Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus for an adjustable suspension system for a vehicle comprises at least one strut. In one embodiment, the stanchion (or slider) is non-uniform with a major and minor circumferential stiffness and is adjustable relative to a fore and aft axis of the vehicle in order to provide a differing amount of stiffness relative thereto. In another embodiment, a portion of the stanchion is circular and a reinforcement is annularly disposed therearound with axial retention formations, The reinforcement has a non-uniform circumferential characteristic and is rotatable relative to the fore/aft axis of the vehicle.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/623,788, filed Nov. 23, 2009, which claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/117,090, filed Nov. 21, 2008, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/117,466, filed Nov. 24, 2008. Each of the aforementioned related patent applications is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for use in vehicle suspension. Particular embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus useful for structural reinforcement of suspension components. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     There are many types of vehicles that use suspension components for absorbing and dissipating energy imparted to the vehicle by the terrain over which the vehicle travels. Bicycles and motorcycles, particularly those designed for off road use, are used herein as examples of vehicles. The front fork of a bicycle or motorcycle most often includes the front suspension component of that vehicle. 
     Among riders and users (e.g., tuners, mechanics, designers) there is no consensus on fork chassis stiffness (resistance to flexing) requirements for off road motorcycles. Supercross (i.e., stadium style motocross) courses are generally smoother and are packed with manmade obstacles requiring precision and timing to negotiate them properly. The precision needed in supercross leads the riders to choose stiffer, more precise steering fork chassis. Professional supercross riders might, for example, prefer large diameter forks for supercross races. Outdoor motocross is generally very fast with a mix of man made and natural terrain obstacles. Outdoor motocross courses can get very rough. Professional outdoor motocross riders might, for example, prefer smaller diameter, less rigid, fork chassis to allow some compliance through flex of the front fork system. Top level youth riders also differ amongst themselves on fork chassis stiffness. Larger and more aggressive riders may look for more rigid fork systems. Lighter, smoother riders may prefer some flex in their fork system to provide more compliance. 
     Vehicle suspension systems typically include structures that must resist forces tending to bend and/or twist those structures. That means that the structures need to be designed structurally to properly handle anticipated loads. In many applications it would, however, be desirable to selectively adjust the reinforcement of the suspension to suit the needs of a particular user, the characteristics of the terrain to be traversed or both. What is needed is a structural reinforcement for a suspension component that is capable of being adjusted or “tuned” by a user between configurations offering more reinforcement in a chosen direction and configurations offering less reinforcement in a chosen direction as desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method and apparatus for an adjustable suspension system for a vehicle comprises at least one stanchion for receiving a slider. In one embodiment, the stanchion or slider is non-uniform with a “major” stiffness and a “minor” stiffness axis and is adjustable relative to an up and down axis of the vehicle in order to provide a differing amount of suspension stiffness. In another embodiment, a portion of the stanchion is circular and a substantially longitudinal reinforcement portion is annularly disposed therein or around, or partially therein or around with axial retention structures, The reinforcement is non-uniform circumferentially and is movable relative to an up-down axis of the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features can be understood in detail, a more particular description of that, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings only illustrate embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a motorcycle showing a front suspension system. 
         FIG. 2  is a section view showing one embodiment;  FIG. 2A  is a sectional top view of  FIG. 2 , taken through a line  2 A- 2 A. 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing illustrating a major and minor axis of an elliptical shape. 
         FIG. 4A  is a section view showing an alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 4B  is a section view of  FIG. 4  taken through a line  4 B- 4 B and  FIG. 4B   FIG. 4C  is a section view taken through a line  4 C- 4 C. 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view showing an alternative embodiment of a non-circular or non-round cross section of a stanchion. 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of a reinforcement having a substantially uniform wall thickness with a non-uniform modulus or stiffness distribution circumferentially and  FIG. 5C  is a top view thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view showing a reinforcement bar that engages an inner surface of a stanchion and  FIG. 6A  is a top view thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view showing a reinforcement ring having reinforcement lobes disposed within a stanchion and  FIG. 7A  is a top view thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a fork chassis that is tunable for stiffness. One aspect of stiffness where selective tuning is advantageous is front (fore) to back (aft) and up to down (e.g., fore and aft in  FIG. 2A  as directions  34 ,  35  respectively, and up and down directions in  FIG. 1  and others as  34 ,  35  respectively) bending, or “beam,” stiffness. A modern motocross fork is made up of 5 primary structural, or chassis, elements. 
