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Bicycle shock assembliesBicycle shock assemblies description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090267316, Bicycle shock assemblies. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
The present invention relates generally to bicycles and, more particularly, to shock assemblies that are constructed to facilitate controlled movement between movable members of a bicycle, such as a frame and a wheel assembly. The primary structural component of a conventional two-wheel bicycle is the frame. On a conventional road bicycle, the frame is typically constructed from a set of tubular members assembled together to form the frame. For many bicycles, the frame is constructed from members commonly referred to as the top tube, down tube, seat tube, seat stays and chain stays, and those members are joined together at intersections commonly referred to as the head tube, seat post, bottom bracket and rear dropout. The top tube usually extends from the head tube rearward to the seat tube. The head tube, sometimes referred to as the neck, is a short tubular structural member at the upper forward portion of the bicycle which supports the handlebar and front steering fork, which has the front wheel on it. The down tube usually extends downwardly and rearward from the head tube to the bottom bracket, the bottom bracket usually comprising a cylindrical member for supporting the pedals and chain drive mechanism which powers the bicycle. The seat tube usually extends from the bottom bracket upwardly to where it is joined to the rear end of the top tube. The seat tube also usually functions to telescopically receive a seat post for supporting a seat or saddle for the bicycle rider to sit on. The chain stays normally extend rearward from the bottom bracket. The seat stays normally extend downwardly and rearward from the top of the seat tube. The chain stays and seat stays are normally joined together with a rear dropout for supporting the rear axle of the rear wheel. The front wheel assembly is commonly mounted between a pair of forks that are pivotably connected to the frame proximate the head tube. The foregoing description represents the construction of a conventional bicycle frame which of course does not possess a suspension having any shock absorbing characteristics. The increased popularity in recent years of off-road cycling, particularly on mountains and cross-country, as well as an interest in reducing discomfort associated with rougher road riding, has made shock absorbing systems a desirable attribute in biking system. A bicycle with a properly designed suspension system is capable of traveling over extremely bumpy, uneven terrain and up or down very steep inclines. Suspension bicycles are less punishing, reduce fatigue, reduce the likelihood of rider injury, and are much more comfortable to ride. For off-road cycling in particular, a suspension system greatly increases the rider\'s ability to control the bicycle because the wheels remain in contact with the ground as they ride over rocks and bumps in the terrain instead of being bounced into the air as occurs on conventional non-suspension bicycles. Over the last several years the number of bicycles now equipped with suspension systems has dramatically increased. In fact, many bicycles are now fully suspended, meaning that the bicycle has both a front and rear wheel suspension systems. Front suspensions were the first to become popular. Designed to remove the pounding to the bicycle front end, the front suspension is simpler to implement than a rear suspension. A front suspension fork is easy to retrofit onto an older model bicycle. On the other hand, a rear suspension will increase traction and assist in cornering and balance the ride. During cycling, as the bicycle moves along a desired path, discontinuities of the terrain are communicated to the assembly of the bicycle and ultimately to the rider. Although such discontinuities are generally negligible for cyclists operating on paved surfaces, riders venturing from the beaten path frequently encounter such terrain. With the proliferation of mountain biking, many riders seek the more treacherous trail. Technology has developed to assist such adventurous riders in conquering the road less traveled. Wheel suspension systems are one such feature. Even though suspension features have proliferated in bicycle constructions, the performance of the suspension as well as the structure of the bicycle are often limited to or must be tailored to cooperate with the structure and operation of the shock. Commonly, both ends of the shock are secured to the bicycle between movable frame members where movement is intended to be arrested, dampened, or otherwise altered. The shock is often connected between a portion of the frame and structure proximate an axle of an associated wheel to provide a desired travel distance and/or resistance to the relative displacement of the structures secured to the generally opposite ends of the shock. The incorporation of the shock member in such a manner generally determines the motion performance of the shock adapted structure. Commonly, an eyelet is positioned at each end of the shock and cooperates with a pass through fastener that secures the respective ends of the shock to the desired structure of the bicycle. Other shock systems utilize a clamp that engages along an outside diameter of the damper body. This association of the structure of the bicycle and the structure of the shock generally defines the shock that can be used with any given bicycle as well as the shock performance that can be provided. To alter the shock performance of a particular bicycle commonly requires changing the shock provided the newly desired shock has a mount configuration and translation distance that correlates to the structure of the bicycle. Such a requirement increases the cost associated with performance of suspension features of any bicycle. The rider must commonly acquire either various shocks assemblies or various parts of a shock assembly to alter the performance of