US 11,808,322 B2
Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper
William M. Becker, Aptos, CA (US)
Assigned to Fox Factory, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed by Fox Factory, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/713,178.
Application 17/713,178 is a continuation of application No. 16/995,640, filed on Aug. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,293,513.
Application 16/995,640 is a continuation of application No. 16/259,734, filed on Jan. 28, 2019, granted, now 10,746,250, issued on Aug. 18, 2020.
Application 16/259,734 is a continuation of application No. 15/679,471, filed on Aug. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,228,039, issued on Aug. 22, 2017.
Application 15/679,471 is a continuation of application No. 14/822,859, filed on Aug. 10, 2015, granted, now 9,739,331, issued on Aug. 22, 2017.
Application 14/822,859 is a continuation of application No. 13/890,753, filed on May 9, 2013, granted, now 9,103,400, issued on Aug. 11, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/644,859, filed on May 9, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0228639 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. F16F 9/43 (2006.01); B62K 25/08 (2006.01); F16F 9/34 (2006.01); B62K 25/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16F 9/435 (2013.01) [B62K 25/08 (2013.01); B62K 2025/048 (2013.01); F16F 9/34 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suspension fork, comprising:
a lower fork tube and an upper fork tube, wherein the lower fork tube and the upper fork tube are configured to engage telescopically, and wherein the lower fork tube contains an oil bath;
a seal disposed proximate to an end of the lower fork tube, wherein the seal is configured to substantially close a gap between the telescoping upper fork tube and the lower fork tube;
a fluid passage disposed on the lower fork tube, wherein the fluid passage extends between an interior of the lower fork tube and an exterior of the lower fork tube; and
an air bleed member disposed in the fluid passage, wherein said air bleed member is configured for communicating air within the lower fork tube with local ambient air, and further wherein said air bleed member is configured to open and close the fluid passage through manual operation;
wherein the fluid passage and the air bleed member are positioned above a resting fill level of the oil bath to prevent substantial amounts of the oil within the lower fork tube from leaking out of the lower fork tube when the air bleed member is opened to communicate air inside the lower fork tube with local ambient air.