Abstract:
A three wheeled vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle frame with a frame sidewall providing a substantially flat surface, with recesses in the flat surface. Alignment arms have inner ends and outer ends, where the inner ends are mounted to the frame sidewall, and the outer ends mount a wheel hub. The inner ends have couplings with pivotal portions and fixed portions, the pivotal portions being at least partially positioned within the recesses, and the fixed portions being attached to the substantially flat surface.
Abstract:
A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.
Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling a bicycle suspension element includes a suspension parameter controller that provides a suspension parameter controlling signal to control an operating parameter of the bicycle suspension element in response to a bicycle seat position.
Abstract:
An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate.
Abstract:
A damper for a bicycle, having a primary unit including a damper tube, a piston rod that supports a main piston, a reservoir tube that is outside of the compression chamber of the primary tube, and an inertial valve within the reservoir tube. The damper also includes a flow path connecting the reservoir fluid chamber and the compression chamber of the primary tube. The damper also may have a damping valve in the reservoir tube. When the inertia valve is open, the damping valve opens before flow through the inertia valve is maximized. The main piston and the damper tube at least partially define a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. The main piston is movable within the damper chamber of the primary unit. The reservoir tube includes a reservoir fluid chamber. The inertial valve is responsive to terrain-induced forces and not responsive to rider-induced forces when the shock absorber is assembled to the bicycle.
Abstract:
A suspension damping device comprising an elongated tubular housing having a closed lower end for connection to an axle of a wheel and an open upper end having an elongated tube in sealed sliding engagement retained therein. A coil spring is located in the upper part of the tube and is retained between the upper end of the tube and a floating piston positioned in sealed sliding engagement in the tube. An upper and a lower oil chamber is formed in the tube and tubular housing below the piston. First and second passage means are provided between the first and second oil chambers with the second passage means having valve means which is responsive to lateral displacement of the wheel.
Abstract:
Example bicycle suspension components and control devices are described herein. An example shock absorber includes a damper body defining a first chamber and a reservoir defining a second chamber. A flow path is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber. The example shock absorber also includes a flow control member disposed in the flow path and a motor to operate the flow control member to affect fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.
Abstract:
A dual piston system for independently controlling compression and rebound flowpaths therein, the dual piston system comprising: a first adjustable orifice configured for controlling rebound fluid flow, wherein the first adjustable orifice controls the rebound fluid flow through a first pathway associated with a low speed rebound flow and a second pathway associated with a high speed rebound flow; and
a second adjustable orifice configured for controlling compression fluid flow, wherein the second adjustable orifice controls the compression fluid flow through a third pathway associated with a low speed compression flow and a fourth pathway associated with a high speed compression flow.