Bicycle fork having lock-out, blow-off, and adjustable blow-off threshold

• US 7,163,222 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Inventors: Becker, William M., Lampman, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/620,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20050087953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 280/276, 280/279, 188/281, 188/285, 188/297, 188/313, 188/314, 188/316, 188/317, 188/282.1, 267/217
• 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

A bicycle 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. The damping assembly includes an adjustable valve, sometimes referred to as a pressure-relief or blow-off valve. The adjustable valve is externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, the adjustable valve and another fluid flow control valve may be adjusted independently of each other.

Claims

1. A bicycle fork, comprising:

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

a look-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 look-out valve, and

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

a first externally disposed on said fork, 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 during compression of said fork; and

a second externally disposed on said fork adjuster, said second external adjuster permitting external adjustment of said threshold pressure;

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

2. A bicycle fork, comprising:

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

a first valve, said first valve in fluid communication with said first fluid chamber, and having at least two positions;

wherein;

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

in a second position, fluid flow from said first fluid chamber is at least partially blocked by said first valve;

a first adjuster positioned externally of said fork, permitting external adjustment of said first valve between at least said two positions;

a second valve associated with said first fluid chamber, said second valve allowing fluid flow from said first fluid chamber when the pressure in said first chamber is equal to or greater than a threshold pressure; and

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

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

3. The fork of claim 2, wherein said second valve is a pressure-relief valve.

4. A bicycle fork, comprising:

a first fluid chamber containing damping fluid;

a first adjustable valve, said first adjustable valve in fluid communication with said first fluid chamber;

a first adjuster, positioned externally of said fork, permitting external adjustment of said first valve to vary the degree to which said first valve allows said damping fluid to flow from said first chamber;

a second valve associated with said first fluid chamber, said second valve allowing said damping fluid to flow from said first fluid chamber when fluid pressure in said first fluid chamber is equal to or greater than a threshold pressure; and

a second adjuster, positioned externally of said fork, permitting external adjustment of the threshold pressure required to allow said damping fluid to flow through said second valve;

wherein external adjustments made by said second external adjuster and said first external adjuster may be made independent of each other.

5. The fork of claim 4, wherein said second valve further comprises a pressure-relief valve.