Methods and apparatus for selective stiffness of vehicle suspension
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorsMario Galasso, Wesley E. Allinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for an adjustable suspension system for a vehicle comprises at least one strut. In one embodiment, the stanchion (or slider) is non-uniform with a major and minor circumferential stiffness and is adjustable relative to a fore and aft axis of the vehicle in order to provide a differing amount of stiffness relative thereto. In another embodiment, a portion of the stanchion is circular and a reinforcement is annularly disposed therearound with axial retention formations, The reinforcement has a non-uniform circumferential characteristic and is rotatable relative to the fore/aft axis of the vehicle.
Claims24
A suspension for a vehicle comprising:
- a strut assembly including at least one longitudinal reinforcement member, the longitudinal reinforcement member having a first position in which the strut has a first stiffness in a plane substantially aligned with an up/down and a fore and aft direction relative to the vehicle and a second position in which the strut has a second stiffness, in the direction of the plane, that is lower than the first stiffness;
- and
- a selectively engageable orientation retainer for selectively retaining the longitudinal reinforcement member in the first position.
A method for altering a stiffness of a vehicle suspension comprising:
- providing a longitudinal reinforcement member for the suspension;
- orientating the longitudinal reinforcement member to enhance suspension stiffness in a plane substantially aligned with a fore/aft direction and an up/down direction relative to the vehicle;
- and
- retaining the longitudinal reinforcement member in the stiffness enhancing position.
A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first and second stanchion, each for receiving a corresponding, telescoping slider;
- a first clamp with a clamping member for each stanchion, the clamp constructed and arranged to retain the stanchions in a substantially parallel relationship to each other when clamped;
- wherein an outer surface of each stanchion is non-circular;
- and
- wherein, when the clamp is unclamped, the stanchions are selectively rotatable within the clamp to orient the non-circular surfaces of the stanchions in a predetermined orientation relative to the vehicle.
An apparatus for selective stiffness of a vehicle suspension, comprising:
- a stanchion for receiving a slider, the stanchion having an outer surface in at least one area including axial retention formations formed thereon;
- a reinforcement for at least partially surrounding the stanchion, the reinforcement having a set of mating retention formations formed on an interior thereof whereby the formations substantially prevent axial movement of the stanchion relative to the reinforcement;
- and
- a clamp for clamping the reinforcement to the stanchion.
A suspension assembly comprising:
- a fork leg assembly including a reinforcement portion, the fork leg assembly having a non-uniform cross section comprising a first structural stiffness zone and a second structural stiffness zone;
- a clamp, surrounding the fork leg assembly, and having a clamped position and an unclamped position,
- wherein the reinforcement portion is movable relative to an axis of the suspension;
- and
- the reinforcement portion being at least one of axially fixable along an inner surface of the fork leg assembly;
- axially fixable, along an outer surface of the fork leg assembly;
- and integral with a fork leg of the assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.