IP Library Granted Patent US 7,988,173
Granted Patent B2
US 7,988,173 · App. 12/205,318 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Bicycle suspension system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,988,173
App. No.
12/205,318
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bicycle suspension system of the present invention generally includes a bicycle suspension and a hydraulic control assembly. The hydraulic control assembly includes a fluid pump, a fluid responder and a fluid path. The fluid pump is mountable to a bicycle handlebar. The fluid responder is mountable to the bicycle suspension. The fluid path links the fluid pump and the fluid responder. The fluid responder is operatively connected to the bicycle suspension to operate the bicycle suspension between first and second suspension settings in response to fluid displacement between the fluid pump and the fluid responder.

Claims (13)

1. A bicycle suspension system comprising:

a bicycle suspension operable between first and second suspension settings; and

a hydraulic control assembly including:

a fluid pump mountable to a bicycle handlebar,

a fluid responder mountable to the bicycle suspension, and

a fluid path linking the fluid pump and the fluid responder,

the fluid responder operatively connected to the bicycle suspension to operate the bicycle suspension between the first and second suspension settings in response to fluid displacement between the fluid pump and the fluid responder,

wherein the bicycle suspension includes a damping system, the fluid path discontiguous from the damping system,

wherein the fluid path includes a flexible connector between the fluid pump and the fluid responder,

wherein the fluid pump includes a first housing having a first fluid cavity, a first piston slidably disposed in the fluid cavity and a first actuator operatively connected to the first piston for displacing the first piston within the first fluid cavity,

wherein the fluid responder includes a second housing having a second fluid cavity, a second piston slidably disposed in the second fluid cavity and a second actuator operatively connected to the second piston for operating the bicycle suspension in response to displacement of the second piston within the second fluid cavity,

wherein the second actuator includes a rack and pinion mechanism.

2. The bicycle suspension system of claim 1 wherein the first actuator and the first housing include a push-push toggle mechanism.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2013
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SRAM, LLC; COMPOSITECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 030248/0914 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2011
From: COMPOSITECH; SRAM LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026856/0464 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2011
From: COMPOSITECH; SRAM LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026869/0309 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL Recorded Jun 30, 2011
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SRAM, LLC
Reel/Frame 026533/0452 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 3, 2008
From: SRAM, LLC
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 021630/0135 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 1, 2008
From: SRAM CORPORATION
To: SRAM, LLC
Reel/Frame 021617/0263 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2008
From: MORRIS, MATTHEW, MR.
To: SRAM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021488/0709 →