Cannondale Corporation

Christoph E Mack

Michael A Harrison

Mark S Farris

John M Loftus

Ross P Collins

Aaron K Taylor

Christopher P D'Aluisio

Mario M Galasso

A suspension assembly, including inner and outer tubes that are adapted to the telescope with respect to each other. A self-contained shock-damping cartridge is disposed in the tubes and is removable as a unit. The cartridge has first and second chambers, which contain hydraulic fluid. A shaft movably extends substantially completely through both chambers, and a piston is associated with the shaft and the chambers such that movement of the shaft within the chambers forces hydraulic fluid from one of the chambers to the other, thus damping telescoping movement between the tubes. The cartridge is sealed to substantially prevent the hydraulic fluid from entering and exiting therefrom during telescoping movement.

Suspension assembly for a vehicle

There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer tube which is mounted via brackets to the steering tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner tube that telescopes within the outer tube. A shock absorbing system, preferably in the form of a cartridge is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to maintain torsional rigidity between the outer tube to the inner tube. The needle bearings thus bear radial loads as well as maintain the in line relationship of the outer and inner tubes for rotational forces while allowing the two tubes to freely telescope. Further, a rigid front blade is secured the inner tube to hold the front wheel of the vehicle and to provide bending and torsional stiffness.

Bicycle suspension system

There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer steer tube which is adapted to be mounted in and extend through the head tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner steer tube telescopes within the outer steer tube. A shock absorbing system is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer steer tube and the outer surface of the inner steer tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to transmit the torsional steering force from the outer tube to the inner tube. The needle bearings thus bear radial loads as well as maintain the in line relationship of the outer and inner tubes for rotational forces while allowing the two tubes to freely telescope.

A shock absorber for a bicycle front fork comprises telescopically related inner and outer tubes and an elastomeric spring received within the inner tube and engaged between a lower cap on the inner tube and a preload piston. A through-tube extends concentrically downwardly from an upper cap on the outer tube and is axially coupled to and rotational relative to the outer tube. The preload piston is on the lower end of a rod that is received in the through-tube and is axially adjustable relative to the through-tube to vary the preload of the elastomeric spring. A hydraulic damper composed of a cylinder member received within a lower portion of the inner tube and affixed to the inner tube and a hollow piston telescopically received by the through-tube and affixed to the upper cap includes a controllable bypass for changing the flow of hydraulic liquid between portions of the cylinder chamber on opposite sides of the piston. The bypass flow is controlled by a control member that abuts the piston and is affixed to the through-tube. Both the preload of the elastomeric spring and the damping rate of the hydraulic damper are adjustable by elements that are accessible from outside the shock absorber tubes. The bypass flow can be changed 'on the fly.'

Suspension skock absorber for bicycles

A caliper brake for a wheel of a bicycle comprises a pair of pivot mounts, each of which is adapted to be mounted on a bicycle member laterally of a wheel rim, one on either side of the wheel. A brake arm is pivotally mounted in cantilevered relation on each pivot mount adjacent its lower end, is biassed away from the wheel rim, and has a brake shoe affixed to it intermediate of its ends. A pivot bolt is affixed to a member of the bicycle above the wheel, and a spring retainer is mounted in a fixed position on the pivot bolt. A cam member is pivotally mounted on the pivot bolt adjacent to the spring retainer. A brake lever cable is connected directly to the upper end of one brake arm, and a sheath of the brake lever cable terminates at an end in engagement with the cam member. One end of a cable is affixed to the upper end of the other brake arm and at its other end to the cam. Stop surfaces on the cam member and the spring retainer engage to stop the pivotal movement of the cam member under the bias of a spring and thereby limit the rotation of the cam member under the bias of the spring.

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Georgetown, CT, United States of America

Christoph E Mack