Patent ID: 7316409
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: B62K

Abstract:
1. A front fork, comprising: a lower fork having a closed bottom; an upper fork tube inserted into the lower fork for reciprocation relative to the lower fork and having a nozzle at a top thereof; an oil received in a space between the lower fork and the upper fork tube; an air chamber formed in a space between a surface of the oil and the nozzle, which a gas is issued therein and a pressure of the gas is greater than an atmospheric pressure, and a damping device, which is mounted at a bottom of the upper fork tube and under the surface of the oil, having an orifice for the oil flowing therethrough; wherein the damping device has a column-like main member, a piston and an elastic member, which the main member has an oil vent and at least a lateral hole in communication with the oil vent, and the piston is received in the oil vent for movement between a lower position, in which the piston seals the lateral hole, and a continuum of upper positions, in which the lateral hole is exposed in whole or in part through a gradient, and the oil flows through the lateral hole, and the elastic member is received within the main member to urge the piston to the lower position.