Bicycle with suspension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9556923-B2
Application number	US-201514738533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2015
Priority date	Jul 9, 2010
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle can include a suspension system with a shock absorber. The shock absorber can have a sag position which can be adjustable. Sag refers to the amount of movement experienced by the suspension under a static load, such as that of the weight of a rider. Methods and systems to set sag can include at least one valve in fluid communication with a gas chamber of the shock absorber. In some embodiments, the at least one valve can be used to automatically set the sag position based on an individual's weight and riding position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of adjusting a bicycle suspension sag position comprising:
providing a bicycle having a shock absorber comprising:
a gas chamber having an interior surface;
a movable piston forming a seal with the interior surface and configured to move along the interior surface;
at least one valve for inflating and deflating the gas chamber with fluid;
at least one valve port to establish fluid communication between the gas chamber and the at least one valve along the interior surface;
wherein the gas chamber is divided by the piston into a first changeable volume and a second changeable volume, the volumes configured to be determined at least in part by the position of the piston within the gas chamber, and the at least one valve port being along the interior surface such that in a first position the at least one valve port is configured to be in fluid communication with the first changeable volume and in a second position the at least one valve port is configured to be in fluid communication with the second changeable volume;

inflating the gas chamber of the shock absorber through the at least one valve to a pressure of at least 250 psi;
compressing the shock absorber on the bicycle;
deflating the gas chamber through the at least one valve while the shock absorber is compressed until the piston passes the at least one valve port, thereby
closing the connection between the at least one valve and the first changeable volume.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising shutting the at least one valve.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a first valve and a second valve, and wherein inflating the gas chamber of the shock absorber through the at least one valve further comprises inflating the gas chamber through the first valve.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein deflating the gas chamber through the at least one valve further comprises deflating the gas chamber through the second valve and closing the connection further comprises closing the connection between the second valve and the first changeable volume.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein inflating the gas chamber further comprises inflating the gas chamber of the shock absorber through the at least one valve to a pressure of at least 300 psi.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a pressure within the gas chamber after deflating the gas chamber and closing the connection is between 150-220 psi.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein compressing the shock absorber on the bicycle further comprises applying a downward force on the bicycle.

8. A method of adjusting a bicycle suspension sag position comprising:
providing a bicycle having a shock absorber comprising:
a gas chamber having an interior surface;
a movable piston forming a seal with the interior surface and configured to move along the interior surface;
first and second Schrader or Presta valves for adjusting the pressure within the gas chamber;
at least one valve port to establish fluid communication between the gas chamber and the second Schrader or Presta valve;
wherein the gas chamber is divided by the piston into a first changeable volume and a second changeable volume, the volumes configured to be determined at least in part by the position of the piston within the gas chamber, and the valve port being positioned such that in a first position the second Schrader or Presta valve is configured to be in fluid communication with the first changeable volume and in a second position the second Schrader or Presta valve is configured to be in fluid communication with the second changeable volume;

inflating the gas chamber of the shock absorber through the first Schrader or Presta valve to an overinflated pressure exceeding a final desired pressure;
compressing the shock absorber on the bicycle;
deflating the gas chamber through the second Schrader or Presta valve while the shock absorber is compressed until the piston passes the at least one valve port, thereby
closing the connection between the second Schrader or Presta valve and the first changeable volume.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein inflating the gas chamber further comprises inflating the gas chamber of the shock absorber through the first Schrader or Presta valve to an overinflated pressure of at least 250 psi.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein inflating the gas chamber further comprises inflating the gas chamber of the shock absorber through the first Schrader or Presta valve to an overinflated pressure of at least 300 psi.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein inflating the gas chamber further comprises inflating the gas chamber of the shock absorber through the first Schrader or Presta valve to an overinflated pressure of at least 20% over the final desired pressure.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein inflating the gas chamber further comprises inflating the gas chamber of the shock absorber through the first Schrader or Presta valve to an overinflated pressure of at least 30% over the final desired pressure.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the final desired pressure is between 100-240 psi.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the final desired pressure is between 150-220 psi.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein a pressure within the gas chamber after deflating the gas chamber and closing the connection is between 150-220 psi.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein compressing the shock absorber on the bicycle further comprises applying a downward force on the bicycle.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Talavasek Jan

Classifications

• F16F9/06

  using both gas and liquid {(F16F9/486 take precedence; self-pumping fluid springs B60G17/044)} · CPC title

• B62K25/20 Primary

  for rear wheel · CPC title

• B62K25/286

  the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism · CPC title

• F16F9/062

  Bi-tubular units · CPC title

• B62K25/04

  for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork (for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06) · CPC title