     1. the lower/inner tube set (right and left sides of front wheel) commonly referred to as the sliders 
     2. the upper/outer tube set (telescopically engaged with the sliders) commonly referred to as the stanchions 
     3. the lower triple clamp 
     4. the upper triple clamp 
     5. the steering tube 
     While the examples herein may often be described in reference to motorcycle or bicycle forks, the elements disclosed herein are suitable for use on a wide variety of vehicles and respective suspension systems. 
     Referring also to a fork as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,558, the main structural element defining the front to back stiffness in the above described motocross front fork is the stanchion tube set (note would be the slider tube set in an inverse fork set up). The region with the biggest affect on front to back (e.g.,  FIGS. 2A and 4C — 34 ,  35 ) stiffness is the region below, through, and/or above the lower triple clamp (the “critical region”). It is noteworthy that some forks are essentially inverted from the above description in that the sliders are held within the triple clamp and the stanchions telescopically mounted below the sliders and thereby straddle the front wheel and engage with the front axle. The elements disclosed herein are equally suitable for use on either of the aforementioned fork configurations as well as other suspension configurations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,558, assigned to Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes an embodiment of a motorcycle fork and corresponding damage prevention covers for the inner tubes  9 . That patent describes (and  FIG. 1  herein shows by corresponding numbers) the stanchions as “outer cases  8 ” and the sliders as “inner tubes  9 .” That patent further describes the upper and lower triple clamps as “upper and lower brackets respectively as  7  (or  20   FIG. 1  herein),  7 .” It also refers to the steering tube as a “steering handle rotary shaft  6 .” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,425,009, assigned to Showa Corporation and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes the upper and lower triple clamp as the “upper bracket  15 ” and the “under bracket  16 ” respectively. It refers to the steering tube as the “steering shaft (not shown).” The stanchions are referred to as “outer tubes  13  and  13 ”&#39; and the sliders are referred to as “inner tubes  14  and  14 ′.” The Showa patent describes disc brake forces generated (directions shown in  FIG. 3 ) on the disc side of the fork that are asymmetric in relation to the right and left sides of the fork. The Showa patent proposes a uniform increased thickness of the inner tube  14 ′ of the disc side fork to increase stiffness of the brake side fork leg. 
     Other patents have dealt in various ways with various aspects of increased fork stiffness. U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,276, assigned to Marzocchi, USA, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, refers to a steering tube as a “stem tube  14 ”, a lower triple clamp as a “crown  12 ” and a pair of “struts  16 ” corresponding to stanchions (because the &#39;276 patent does not include suspension there are only stanchions and no sliders). 
     U.S. Pat. No. RE38,669 having inventors Darrell Voss and Gary Klein and being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, refers to the lower triple clamp as “crown  6 - 3 ” and “stanchion tube  8 - 1  L.” U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,200, assigned to Answer Products Inc. and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, refers to the steering tube as “steering tube  12 ,” lower triple clamp as “crown  14 ,” stanchions as “lower tube  24 ” and the sliders as “upper tube  26 .” Noteworthy in the preceding two patents is that while bicycle forks may include an upper and lower triple clamp, they often include only the lower clamp or “crown.” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,037, having inventor Mario Galasso and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, refers to “steer tube  4 ,” “crown  5 ,” “stanchions  6 ” and “slider  10 ” as the respective parts of the fork. 
