Methods and apparatus for position sensitive suspension damping

A damper, comprising:

• a cylinder having opposed first and second ends;
• a piston rod extending inwardly of the cylinder at the first end thereof and a piston secured adjacent to the end of the piston rod extending inwardly of the cylinder, the piston separating a compression volume of the damper from the rebound volume of the damper;
• a bore extending inwardly of the piston and the piston rod, the bore opening into the compression volume of the damper;
• a needle extending inwardly of the cylinder at the second end thereof, the needle terminating inwardly of the compression volume of the damper and positioned for receipt within the bore;
• and
• a valve disposed adjacent the opening of the bore and configured to receive the needle therethrough, wherein, during a compression stroke of the piston, as the needle is received in the bore, fluid moving outwardly of the bore moves through an annulus in the valve.

A damper, comprising;

• a cylinder having opposed first and second ends;
• a piston rod extending inwardly of the cylinder at the first end thereof and a piston secured adjacent to the end of the piston rod extending inwardly of the cylinder, the piston separating a compression volume of the damper from a rebound volume of the damper;
• a bore extending inwardly of the piston and the piston rod, the bore opening into the compression volume of the damper;
• a needle extending inwardly of the cylinder at the second end thereof, the needle terminating inwardly of the compression volume of the damper and positioned for receipt within the bore;
• a check valve arranged at the opening of the bore into the compression volume, and including an opening therein through which the needle may extend;
• and
• an annular floating piston surrounding the needle.