IP Library Granted Patent US 10,472,013
Granted Patent B2
US 10,472,013 · App. 15/241,964 · Granted Nov 12, 2019

Seat post

Inventors: Sante Pelot (Freiburg, DE); David M. Haugen (Pacific Grove, CA); Wes Allinger (Santa Cruz, CA); Mario Galasso (Sandy Hook, CT); Andrew Laird (Los Gatos, CA)
Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
B62J1/08B62J1/02B62K19/36G05B15/02G05D7/0635B62J2001/085G06F19/3481
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,472,013
App. No.
15/241,964
Granted
Nov 12, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system including: a seat post; a user interface operatively connected with the seat post, the user interface configured for receiving instructions associated with a height of the seat post and for communicating received instructions to at least one controller coupled with a motive source of the seat post; and a valve assembly in communication with the motive source, the valve assembly regulating fluid flow within a variable finite positioning seat post height mode in response to a translation of the received instructions by the motive source.

Claims (64)

1. A system comprising:

a seat post;

a user interface operatively connected with said seat post, said user interface configured for receiving instructions associated with a height of said seat post and for communicating said instructions to at least one controller coupled with a motive source of said seat post; and

a valve assembly in communication with said motive source, said valve assembly regulating fluid flow within a variable finite positioning seat post height mode in response to a translation of said instructions by said motive source, wherein said valve assembly comprises:

two sets of check valves configured for at least one of opening and closing in response to said translation, said two sets of check valves positioned, relative to each other, in a series, and opposed to each other, such that one-way only movement is achieved in response to said translation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said user interface is remote from said valve assembly.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said user interface comprises at least one of a GUI, button, dial, smart phone, and lever.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a rate of said opening and said closing of said two sets of check valves is proportional to a real-time displacement measurement, wherein said real-time displacement measurement is based on a measured difference between a seat post height position instruction of said instructions and an actual seat post height of said seat post.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a displacement sensor coupled with said at least one controller, said displacement sensor configured for measuring a displacement between a seat post height position instruction and an actual seat post height of said seat post.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said displacement sensor is a pressure sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises:

at least one activation button configured for activating a pre-programmed seat post position, wherein said at least one controller comprises said pre-programmed seat post position.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a motor output shaft coupled with said motive source and internal to said seat post, said motor output shaft configured for rotating in response to said translation; and

a cam coupled with said motor output shaft and said valve assembly and internal to said seat post, said cam configured for moving in response to said rotating of said motor output shaft and configured for at least one of seating and unseating at least one check valve ball set.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one controller comprises:

a proportional-integral-derivative controller.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a switch coupled with said seat post, said switch configured for enabling a reprogramming of said valve assembly to operate in either an infinite positioning seat post height mode or said finite positioning seat post height mode.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a voice activated audio detection module coupled with said seat post, said voice activated audio detection module configured for receiving audible position instructions, translating said audible position instructions, and transmitting translated audible position instructions to said at least one controller, such that an instruction for a desired position for said seat post is received at said at least one controller.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a voice activated audio detection module configured for receiving an audible instruction.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one controller comprises:

an input parameter receiver configured for receiving an input;

a threshold determiner coupled with said input parameter receiver, said threshold determiner configured for determining whether or not a predetermined threshold has been exceeded;

a comparator coupled with said threshold determiner, said comparator configured for comparing said input and said threshold; and

a signal generator coupled with said comparator, said signal generator configured for generating a signal based upon said comparing.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said input is associated with a physiological factor relating to a rider of a vehicle which includes said seat post.

