Bicycle with suspension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9759283-B2
Application number	US-201615143209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Jul 9, 2010
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 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 setting sag on a bicycle comprising: over inflating a gas chamber of a shock absorber on a bicycle to an over inflated pressure exceeding a final pressure required to set the shock at a desired sag for a static load, the shock absorber comprising a gas cylinder divided between the gas chamber and a negative gas chamber by a piston; deflating the shock absorber through a port in the shock absorber until the deflation stops, while a user assumes a riding position on the bicycle; closing the port; passing the piston over the port after the user has dismounted the bicycle; and equalizing the pressure in the gas cylinder by permitting fluid to go around the piston in the gas cylinder at the port and flow between the gas chamber and the negative gas chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising equalizing a pressure within the negative gas chamber with atmospheric pressure before closing the port.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein deflating the shock absorber through the port in the shock absorber until the deflation stops comprises passing the piston by the port.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sealing the gas chamber from the negative gas chamber after equalizing the pressure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein equalizing the pressure in the gas cylinder comprises permitting fluid to go around the piston in the gas cylinder at a bypass and flow between the gas chamber and the negative gas chamber.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein equalizing the pressure in the gas cylinder comprises passing the piston over a groove in the gas cylinder.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein over inflating the gas chamber comprises inflating the gas chamber to a pressure between 200 psi and 330 psi.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein over inflating the gas chamber comprises inflating the gas chamber to a pressure at least 20% over the final pressure required to set the shock at the desired sag for a static load.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching an air pump to a valve in fluid communication with the port.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the air pump is used to both inflate and deflate the pressure of the gas chamber.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Talavasek Jan

Classifications

• B62K25/286

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

• B62K25/20 Primary

  for rear wheel · CPC title

• F16F9/3271 Primary

  Assembly or repair · CPC title

• F16F9/56

  Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke {(F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005)} · CPC title

• F16F9/06

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