     It is noted that, regarding vehicles that employ fork type front suspension; while mounting stanchions to the steering head is quite common particularly on motorcycles, certain types of vehicles still use forks having sliders mounted to the steering head with the stanchions attached to the suspended wheel. The fork reinforcement embodiments disclosed herein are equally well suited for use with stanchions or sliders as mounted to a vehicle steering head. Reference herein to stanchions or sliders is for illustrative purposes only. Also noteworthy is that some suspension “forks” are asymmetrical and comprise only one stanchion/slider set, held by one triple clamp set and traversing only one side of a suspended wheel. The embodiments herein a well suited for use on only one stanchion/slider pair. Further, embodiments herein are suitable for use with vehicle forks having no stanchion/slider pairing such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,862, which patent is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference. That &#39;862 patent includes a bicycle fork, that while suspended in a head tube arrangement, comprises no moving parts in the fork struts. Embodiments disclosed herein may nonetheless be useful in selectively stiffening or reducing stiffness in single piece forks. Additionally, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,369, which patent is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference, a “fork” need not comprise more than a single strut (noting that each of a stanchion and a slider is a “strut” and together the form a telescopic “strut” or strut assembly). Embodiments herein may nonetheless be used in conjunction with such single strut type forks whether the single strut includes a suspension component or not. 
     In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1  of the present application, the stanchions  8  are held in the lower triple clamp  7  and the upper triple clamp  20 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , while the inner diameter of the stanchions  8  is circular, at least a portion of the length of the stanchions has an elliptical outer surface. As shown in  FIG. 2A  the stanchion  8  is positioned in relation to lower triple clamp  7  such that the major elliptical axis (refer to  FIG. 3 ) of the stanchion  8  is substantially aligned with the forward  34  and aft  35  directions of the bicycle or motorcycle. The lower triple clamp parts  7  and  30  engage to form a substantially circular clamped region. The split bushing  31 ,  32  adapts the elliptical outer surface of the stanchion  8  to be clamped by the circular inner surface of lower triple clamp  7 . The split bushing  31 ,  32  is scarf cut  33  in two places (or cut in any other suitable manner) at approximately 180 degrees. That allows the split bushing  31 , 32  to tightly transfer clamping force from the triple clamp  7  to the stanchion  8  by mitigating substantial part tolerance issues that might otherwise interfere. In one embodiment the bushing comprises a substantially incompressible elastic material (e.g. rubber, urethane) and will transfer clamping force there though by means of an iso-static pressure created therein by the clamping force (based on bulk modulus of the material). As such a scarf cut is not always necessary. With the stanchion  8  and split bushing  31 ,  32  in place, the triple clamp  7 ,  30  is tightened by means of the triple clamp bolts as shown. 
     In one embodiment the cross section for the stanchion tube  8  in the critical region is non round. One example of a suitable non-circular or non-round cross section is shown in  FIG. 5A . The stanchion  8  includes a “lobe” or beam web  100  (running axially along a length of the stanchion but not shown) which enhances axial bending stiffness of the stanchion  8  along plane  105  (plane  105  shown as line  105  and extending into and out of the page). The lobe may be any suitable cross sectional shape and may be located circumferentially at a single zone or the stanchion may comprise a plurality of lobes located for example at 180 degrees or other suitable locations for enhancing selected bending stiffness of the stanchion  8 . For purposes of this description the non round cross section may be elliptical (referring to  FIG. 3 ) although practically it may be any other suitable cross section (i.e., consistent with selective reinforcement). The raw material for the stanchion  8  may be a tube with round ID and elliptical OD. Below the axially, or lengthwise, lowest desired elliptical section of the tube, the tube may be machined to have a round OD in order to reduce weight where the elliptical cross section contribution is not needed. Above the upper most elliptical cross section, the tube may include a round OD, if desired, so that the interface with the upper triple clamp  20  is simpler. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , a split shim  31 ,  32  is mounted in the lower triple clamp  7 ,  30 . The OD of this shim  31 ,  32  is round. The ID of this shim  31 ,  32  is elliptical and fits over the elliptical OD of the stanchion tube  8 . In essence, this composite cross section of stanchion  8  and shim  31 ,  32  results in a round OD interface with the lower triple clamp  7 ,  30 . The round, or circular, interface helps facilitate ease of rotation (e.g. adjustment) of the stanchion relative to the clamp when altered fork stiffness characteristics are desired. When the major axis (note the term “major axis” herein refers not only to the dimensionally larger cross sectional axis but also to any axis including the plane of increased stiffness  105 ) of the stanchion  8  is aligned parallel to the center plane  34 ,  35  of the vehicle (e.g. motorcycle, bicycle), the fork will be in its&#39; stiffest front to rear setting. That is consistent with cross sectional moment of inertia calculations and beam stiffness calculations presuming the major axis to comprise the web of a cross sectioned beam. It is noteworthy that the cross section of the stanchion may vary and include many suitable shapes or combinations thereof (e.g., rectangle, I beam web). The “web” or cross sectional extension may exist on only one side of the stanchion  8  thereby forming in one embodiment a “tear drop” shaped cross section. 
