Bicycle fork cartridge assembly

• US 20050087953A1
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Inventors: Becker, William M., Lampman, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,163,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/047 with suspension locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/048 with suspension manual adjustment details
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/06 with telescopic fork, e.g. including auxiliary rocking arms
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/286 the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/007 the damper being a fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/064 Units characterised by the location or shape of the expansion chamber F16F9/068, F16F9/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3221 of piston rods
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/34 Special valve constructions F16F9/44, F16F9/50 take precedence; filtering details F16F9/3285 ; valves in general F16K; Shape or construction of throttling passages
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/44 Means on or in the damper for manual or non-automatic adjustment; such means combined with temperature correction F16F9/53, F16F13/26 take precedence; temperature correction only F16F9/52
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/56 Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005

Abstract

An off-road bicycle suspension fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs and includes a cartridge tube connected to the lower leg and a piston connected to the upper tube by a shaft. The piston is telescopingly engaged with the cartridge tube to define a compression chamber below the piston. A control assembly is located at a top portion of the upper leg and is in communication with the compression chamber via a central passage of the shaft. A reservoir is defined between at least a portion of the lower tube and the cartridge. During compression of the suspension fork, fluid flows from the compression chamber, upward through the central passage of the shaft, through the control assembly and to the reservoir.

Claims

1-64. -64. (canceled)

65. A bicycle front fork, comprising:

a compression fluid chamber configured to decrease in volume during at least a portion of the compression of said fork;

a lock-out valve, said lock-out valve in fluid communication with said compression fluid chamber, and having at least two positions;

wherein;

in a first position, fluid flow from said compression fluid chamber is substantially unrestricted by said lock-out valve, and

in a second position, fluid flow from said compression fluid chamber is at least partially blocked by said lock-out valve;

a first external adjuster permitting external adjustment of said lock-out valve between at least said two positions;

a blow-off valve associated with said compression fluid chamber, said blow-off valve allowing flow from said compression fluid chamber in response to the pressure in said chamber being equal to or greater than a threshold pressure; and

a second external adjuster, said second external adjuster permitting external adjustment of said threshold pressure;

whereby adjustments to said threshold pressure may be made without tools.

66. A method of operating a compressible bicycle fork having lock-out and blow-off features, including the step of adjusting a threshold pressure at which said blow-off feature operates, said adjustment step being performed without tools.

67. A method of making a compressible bicycle fork, including the steps of:

a) providing said fork with a lock-out valve;

b) providing said fork with a blow-off valve having a threshold pressure at which said blow-off valve opens and allows fluid flow there through;

c) providing said fork with the ability for its user to make tool-less adjustments of said threshold pressure.

68. A compressible bicycle fork, comprising:

first and second telescopingly engaged tubes configured to move closer together during compression of said fork;

an adjustable lock-out valve, said lock-out valve having a plurality of operator-selectable positions, one of said operator-selectable positions of said lock-out valve at least inhibiting said first and second tubes from moving closer together when subjected to a range of compressive forces;

a manually adjustable blow-off valve capable of tool-less adjustment, said blow-off valve allowing said first and second tubes to move closer together in response to a pressure imparted on said valve being equal to or greater than a operator-selectable threshold pressure when said lock-out valve is in its movement inhibiting position;

said threshold pressure exceeding said range of compressive forces.

69. The fork of claim 68, wherein said operator-selectable position of said lock-out valve that at least inhibits said first and second tubes from moving closer together when subjected to said range of compressive forces substantially prevents said first and second tubes from moving closer together when subjected to said range of compressive forces.

70. The fork of claim 68, wherein said range of compressive forces includes at least low-speed compression forces.

71. The fork of claim 70, wherein said range of compressive forces further includes at least mid-speed compression forces.

72. A compressible bicycle fork, comprising:

first and second tubes configured to move closer together during the compression of said fork;

a manually adjustable lock-out valve, said lock-out valve having a plurality of operator selectable positions, one of said operator-selectable positions of said lock-out valve at least inhibiting said first and second tubes from moving closer together when subjected to a range of compressive forces;

a manually adjustable blow-off valve capable of tool-less adjustment, said blow-off valve having a plurality of operator-selectable positions, each of said operator-selectable positions of said blow-off valve altering the magnitude of the force that must be imparted on said fork for said first and second tubes to move closer together when said lock-out valve is in its movement inhibiting position.

73. The fork of claim 72, wherein said range of compressive forces includes at least low-speed compression forces.

74. The fork of claim 73, wherein said range of compressive forces further includes at least mid-speed compression forces.