Patent ID: 8511445
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. A bicycle rear shock absorber, comprising: a damper tube that defines a first diameter; a piston rod that defines a second diameter, where said piston rod carries a piston, said piston and said piston rod capable of telescopic movement with respect to said damper tube, wherein said piston cooperates with said damper tube to at least partially define a variable volume compression chamber and at least partially define a variable volume rebound chamber; a reservoir tube that is separate and remote from said damper tube, wherein said reservoir tube defines a reservoir chamber of said shock absorber, wherein fluid is displaced to said reservoir chamber from said compression chamber during compression movement of said shock absorber, and wherein fluid returns to said compression chamber from said reservoir chamber during rebound movement of said shock absorber; wherein a ratio of said first diameter to said second diameter is between about 1.05:1 and about 1.75:1, and wherein approximately 50% or more of compression damping during said compression movement of said shock absorber is accomplished by a compression damping circuit located in said reservoir tube, said compression damping circuit comprising a pressure-activated valve and an acceleration-activated valve, said acceleration-activated valve comprising an inertia mass slidably supported on a shaft, wherein a compression fluid flow of damping fluid, generated by compression movement of said piston and said piston rod relative to said damper tube, can pass through and be regulated by said pressure-activated valve without passing through said shaft.