Bicycle air spring

An air spring comprising:

• a first member and a second member, wherein the second member slideably moves relative to the first member when the air spring is compressed or extended;
• a pressurized first chamber located substantially within the first member;
• a first piston coupled to the second member and configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber;
• a pressurized second chamber adjacent the first piston and opposite the first chamber;
• wherein the first piston is configured to seal the first chamber from the second chamber;
• the air spring configured such that the first piston decreases the volume of the first chamber during compression of the air spring and the first piston increases the volume of the first chamber during extension of the air spring;
• a second piston disposed within the first member and adjacent the first chamber and configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber;
• a third member disposed within the first member and positioned external to the second member, the third member comprising a pressurized third chamber adjacent the second piston;
• wherein the second piston is configured to seal the first chamber from the third chamber;
• wherein the air spring is configured such that the second piston increases the volume of the first chamber when the pressure inside the first chamber is greater than the pressure inside the third chamber.

An air spring comprising:

• a first member and a second member, wherein the second member slideably moves relative to the first member when the air spring is compressed or extended;
• a pressurized first chamber disposed within the first member;
• a first piston coupled to the second member, the first piston configured to seal the first chamber, the first piston configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber, the first chamber configured to decrease in volume when the first piston slides in a first direction and the first chamber configured to increase in volume when the first piston slides in a second direction;
• a second chamber configured to force the first piston in the first direction;
• a second piston adjacent the first chamber, the second piston configured to seal the first chamber, the second piston configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber, the first chamber decreasing in volume when the second piston slides in the second direction and the first chamber increasing in volume when the second piston slides in the first direction;
• a third member disposed within the first member and positioned external to the second member, the third member comprising a third chamber configured to force the second piston in the second direction;
• wherein the first chamber is configured such that pressure in the first chamber forces the first piston in the second direction;
• wherein the first chamber is configured such that pressure in the first chamber forces the second piston in the first direction;
• a retaining portion, the retaining portion configured to limit displacement of the second piston in the second direction.

An air spring having a range of motion between a fully extended position and a fully compressed position, the range of motion divided into an extended portion and a compressed portion, the extended portion nearest the fully extended position and the compressed portion nearest the fully extended position, the air spring comprising:

• a first member and a second member, wherein the second member slideably moves relative to the first member when the air spring is compressed or extended;
• a pressurized first chamber disposed within the first member;
• a first piston coupled to the second member and configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber,
• a pressurized second chamber adjacent the first piston and opposite the first chamber;
• wherein the first piston is configured to seal the first chamber from the second chamber;
• the air spring configured such that the first piston decreases the volume of the first chamber during compression of the air spring and the first piston increases the volume of the first chamber during extension of the air spring;
• a second piston disposed within the first member and adjacent the first chamber and configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber;
• a third member disposed within the first member and positioned external to the second member, the third member comprising a pressurized third chamber adjacent the second piston and opposite the first chamber;
• wherein the second piston is configured to seal the first chamber from the third chamber;
• wherein the air spring is configured such that the second piston increases the volume of the first chamber during compression of the air spring within the compressed portion of the range of motion of the air spring.

An air spring having a range of motion between a fully extended position and a fully compressed position, the range of motion divided into an extended portion and a compressed portion, the extended portion nearest the fully extended position and the compressed portion nearest the fully extended position, the air spring comprising:

• a first member defining a wall and a second member, wherein the second member slideably moves relative to the first member when the air spring is compressed or extended;
• a pressurized first chamber disposed within the first member and at least partially defined by said wall;
• a first piston coupled to the second member and configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber;
• a pressurized second chamber adjacent the first piston and opposite the first chamber;
• wherein the first piston is configured to seal the first chamber from the second chamber;
• the air spring configured such that the first piston moves towards the first chamber during compression of the air spring and the first piston moves away from the first chamber during extension of the air spring;
• a second piston adjacent the first chamber and configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber;
• a third member disposed within the wall of the first member and positioned external to the second member, the third member comprising a pressurized third chamber adjacent the second piston and opposite the first chamber;
• wherein the second piston is configured to seal the first chamber from the third chamber;
• wherein the air spring is configured such that the second piston moves away from the first chamber and in the same direction as the first piston during compression of the air spring within the compressed portion of the range of motion of the air spring.