Bicycle shock absorber including lockout means
October 29, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3827538 Twin-tube type shock absorber Bicycle with a front fork wheel suspension Shock absorber for use in a vehicle Reverse installation type variable damping force shock absorber variable of damping characteristics both for bounding and rebounding stroke motions Bicycle with improved front fork wheel suspension Bicycle with front fork suspension Vehicle hydraulic shock absorber having low friction seal Suspension fork for bicycles Bicycle front wheel suspension InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 181878 filed on 10/29/1998US Classes:280/276, Front forks and heads188/282.5, Flexible flap-type valve (e.g., compression washers)188/319.1, Having an orifice adjustment for both jounce or bound (compression) and rebound188/319.2, Orifice size varied using a hand or hand tool188/322.15, Piston valve detail (e.g., seat design, structural arrangement, metering element)188/322.22Thrust member or piston structureExaminersPrimary: Butler, Douglas C.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassB62K 025/08AbstractAn improved shock absorber for use in the front fork suspension of a mountain bicycle includes a housing having a pair of telescopically-arranged cylinders containing a rebound damping piston, a compression damping piston, and a lockout damping piston arranged on the opposite side of the compression piston from the rebound piston, a manually-operable lockout shut-off valve being provided that is operable independently of the compression damping piston between a closed lockout condition in which the lockout piston is activated, and an open condition in which the lockout piston is de-activated, thereby to change the operating characteristics of the shock absorber. The compression piston, the lockout piston, and the lockout shut-off valve are connected to define an assembly that is removably connected as a unit with the upper end of the shock absorber housing, thereby to permit removal of the assembly for adjustment of a flow control device associated with the compression piston. An independently adjustable rebound piston arrangement is provided at the lower end of the shock absorber housing for damping the rebound strokes of the shock absorber. All of the pistons are provided with blow-off valves so that the return action of one piston does not influence another piston.Other References
Field of SearchFront forks and headsYielding Independent wheel mounting Having an orifice adjustment for both jounce or bound (compression) and rebound Orifice size varied using a hand or hand tool Thrust member or piston structure Piston valve detail (e.g., seat design, structural arrangement, metering element) Motion damped from condition (e.g., bump, speed change) detected outside of retarder Flexible flap-type valve (e.g., compression washers) Adjusting the tension via (a) compressing or expanding or (b) different strength springs Fluid through or around piston within chamber Via fixed or variable orifice in piston Via valved orifice in thrust member Having a fluid flow passage adjusted manually (e.g., threaded plug, threaded rod, gearing) Resistance alters relative to direction of thrust member (e.g., high resistance in one direction, low in the other) Controlled by an operator (e.g., vehicle driver) remote from retarder With retarder | |
