Shock absorber

• US 6,581,918 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bret Voelkel
• Inventors: Voelkel, Bret
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US10/183,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20020163111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 267/64.21, 267/64.27, 267/64.28, 188/315, 188/322.16, 188/322.17
• US Class Current: 267/64.27
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/14 the damper being connected to the stub axle and the spring being arranged around the damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/10 not permanently interconnected, e.g. operative only on acceleration, only on deceleration or only at off-straight position of steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/314 The spring being a pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/40 Constructional features of dampers and/or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51222 Pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/203 Distributor valve units comprising several elements, e.g. valves, pump or accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/205 Air-compressor operation
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/05 the flexible wall being of the rolling diaphragm type

Abstract

The present invention provides a shock absorbing device comprising: a hollow spring including a chamber having a proximal end, a distal end, and a bellows comprised of a springy material connecting the proximal end to the distal end and enclosing the chamber; a shock absorber extending through the hollow spring, the shock absorber including a cylinder and a piston which slidably engages the cylinder, the cylinder extending through and being attached to the hollow spring proximal end, the piston extending through and slidably engaging the hollow spring distal and the piston including contacting device located distally of the hollow spring distal end for urging the hollow spring distal end proximally when the contacting device is forced against the hollow spring distal end and for urging the piston distally when the hollow spring distal end is forced against the contacting device. The present invention also provides mounts for a shock absorbing device and a shock absorbing system employing the shock absorbing device of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing device comprising:

a hollow spring including a chamber, said hollow spring having a proximal end, a distal end, and a bellows comprised of a springy material connecting said proximal end to said distal end and enclosing said chamber;

a distal mount mounted on said distal end of said hollow spring;

a proximal mount mounted on said proximal end of said hollow spring;

a shock absorber extending through said proximal mount, said hollow spring, and said distal mount, said shock absorber including;

a cylinder extending through and being attached to said proximal mount; and

a piston assembly having a piston, a piston rod and a piston assembly distal end, said piston slidably engaging said cylinder, said piston rod extending through and slidably engaging said distal mount, said piston assembly distal end including a contacting means for urging said distal mount and said hollow spring distal end proximally when said contacting means is forced against said distal mount and for urging said piston assembly distally when said distal mount is forced against said contacting means, wherein said distal mount has mounted therein at least one distal O-ring for sealingly engaging said piston rod.

2. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, wherein said distal mount has mounted therein at least two distal O-rings for sealingly engaging said piston rod.

3. The shock absorbing device of claim 2, wherein said proximal mount has mounted therein at least one proximal O-ring for sealingly engaging said cylinder.

4. The shock absorbing device of claim 3, wherein said proximal mount has mounted therein at least two proximal O-rings for sealingly engaging said cylinder.

5. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, wherein said proximal mount has mounted therein at least one proximal O-ring for sealingly engaging said cylinder.

6. The shock absorbing device of claim 5, wherein said proximal mount has mounted therein at least two proximal O-rings for sealingly engaging said cylinder.

7. The shock absorbing device of claim 5, wherein said at least one proximal O-ring is made of rubber.

8. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, wherein said at least one distal O-ring is made of rubber.

9. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, wherein said hollow spring is at least partially filled with a spring filling fluid.

10. The shock absorbing device of claim 9, wherein said spring filling fluid fills said hollow spring so that said hollow spring urges said distal mount to contact said contacting means, thereby urging said piston assembly distally.

11. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, wherein said hollow spring comprises a two-compartment bellows.

12. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, wherein said hollow spring comprises a cylindrical bellows.

13. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, wherein said distal mount comprises a plate.

14. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, wherein piston assembly distal end comprises a distal vehicle mounting means for mounting said shock absorbing device on a vehicle and said contacting means is connected to said distal vehicle mounting means.

15. The shock absorbing device of claim 14, wherein said contacting means further comprises a spacer slidably mounted on said piston rod between said distal mount and said contacting means.

16. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, further comprising mounting means on said shock absorbing device for mounting said shock absorbing device on a vehicle.

17. The shock absorbing device of claim 1, further comprising means for regulating the amount of a spring filling fluid filling said hollow spring.

