Patents by Inventor Gregory Paul Buhl

Gregory Paul Buhl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Bicycle shock assemblies with plunger operated valve arrangement
    Patent number: 9056650
    Abstract: A shock absorber, which is particularly applicable to bicycles, includes a secondary chamber whose volume selectively contributes to a volume associated with a primary chamber of the shock. A piston is supported by a compression rod and cooperates with a shock tube to define the primary chamber. The secondary chamber is fluidly isolated from the primary chamber by a valve arrangement positioned proximate the piston. A plunger extends along a longitudinal length of the shock and forms or interacts with the valve arrangement such that the secondary chamber is selectively fluidly connected to the primary chamber so the primary and secondary chambers of the shock assembly contribute to the performance of the shock for a selected portion of shock travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Jose L. Gonzalez, Gregory Paul Buhl
  • Bicycle air shock assemblies with tunable suspension performance
    Patent number: 8894083
    Abstract: A bicycle air shock absorber assembly that includes a hollow piston rod that is telescopically associated with a hollow compression rod. The piston rod and compression rod are positioned within the casing of the shock assembly. A piston is supported by the piston rod and divides the volume of the compression rod to form a negative air spring chamber and a positive air spring chamber that includes the volume of the piston rod. An optional coil spring is positioned within the casing and contributes in parallel with the positive air spring chamber to resist compression of the shock assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Jose L. Gonzales, Gregory Paul Buhl, James Colegrove
  • Bicycle Air Shock Assemblies With Tunable Suspension Performance
    Publication number: 20130334788
    Abstract: A bicycle air shock absorber assembly that includes a hollow piston rod that is telescopically associated with a hollow compression rod. The piston rod and compression rod are positioned within the casing of the shock assembly. A piston is supported by the piston rod and divides the volume of the compression rod to form a negative air spring chamber and a positive air spring chamber that includes the volume of the piston rod. An optional coil spring is positioned within the casing and contributes in parallel with the positive air spring chamber to resist compression of the shock assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Trek Bicycle Corp.
    Inventors: Jose L. Gonzales, Gregory Paul Buhl, James Colegrove
  • Bicycle air shock assemblies with tunable suspension performance
    Patent number: 8511448
    Abstract: A bicycle air shock absorber assembly that includes a hollow piston rod that is telescopically associated with a hollow compression rod. The piston rod and compression rod are positioned within the casing of the shock assembly. A piston is supported by the piston rod and divides the volume of the compression rod to form a negative air spring chamber and a positive air spring chamber that includes the volume of the piston rod. An optional coil spring is positioned within the casing and contributes in parallel with the positive air spring chamber to resist compression of the shock assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corp.
    Inventors: Jose L. Gonzalez, Gregory Paul Buhl, James Colegrove
  • Bicycle Air Shock Assemblies With Tunable Suspension Performance
    Publication number: 20110187076
    Abstract: A bicycle air shock absorber assembly that includes a hollow piston rod that is telescopically associated with a hollow compression rod. The piston rod and compression rod are positioned within the casing of the shock assembly. A piston is supported by the piston rod and divides the volume of the compression rod to form a negative air spring chamber and a positive air spring chamber that includes the volume of the piston rod. An optional coil spring is positioned within the casing and contributes in parallel with the positive air spring chamber to resist compression of the shock assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Jose L. Gonzalez, Gregory Paul Buhl, James Colegrove
  • BICYCLE SHOCK ASSEMBLIES WITH PLUNGER OPERATED VALVE ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20100314209
    Abstract: A shock absorber, which is particularly applicable to bicycles, includes a secondary chamber whose volume selectively contributes to a volume associated with a primary chamber of the shock. A piston is supported by a compression rod and cooperates with a shock tube to define the primary chamber. The secondary chamber is fluidly isolated from the primary chamber by a valve arrangement positioned proximate the piston. A plunger extends along a longitudinal length of the shock and forms or interacts with the valve arrangement such that the secondary chamber is selectively fluidly connected to the primary chamber so the primary and secondary chambers of the shock assembly contribute to the performance of the shock for a selected portion of shock travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Jose L. Gonzalez, Gregory Paul Buhl