     In one embodiment, when stanchion  8  is rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to the triple clamp  7 ,  20  such that the minor axis of the stanchion  8  is aligned with the center plane  34 ,  35  of the motorcycle, the fork will be in its&#39; least stiff front to rear setting. Laser etching datum marks, or other suitable marking may be provided on the lower triple clamp  7 ,  30  and on the outside of the stanchion  8  to allow the rider to readily line up the major or minor axes in the desired orientation (e.g., front to rear stiff or front to rear flexible corresponding with the major and minor axis alignment respectively with plane  34 ,  35 ). As is shown the triple clamp  7 ,  30  and  20  may be loosened and the rider/user can rotationally orient the major axis of the stanchion  8  in line with front rear vehicle plane  34 ,  35  for maximum fork stiffness or laterally  36  for maximum fork flexibility or at orientations in between for corresponding intermediate stiffness. 
     In one embodiment, and referring to  FIGS. 4A-4C , stanchion  8  (or slider if inverse fork arrangement) has a circular inner diameter and a circular outer diameter. The outer diameter of stanchion  8  is scribed with grooves  41  at intervals along its length over a region of desired stanchion support. In between the grooves  41  are circumferential raised (relative to the groove depth—e.g. full stanchion OD) diameter portions  45  (optionally  41 / 45  may comprise a selected thread form). Fitted around the exterior of the stanchion  8  axially along the length of a region of desired selectable enhanced support, is reinforcement  40 . For initial installation reinforcement  40  is spread, at scarf cut  46 , to fit over stanchion  8 . Reinforcement  40  may comprise two cuts at suitable relative angles, such as 180 degrees (in other words reinforcement  40  may comprise two pieces), thereby avoiding any need to flex the reinforcement  40  during installation. Reinforcement  40  has spaced inner grooves  44  and smaller intervening ID portions  43  that engage respectively with raised diameter portions  45  and grooves  41  of the stanchion. Once the reinforcement  40  is installed on stanchion  8  it is rotatable there about. With the triple clamp  7 ,  30  (and  20  if reinforcement extends that far) loose the major axis of the reinforcement can be selectively aligned with the vehicle front/rear plane  34 ,  35  to provide maximum fork stiffness or with lateral plane  36  to provide minimum stiffness. It may also be aligned at intermediate positions. With the reinforcement  40  in the desired orientation, the triple clamp  7 ,  30  is tightened around the reinforcement  40  which in turn tightens around stanchion  8  thereby retaining the stanchion and the preferred orientation of the reinforcement  40 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , the outer surface  49  of the reinforcement  40  is circular in the axial region within (i.e. corresponding to the length of) the triple clamp  7 ,  3 D. As demonstrated by  FIG. 4C , the reinforcement  40  has an elliptical outer surface at axial locations on either side of the triple clamp  7 ,  30 . The inner surface  49  of the triple clamp  7 ,  30  is circular so as to substantially engage the circular outer surface  49  of the reinforcement  40  (within the triple clamp). The engaged circular surfaces  49  facilitate rotation of reinforcement  40  within the loosened triple clamp  7 ,  30  and gripping retention of reinforcement  40 , by the tightened triple clamp  7 ,  30  in any selected relative rotational orientation between the reinforcement and the clamp. Additionally, the inner surfaces of the reinforcement  40  are substantially circular to engage the circular outer surface of the stanchion  8 . The engaged grooves  41 ,  43  and  44 ,  45  provide axial lengthwise shear area thereby transferring bending forces between the stanchion  8  and the reinforcement  40  (as inter-part surface shear and hence enabling the reinforcement to aid in stiffening the stanchion). Note that other suitable axial shear transfer mechanisms may be employed such as, for example, axially spaced clamps where inter-part friction is the shear transfer mechanism or through bolts where headed bolts are disposed in holes though the reinforcement  40  and threaded into the stanchion (alternative holes threaded into stanchion at 90 degrees to facilitate rotation and retained orientation of the reinforcement  40 . Depending on the axial length of the critical region (e.g. desired engagement length between reinforcement  40  and stanchion  8 ) addition axially spaced clamps may be preferred. Such clamps may be placed around the reinforcement at selected axial locations to retain the reinforcement  40  grooves  44  in contact with the raised portions  45  of the stanchions. Clamps and grooves may be used separately or in combination for added shear force transfer. 
