Bicycle with suspension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821878-B2
Application number	US-201615191118-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2016
Priority date	Sep 23, 2011
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle assembly can include a front or rear suspension system with a shock absorber. A front suspension system can be a suspension fork. A rear suspension system can include a rear shock absorber. The shock can have a shock body and a pressurized main air chamber within the shock body to act as an air spring. The shock can also have a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to the main air chamber. A secondary air chamber and a control member can be used to reduce the pressure within the main air chamber by venting the secondary air chamber to the atmosphere.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle assembly comprising:
a shock comprising:
a shock body;
a main air chamber to act as an air spring when pressurized, the main air chamber positioned within the shock body;
a secondary air chamber positioned within the shock body;
a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to the main air chamber; and
a valve housing movable with respect to the shock body from a first position where the secondary air chamber is in fluid communication with the main air chamber via a first fluid path that passes through the valve housing, to a second position where the secondary air chamber is in fluid communication with atmospheric air via a second fluid path that passes through the valve housing,
wherein the second fluid path passes between an outer surface of the valve housing and a wall of the shock body.

2. The bicycle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve is positioned to seal the first fluid path off from the atmosphere when the valve is closed.

3. The bicycle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shock is either a suspension fork or part of a rear suspension.

4. The bicycle assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a bicycle frame.

5. The bicycle assembly of claim 4 , further comprising front and rear wheels.

6. A bicycle assembly comprising:
a shock comprising:
a shock body;
a main air chamber to act as an air spring when pressurized, the main air chamber positioned within the shock body;
a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to the main air chamber;
a secondary air chamber;
and
a control member movable with respect to the shock body, the secondary air chamber and the control member operably coupled to remove air and reduce pressure in the main air chamber, in a first position of the control member the secondary air chamber is at the same pressure as and in fluid communication with the main air chamber via a first fluid path that passes through a valve housing of the control member, and in a second position the secondary air chamber is at atmospheric pressure and in fluid communication with atmospheric air via a second fluid path that passes through the valve housing,
wherein the second fluid path passes between an outer surface of the valve housing and a wall of the shock body.

7. The bicycle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the secondary air chamber is positioned inside of the main air chamber.

8. The bicycle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the valve comprises a Schrader valve or a Presta valve.

9. The bicycle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the shock further comprises a damper.

10. The bicycle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the shock is either a suspension fork or part of a rear suspension.

11. The bicycle assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a bicycle frame.

12. The bicycle assembly of claim 11 , further comprising front and rear wheels.

13. A bicycle assembly comprising:
a shock comprising:
a shock body;
a main air chamber to act as an air spring when pressurized, the main air chamber positioned within the shock body;
a secondary air chamber positioned within the shock body;
a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to both the main air chamber and the secondary air chamber such that the main air chamber and the secondary air chamber have the same pressure; and
a control member configured to reduce the pressure within the main air chamber by venting the secondary air chamber to the atmosphere, wherein the control member comprises a valve housing having at least first and second fluid paths passing therethrough, the first fluid path configured to fluidly couple the main air chamber to the secondary air chamber, the second fluid path configured to fluidly couple the secondary air chamber to the atmosphere,
wherein the second fluid path passes between an outer surface of the valve housing and a wall of the shock body.

14. The bicycle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the secondary air chamber is positioned within the main air chamber.

15. The bicycle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the valve is positioned within valve housing.

16. The bicycle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the shock is either a suspension fork or part of a rear suspension.

17. The bicycle assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a bicycle frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Mcandrews Michael
• Jankura Robb
• Lampman Brian

Classifications

• B62K3/00

  Bicycles · CPC title

• B62K25/286

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

• F16F9/0218

  Mono-tubular units (F16F9/0227, F16F9/0236, F16F9/0245 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62K2025/048

  with suspension manual adjustment details · CPC title

• B62K25/08 Primary

  for front wheel · CPC title