15. A system comprising:

a seat post;

a user interface operatively connected with said seat post, said user interface to receive instructions associated with a height of said seat post and to communicate the received instructions to at least one controller coupled with a motive source of said seat post;

at least one power connector positioned at an upper end of a lower post, said at least one power connector located to enable power to be received at said seat post; and

a valve assembly in communication with said motive source, said valve assembly regulating fluid flow within a variable finite positioning seat post height mode in response to a translation of said received instructions by said motive source.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said user interface is remote from said valve assembly.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein said user interface comprises at least one of a GUI, button, dial, smart phone, and lever.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein said user interface comprises:

at least one activation button configured for activating a pre-programmed seat post position, wherein said at least one controller comprises said pre-programmed seat post position.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein said user interface comprises:

a voice activated audio detection module configured for receiving an audible instruction.

20. A system comprising:

a seat post;

a user interface operatively connected with said seat post, said user interface configured for receiving instructions associated with a height of said seat post and for communicating received instructions to at least one controller coupled with a motive source of said seat post;

a valve assembly in communication with said motive source, said valve assembly regulating fluid flow within a variable finite positioning seat post height mode in response to a translation of said received instructions by said motive source;

a motor output shaft coupled with said motive source and internal to said seat post, said motor output shaft configured for rotating in response to said translation; and

a cam coupled with said motor output shaft and said valve assembly and internal to said seat post, said cam configured for moving in response to said rotating of said motor output shaft and configured for at least one of seating and unseating at least one check valve ball set.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein said user interface is remote from said valve assembly.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein said user interface comprises at least one of a GUI, button, dial, smart phone, and lever.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein said user interface comprises:

at least one activation button configured for activating a pre-programmed seat post position, wherein said at least one controller comprises said pre-programmed seat post position.

24. The system of claim 20 , wherein said user interface comprises:

a voice activated audio detection module configured for receiving an audible instruction.

25. A system comprising:

a seat post;

a user interface operatively connected with said seat post, said user interface configured for receiving instructions associated with a height of said seat post and for communicating received instructions to at least one controller coupled with a motive source of said seat post; and

a valve assembly in communication with said motive source, said valve assembly regulating fluid flow within a variable finite positioning seat post height mode in response to a translation of said received instructions by said motive source; and

a switch coupled with said seat post, said switch configured for enabling a reprogramming of said valve assembly to operate in either an infinite positioning seat post height mode or said variable finite positioning seat post height mode.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein said user interface is remote from said valve assembly.

27. The system of claim 25 , wherein said user interface comprises at least one of a GUI, button, dial, smart phone, and lever.

28. The system of claim 25 , wherein said user interface comprises:

at least one activation button configured for activating a pre-programmed seat post position, wherein said at least one controller comprises said pre-programmed seat post position.

29. The system of claim 25 , wherein said user interface comprises:

a voice activated audio detection module configured for receiving an audible instruction.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2025
From: FOX FACTORY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 073270/0027 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: FOX FACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 059588/0805 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2022
From: FOX FACTORY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 059616/0435 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2020
From: PELOT, SANTE; HAUGEN, DAVID M.; ALLINGER, WES; GALASSO, MARIO; LAIRD, ANDREW
To: FOX FACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054438/0690 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2020
From: FOX FACTORY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052163/0728 →
Continuity (16)
Continuation 13844516 · Mar 15, 2013
Continuation In Part 13292949 · Nov 9, 2011
Continuation In Part 13176336 · Jul 5, 2011
Continuation In Part 13022346 · Feb 7, 2011
Continuation In Part 12773671 · May 4, 2010
Continuation In Part 12727915 · Mar 19, 2010
Continuation In Part 12626384 · Nov 25, 2009
Provisional Application 61638406 · Apr 25, 2012
Provisional Application 61533712 · Sep 12, 2011
Provisional Application 61361376 · Jul 2, 2010
Provisional Application 61302070 · Feb 5, 2010
Provisional Application 61175422 · May 4, 2009
Provisional Application 61161552 · Mar 19, 2009
Provisional Application 61161620 · Mar 19, 2009
Provisional Application 61117608 · Nov 25, 2008
Related Publication 20160355226A1 · Dec 8, 2016
Cited By (5)
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