US 11,787,496 B2
Suspension assembly and bicycle having a suspension assembly
Christopher P. D'Aluisio, Corralitos, CA (US); Jean-Luc Callahan, San Jose, CA (US); Tyler Kraus, San Jose, CA (US); Conner Swarthout, Morgan Hill, CA (US); and Michael McAndrews, Aptos, CA (US)
Assigned to Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc., Morgan Hill, CA (US)
Filed by Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc., Morgan Hill, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 25, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/104,748.
Application 17/104,748 is a continuation of application No. 16/718,808, filed on Dec. 18, 2019, granted, now 10,850,791.
Application 16/718,808 is a continuation of application No. 15/979,134, filed on May 14, 2018, granted, now 10,526,035, issued on Jan. 7, 2020.
Application 15/979,134 is a continuation of application No. 15/191,401, filed on Jun. 23, 2016, granted, now 9,994,279, issued on Jun. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/350,870, filed on Jun. 16, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/344,012, filed on Jun. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/317,307, filed on Apr. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/191,162, filed on Jul. 10, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0078665 A1, Mar. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. B62K 19/32 (2006.01); B62K 21/20 (2006.01); B62K 21/22 (2006.01)
CPC B62K 19/32 (2013.01) [B62K 21/20 (2013.01); B62K 21/22 (2013.01); B62K 2201/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bicycle comprising:
a frame including a head tube which rotatably receives a front fork assembly comprising a pair of tubular fork legs connected to a fork crown at one end thereof, and a steerer tube extending axially away from the fork crown and rotationally received in the head tube; and
a suspension assembly received within an inner diameter of the steerer tube such that at least a portion of the suspension assembly projects above an upper end of the steerer tube, the suspension assembly including:
a lower tubular support and an upper tubular support longitudinally slidable relative to the lower tubular support;
a rod comprising a lower end and an upper end, the rod projecting axially upward from a lower end of the lower tubular support such that the upper end of the rod is positioned within an interior space of the upper tubular support,
wherein the upper end of the rod positions an upper surface and a lower surface within the interior space of the upper tubular support;
a first positive biasing spring positioned at least partially within the interior space of the upper tubular support and positioned to apply a positive biasing force to the upper surface; and
a first negative biasing spring positioned at least partially within the interior space of the upper tubular support and positioned to apply a negative biasing force to the lower surface; and
a steering assembly including a stem connected to the upper tubular support;
wherein the lower and upper tubular supports are respectively connected to the steerer tube and stem such that the upper tubular support slides longitudinally relative to the lower tubular support adjacent the stem and above the fork crown.