18. A shock absorbing device comprising:

a hollow spring including a chamber, said hollow spring having a proximal end, a distal end, and a bellows comprised of a springy material connecting said proximal end to said distal end and enclosing said chamber;

a distal mount mounted on said distal end of said hollow spring;

a proximal mount mounted on said proximal end of said hollow spring;

a shock absorber extending through said proximal mount, said hollow spring, and said distal mount, said shock absorber including;

a cylinder extending through and being attached to said proximal mount; and

a piston assembly having a piston, a piston rod and a piston assembly distal end, said piston slidably engaging said cylinder, said piston rod extending through and slidably engaging said distal mount, said piston assembly distal end including a contacting means for urging said distal mount and said hollow spring distal end proximally when said contacting means is forced against said distal mount and for urging said piston assembly distally when said distal mount is forced against said contacting means, wherein said proximal mount has mounted therein at least one O-ring for sealingly engaging said cylinder.

19. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, wherein said proximal mount has mounted therein at least two O-rings for sealingly engaging said cylinder.

20. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, wherein said at least one O-ring is made of rubber.

21. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, wherein said hollow spring is at least partially filled with a spring filling fluid.

22. The shock absorbing device of claim 21, wherein said spring filling fluid fills said hollow spring so that said hollow spring urges said distal mount to contact said contacting means, thereby urging said piston assembly distally.

23. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, wherein said hollow spring comprises a two-compartment bellows.

24. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, wherein said hollow spring comprises a cylindrical bellows.

25. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, wherein said distal mount comprises a plate.

26. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, wherein piston assembly distal end comprises a distal vehicle mounting means for mounting said shock absorbing device on a vehicle and said contacting means is connected to said distal vehicle mounting means.

27. The shock absorbing device of claim 26, wherein said contacting means further comprises a spacer slidably mounted on said piston rod between said distal mount and said contacting means.

28. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, further comprising mounting means on said shock absorbing device for mounting said shock absorbing device on a vehicle.

29. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, further comprising means for regulating the amount of a spring filling fluid filling said hollow spring.

30. The shock absorbing device of claim 18, wherein said proximal mount further includes:

a first adapter for sealingly engaging said cylinder, said first adapter including therein said at least one O-ring; and

a second adapter for engaging said hollow spring, said second adapter including a proximal end for abutting against a distal end of said first adapter, and said second adapter being separable from said first adapter.

31. The shock absorbing device of claim 30, wherein said first adapter includes therein at least two O-rings for sealingly engaging said cylinder.

32. The shock absorbing device of claim 31, wherein said two O-rings are made of rubber.

33. The shock absorbing device of claim 30, wherein said at least one O-ring is made of rubber.

34. A mounting device comprising a mount including:

a plate shaped structure for sealing a first end of a hollow spring and for allowing said mount to be mounted on a mounting ring circumferentially surrounding and mounted on said first end of said hollow spring; and

a neck structure for circumferentially and sealingly engaging a piston rod of a shock absorber extending through said mount, said neck structure extending substantially perpendicularly from said plate shaped structure and said neck structure including therein at least one circular groove for mounting within said neck structure at least one O-ring for circumferentially and sealingly engaging said piston rod.

35. The mounting device of claim 34, wherein said at least one circular groove comprises at least two circular grooves for mounting within said mount at least two respective O-rings.

36. The mounting device of claim 35, further comprising said at least two respective O-rings mounted in said at least two circular grooves.

37. The mounting device of claim 36, wherein said O-rings are made of rubber.

38. The mounting device of claim 34, further comprising said at least one O-ring mounted in said circular groove.

39. The mounting device of claim 38, wherein said O-ring is made of rubber.

40. The mounting device of claim 34, wherein said plate shaped structure further includes an opening for allowing a spring filling fluid to pass into and out of said hollow spring.

41. A mounting device comprising a mount including:

a plate shaped structure for sealing a first end of said hollow spring and for allowing said mount to be mounted on a mounting ring circumferentially surrounding and mounted on said first end of said hollow spring; and

a neck structure for circumferentially and sealingly engaging cylinder of a shock absorber extending through said mount, said neck structure extending substantially perpendicularly from said plate shaped structure and said neck structure including therein at least one circular groove for mounting within said neck structure at least one O-ring for circumferentially and sealingly engaging said cylinder.

42. The mounting device of claim 41, wherein said at least one circular groove comprises at least two circular grooves for mounting within said mount at least two respective O-rings.

43. The mounting device of claim 42, further comprising said at least two respective O-rings mounted in said at least two circular grooves.

44. The mounting device of claim 43, wherein said O-rings are made of rubber.

45. The mounting device of claim 41, further comprising said at least one O-ring mounted in said circular groove.

46. The mounting device of claim 45, wherein said O-ring is made of rubber.

47. The mounting device of claim 41, wherein said neck structure further includes screw threads for engaging screw threads on said cylinder.