     One embodiment comprises providing an “add on” reinforcement or stiffening element  40  that may be added to (and fixed to) an exterior of a stanchion tube  8  of a fork chassis. In one embodiment the stiffener or reinforcement  40 , when in use to enhance fork stiffness, is mounted on the front facing  34  side of the fork and is mounted to the stanchion tubes  8  below the lower triple clamp  7 ,  30  and above the lower triple clamp  7 ,  30 . Optionally the stanchion  8  can provide mounting provisions for the stiffener  40  to directly bolt/mount to the tube  8 , or secondary clamps (not shown) may be used to mount around the reinforcement  40  and stanchion  8  to affix the stiffening element  40  to the front side  34  of the fork. The stiffening element  40  can be produced from a variety of materials, including carbon fiber reinforced composite, injection molded plastic, stamped/formed aluminum, metal matrix composite, work hardened and heat treated brass, steel, titanium, magnesium, or any suitable material or combination thereof. It is noteworthy that reinforcement  40  need not circumvent the stanchion  8  and in fact may only be on the forward  34  side of the stanchion  8  (in other words the reinforcement  40  may be embodied as a “half shell” spanning only 180 degrees of a circumference or less, or more). Such reinforcement  40  would look like the left half of that stiffener  40  as shown in  FIG. 4A  and may be used in conjunction with a retaining mechanism such as for example axially spaced clamps, or bolts (e.g. bolted directly to the stanchion or slider) along a length of the critical region of desired enhanced stiffness to retain the reinforcement  40 . The reinforcement  40  need not traverse the triple clamp  7  and may be only above or below (or both) that clamp  7 . In one embodiment the reinforcement  40  is retained at an upper end under the upper triple clamp and at a lower portion under the lower triple clamp. In one embodiment (e.g. a single crown bicycle fork) the reinforcement  40  extends below the crown or single lower fork leg clamp and supports a portion of the fork leg there below. An axially spaced bolt hole pattern may be built into the stanchion on a forward  34  or rear  35  face and on a lateral face  36  such that a bolt on reinforcement may be moved from front to side with a bolt arrangement. Alternatively a front  34  bolt on reinforcement  40  and the reinforcement  40  itself may merely be removed from the fork leg when more fork flexibility is desired. The reinforcement may be located on the stanchion  8  or the slider or both. It may be placed only between the upper and lower triple clamp and in one embodiment does not engage the triple clamps at all. The reinforcement  40  may be used on any of a variety of beam loaded (e.g. beam supported) vehicle suspension members. 
