Patents Assigned to Answer Products, Inc.
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Patent number: 7503576Abstract: A molded assembly for a unique combination of a steering tube and crown for use in a two vehicle fork such as a bicycle fork, wherein the steering tube transversely connects to the crown at the crown's center position. The crown is further connected to the fork leg housings. The steering tube is comprised of a bottom neck portion and a main round body portion, wherein the bottom neck is varies in shape from a round to non-round exterior which is used to eliminate rotation when the tube is molded into the crown. The interior of the crown at the location where it is molded into the steering tube is also formed in a matching non-round shape. The steering tube is chemically made of uncured resin blended with carbon fiber composites, which can be cured under heat after the assembly is molded.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: Brady Matthew Schroeder
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Patent number: 7494145Abstract: The present invention relates to a bicycle fork comprising an improved axle with non-round tapered ends affixed into dropouts with openings to match the axle ends through a taper-lock affixation for improving the torsional strength of the fork and facilitate ease of the axle installation. The improved axle consists of a first non-round end with interior female threads connecting an intermediate cylindrical portion which connects to a second non-round tapered end. An improved tapered split non-round nut having a cylindrical bolt possessing male threads lock the nut to the first end of the axle, wherein said bolt has an another preferred embodiment which connects a rotatable handle for ease of the axle installation.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2006Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Brady Matthew Schroeder, James Chris Rathbun
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Patent number: 6607185Abstract: A front suspension fork for cycles includes an inverted U-shaped reversed arch having downwardly extending legs that are integral with the upper ends of the outer sections of the telescopic fork, thereby to define a rigid unitary slider component fork. The reversed arch is inclined rearwardly at an acute angle relative to the vertical plane of the fork. Strengthening mass portions extend forwardly from the lower ends of the arch between the inner fork sections, thereby to increase the rigidity of the slider component without interfering with brake operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Brent T. Graves, James C. Rathbun
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Publication number: 20030071400Abstract: A front suspension fork for cycles includes an inverted U-shaped reversed arch having downwardly extending legs that are integral with the upper ends of the outer sections of the telescopic fork, thereby to define a rigid unitary slider component fork. The reversed arch is inclined rearwardly at an acute angle relative to the vertical plane of the fork. Strengthening mass portions extend forwardly from the lower ends of the arch between the inner fork sections, thereby to increase the rigidity of the slider component without interfering with brake operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2001Publication date: April 17, 2003Applicant: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Brent T. Graves, James C. Rathbun
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Patent number: 6505719Abstract: A damping apparatus having a cylinder, a fluid, and a floating piston. The cylinder includes a fluid chamber with the fluid located within the fluid chamber. The floating piston is coupled to the cylinder to carry the fluid in the fluid chamber. The floating piston is movable in response to movement of the fluid when a force is applied to the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Jose L. Gonzalez, Thomas Jesse Rogers, III
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Patent number: 6499800Abstract: A vertically adjustable seat post assembly for cycles includes a light-weight vertical seat post formed from a relatively soft high strength-to-weight material, such as a carbon fiber composition, and a relatively hard tubular protective tubular sleeve permanently secured concentrically about the lower end of the seat post. The outer diameter of the sleeve is slightly less than the inner diameter of the seat tube opening of the cycle frame, whereby the carbon fiber seat post is protected by the sleeve when the seat post is vertically adjusted and clamped within the seat tube opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: Thomas A. Morgan, Jr.
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Publication number: 20020149241Abstract: A vertically adjustable seat post assembly for cycles includes a light-weight vertical seat post formed from a relatively soft high strength-to-weight material, such as a carbon fiber composition, and a relatively hard tubular protective shim permanently secured concentrically about the lower end of the seat post. The outer diameter of the shim is slightly less than the inner diameter of the seat tube opening of the cycle frame, whereby the carbon fiber seat post is protected by the shim when the seat post is vertically adjusted and clamped within the seat tube opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2001Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: Thomas A. Morgan, Jr.
