IP Library Granted Patent US 12,379,011
Granted Patent B2
US 12,379,011 · App. 17/850,961 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Electronic modal base valve

Inventor: Connor Randall (Salida, CO)
Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
F16F9/46F16K31/02B62M2027/026F16F2222/12F16F2228/066F16F2230/18F16F2232/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,379,011
App. No.
17/850,961
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic modal base valve is disclosed. The electronic modal base valve includes a motive component, a controller communicatively coupled with the motive component, and a control valve coupled with the motive component. The controller is configured to control an operation of the motive component, wherein a movement of the motive component is configured to cause the control valve to adjust a flow rate for a flow path through the electronic modal base valve.

Claims (42)

1. An electronic modal base valve for a shock assembly comprising:

a motive component;

a controller communicatively coupled with said motive component; and

a control valve coupled with said motive component, wherein said controller is configured to control an operation of said motive component, wherein a movement of said motive component is configured to cause said control valve to adjust a flow rate for a flow path through said electronic modal base valve, wherein said control valve is a rotary spool valve, and wherein said motive component is rotary based such that all of the motion of said motive component is rotary and said electronic modal base valve does not require a conversion between rotary movement and linear movement.

2. The electronic modal base valve of claim 1 , further comprising:

a user interface located remote from said electronic modal base valve, said user interface to provide a wireless signal to said controller, said wireless signal to cause said controller to initiate said operation of said motive component.

3. The electronic modal base valve of claim 1 , further comprising:

a user interface located remote from said electronic modal base valve, said user interface comprising a wired connection with said electronic modal base valve, said user interface to provide a wired signal to said controller, said wired signal to cause said controller to initiate said operation of said motive component.

4. The electronic modal base valve of claim 1 , wherein said control valve is a two-state valve.

5. The electronic modal base valve of claim 1 , wherein said control valve is a multi-state valve.

6. The electronic modal base valve of claim 1 , wherein said electronic modal base valve is a dual-speed compression (DSC) valve.

7. The electronic modal base valve of claim 1 , wherein said electronic modal base valve is a rebound valve.

8. An electronic valve for a shock assembly comprising:

a low-speed compression adjuster;

a high-speed compression adjuster; and

a manual command lockout, wherein said manual command lockout comprises:

a motive component; and

a control valve coupled with said motive component, wherein said motive component causes said control valve to open or close a flow path through said electronic valve, wherein said control valve is a rotary spool valve, and wherein said motive component is rotary based such that all motion of said motive component is rotary and said electronic valve does not require a conversion between rotary movement and linear movement.

9. The electronic valve of claim 8 , further comprising:

a user interface located remote from said electronic valve, said user interface to provide a wireless signal to said manual command lockout, said wireless signal to cause an operation of said motive component.

10. The electronic valve of claim 8 , further comprising:

a user interface located remote from said electronic valve, said user interface comprising a wired connection with said electronic valve, said user interface to provide a wired signal to said manual command lockout, said wired signal to cause an operation of said motive component.

11. The electronic valve of claim 8 , wherein said control valve is a rotary spool valve.

12. The electronic valve of claim 8 , wherein said control valve is a check shim valve.

13. The electronic modal DSC base valve of claim 8 , wherein said control valve is a multi-state valve.

14. The electronic valve of claim 8 , further comprising:

said motive component coupled with said low-speed compression adjuster to cause a compression adjustment to be performed by said low-speed compression adjuster; and

said motive component coupled with said high-speed compression adjuster to cause a compression adjustment to be performed by said high-speed compression adjuster.

15. The electronic valve of claim 14 , further comprising:

a user interface located remote from said electronic valve, said user interface to provide a signal to said motive component, said signal to cause said motive component to adjust at least one of said low-speed compression adjuster and said high-speed compression adjuster.

16. An electronic modal dual-speed compression (DSC) base valve for a shock assembly comprising:

a motive component;

a controller to control said motive component;

a low-speed compression adjuster coupled with said motive component, wherein said motive component is configured to cause a compression adjustment to be performed by said low-speed compression adjuster;

a high-speed compression adjuster coupled with said motive component, wherein said motive component is configured to cause a compression adjustment to be performed by said high-speed compression adjuster;

a manual command lockout, wherein said manual command lockout comprises:

a control valve coupled with said motive component, wherein said motive component is configured to cause said control valve to open or lockout a flow path through said electronic modal DSC base valve; and

wherein said control valve is a rotary spool valve, and wherein said motive component is rotary based such that all of the motion of said motive component is rotary and said modal dual-speed compression (DSC) base valve does not require a conversion between rotary movement and linear movement.

17. The electronic modal DSC base valve of claim 16 , further comprising:

a user interface located remote from said electronic modal DSC base valve, said user interface to provide a wireless signal to said controller, said wireless signal to cause said motive component to adjust at least one of said low-speed compression adjuster, said high-speed compression adjuster, and said control valve.

18. The electronic modal DSC base valve of claim 16 , further comprising:

a power source, said power source coupled with said motive component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2022
From: RANDALL, CONNOR
To: FOX FACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 060939/0478 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63215793 · Jun 28, 2021
Related Publication 20220412426A1 · Dec 29, 2022
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