Bicycle suspension components and electronic monitoring devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11891146-B2
Application number	US-201916717657-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2019
Priority date	Dec 17, 2019
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

Example bicycle suspension components and electronic monitoring devices are described herein. An example electronic monitoring device includes a housing defining a chamber. The housing is to be coupled to a suspension component. The electronic monitoring device includes a circuit board disposed in the chamber and a sensor electrically coupled to the circuit board. The sensor is to measure a characteristic of the suspension component. The electronic monitoring device also includes a battery holder coupled to the circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic monitoring device for a suspension component of a bicycle, the electronic monitoring device comprising:
a housing defining a chamber, the housing to be coupled to the suspension component;
a circuit board disposed in the chamber;
a sensor electrically coupled to the circuit board, the sensor to measure a characteristic of the suspension component; and
a battery holder supported by the circuit board.

2. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder is a coin cell battery holder.

3. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder is orientated such that a central axis of the battery holder is perpendicular to a central axis of the housing.

4. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the chamber intersects a central axis of the housing.

5. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

6. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is accessible through an opening formed in an end of the housing.

7. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6 , further including a release tab coupled to the battery holder, the release tab extending outward from the chamber to enable a user to pull the release tab to remove a battery from the battery holder.

8. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6 , further including a dust seal disposed over the end of the housing to substantially seal the chamber.

9. The electronic monitoring device of claim 8 , wherein the dust seal includes a tab to be gripped by a user.

10. An electronic monitoring device for a suspension component of a bicycle, the electronic monitoring device comprising:
a housing to be coupled to the suspension component, a passageway defined through the housing;
a circuit board disposed in the housing;
a sensor electrically coupled to the circuit board, the sensor to measure a characteristic of the suspension component; and
a valve disposed in the passageway to control a flow of fluid into or out of the suspension component, the valve aligned along an axis that is offset from a central axis of the housing.

11. The electronic monitoring device of claim 10 , wherein the valve is a Schrader valve.

12. The electronic monitoring device of claim 10 , wherein the passageway is defined between a first end of the housing and a second end of the housing opposite the first end, further including a dust seal disposed over the first end of the housing, the dust seal having an opening, the valve extending through the opening in the dust seal.

13. The electronic monitoring device of claim 12 , wherein a bottom side of the dust seal has a recess, a top edge of the circuit board extending into the recess.

14. The electronic monitoring device of claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a wall extending from and end of the housing, further including a cover threadably coupled to the wall.

15. The electronic monitoring device of claim 14 , further including a valve cap coupled to the valve.

16. A suspension component for a bicycle, the suspension component comprising:
a first tube and a second tube configured in a telescopic arrangement, the first tube having an opening formed in an end of the first tube;
a spring including a pneumatic chamber defined in the first tube and containing a mass of a pneumatic fluid configured to resist compression of the telescopic arrangement; and
an electronic monitoring device disposed in the opening, the electronic monitoring device including:
a housing;
a circuit board disposed in the housing;
a sensor electrically coupled to the circuit board, the sensor to measure a characteristic of the spring; and
a wireless communicator coupled onto a portion of the circuit board, the portion of the circuit board containing the wireless communicator being at least partially disposed on an opposite side of a plane defined by the end of the first tube relative to the sensor.

17. The suspension component of claim 16 , wherein the wireless communicator intersects the plane.

18. The suspension component of claim 16 , wherein the electronic monitoring device includes a valve, the valve aligned along an axis that is parallel to and offset from a longitudinal axis of the first tube.

19. The suspension component of claim 16 , further including an adjustment device coupled to the housing of the electronic monitoring device and disposed in the pneumatic chamber.

20. The suspension component of claim 19 , wherein the adjustment device is threadably coupled to the housing.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Santurbane Mark
• Jordan Brian
• Wesling Kevin

Classifications

• B62J45/42 Primary

  characterised by mounting · CPC title

• B62J43/30

  for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion · CPC title

• B62J45/41

  characterised by the type of sensor · CPC title

• B62K25/02

  for mounting axles rigidly on cycle frame or fork, e.g. adjustably · CPC title

• B62K2201/08

  Fluid springs · CPC title