Rockshox, Inc.

Maverick American LLC

Blackglass LLC

A-pro Tech Co., Ltd.

Rockshox California, Inc.

Paul Turner

X-fusion

Paul H Turner

Michael L McAndrews

Mike McAndrews

Frank E Vogel

Ronald J Powers

Robert L Cobene, Ii

Ricardo R Baldomero

Kevan L Chu

A releasable clamp system for clamping a wheel component to a vehicle includes a frame member and a cover plate that is pivotally coupled to the frame member. The cover plate is movable between a closed portion where the cover plate and the frame member encompass the wheel component and an open position that permits removal of the wheel component. A lever is pivotally attached to the cover plate and a hook member is pivotally attached to the lever. An adjustment system is used to adjust the clamping force applied to the wheel component by the frame member and the cover plate.

Telescoping suspension fork having a quick release wheel component clamp

Adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assemblies, bikes using such assemblies, and methods of use are provided. One such adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assembly includes first and second tubes in telescoping arrangement. The first tube is adapted to be coupled to a bicycle frame and the second tube is adapted to be coupled to a bicycle seat. A bulkhead is disposed in one of the first and second tubes. The bulkhead has an orifice therethrough, with a rod extending through the orifice and coupled to a movement device disposed near an end of the second tube. The first and second tubes are axially adjustable relative to one another by regulating a flow of a fluid disposed in the first and second tubes.

Adjustable bicycle seat assemblies and methods of use

A suspension travel adjustment mechanism comprises a housing containing a fluid, and a shaft extending through the housing. A piston is coupled to the shaft to define an upper chamber and a lower chamber within the housing. A fluid passageway extends between the upper chamber and the lower chamber. A mechanism is used for selectively opening and closing the fluid passageway from outside of the housing permit the fluid to flow between the upper chamber and the lower chamber when the fluid passageway is opened.

Suspension system for a vehicle

A releasable clamp system for clamping an axle of a wheel to a two wheeled vehicle comprising a frame member and a cover plate that is pivotally coupled to the frame member. The cover plate is movable between a closed portion where the cover plate and the frame member encompass the wheel axle and an open position that permits removal of the wheel axle. A lever is pivotally attached to the cover plate and a hook, member is pivotally attached to the lever. An adjustment system is used to adjust the clamping force applied to the axle by the frame member and the cover plate.

Telescoping suspension fork having a quick release wheel axle clamp

A suspension system for a rear wheel of a multi-wheel vehicle comprises a front structural member that is adapted to be coupled to seat and a front fork. The front structural member has a first pivot point and a second pivot point that is vertically above the first pivot point. A rear structural member is adapted to be operably coupled to an axle of a rear wheel. The rear structural member has a third pivot point that is rearward of the first pivot point. A slideable connector is rigidly coupled to the rear structural member and pivotally coupled to the second pivot point. A link member is pivotally linked to the first pivot point of the front structural member and the third pivot point of the rear structural member.

A telescoping fork for the front wheel of a two wheel vehicle comprises a pair of outer tubes that each have a bottom end and a top end. An upper structural member and a lower structural member connect the outer tubes. Further, each outer tube tapers outwardly, both externally and internally, in a direction from the bottom end toward the lower structural member and from the top end toward the lower structural member. The structural members may attach to a top and bottom of a steering column.

A fluid damped shock absorber comprises an outer tube having a closed end and an open end, and a damper tube disposed within the outer tube. An inner tube is axially slideable within the outer tube and has a closed end and an open end. A sealing piston is attached to the inner tube to provide a seal between the inside of the outer tube and the outside of the damper tube. A sealing device is attached near the open end of the outer tube to provide a seal between the outside of the inner tube and the outer tube. A regulation valve is fixed to the damper tube in a sealed arrangement with the outer tube. The regulation valve is located between the closed end of the outer tube and the sealing piston. The regulation valve is configured to regulate fluid flow of a damping fluid between the outer tube and the damper tube upon axial movement of the inner tube within the outer tube.

