Compact shock absorption, vibration, isolation, and suspension device

• US 7,478,803 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Castershox, LLC
• Original Assignee: Elmer C. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Elmer
• Primary Examiner(s): Burch; Melody M
• Application Number:
  US10/403,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20030230866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 152270-274, 152/276, 152/277, 152/11, 152/31, 152/40, 152/42, 152/44, 152/48, 152/45, 152/47, 152/46, 152/69, 152/84, 152/76, 152/20, 152/77, 152/18, 152/78, 152/17, 152/43, 152/41, 267/141, 267/152, 267/160, 267/153, 267292-294, 267/140.4, 267/140.5, 267/30, 384/535, 384/544, 384/536, 192/37, 264334-337, 280 1119- 1134, 280/11.225, 301 5301- 5309, 301/124.1, 301/125, 301/6.91, 193/37, 198/624, 492/28, 464/72, 464/94
• US Class Current: 267/293
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/06 single-track type
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/223 Wheel hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/22 having rubber springs only B60G11/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/02 Spring characteristics , e.g. mechanical springs and mechanical adjusting meansB60G17/005, B60G17/015 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/14 Plastic spring, e.g. rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/41042 by using internal cam surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/13 Small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/20 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/00 Resilient suspensions for a single wheel pivoted suspensions arms per se, attachment thereof to sprung part of the vehicle, buffer means for limiting movement of arms B60G7/00; rigid axle suspensions B60G9/00; characterised by arrangement, location or type of springs B60G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/3835 characterised by the sleeve of elastic material, e.g. having indentations or made of materials of different hardness F16F1/3807, F16F1/387 take precedence

Abstract

A compact shock absorption, vibration, isolation, and/or suspension device is provided having long life and increased performance in a compact design. The device of the present disclosure is both less expensive and simpler to manufacture. In addition to being able to be used as a shock absorber in the hub of a wheel of an in-line skate, scooter or other small wheeled vehicle, the device of the present disclosure may be used in locations outside a wheel hub as well as in non-wheel devices where there is a need to isolate, damp, and absorb shock and/or vibrations experienced by a component of the device in order to minimize their effect on the entirety of the device.

Claims

1. A shock absorption device comprising:

an outer structural member;

an inner structural member having a channel, the channel having a longitudinal axis;

the outer structural member and the inner structural member forming a cavity therebetween;

a flexure mechanism directly connected to the outer structural member and-the inner structural member,

the flexure mechanism having a major transverse dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis, thereby inhibiting movement of the inner structural member relative to the outer structural member, except substantially in the direction of disturbance; and

an elastomeric member housed within said flexure mechanism

wherein said inner structural member is not concentric with said outer structural member when said shock absorption device is not under a load,

wherein said flexure mechanism is comprised of individual flexures formed in a shape similar to the letter M or W.

2. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 further including an axle member in the channel and oriented along the longitudinal axis.

3. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner structural member is substantially concentric with said outer structural member when said shock absorption device is under a load.

4. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shock absorption device includes a spring stiffness which varies as a function of a load applied thereto.

5. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexure mechanism further includes a space between said inner structural member and said outer structural member, wherein the space is at least partially filled by a substance having elastic properties.

6. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexure mechanism further includes a space between said inner structural member and said outer structural member, wherein the space is at least partially filled by a compressible fluid.

7. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric member is deflected primarily in shear during the application of a load or shock to said absorption device.

8. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the shock absorption device is mounted between the axle member and a stationary element surrounding the axle member.

9. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexure mechanism is monolithically formed with said outer structural member and said inner structural member.

10. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner and outer structural members are formed of a different material than said flexure mechanism.

11. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexure mechanism divides the cavity into four chambers.

12. A shock absorption device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cavity is comprised of at least a first lateral chamber and a second lateral chamber, at least some of the elastomeric member located in the first and second lateral chambers.