suspension features of a particular bicycle. Further, if a rider has multiple bicycles, as many competitive riders do, acquiring the components to alter the performance of the suspension of a number of bicycles can be particularly expensive. With respect to shock manufacturing, as the structure of bicycle suspension features changes, shocks must be restructured to cooperate with the new bicycle structure. Shock design, construction, and assembly can become particularly costly in those instances where a variety of different shocks having different shock performance characteristics must be provided for one particular bicycle to satisfy individual rider preferences. Satisfying individual rider preferences across the various product platforms of various bicycle manufactures requires providing uncountable specific shock constructions. Therefore, there is a need for a shock system that can be configured to cooperate with a variety of bicycle structures. There is a further need for a shock system that can provide a variety of shock performances without otherwise interfering with the mounting of the shock to the bicycle. There is a further need for a shock system that can be quickly and efficiently configured to cooperate with a bicycle. The present invention provides a shock for a bicycle that addresses one or more of the drawbacks discussed above. One aspect of the invention relates to a shock for a bicycle that includes a mount body constructed to be connected to the bicycle. The shock includes a first cap and a second cap. The first cap is connected to one side of the mount body and encloses a first cavity. The second cap is connected to a second side of the mount body and encloses a second cavity. Such a construction provides a shock assembly whose performance can be changed without altering the mounting of the shock and/or replacing the entire shock assembly. Preferably, a passage is formed through the mount body so as to fluidly connect the first and second cavities. A further aspect includes providing a selector supported by the mount body and that is movable relative to the mount body to alter a performance characteristic of the shock. In a preferred aspect, the mount body includes at least one recess or through hole for securing the mount body between movable structures of a bicycle. Preferably, each securing recess or through hole is fluidly isolated from the interior cavities of the shock. Another aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the above aspects includes forming one of the first cap and/or the second cap such that the cap is interchangeable so as to alter a size of the cavity associated with a replaced cap. Such a construction enhances the multi-functionality of the shock system. Preferably, at least one of the caps can be replaced without interfering with the mounting of the shock to a corresponding bicycle. Another aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the above aspects includes providing a fluid reservoir that is fluidly associated with one of the first cap or the second cap so as to alter the fluid performance of the shock assembly independent of changing of a replaceable cap. Preferably, an auxiliary tank is connected to the mount body and fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir so as to further enhance the range of performance of the shock assembly. Another aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the above aspects includes a bicycle suspension system having a mount, a sleeve, a cylinder, and a cap. The mount is securable to a first bicycle structure such that the sleeve extends from the mount. The cylinder is translatable relative to the sleeve and is securable to a second bicycle structure. The cap is secured to the mount such that the cap extends in an outboard direction relative to the first and second bicycle structures. Such a configuration provides a suspension system with a portion of a shock positioned outside that area generally disposed between the points of connection of the shock and the respective bicycle. Another aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the above aspects is directed to a method of altering performance of the bicycle suspension system by altering a shock performance characteristic. The shock performance characteristic is altered by providing a shock having a first body and a second body. The first body is connected to one of a first or a second frame member of a bicycle. The second body is connected to the other of the first or second frame member of the bicycle such that the first and second bodies are movable relative to one another to allow translational movement between the first and second frame members with a desired suspension characteristic. The suspension system includes an interchangeable third body that cooperates with the first body so as to alter the shock performance characteristic thereby providing a shock system that can be configured to provide a desired suspension performance. It is appreciated that the aspects and features of the invention summarized above are not limited to any one particular embodiment of the invention. That is, many or all of the aspects above may be achieved with any particular embodiment of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be embodied in a manner preferential to one aspect or group of aspects and advantages as taught herein. These and various other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. Continue reading about Bicycle shock assemblies... Full patent description for Bicycle shock assemblies Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Bicycle shock assemblies patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Bicycle shock assemblies or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Seat Next Patent Application: Shock absorbing frame for a bicycle Industry Class: Land vehicles ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Bicycle shock assemblies patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.09134 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers paws |
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