Patents Assigned to Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.
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Patent number: 8733774Abstract: A bicycle comprises a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system comprises a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is coupled to the swingarm. A change in vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR). The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. In each case, the rate of change of the shock includes a change in sign, from positive to negative or from negative to positive. In some embodiments, the swingarm may be attached to the frame at a single pivot point or through a linkage system.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Graney, Nicholas Anderson
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Patent number: 8641072Abstract: A bicycle comprises a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system comprises a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is coupled to the swingarm. A change in vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR). The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. In each case, the rate of change of the shock includes a change in sign, from positive to negative or from negative to positive. In some embodiments, the swingarm may be attached to the frame at a single pivot point or through a linkage system.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Graney, Nicholas Anderson
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Publication number: 20130001919Abstract: A bicycle comprises a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system comprises a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is coupled to the swingarm. A change in vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR). The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. In each case, the rate of change of the shock includes a change in sign, from positive to negative or from negative to positive. In some embodiments, the swingarm may be attached to the frame at a single pivot point or through a linkage system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES, INC.Inventors: Joseph E. Graney, Nicholas Anderson
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Publication number: 20130001918Abstract: A bicycle comprises a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system comprises a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is coupled to the swingarm. A change in vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR). The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. In each case, the rate of change of the shock includes a change in sign, from positive to negative or from negative to positive. In some embodiments, the swingarm may be attached to the frame at a single pivot point or through a linkage system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES, INC.Inventors: Joseph E. Graney, Nicholas Anderson
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Patent number: 8272657Abstract: A bicycle comprises a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system comprises a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is coupled to the swingarm. A change in vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR). The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. In each case, the rate of change of the shock includes a change in sign, from positive to negative or from negative to positive. In some embodiments, the swingarm may be attached to the frame at a single pivot point or through a linkage system.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2010Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Graney, Nicholas Anderson
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Patent number: 7784810Abstract: The present invention is a bicycle including a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system includes a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is engaged to the swingarm to control the motion of a rear wheel of the bicycle. A change in the vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR) according to the relationship: SR=?SL/?VWT. The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. The shock rate may at first decrease in value and subsequently increase, or initially increase in value and subsequently decrease throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.Inventor: Joseph E Graney
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Publication number: 20100102531Abstract: A bicycle comprises a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system comprises a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is coupled to the swingarm. A change in vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR). The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. In each case, the rate of change of the shock includes a change in sign, from positive to negative or from negative to positive. In some embodiments, the swingarm may be attached to the frame at a single pivot point or through a linkage system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2010Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES, INC.Inventors: Joseph E. Graney, Nicholas Anderson
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Publication number: 20090278331Abstract: The present invention is a bicycle including a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system includes a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is engaged to the swingarm to control the motion of a rear wheel of the bicycle. A change in the vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR) according to the relationship: SR=?SL/?VWT. The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. The shock rate may at first decrease in value and subsequently increase, or initially increase in value and subsequently decrease throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.Inventor: Joseph E. Graney
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Patent number: 7581743Abstract: The present invention is a bicycle including a bicycle frame and a rear wheel suspension system that is attached to the frame. The rear wheel suspension system includes a rear wheel swingarm and a shock absorber that is engaged to the swingarm to control the motion of a rear wheel of the bicycle. A change in the vertical wheel travel (?VWT) of the rear wheel is related to a change in the length of the shock absorber (?SL), providing a shock rate (SR) according to the relationship: SR=?SL/?VWT. The shock rate (SR) changes throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel, such that the change in the shock rate dSR/dVWT has a change in sign as the rear wheel travels through its vertical wheel travel. The shock rate may at first decrease in value and subsequently increase, or initially increase in value and subsequently decrease throughout the vertical wheel travel of the rear wheel.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.Inventor: Joseph E. Graney
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Patent number: 6488301Abstract: A rear suspension system for a bicycle. The system directs the rear wheel along a predetermined, S-shaped path as the suspension is compressed. The path is configured to provide a chainstay lengthening effect only at those points where this is needed to counterbalance the pedal inputs of the rider; at those points in the wheel travel path where there is a chainstay lengthening effect, the chain tension which results from the pedal inputs exerts a downward force on the rear wheel, preventing unwanted compression of the suspension. The system employs a dual eccentric crank mechanism mounted adjacent the bottom bracket shell to provide the desired control characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.Inventors: James B. Klassen, Jamie W. Calon
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Patent number: RE39159Abstract: A rear suspension system for a bicycle. The system directs the rear wheel along a predetermined, S-shaped path as the suspension is compressed. The path is configured to provide a chainstay lengthening effect only at those points where this is needed to counterbalance the pedal inputs of the rider; at those points on the wheel travel path where there is a chainstay lengthening effect, the chain tension which results from the pedal inputs exerts a downward force on the rear wheel, preventing unwanted compression of the suspension. The system employs a dual eccentric crank mechanism mounted adjacent the bottom bracket shell to provide the desired control characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Inc.Inventors: James B. Klassen, Jamie W. Calon