IP Library Granted Patent US 11,413,924
Granted Patent B2
US 11,413,924 · App. 16/568,091 · Granted Aug 16, 2022

Methods and apparatus for selective spring pre-load adjustment

Inventors: Christopher Paul Cox (Capitola, CA); Michael David Marquez (Santa Cruz, CA); Everet Ericksen (Woodland, CA)
Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
B60G17/021B60G11/14B60G15/063F16F1/121F16F9/3264F16F9/56B60G2204/1242B60G2204/61B60G2500/30B60G2600/04F16F2228/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,413,924
App. No.
16/568,091
Granted
Aug 16, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus for a suspension comprising a spring having a threaded member at a first end for providing axial movement to the spring as the spring is rotated and the threaded member moves relative to a second component. In one embodiment, the system includes a damper for metering fluid through a piston and a rotatable spring member coaxially disposed around the damper and rotatable relative to the damper.

Claims (28)

1. A suspension system comprising:

a cylindrical body having a threaded portion;

a spring coaxially disposed around said cylindrical body;

an adjuster assembly disposed coaxially around said cylindrical body and coupled to said spring;

a follower nut disposed coaxially around said cylindrical body and coupled to said adjuster assembly, said follower nut disposed in threaded engagement with said threaded portion of said cylindrical body and abutting an end of said spring, said follower nut constructed and arranged to affect compression of said spring while said follower nut translates axially along said threaded portion of said cylindrical body, wherein an axial position of said follower nut is indicated relative to a piggyback reservoir operable with a damper; and

a scale/indicator pair coupled with said piggyback reservoir, said scale/indicator pair operable to indicate an amount of compression of said spring.

2. The suspension system of claim 1 further comprising:

a transmission circuit configured to transmit said amount of compression of said spring to a user device.

3. The suspension system of claim 2 wherein said transmission circuit is configured to transmit said amount of compression of said spring to said user device in real time.

4. A suspension system comprising:

a cylindrical body having a threaded portion;

a spring coaxially disposed around said cylindrical body;

an adjuster assembly disposed coaxially around said cylindrical body and coupled to said spring;

a follower nut disposed coaxially around said cylindrical body and coupled to said adjuster assembly, said follower nut disposed in threaded engagement with said threaded portion of said cylindrical body and abutting an end of said spring, said follower nut constructed and arranged to affect compression of said spring while said follower nut translates axially along said threaded portion of said cylindrical body, wherein an axial position of said follower nut is indicated relative to a piggyback reservoir operable with a damper; and

a scale/indicator pair coupled with said piggyback reservoir, said scale/indicator pair operable to indicate an amount of compression of said spring.

5. The suspension system of claim 4 further comprising:

a transmission circuit configured to transmit said amount of compression of said spring to a user device.

6. The suspension system of claim 5 wherein said transmission circuit is configured to transmit said amount of compression of said spring to said user device in real time.

7. A suspension system comprising:

a cylindrical body having a threaded portion;

a spring coaxially disposed around said cylindrical body;

an adjuster assembly disposed coaxially around said cylindrical body and coupled to said spring;

a follower nut disposed coaxially around said cylindrical body and coupled to said adjuster assembly, said follower nut disposed in threaded engagement with said threaded portion of said cylindrical body and abutting an end of said spring, said follower nut constructed and arranged to affect compression of said spring while said follower nut translates axially along said threaded portion of said cylindrical body, wherein an axial position of said follower nut is indicated relative to a piggyback reservoir operable with a damper; and

an electronic scale/indicator pair coupled with said piggyback reservoir, said electronic scale/indicator pair operable to indicate an amount of compression of said spring.

8. The suspension system of claim 7 further comprising:

a transmission circuit having wireless protocol capabilities, said transmission circuit coupled to said electronic scale/indicator pair.

9. The suspension system of claim 8 further comprising, said transmission circuit configured to transmit said amount of compression of said spring to a user device.

10. The suspension system of claim 9 wherein said transmission circuit is configured to transmit said amount of compression of said spring to said user device in real time.

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 9, 2020
From: COX, CHRISTOPHER PAUL; MARQUEZ, MICHAEL DAVID; ERICKSEN, EVERET OWEN
To: FOX FACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054318/0581 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2020
From: FOX FACTORY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052163/0728 →