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Patent number: 6412803Abstract: An inverted front fork and wheel assembly for bicycles and motorcycles includes an axle having non-circular end portions that are clamped within corresponding non-circular dropout openings, thereby to increase the torsional stiffness of the fork.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2001Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Eric E. Lalikyan, Jose L. Gonzalez
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Patent number: 6360858Abstract: A bicycle fork having a damping apparatus that includes a cylinder, a damping fluid and a piston. The cylinder defines a chamber. The damping fluid is located in the chamber. The piston is disposed in the chamber and is positioned adjacent the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2001Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Jose Gonzalez, Thomas Jesse Rogers, III
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Patent number: 6343807Abstract: A suspension fork for cycles includes an operating device mounted externally on a telescopic fork leg that permits the rider to selectively shorten or lengthen the extent of relative travel between the inner and outer tubular sections of the fork. Preferably, an operating knob or lever is coupled with a rotary cylinder contained within the hollow compression rod by a torsion overload spring, thereby to displace a stop dog between extended and retracted positions relative to the compression rod via a slot contained in the compression rod wall.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2001Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: James C. Rathbun
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Patent number: 6241060Abstract: A damping apparatus for use in a bicycle fork includes two telescoping legs, a rebound piston and a compression piston. A damping fluid is provided in the apparatus. The pistons and legs define compression rebound and variable zones into which the fluid may flow to provide desired damping.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1998Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Jose Gonzalez, Thomas Jesse Rogers, III
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Patent number: 6120049Abstract: An improved shock absorber for use in the front fork suspension of a mountain bicycle includes a housing having a pair of telescopically-arranged cylinders containing a rebound damping piston, a compression damping piston, and a lockout damping piston arranged on the opposite side of the compression piston from the rebound piston, a manually-operable lockout shut-off valve being provided that is operable independently of the compression damping piston between a closed lockout condition in which the lockout piston is activated, and an open condition in which the lockout piston is de-activated, thereby to change the operating characteristics of the shock absorber. The compression piston, the lockout piston, and the lockout shut-off valve are connected to define an assembly that is removably connected as a unit with the upper end of the shock absorber housing, thereby to permit removal of the assembly for adjustment of a flow control device associated with the compression piston.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1998Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Jose L. Gonzalez, Eric E. Lalikyan, Thomas J. Rogers, III, Mark D. Savery
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Patent number: 6095542Abstract: A light-weight bicycle crown includes a horizontal unitary body member having in longitudinal vertical cross-section an arched generally inverted U-shaped configuration including a center portion, a pair of generally downwardly extending leg portions, and a pair of end portions integral with the lower ends of the leg portions, respectively, the center portion containing a vertical center through bore for receiving the bicycle steering shaft, and the end portions containing vertical end through bores on opposite sides of the center bore for receiving the stanchions of the front fork shock absorber means, respectively, characterized by the provision of lightening bores that extend from the end bores longitudinally within the leg portions, respectively, the end bores terminating in closed end walls adjacent the center through bore.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1999Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: Kirk A. Allen
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Patent number: 5908200Abstract: A new and improved two wheeled vehicle suspension fork with reinforced legs. The reinforcement is provided to the upper inner tube of a telescoping assembly utilized in the suspension fork. The inner tube has an upper end portion for attachment to the crown. The upper end portion has an enlarged outer dimension for reinforcing the upper inner tube at the crown attachment.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1998Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: Gerald M. Stewart
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Patent number: 5848675Abstract: A damping apparatus for use in a bicycle fork includes two telescoping legs, a rebound piston and a compression piston. A damping fluid is provided in the apparatus. The pistons and legs define compression rebound and variable zones into which the fluid may flow to provide desired damping.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: Jose L. Gonzalez
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Patent number: 5833259Abstract: A new and improved two wheeled vehicle suspension fork with reinforced legs. The reinforcement is provided to the upper inner tube of a telescoping assembly utilized in the suspension fork. The inner tube has an upper end portion for attachment to the crown. The upper end portion has an enlarged outer dimension for reinforcing the upper inner tube at the crown attachment.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1995Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: Gerald M. Stewart
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Patent number: 5829316Abstract: An assembly of two gets of universal mounts for interlocking with stock handlebar clamps to secure a larger diameter handlebar to a motorcycle or comparable vehicles. The two sets of universal mounts are used for mounting larger diameter handlebars to motorcycles or comparable vehicles. The two sets of the universal mounts are interlocked with the stock handlebar clamps. Each set of the universal mount has an upper mount and a lower mount. Each mount has a semi-cylindrical groove, where the larger diameter handlebar is fitted between the semi-cylindrical grooves of the upper and lower mounts respectively. Each lower mount has a protruding arch which is respectively positioned within the respective stock handlebar clamp, and thereby interlocks with the respective stock handlebar clamp.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1996Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: John Krizman, Jr.
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Patent number: 5653007Abstract: A method for producing a bicycle brake arch and fork legs assembly. The method comprises the steps of first forming a low-tolerance brake arch and two low tolerance fork legs separately, and then bonding the brake arch with the two fork legs in high-precision alignment and orientation with a structural adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Scott M. Boyer, Gerald M. Stewart, Mark Van Kampen, Kirk Allen
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Patent number: D479163Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventors: Brent T. Graves, James C. Rathbun
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Patent number: D378747Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1995Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Assignee: Answer Products, Inc.Inventor: Steven J. Behrens