixed to said extension, wherein a passage is defined between the plunger and the extension, and between the extension and the button, the passage passing opposite the window, wherein the pretension tracking system comprises a flexible band housed in the passage, the flexible band bearing graduations representative of the weight of a user, and wherein the flexible band is fixed to a point of the plunger opposite the window, such that actuation of the actuation button scrolls the graduations in front of the window and modifies a pretension of the main spring.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The telescopic suspension device according to claim 4, wherein the pretension tracking system is supported by the extension, wherein the actuation button is mobile longitudinally relative to the plunger between two cavities spaced longitudinally, and wherein the tracking system is supported by the button.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The telescopic suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the actuation button comprises articulated fins each joining a part of the upper surface of the stopper.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The telescopic suspension device according to claim 4, wherein the pretension tracking system of the main spring is supported by a rod inserted into a housing formed in the extension, and wherein a ratchet mechanism connected to the rod is arranged at a lower end of the extension.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The telescopic suspension device according to claim 4, wherein the button has a form of a key bearing the pretension tracking system which engages in the upper part of the stopper, the key cooperating with the plunger.