US 12,145,415 B2
Suspension with hydraulic preload adjust
Christopher Paul Cox, Capitola, CA (US)
Assigned to Fox Factory, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed by Fox Factory, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed on May 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/316,520.
Application 17/316,520 is a continuation of application No. 16/442,186, filed on Jun. 14, 2019, granted, now 11,001,120.
Application 16/442,186 is a continuation of application No. 15/948,634, filed on Apr. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,336,151, issued on Jul. 2, 2019.
Application 15/948,634 is a continuation of application No. 15/471,986, filed on Mar. 28, 2017, granted, now 9,969,236, issued on May 15, 2018.
Application 15/471,986 is a continuation of application No. 14/995,098, filed on Jan. 13, 2016, granted, now 9,623,716, issued on Apr. 18, 2017.
Application 14/995,098 is a continuation of application No. 14/293,927, filed on Jun. 2, 2014, granted, now 9,248,717, issued on Feb. 2, 2016.
Application 14/293,927 is a continuation of application No. 13/758,330, filed on Feb. 4, 2013, granted, now 8,770,592, issued on Jul. 8, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/594,886, filed on Feb. 3, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2021/0260951 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. B60G 17/027 (2006.01); B60G 15/06 (2006.01); B60G 17/015 (2006.01); B60G 17/016 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 17/0272 (2013.01) [B60G 15/065 (2013.01); B60G 17/0152 (2013.01); B60G 17/016 (2013.01); B60G 2202/312 (2013.01); B60G 2400/10 (2013.01); B60G 2400/20 (2013.01); B60G 2400/25 (2013.01); B60G 2401/11 (2013.01); B60G 2401/17 (2013.01); B60G 2500/22 (2013.01); B60G 2600/22 (2013.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shock absorber comprising:
a suspension damper with a cylinder, said cylinder having a piston and rod therein;
a first spring mounted around said suspension damper, said first spring disposed to become compressed during a compression stroke of said suspension damper;
a second spring mounted around said suspension damper, said second spring disposed to become compressed during said compression stroke of said suspension damper, said first spring and said second spring disposed axially about said suspension damper with at least a portion of said first spring arranged concentrically with respect to said second spring;
a spring abutment feature coupled with said first spring and said second spring, said spring abutment feature having a first portion for engaging with said first spring and a second portion for engaging with said second spring;
a preload piston coupled to at least one of said first spring and said second spring, said preload piston disposed to cause at least one of said first spring and said second spring to become more compressed or less compressed as said preload piston moves relative to said suspension damper;
an automated preload adjuster coupled with said at least one of said first spring and said second spring;
a vehicle operational condition sensor configured to measure an operational condition of said vehicle;
a processor configured to control said suspension damper based upon said operational condition of said vehicle; and
a logic unit coupled with said processor, said logic unit configured to receive input corresponding to a speed and location of said rod, said logic unit user-programmable and said logic unit configured to signal said preload adjuster to either expand or contract, wherein said automated preload adjuster is remotely controllable, said automated preload adjuster further coupled to at least one of said first spring and said second spring, said automated preload adjuster configured to automatically partially compress or expand said at least one of said first spring and said second spring independently of said compression stroke based upon said operational condition of said vehicle.