     In one embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 5B and 5C , the reinforcement  40  comprises a substantially circular tube  80  having a substantially uniform wall thickness (e.g. no major or minor dimensions) where the wall has a non-uniform modulus (stiffness) distribution circumferentially. Generally, as described herein, non-uniform modulus distribution may result from: 1) dimensional variations; material variations (including local modulus and/or strength characteristics); or 3) suitable combinations of material and dimensional variations. In one embodiment the reinforcement  40  comprises a material or material combination resulting in varying degrees of axial (e.g. lengthwise) bending stiffness at varying locations circumferentially. In one embodiment a carbon fiber filled composite reinforcement  40  comprises a circumferential zone  85  of, for example, approximately 90 degrees (e.g. a quadrant) that is axially reinforced with a higher modulus carbon fiber  90  than the remaining circumferential structure of the reinforcement  40 . Such reinforcement results in a zone of high stiffness  85 . Such a zone may comprise, for example, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 45 degrees or any suitable zone angle (or no particular angle per se) for enhancing bending stiffness in a selected zone (and hence orientation). The zone may comprise a continuous reinforcement fiber (e.g. axial  96  or orientated  95 ), chop random fiber, granular, oriented short, fabric, or any suitable filler for increased structural stiffness. In one embodiment the tube  80  includes a high stiffness zone that comprises a base material having a property of high modulus relative to the base material of the remainder of the tube  80 . In one embodiment the tube  80  is made from a material having varying states of stiffness around its circumference. Such varying state stiffness zones may be created for example by selective heat treating. In one embodiment a high strength tube is manufactured having a first stiffness and a zone of that tube is heat treated, using for example localized induction heating, (with a corresponding modulus change such as multiphase brass) leaving a high stiffness zone in the non-annealed area. In one embodiment (not shown) two such high modulus reinforced zones are positioned diametrically opposite one another, for example at 180 degrees apart circumferentially. In one embodiment the reinforcement  40  comprises a suitable combination of selective high modulus construction or reinforcement and a major and minor dimension in cross sectional profile (e.g. non-circular shape plus coincident high stiffness zone. It is noteworthy that the circular cross section reinforcement  40  as described herein would be suitable for use as described herein without any accommodation for non circular cross section in any clamping mechanism. In one embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 5B and 5C , a “window”  98  of material is removed or reduced from a wall or walls of the tube  80  corresponding to a zone(s) of reduced stiffness (thereby leaving a zone(s) of high stiffness). Shapes, materials and concepts disclosed herein regarding either stanchions (sliders) or stanchion (slider) reinforcement members are described in reference to one or the other but the reinforcement and stiffness zone creation mechanisms disclosed herein are, for the most part, equally well suited to use directly with a stanchion or slider, or as part of a stanchion or slider reinforcement member. 
     In one embodiment, the reinforcement is part of the fork leg assembly. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the reinforcement  40  is inside, for example, the stanchion  8 . Note that directions  34  and  35  are fore and aft respectively as related to the top views of each Figure ( 6 A and  7 A). In one embodiment (referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6A ) reinforcement  40  comprises one or more “bars” which engage an inner surface of the stanchion  8  by means of dovetail form slots  210  therein. The reinforcement bars  40  are retained radially (e.g. from falling inward) and rotationally, in selected orientation, by the dovetail slots  210  and retained at a lower end by circumferential shoulder  220  within the stanchion  8 . The bars  40  may be retained at an upper end by a top cap (not shown) of the stanchion  8 . When one or more bars  40  are in place in a plane residing in the fore  34 /aft  35  direction, they enhance the stiffness of the stanchion along the length in which they are disposed. When more stanchion flexibility is desired, a user may merely remove the reinforcement bar(s)  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 7A , a reinforcement ring  200  comprises reinforcement lobes  40 . The ring  200  and its lobes  40  are disposed within the stanchion  8  and are retained axially upon an inner shoulder  220 . The reinforcement ring  200  may be axially retained at an upper end by a stanchion top cap (not shown). The reinforcement ring may be rotated within the stanchion to alter the stiffness of the stanchion in the fore  34 /aft  35  direction. The outer surface of the ring  200  and the inner surface of the stanchion  8  may be inter-engagably splined along at least a portion of interface  230  so that the spline engagement (e.g. axially oriented “teeth” such as fine gear teeth) retains selected orientation between the ring  200  and the stanchion  8 . In order to change the orientation, the ring  200  may be withdrawn axially upward (following removal of the stanchion top cap for example) until the splines at  200  are no longer engaged. The ring may then be rotated and re-orientated consistent with the indexing of the splines and replaced within the stanchion (the top cap or other retainer may then be replaced). 
     While embodiments herein have been described in reference to front vehicle suspension and specifically vehicle “forks” it is noted that the concepts hereof including embodiments of reinforcement  40  are suitable for use with other suspension linkages such as rear (e.g. motorcycle, bicycle) swing arms, frame struts and other structural vehicle members where user selectable stiffness is desirable. In many circumstances contemplated herein, the terms fore  34  and aft  35 , as used herein, also apply to “up and “down” respectively because the plane, for example  105 , that extends front (fore) and back (aft) also extends up and down relative to a vehicle. That is appropriate because vehicle suspension and linkage often operate substantially in the plane perpendicular to the surface being traversed by the vehicle (e.g. up and down) and bending forces encountered by the suspension derive from force components in the “up and down” directions. 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1