Bicycle suspension components and electronic control devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12128985-B2
Application number	US-202318343699-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2023
Priority date	Dec 17, 2019
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

Example bicycle suspension components and control devices are described herein. An example shock absorber includes a damper body defining a first chamber and a reservoir defining a second chamber. A flow path is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber. The example shock absorber also includes a flow control member disposed in the flow path and a motor to operate the flow control member to affect fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shock absorber for a bicycle, the shock absorber comprising:
a first eyelet configured for attachment to a bicycle frame and a second eyelet configured for attachment to a bicycle frame, the first eyelet and the second eyelet defining a space therebetween;
a damper body defining a first chamber;
a reservoir defining a second chamber, a flow path defined between the first chamber and the second chamber;
a flow control member disposed in the flow path;
an electrically operated motion device to operate the flow control member to affect fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber; and
a battery disposed in the space between the first eyelet and the second eyelet, the battery configured to provide power to the electrically operated motion device.

2. The shock absorber of claim 1 , further including a printed circuit board (PCB) having circuitry to, based on a command signal, activate the motion device to operate the flow control member.

3. The shock absorber of claim 2 , further including a wireless transceiver to receive the command signal.

4. The shock absorber of claim 3 , wherein the wireless transceiver is disposed on the PCB.

5. The shock absorber of claim 4 , wherein the PCB is disposed within a housing of a control device, at least a portion of the housing is constructed of radio frequency transparent material.

6. The shock absorber of claim 5 , wherein the motion device is disposed within the housing.

7. The shock absorber of claim 6 , wherein the battery is removably attached to the housing.

8. The shock absorber of claim 7 , wherein the control device, including the PCB, and the motion device are removably coupled to a top of the reservoir.

9. The shock absorber of claim 1 , wherein the battery or the housing include a charging port configured to charge the battery.

10. The shock absorber of claim 1 , wherein the battery is disposed so as to extend along a side of the reservoir.

11. The shock absorber of claim 10 , wherein the battery is removably attached to a housing at an opening of the housing.

12. The shock absorber of claim 11 , wherein the opening is surrounded by a seal.

13. The shock absorber of claim 1 , further including a spring, the damper body and the spring configured in a telescoping arrangement, the reservoir aligned along an axis that is parallel to and offset from an axis of the spring and the damper body.

14. A shock absorber for a bicycle, the shock absorber comprising:
a damper body defining a first chamber;
a reservoir defining a second chamber, a flow path defined between the first chamber and the second chamber;
a flow control member disposed in a body of the reservoir;
a control device to, based on a wireless command signal, operate the flow control member to affect a flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber, the control device including a housing; and
a battery attached to the housing, the battery configured to provide power to the control device.

15. The shock absorber of claim 14 , wherein the control device is coupled to the reservoir.

16. The shock absorber of claim 14 , wherein the control device includes a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing.

17. The shock absorber of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is constructed of radio frequency transparent material.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Santurbane Mark
• Nichols Geoff
• Shipman Christopher
• Baltes Jeffrey John

Classifications

• B62J45/00

  Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62K2201/08

  Fluid springs · CPC title

• B62J2001/085

  Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame · CPC title

• B62K19/36

  for attaching saddle pillars, e.g. adjustable during ride · CPC title

• B62K25/30

  pivoted on pedal crank shelf (B62K25/32 takes precedence) · CPC title