Fluid damped shock absorber and method

A suspension system having first and second elements telescopingly engaged and being biased apart by a positive spring, such biasing being counteracted by a negative spring. In one embodiment, the positive spring and negative spring are disposed in the first element, which is in the form of a tube, and separated by a damping system, and a damping piston is fixed with respect to the first element. In another embodiment in which the suspension system comprises two legs of a bicycle suspension fork, a positive spring is disposed in both legs, and a negative spring and damping system are disposed in separate legs. In another embodiment in which the suspension system comprises a rear shock absorber for a bicycle, the negative and positive springs are disposed in a first tubular element, and a damping system is disposed in a second tubular element. The positive and negative springs preferably comprise air or other gas springs, and the negative spring preferably performs the additional function of resisting top-out impacts.

Adjustable suspension system having positive and negative springs

A suspension system, particularly for a pedal-driven vehicle, comprising a telescoping strut having first and second telescopingly and coaxially engaged members, and having a damping system comprising a damping fluid, a damping piston connected to a piston rod, an inertia-activated compression fluid flow control mechanism and a pressure-activated compression fluid flow control mechanism disposed in the first telescoping strut. The inertia-activated compression fluid flow control mechanism comprises a valve body biased by a valve spring into a first position over a radial groove formed on the piston so that the valve body prevents fluid flow through an inertia-activated compression fluid flow circuit in response to force inputs imparted to the vehicle frame. The valve spring and valve body are connected to the piston rod which extends into the first telescoping member and is attached to the vehicle wheel, such that the valve body may be moved into a second position permitting fluid flow through the inertia-activated compression fluid flow circuit by force inputs imparted to the vehicle wheel. Because the inertia-activated fluid flow control mechanism is inertia-activated and not pressure-activated, a force impact imparted to the vehicle wheel results an fluid flow through both the pressure-activated and inertia-activated flow circuits, whereas force inputs such as from pedalling, weight shifting and acceleration or deceleration forces do not result in flow through the inertia-activated circuit. The suspension system therefore resists the absorption of pedal drive energy, provides a ride-leveling effect, and provides a broad range over which the damping system may be adjusted.

Valve mechanism for damping system

A suspension system for a bicycle or other vehicle or apparatus, the system including at least one telescoping strut comprising a first telescoping member and a second telescoping member, the first and second telescoping members being telescopingly and coaxially engaged with each other so that the strut is compressible by relative movement of the telescoping members toward each other and expandable by relative movement of the telescoping members away from each other. A piston may be interconnected with the second telescoping member and slidably positioned within the first telescoping member. The piston separates a primary compression spring chamber into two gas chambers connected by an adjustable port, whereby compression or expansion of the strut creates a damping force that resists such relative movement of the telescoping members, resulting in the primary compression spring having a frequency-sensitive spring rate. The crack force, spring rate and other characteristics of the suspension system may be adjusted using a piston location adjuster to adjust the piston height, and/or a negative preload spring to apply a compressive preload force to the telescoping strut.

Adjustable gas spring suspension system

A shock absorber formed of an inner tubular element telescopingly slidable within an outer tubular element. A piston is mounted on the inner tubular element and is provided with valving that permits adjustability of compression damping separate from rebound damping. Preferably, the piston slides within a glide tube substantially concentrically mounted within the outer tubular and having a highly finished surface along which the piston slides. A first chamber is formed within the glide tube a second chamber is formed between the outer tubular element and the glide tube. Valves are positioned between these first and second chambers to control compression flow and rebound flow separately and independently. A main compression spring is positioned external to and between the inner and outer tubular elements of the shock absorber, and acts to bias the tubular elements away from each other. A gas chamber positioned within the inner tubular element serves to assist the main compression spring in biasing the inner and outer tubular elements, and also acts as part of a volume compensation system when the shock absorber is compressed and expanded.

Adjustable twin tube shock absorber

A mounting mechanism for mounting a disk brake to a bicycle. The mounting mechanism includes an elongated mounting bracket that is mounted adjacent the bicycle wheel assembly. Preferably, a first end of the bracket is coupled to the wheel dropout of the frame and a second end of the bracket is coupled to a portion of the bicycle frame, such as the seat stay. A mounting band or other similar coupling element may be used to couple the second end to the frame such that the integrity of the frame is not compromised. The disk brake component to be mounted adjacent the wheel is coupled to the mounting bracket preferably between the ends of the bracket.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Paul H Turner