IP Library Granted Patent US 10,731,724
Granted Patent B2
US 10,731,724 · App. 16/243,911 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Suspension system

Inventors: Andrew Laird (Los Gatos, CA); William M. Becker (Aptos, CA)
Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
F16F9/34B62K25/08F16F9/092F16F9/18F16F9/363F16F9/464F16F9/504F16F13/002F16F13/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,731,724
App. No.
16/243,911
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A suspension system includes a first suspension member movable relative to a second suspension member, a fluid reservoir having a volume, the volume variable in response to a relative movement between the first and second suspension members, and a fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with the fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with an isolated suspension location, the fluid flow circuit comprising a first valve, a second valve and a third valve, wherein said first and third valves are in parallel with each other and the second valve is in series with each of the first and third valves.

Claims (62)

1. A suspension system comprising:

a first suspension member movable relative to a second suspension member, said first suspension member and said second suspension member comprising a first fork leg;

a third suspension member movable relative to a fourth suspension member, said third suspension member and said fourth suspension member comprising a second fork leg;

a first spring disposed in said first fork leg;

a second spring disposed in said second fork leg;

a fluid reservoir having a volume, said volume variable in response to a relative movement between said first suspension member and said second suspension member;

a fluid flow circuit disposed in said first fork leg, said fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with said fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with an isolated suspension location;

a damper cap assembly coupled to said first fork leg;

a preload adjuster assembly coupled to said second fork leg;

a first spacer disposed in said first fork leg; and

a second spacer disposed in said second fork leg.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said first spacer is disposed between said first spring and said damper cap assembly.

3. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said second spacer is disposed between said second spring and said preload adjuster assembly.

4. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said second spacer is disposed between said second spring and a lower end of said second fork leg.

5. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said first spacer is substantially C-shaped such that said first spacer is readily coupleable to and removable from a damper shaft disposed in said first fork leg.

6. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said first spacer is configured to engage a damper shaft disposed in said first fork leg in a snap fit attachment.

7. The suspension assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

an upper spring guide disposed in said first fork leg between said first spring and said first spacer.

8. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein said preload adjuster assembly comprises:

an adjuster cap;

an adjuster shaft;

a barrel; and

an adjuster knob, said adjuster cap sealingly engaged with an upper open end of said second fork leg.

9. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said first spacer and said second spacer are substantially identical to each other.

10. The suspension assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a third spacer disposed in said first fork leg.

11. The suspension assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth spacer disposed in said second fork leg.

12. The suspension assembly of claim 10 wherein:

said first spacer is approximately 20 mm in length and said third spacer is approximately 25 mm in length.

13. The suspension assembly of claim 11 wherein:

said second spacer is approximately 20 mm in length and said fourth spacer is approximately 25 mm in length.

14. The suspension assembly of claim 11 wherein:

said second spacer is disposed between said second spring and said preload adjuster assembly; and

said fourth spacer is disposed between said second spring and a lower end of said second fork leg.

15. A suspension system comprising:

a first suspension member movable relative to a second suspension member, said first suspension member and said second suspension member comprising a first fork leg;

a third suspension member movable relative to a fourth suspension member, said third suspension member and said fourth suspension member comprising a second fork leg;

a first spring disposed in said first fork leg;

a second spring disposed in said second fork leg;

a fluid reservoir having a volume, said volume variable in response to a relative movement between said first suspension member and said second suspension member;

a fluid flow circuit disposed in said first fork leg, said fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with said fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with an isolated suspension location;

a damper cap assembly coupled to said first fork leg;

a preload adjuster assembly coupled to said second fork leg;

a first spacer disposed in said second fork leg; and

a second spacer disposed in said second fork leg.

16. The suspension assembly of claim 15 wherein:

said first spacer is disposed between said second spring and said preload adjuster assembly; and

said second spacer is disposed between said second spring and a lower end of said second fork leg.

17. The suspension assembly of claim 15 wherein said preload adjuster assembly comprises:

an adjuster cap;

an adjuster shaft;

a barrel; and

an adjuster knob, said adjuster cap sealingly engaged with an upper open end of said second fork leg.

18. The suspension assembly of claim 15 wherein:

said first spacer is approximately 20 mm in length and said second spacer is approximately 25 mm in length.

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 059704/0224 →
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: LAIRD, ANDREW; BECKER, WILLIAM
To: FOX FACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054382/0601 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2019
From: FOX FACTORY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 049388/0585 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14920175 · Oct 22, 2015
Continuation 14079014 · Nov 13, 2013
Continuation 12903022 · Oct 12, 2010
Provisional Application 61250999 · Oct 13, 2009
Related Publication 20190145483A1 · May 16, 2019
Cited By (14)
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