# US 9,517,675 B2 · Adjustable blow-off suspension

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- Number: US 9,517,675 B2
- Document ID: US9517675B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/804,512
- Filed: 2015-07-21
- Published: 2015-11-12
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2009-01-09
- Assignees: Fox Factory, Inc.
- Applicants: Fox Factory, Inc.
- Inventors: Andrew Laird; Robert C. Fox
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517675B2

## CPC

- B60G 17/08: Characteristics of fluid dampers (adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53)
- B60G 13/08: hydraulic
- B60G 15/12: and fluid damper
- B62K 25/06: with telescopic fork, e.g. including auxiliary rocking arms
- B62K 25/28: with pivoted chain-stay
- B62K 25/283: {for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles}
- F16F 9/065: {Expansion chamber provided on the upper or lower end of a damper, separately there from or laterally on the damper}
- F16F 9/446: {Adjustment of valve bias or pre-stress (F16F9/443 takes precedence)}
- F16F 9/466: {Throttling control, i.e. regulation of flow passage geometry (F16F9/464, F16F9/465 take precedence)}
- B60G 2202/314: The spring being a pneumatic spring
- B60G 2300/12: Cycles; Motorcycles
- B60G 2500/11: Damping valves
- B60G 2800/162: Reducing road induced vibrations
- B62K 2025/048: {with suspension manual adjustment details}
- F16F 2228/066: Variable stiffness
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- 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

## Abstract

Altering the damping rate of a vehicle suspension damper. A pressure of a damping fluid is exerted against a second valve mechanism connected to the vehicle suspension damper. The pressure of the damping fluid is increased beyond a threshold of the second valve mechanism that is adjustable by an adjustment member. The adjustment member is exposed through a high pressure side of the vehicle suspension damper. The second valve mechanism is then opened.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle suspension damper for providing a variable damping rate comprising:
a valve mechanism having a threshold pressure that is selectively variable via an adjustment member that is exposed through a high pressure side of said vehicle suspension damper, wherein exceeding said threshold pressure causes said valve mechanism to open and allow damping fluid to flow there through to a reservoir chamber;
a compressible chamber in communication with said reservoir chamber, wherein a portion of a stroke of said vehicle suspension damper compresses a volume of compressible fluid within said compressible chamber and a pressure of said damping fluid increases in proportion to compression of said volume;
an adjuster that is rotationally coupled with said adjustment member; and
a spring interfacing with said adjuster and an actuator, said actuator positioned to be in contact with said valve mechanism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1, wherein said actuator is configured to be in contact with a blow-off valve of said valve mechanism.