Front fork shock-absorbing device and method for controlling the same

• US 10,458,508 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liow Ko Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Liow Ko Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Cheng Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/995,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20190316649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 1882665, 1882824, 1883191, 280275, 280276
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 2001/085 Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/048 with suspension manual adjustment details
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/02 Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/463 characterised by electrical connections

Abstract

A front fork shock-absorbing device includes a front fork and a shock-absorbing unit is located in the first space in the front fork. The shock-absorbing unit includes a driving unit and a spring rate adjustment device. The driving unit contacts an operation end of the spring rate adjustment device. A DC power unit is located in the second space of the front fork and electrically connected to the driving unit. The shock-absorbing unit provides shock-absorbing features to the front fork. The spring rate adjustment device is adjusted according to the road condition to provide comfortable riding to the users.

Claims

1. A front fork shock-absorbing device comprising:

a front fork having a crown portion and two legs extending from the crown portion, an inner tube unit and an outer tube unit located in each of the two legs, the inner tube unit partially and retractably located in the outer tube unit, a resilient member located between the inner tube unit and the outer tube unit, a first space defined in one of the two legs of the front fork, and a second space defined in the other one of the two legs of the front fork;

a shock-absorbing unit located in the first space and including a driving unit and a spring rate adjustment device, the driving unit connected to an operation end of the spring rate adjustment device, the driving unit including a single receiving end to receive command signals to contact the operation end;

a DC power unit located in the second space and electrically connected to the driving unit, and

a remote-control device having a signal output end which outputs the command signals to the single receiving end of the driving unit to adjust the spring rate adjustment device.

2. The front fork shock-absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving unit includes a controller, a motor and an activation member, the controller drives the motor, and the motor drives the activation member, the activation member contacts the operation end of the spring rate adjustment device.

3. The front fork shock-absorbing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the activation member includes a movable member and a fixed member, the movable member is movably located in the fixed member, a threaded section is formed between an outer surface of the movable member and an inner surface of the fixed member so that the movable member is movable relative to the fixed member by the threaded section.

4. The front fork shock-absorbing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller includes a micro-control module, a decoding module, a motor-control module and a communication module, the micro-control module, the decoding module, the motor-control module and the communication module are electrically connected with each other, the communication module is a wireless communication module, a blue-tooth communication module or a cabled communication module.

5. The front fork shock-absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote-control device is adapted to be installed to a bike, the remote-control device is a gauge or a control device which outputs the command signals to the driving unit by a wireless way or a cabled method.

6. The front fork shock-absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote-control device is a smart phone which outputs the command signals to the driving unit by way of wireless.

7. The front fork shock-absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the DC power unit is a one-time battery, a two-time use battery or a power generation unit, the inner tube unit is moved relative to the outer tube unit to change the first space and the second space so as to adjust a spring rate of the resilient member.

8. A method for controlling a front fork shock-absorbing device, comprising:

a step of having a front fork shock-absorbing device;

installing a driving unit and a spring rate adjustment device in a front fork of a bike, the driving unit contacting an operation end of the spring rate adjustment device, the driving unit including a single receiving end, the driving unit having a controller, a motor and an activation member, the controller driving the motor, the motor driving the activation member, the activation member contacting the operation end of the spring rate adjustment device, the inner tube unit being movable relative to the outer tube unit to change a first space defined in the inner tube unit, and a second space defined between the inner tube unit and the outer tube unit so as to adjust a spring rate of the resilient member;

a step of having a DC power unit;

installing a DC power unit in the front fork, the DC power unit providing power to the driving unit, and

a step of having a remote-control device;

the remote-control device having a signal output end which outputs the command signals to the single receiving end of the driving unit to adjust the spring rate adjustment device.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the controller includes a micro-control module, a decoding module, a motor-control module and a communication module, the micro-control module sends the command signals, according to a result of the decoding module, to the motor-control module to control revolution per minute of the motor.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller examines the front fork shock-absorbing device when the remote-control device is activated, and the controller sends signals to the remote-control device, the decoding module of the controller analyzes the command signals of the remote-control device so as to drive the motor, and feeds back signal of the motor to the controller.