# US 8,740,237 B2 · Bicycle with suspension > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,237 B2 - Document ID: US8740237B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/243,216 - Filed: 2011-09-23 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-23 - Assignees: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. - Applicants: Michael McAndrews; Robb Jankura; Brian Lampman - Inventors: Michael McAndrews; Robb Jankura; Brian Lampman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740237B2 ## CPC - B62K 25/08: for front wheel - B62K 25/06: with telescopic fork, e.g. including auxiliary rocking arms - B62K 25/286: {the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism} - F16F 9/02: using gas only {or vacuum (F16F9/006 takes precedence)} - F16F 9/0218: {Mono-tubular units (F16F9/0227, F16F9/0236, F16F9/0245 take precedence)} - F16F 9/43: Filling {or drainage} arrangements, e.g. for supply of gas {(filling vessels with, or discharging from vessels, compressed, liquefied, or solidified gases F17C)} - B60G 17/056: Regulating distributors or valves {for hydropneumatic systems}(B60G17/044 - B60G17/048, {B60G17/0416} take precedence; {Fluid interconnection systems to control vehicle inclination B60G21/06, B60G21/10}; valves per se F16K) - B62K 3/00: Bicycles - B62K 2025/048: {with suspension manual adjustment details} - B62K 2201/08: Fluid springs - F16F 2230/06: Fluid filling or discharging - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A bicycle assembly can include a front or rear suspension system with a shock absorber. A front suspension system can be a suspension fork. A rear suspension system can include a rear shock absorber. The shock can have a shock body and a pressurized main air chamber within the shock body to act as an air spring. The shock can also have a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to the main air chamber. A secondary air chamber and a control member can be used to reduce the pressure within the main air chamber by venting the secondary air chamber to the atmosphere. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bicycle assembly comprising: a shock comprising: a shock body; a pressurized main air chamber within the shock body to act as an air spring; a secondary air chamber positioned within the main air chamber; a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to both the main air chamber and the secondary air chamber; an outer valve housing surrounding the valve, the outer valve housing movable with respect to the shock body from a first position where the secondary air chamber is in fluid communication with the main air chamber, and a second position where the secondary air chamber is in fluid communication with atmospheric air. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bicycle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of seals surrounding the outer valve housing and engagable with a wall of the shock body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bicycle assembly of claim 2, wherein in the second position, the outer valve housing, the plurality of seals, and the wall allow air to pass around the outer valve housing to the atmosphere. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bicycle assembly of claim 1, wherein the shock is either a suspension fork or part of a rear suspension. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bicycle assembly of claim 4, further comprising a bicycle frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bicycle assembly of claim 5, further comprising front and rear wheels. ### Claim 7 A bicycle assembly comprising: a shock comprising: a shock body; a pressurized main air chamber within the shock body to act as an air spring; a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to the main air chamber; a secondary air chamber; a control member movable with respect to the shock body, the secondary air chamber and the control member operably coupled to remove air and reduce pressure in the main air chamber, in a first position of the control member the secondary air chamber is at the same pressure as and in fluid communication with the main air chamber, and in a second position the secondary air chamber is at atmospheric pressure and in fluid communication with atmospheric air, wherein the air removed from the main air chamber does not leave the shock through the valve; wherein the shock further comprises an outer valve housing with the valve positioned within the inside of the outer valve housing and configured such that when the control member is in the second position, air can leave the secondary chamber passing around the outside of the outer valve housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bicycle assembly of claim 7, wherein the secondary air chamber is positioned inside of the main air chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The bicycle assembly of claim 7, wherein the valve comprises a Schrader valve or a Presta valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The bicycle assembly of claim 7, wherein the shock further comprises a damper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The bicycle assembly of claim 7, wherein the shock is either a suspension fork or part of a rear suspension. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bicycle assembly of claim 11, further comprising a bicycle frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The bicycle assembly of claim 12, further comprising front and rear wheels. ### Claim 14 A bicycle assembly comprising: a shock comprising: a shock body; a pressurized main air chamber within the shock body to act as an air spring; a secondary air chamber positioned within the shock body; a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to both the main air chamber and the secondary air chamber such that the main air chamber and the secondary air chamber have the same pressure; a control member configured to reduce the pressure within the main air chamber by venting the secondary air chamber to the atmosphere, wherein the control member comprises an outer valve housing surrounding the valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bicycle assembly of claim 14, wherein the secondary air chamber is positioned within the main air chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The bicycle assembly of claim 14, wherein the shock is either a suspension fork or part of a rear suspension. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The bicycle assembly of claim 16, further comprising a bicycle frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel.