Bicycle shock assemblies
OwnerJose Gonzalez, Gregory P. Buhlinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shock absorber, which is particularly applicable to bicycles, includes a mount body, a first cap portion, a second cap portion, and a fluid cylinder. The fluid cylinder cooperates with a valve assembly that is offset from the mount body. The first and second cap portions enclose a gas cavity or gas chamber. One of the first and second cap portions is interchangeable with other caps so as to alter the performance of the shock absorber by altering the size of the gas chamber. The replaceable cap cooperates with the mount body such that it can be replaced without removing the shock absorber from a bicycle.
Claims30
A shock for a bicycle comprising:
- a mount body constructed to be connected to a bicycle;
- a first cap connected to one side of the mount body and constructed to enclose a first cavity;
- and
- a second cap connected to a second side of the mount body and constructed to enclose a second cavity.
A bicycle suspension system comprising:
- a mount securable to a first bicycle structure;
- a sleeve extending from the mount;
- a cylinder that is translatable relative to the sleeve and securable to a second bicycle structure;
- and
- a cap secured to the mount such that the cap extends in an outboard direction relative to the first and second bicycle structures.
A method of altering performance of a bicycle suspension system by altering a shock performance characteristic, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a shock having a first body for being connected to one of a first frame member or a second frame member a bicycle;
- (b) providing a second body for being connected to the other of the first or the second frame member, the first and second bodies being movable relative to one another to allow translational movement between the first and second frame members with a desired suspension characteristic;
- and
- (c) providing an interchangeable third body that cooperates with the first body and alters the shock performance characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.