IP Library Granted Patent US 12,502,923
Granted Patent B2
US 12,502,923 · App. 18/113,016 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Hydraulic cross-linked suspension

Inventors: Ivan Tong (San Diego, CA); Connor Randall (Salida, CO); Rick Strickland (Watsonville, CA)
Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
B60G17/056B60G11/265B60G13/08B60G17/08B60G21/073B60G2202/154B60G2202/24B60G2204/82B60G2204/8304B60G2204/8306B60G2500/11B60G2500/203B60G2800/012B60G2800/9122
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,502,923
App. No.
18/113,016
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a manifold comprising a first check valve to meter fluid flow between a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber. The first check valve meters fluid flow between one or more of the first chamber and the third chamber and the second chamber and the first chamber. A second check valve meters fluid flow between the second chamber, the third chamber, and a fourth chamber. The second check valve meters fluid flow between one or more of the fourth chamber and the third chamber and the second chamber and the fourth chamber.

Claims (34)

1 . A manifold comprising:

a first check valve to meter fluid flow between a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, wherein the first check valve meters fluid flow between one or more of the first chamber and the third chamber and the second chamber and the first chamber; and

a second check valve to meter fluid flow between the second chamber, the third chamber, and a fourth chamber, wherein the second check valve meters fluid flow between one or more of the fourth chamber and the third chamber and the second chamber and the fourth chamber.

2 . The manifold of claim 1 wherein, the second chamber is fluidly coupled to a reservoir.

3 . The manifold of claim 1 wherein, the third chamber is fluidly coupled to an accumulator.

4 . The manifold of claim 1 wherein, there is no fluid flow from the second chamber to the third chamber.

5 . The manifold of claim 1 wherein, fluid flow from the third chamber to the first chamber is prevented by the first check valve, and fluid flow from the third chamber to the fourth chamber is prevented by the second check valve.

6 . The manifold of claim 1 further comprising:

a unidirectional valve fluidly disposed between the third chamber and the second chamber.

7 . The manifold of claim 6 wherein, the unidirectional valve meters fluid flow from said third chamber to said second chamber.

8 . A manifold comprising:

a first check valve to meter fluid flow between a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, wherein the first check valve meters fluid flow between one or more of the first chamber and the third chamber and the second chamber and the first chamber;

a second check valve to meter fluid flow between the second chamber, the third chamber, and a fourth chamber, wherein the second check valve meters fluid flow between one or more of the fourth chamber and the third chamber and the second chamber and the fourth chamber; and

a unidirectional valve fluidly disposed between the third chamber and the second chamber, to meter fluid flow from said third chamber to said second chamber.

9 . The manifold of claim 8 wherein, the second chamber is fluidly coupled to a reservoir.

10 . The manifold of claim 8 wherein, the third chamber is fluidly coupled to an accumulator.

11 . The manifold of claim 8 wherein, there is no fluid flow from the second chamber to the third chamber.

12 . The manifold of claim 8 wherein, fluid flow from the third chamber to the first chamber is prevented by the first check valve, and fluid flow from the third chamber to the fourth chamber is prevented by the second check valve.

13 . A cross-linked system comprising:

a first shock assembly;

a second shock assembly;

a first line fluidly coupled with a first rebound chamber of the first shock assembly and a second compression chamber of the second shock assembly, to allow fluid to flow between the first rebound chamber and the second compression chamber;

a second line fluidly coupled with a first compression chamber of the first shock assembly and a second rebound chamber of the second shock assembly, to allow fluid to flow between the first compression chamber and the second rebound chamber;

a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is fluidly coupled to the first line and the second line; and

a manifold fluidly coupled to said first line and said second line, to meter fluid flow between said first line and said second line, said manifold comprising:

a first check valve to meter fluid flow between a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, wherein the first check valve meters fluid flow between one or more of the first chamber and the third chamber and the second chamber and the first chamber; and

a second check valve to meter fluid flow between the second chamber, the third chamber, and a fourth chamber, wherein the second check valve meters fluid flow between one or more of the fourth chamber and the third chamber and the second chamber and the fourth chamber.

14 . The manifold of claim 13 wherein, the second chamber is fluidly coupled to a reservoir.

15 . The manifold of claim 13 wherein, the third chamber is fluidly coupled to an accumulator.

16 . The manifold of claim 13 wherein, there is no fluid flow from the second chamber to the third chamber.

17 . The manifold of claim 13 wherein, fluid flow from the third chamber to the first chamber is prevented by the first check valve, and fluid flow from the third chamber to the fourth chamber is prevented by the second check valve.

18 . The manifold of claim 13 further comprising:

a unidirectional valve fluidly disposed between the third chamber and the second chamber.

19 . The manifold of claim 18 wherein, the unidirectional valve meters fluid flow from said third chamber to said second chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2025
From: TONG, IVAN; RANDALL, CONNOR; STRICKLAND, RICK
To: FOX FACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 072333/0717 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63313023 · Feb 23, 2022
Related Publication 20230302865A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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