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US 6,267,400 B1Granted
Bicycle damping enhancement system
AssigneeSpecialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
InventorMichael McAndrews
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle shock absorber for differentiating between rider-induced forces and terrain-induced forces comprising: a first fluid chamber having fluid contained therein; a piston for compressing the fluid within the fluid chamber; a second fluid chamber coupled to the first fluid chamber by a fluid communication hose; and an inertial valve disposed within the second fluid chamber, the inertial valve opening in response to terrain-induced forces and providing communication of fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber; and the inertial valve not opening in response to rider-induced forces and preventing communication of the fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber.
Claims70
An damper enhancement apparatus for a bicycle comprising:
- a primary tube including a primary fluid chamber;
- a piston adapted to move within and displace fluid within said primary fluid chamber;
- a secondary tube coupled to said primary tube via a connector hose, said secondary tube comprising:
- a secondary fluid chamber for communicating fluid over said connector hose to and from said primary fluid chamber;
- an inertial valve having an open position and a closed position, disposed within said secondary fluid chamber such that in said closed position, fluid flow to and from said remote fluid chamber over said connector hose is blocked, and in said open position, fluid flow to and from said remote fluid chamber over said connector hose is not blocked;
- and
- a floating piston separating said secondary fluid chamber from a gas chamber.
4 more elements
A bicycle shock absorber for differentiating between rider-induced forces and terrain-induced forces comprising:
- a first fluid chamber having fluid contained therein;
- a piston for compressing said fluid within said fluid chamber;
- a second fluid chamber coupled to said first fluid chamber by a fluid communication hose;
- and
- an inertial valve disposed within said second fluid chamber,
- said inertial valve opening in response to terrain-induced forces and providing communication of said fluid compressed by said piston from said first fluid chamber to said second fluid chamber;
- and
- said inertial valve not opening in response to rider-induced forces and preventing communication of said fluid compressed by said piston from said first fluid chamber to said second fluid chamber.
5 more elements
A bicycle, comprising:
- a frame portion,
- a wheel portion, including a wheel bracket defining an axis of rotation;
- a primary tube defining a first axis;
- a piston rod having first and second ends and capable of motion along said first axis relative to said primary tube, wherein said piston rod is connected to one of said frame portion and said wheel portion, and said primary tube is connected to the other of said frame portion and said wheel portion;
- a piston connected to said piston rod wherein said piston and said primary tube at least partially define a first fluid chamber;
- a secondary tube defining a second axis, said secondary tube disposed relative to said primary tube such that said first axis and said second axis are non-coaxial;
- and
- an inertial valve having a first position ad a second position, said secondary tube and said inertial valve at least partially defining a second fluid chamber, wherein said inertial valve substantially inhibits fluid communication between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in said first position and permits fluid communication between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in said second position.
5 more elements
A bicycle, comprising,
- a sprung weight portion,
- an unsprung weight portion;
- a suspension apparatus connecting said sprung weight portion and said unsprung weight portion, said apparatus comprising:
- a primary tube defining a first axis;
- a piston rod having first and second ends and capable of motion along said first axis relative to said primary tube;
- a piston connected to said piston rod wherein said piston and said primary tube at least partially define a first fluid chamber;
- a secondary tube defining a second axis, wherein said secondary tube is disposed relative to said primary tube such that said first axis and said second axis are non-coaxial;
- an inertial valve having a first position and a second position, said secondary tube and said inertial valve at least partially defining a second fluid chamber, wherein said inertial valve substantially inhibits fluid communication between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in said first position and permits fluid communication between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in said second position;
- and
- wherein said piston rod is connected to one of said sprung weight portion and said unsprung weight portions and said primary tube is connected to the other of said sprung weight portion and said unsprung weight portion.
7 more elements
A bicycle, comprising:
- a frame portion;
- a wheel portion, including a wheel bracket defining an axis of rotation,
- a primary tube defining a first axis;
- a piston rod having first and second ends and capable of motion along said first axis relative to said primary tube, wherein said piston rod is connected to one of said frame portion and said wheel portion, and said primary tube is connected to the other of said frame portion and said wheel portion;
- a piston connected to said piston rod wherein said piston and said primary tube at least partially define a first fluid chamber;
- a secondary tube defining a second axis, said secondary tube disposed relative to said primary tube such that said second axis is adjustable between at least a first angular position and a second angular position, wherein said second position is non-coaxial with respect to said first axis;
- and
- an inertial valve having a first position and a second position, said secondary tube and said inertial valve at least partially defining a second fluid chamber, wherein said inertial valve substantially inhibits fluid communication between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in said first position and permits fluid communication between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in said second position.
5 more elements
A bicycle, comprising:
- a sprung weight portion;
- an unsprung weight portion;
- a suspension apparatus connecting said sprung weight portion and said unsprung weight portion, said apparatus comprising:
- a primary tube defining a first axis;
- a piston rod having first and second ends and capable of motion along said first axis relative to said primary tube;
- a piston connected to said piston rod wherein said piston and said primary tube at least partially define a first fluid chamber;
- a secondary tube defining a second axis, said secondary tube disposed relative to said primary tube such that said second axis is adjustable between at least a first angular position and a second angular position, wherein said second position is non-coaxial with respect to said first axis;
- an inertial valve having a first position and a second position, said secondary tube and said inertial valve at least partially defining a second fluid chamber, wherein said inertial valve substantially inhibits fluid communication between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in said first position and permits fluid communication between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in said second position;
- and
- wherein said piston rod is connected to one of said sprung weight portion and said unsprung weight portion, and said primary tube is connected to the other of said sprung weight portion and said unsprung weight portion.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.