# US 8,540,267 B1 · Bicycle damping system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,267 B1 - Document ID: US8540267B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/429,083 - Filed: 2012-03-23 - Published: 2013-09-26 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-23 - Assignees: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. - Applicants: Kyle L. Chubbuck; Christopher P. D'Aluisio - Inventors: Kyle L. Chubbuck; Christopher P. D'Aluisio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540267B1 ## CPC - B62K 21/20: resilient - B62K 21/02: Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine - B62K 25/04: for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork (for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06) - B62K 2025/041: {the cycle frame being made of a flexible material} - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE ## Abstract A bicycle damping system is arranged to reduce vibrations that originate at the bicycle wheel and are transmitted to the rider of the bicycle. A portion of a bicycle frame and/or bicycle fork can define a cavity and a damping member is positioned within the cavity. The damping member can be forced into contact with a surface of the cavity. Fork legs, seat stays, chain stays, the seat post are all examples portions of the bicycle frame that may include a damping system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bicycle, comprising: a main frame portion; a wheel; a wheel support coupled to said main frame portion at a first end and supporting said wheel at a second end, an outer wall of said wheel support defining a first surface cavity, the first surface cavity extending along the outer wall from a first side to a second side, the second side being an opposing side of the outer wall from the first side; a first damping member contoured to fit within and positioned within said first surface cavity, said first damping member having a first open end and a second open end and thereby extending along the outer wall from the first open end of the damping member at the first side of the outer wall to the second open end at the second opposing side of the outer wall so as to form a substantially U-shape; and a first plate, wherein said first plate secures said first damping member within said first surface cavity and forces said first damping member into contact with a surface of said first surface cavity to thereby dampen vibrations introduced to said wheel support by said wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein said first plate is substantially U-shaped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein said first plate covers less than an entire outer surface of the first damping member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein said wheel is a front wheel of said bicycle and said wheel support is a front fork. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein said first damping member is a solid piece of elastomeric material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bicycle of claim 5, wherein said first damping member occupies substantially the entire volume of the first surface cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, further comprising a second surface cavity and a second damping member positioned within said second surface cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bicycle of claim 7, wherein said first and second surface cavities are on separate portions of said wheel support, positioned on either side of said wheel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The bicycle of claim 4, further comprising a second surface cavity and a second damping member positioned within said second surface cavity, wherein the fork comprises two fork legs, and the first and second surface cavities are on separate fork legs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein said first surface cavity is located in an intermediate portion of said wheel support between said first and second ends. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein said wheel is a back wheel of said bicycle and said wheel support is a rear frame portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bicycle of claim 11, wherein said rear frame portion comprises two seat stays and two chain stays. ### Claim 13 A bicycle, comprising: a main frame portion; a wheel; a wheel support coupled to said main frame portion at a first end and supporting said wheel at a second end, an outer wall of said wheel support defining a first surface cavity; a first damping member positioned within said first surface cavity, said first damping member having a first open end and a second open end, said first damping member extending along the outer wall from the first open end of the damping member to the second open end to thereby engage opposing sides of the outer wall; and a first plate to secure said first damping member within said first surface cavity, wherein said first damping member is configured to be forced into contact with a surface of said first surface cavity to thereby dampen vibrations introduced to said wheel support by said wheel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bicycle of claim 13, wherein said first damping member extends along the outer wall from the first open end of the damping member to the second open end to thereby engage opposing sides of the outer wall so as to form a substantially U-shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bicycle of claim 14, wherein said first plate is substantially U-shaped. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The bicycle of claim 13, wherein said wheel is a front wheel of said bicycle and said wheel support is a front fork. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The bicycle of claim 13, wherein said first damping member is a solid piece of elastomeric material which occupies substantially the entire volume of the first surface cavity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The bicycle of claim 13, further comprising a second surface cavity and a second damping member positioned within said second surface cavity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The bicycle of claim 18, wherein said first and second surface cavities are on opposing legs of said wheel support. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The bicycle of claim 16, further comprising a second surface cavity and a second damping member positioned within said second surface cavity, wherein the fork comprises two fork legs, and the first and second surface cavities are each on one of the two fork legs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The bicycle of claim 13, wherein said first surface cavity is located in an intermediate portion of said wheel support between said first and second ends. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The bicycle of claim 13, wherein said wheel is a back wheel of said bicycle and said wheel support is a rear frame portion.