Compression sensitive suspension dampening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017106938-A1
Application number	US-201615393939-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 29, 2016
Priority date	Feb 25, 2011
Publication date	Apr 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.

First claim

What we claim is:

1 . A spring for a suspension, said spring comprising:
a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, wherein said primary portion includes at least a portion of an upper leg tube and said secondary portion includes at least a portion of said lower leg tube; a riser tube extending centrally through said lower leg tube, wherein a lower end of said riser tube is connected to said lower leg tube and fixed relative thereto, wherein said riser tube comprises a tapered outer diameter comprising:
a narrowed section;
a widened section that is greater in diameter than said narrowed section; and
an area in between said narrowed section and said widened section, wherein said area is tapered to gradually increase in diameter between said narrowed section and said widened section;
a fluid flow path coupled with and between said primary portion and said secondary portion, said fluid flow path comprising a bypass mechanism, wherein said bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within said fluid flow path in response to a compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said bypass mechanism comprises: a valve, wherein said valve automatically closes in response to said compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said valve comprises:
a valve plate that is annular, surrounds an exterior surface of said riser tube, and is axially slidable in relation said riser tube; and
an inner seal disposed on an interior surface of said valve plate, said inner seal configured for dynamically sealing between said interior surface of said valve plate and an exterior surface of said riser tube, wherein said valve plate slides with a movement of said primary portion, wherein said movement causes said inner seal to slide over said narrowed section and engage with at least one of said widened section and said area in between said narrowed section and said widened section.

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Pelot Sante

Classifications

• B60G15/12

  and fluid damper · CPC title

• B60G2300/12

  Cycles; Motorcycles · CPC title

• B62K25/08 Primary

  for front wheel · CPC title

• B60G15/06

  and fluid damper · CPC title

• F16F9/0209

  Telescopic (F16F9/04 takes precedence) · CPC title