Bicycle Suspension System

• US 20100059964A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SRAM Corporation (SRAM International Corp.)
• Inventors: Morris, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/283
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/048 with suspension manual adjustment details
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/461 characterised by actuation means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20438 Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20822 Attachments and accessories

Abstract

A bicycle suspension system of the present invention generally includes a bicycle suspension and a hydraulic control assembly. The hydraulic control assembly includes a fluid pump, a fluid responder and a fluid path. The fluid pump is mountable to a bicycle handlebar. The fluid responder is mountable to the bicycle suspension. The fluid path links the fluid pump and the fluid responder. The fluid responder is operatively connected to the bicycle suspension to operate the bicycle suspension between first and second suspension settings in response to fluid displacement between the fluid pump and the fluid responder.

Claims

1. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a bicycle suspension operable between first and second suspension settings; and

a hydraulic control assembly including;

a fluid pump mountable to a bicycle handlebar,

a fluid responder mountable to the bicycle suspension, and

a fluid path linking the fluid pump and the fluid responder,

the fluid responder operatively connected to the bicycle suspension to operate the bicycle suspension between the first and second suspension settings in response to fluid displacement between the fluid pump and the fluid responder.

2. The bicycle suspension system of claim 1 wherein the bicycle suspension includes a damping system, the fluid path discontiguous from the damping system.

3. The bicycle suspension system of claim 2 wherein the fluid path includes a flexible connector between the fluid pump and the fluid responder.

4. The bicycle suspension system of claim 3 wherein the fluid pump includes a first housing having a first fluid cavity, a first piston slidably disposed in the fluid cavity and a first actuator operatively connected to the first piston for displacing the first piston within the first fluid cavity.

5. The bicycle suspension system of claim 4 wherein the first actuator and the first housing include a push-push toggle mechanism.

6. The bicycle suspension system of claim 4 wherein the fluid responder includes a second housing having a second fluid cavity, a second piston slidably disposed in the second fluid cavity and a second actuator operatively connected to the second piston for operating the bicycle suspension in response to displacement of the second piston within the second fluid cavity.

7. The bicycle suspension system of claim 6 wherein the second actuator includes a rack and pinion mechanism.

8. The bicycle suspension system of claim 6 wherein the fluid path includes the first and second fluid cavities.

9. The bicycle suspension system of claim 3 wherein the fluid responder includes a second housing having a second fluid cavity, a second piston slidably disposed in the second fluid cavity and a second actuator operatively connected to the second piston for operating the bicycle suspension in response to displacement of the second piston within the second fluid cavity.