Patent ID: 9290231
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: F16F

Claim Text:
1. A suspension element for connecting to a frame of a vehicle and a swing arm on which a wheel of the vehicle is mounted, the suspension element comprising: a first mount end and a second mount end; a damper extending between the first mount end and the second mount end, the damper comprising a cylinder defining a chamber, a piston being positioned in the chamber, and a rod extending into the chamber of the cylinder and extending out of one end of the cylinder, the rod having an external end located external to the chamber and an internal end located in the chamber of the cylinder and mounted on the piston such that the piston moves with the rod; an air spring support frame comprising a first support element movable with the cylinder, a second support element mounted on the rod in a manner permitting the rod move with respect to the second support element; an air spring assembly comprising a first air spring mount mounted on the rod to move with the rod, a second air spring mount mounted on the second support element of the air spring support frame, and a tubular air spring mounted on the first and second air spring mounts and having a flexible perimeter wall, the air spring defining a air spring interior configured to hold a quantity of air in the air spring interior; and wherein the air spring support frame includes at least two connector elements connecting the first and second support elements, the connector elements being substantially rigid to maintain a predetermined spacing between the first and second support elements, the connector elements being spaced from each other.