Patent ID: 6966412

Claim:
A shock absorbing device comprising: a cylindrical wall that defines a hydraulic fluid chamber; a moveable piston positioned within said hydraulic fluid chamber; a first and a second opening defined in a side of said cylindrical wall; a bypass channel formed on an outside area of said cylindrical wall, said bypass channel being in fluid communication with said hydraulic fluid chamber through said first and second openings, and said first and second openings being in fluid communication with each other through said bypass channel; and a rebound control device, said device being positioned between said first and second openings such that said rebound control device allows hydraulic fluid to flow from said first opening to said second opening but restricts hydraulic fluid from flowing from said second opening to said first opening, said rebound control device comprising: a ball valve positioned in said bypass channel; a ball valve seat positioned in said bypass channel between said first and second openings; and a blocking member positioned in said bypass channel, whereby hydraulic fluid displaced by said piston into said first opening can displace said ball valve and said blocking member and bypass through said second opening to said hydraulic fluid chamber, but hydraulic fluid displaced by said piston into said second opening forces said ball valve into said ball valve seat and said blocking member substantially prevents hydraulic fluid from bypassing through said first opening to said hydraulic fluid chamber.