Patents Assigned to SRAM, LLC
  • Patent number: 10780946
    Abstract: A gear change mechanism for a bicycle may involve a tensioner that has a wheel engaged with a chain in a bicycle drivetrain. This tensioner may be configured to rotate or otherwise change orientation in response to slack in the chain to maintain tension in the chain. A sensor may be used to measure the orientation of a tensioner of a chain in a bicycle drivetrain, and/or the physical orientation of components indicative thereof. Actions may be triggered by signals generated by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Henrik Braedt, Brian Jordan
  • Publication number: 20200283090
    Abstract: Example brake systems and apparatus for providing pitch control on bicycles are described herein. An example rear brake caliper described herein includes a caliper housing to be coupled to the bicycle. The caliper housing includes a first port to be fluidly coupled to a first fluid line fluidly coupled to a front brake actuator and a second port to be fluidly coupled to a second fluid line fluidly coupled to a front brake caliper. The rear brake caliper also includes a valve between the first port and the second port. The valve is operable to affect fluid flow between the first port and the second port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: CHARLES DUNLAP, III, BRIAN JORDAN
  • Patent number: 10766565
    Abstract: A power meter for a bicycle includes a body having a torque input section and a torque output section, the body configured to transmit power between the torque input section and the torque output section. The power meter also includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”) having a substrate and at least one strain measurement device which may be attached to the PCB. The power meter may be integrally constructed with a chainring construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: John Collen, Ryan Jennings, John Eppen, Owen Anders Britton, Scott McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 10759494
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur includes a base member mountable to a bicycle frame. A movable member is movably coupled to the base member. A chain guide assembly is rotatably connected to the movable member for rotation about a rotation axis. A biasing element is configured to bias the chain guide assembly for rotation in a first rotational direction with respect to the movable member. A damper assembly is operatively disposed between the chain guide assembly and the movable member to apply a damping force to the chain guide assembly when the chain guide assembly rotates in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shipman, Brian Jordan
  • Publication number: 20200262514
    Abstract: A bicycle multi-gear cassette mountable to a wheel hub driver mechanism that includes truncated conical shell having a first opening proximate a small shell base and a second opening proximate a large shell base. The openings are coaxial with an axis of the shell. A plurality of toothed sprockets having different numbers of teeth are disposed on the shell and extend radially of the central axis. A torque load transmitting profile is configured on the shell proximate one of the small and large shell bases. A radial load transmitting profile is configured on the shell proximate one of the small and large shell bases. The shell, sprockets, and the load transmitting profiles embody a single piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: HENRIK BRAEDT
  • Publication number: 20200262511
    Abstract: A bicycle with an electric pedal assist motor capable of driving a chainring independent of cranks includes wheel speed sensors and crank cadence sensors. The wheel speed sensors and the crank cadence sensors measure wheel speed and crank cadence, respectively, and provide the measured wheel speed and crank cadence to controller of the bicycle. The controller activates motor overdrive based on the measured wheel speed and/or the measured crank cadence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: SAGE HAHN, BRIAN JORDAN, KEVIN WESLING
  • Publication number: 20200262510
    Abstract: A bicycle with an electric pedal assist motor capable of driving a chainring independent of cranks includes wheel speed sensors and crank cadence sensors. The wheel speed sensors and the crank cadence sensors measure wheel speed and crank cadence, respectively, and provide the measured wheel speed and crank cadence to controller of the bicycle. The controller activates motor overdrive based on the measured wheel speed and/or the measured crank cadence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: SAGE HAHN, BRIAN JORDAN, KEVIN WESLING
  • Publication number: 20200262512
    Abstract: A bicycle with an electric pedal assist motor capable of driving a chainring independent of cranks includes wheel speed sensors and crank cadence sensors. The wheel speed sensors and the crank cadence sensors measure wheel speed and crank cadence, respectively, and provide the measured wheel speed and crank cadence to a controller of the bicycle. The controller is configured to instruct an assist motor to activate based on the measured wheel speed and/or the measured crank cadence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: SAGE HAHN, BRIAN JORDAN, KEVIN WESLING
  • Publication number: 20200262516
    Abstract: A bicycle with an electric pedal assist motor capable of driving a chainring independent of cranks includes wheel speed sensors and crank cadence sensors. The wheel speed sensors and the crank cadence sensors measure wheel speed and crank cadence, respectively, and provide the measured wheel speed and crank cadence to controller of the bicycle. The controller activates motor overdrive based on the measured wheel speed and/or the measured crank cadence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: SAGE HAHN, BRIAN JORDAN, KEVIN WESLING
  • Patent number: 10746276
    Abstract: A bicycle chainring, including a generally annular body formed of at least an inner material, the inner material including a first side and a second side opposite the first side and a plurality of teeth disposed about a periphery of the body. At least some of the plurality of teeth are formed of both the inner material and an outer material, the outer material disposed on one or both of the first and second sides, the outer material having a greater wear resistance relative to the inner material and a thickness greater than 0.1 millimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Wesling, Anthony Medaglia
  • Publication number: 20200255089
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an electromechanical rear derailleur for a bicycle including a base member that is configured to be coupled to a frame member of a bicycle. The derailleur includes a movable member and a link mechanism that movably couples the movable member to the base member. A motor is positioned at the movable member to move the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher SHIPMAN, Brian JORDAN
  • Publication number: 20200255078
    Abstract: A bypass device for a seating component such as an adjustable seating assembly for a bicycle may be provided to redistribute fluid preferentially by density. The bypass device may be operable to redistribute a low density compressible fluid or a mixed phase of low density compressible and high density non-compressible fluids within the seating component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER SHIPMAN, BRIAN JORDAN
  • Publication number: 20200250246
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a computer-based system and/or method which automatically, e.g. with minimal, or entirely without, human intervention, identifies, distinguishes, disambiguates or otherwise differentiates among multiple configurable bicycles based on the data reported to the system from the bicycle's data-reporting components, such that the data reported by those components may be associated with a particular bicycle for real-time and/or later review, analysis, etc. More particularly, where one or more data reporting components of a bicycle may change, the disclosed embodiments enable a data gathering system/service to identify, distinguish, disambiguate or otherwise differentiate among multiple bicycles which may use, or have used, one or more of the same components so as to associate the reported data, such as from a particular ride, with the correct bicycle configuration for real-time and/or later review and/or analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: JAMES MEYER, ALAN CHRISTIANSON, ALAN FISCHER, ANDREW FISCHER, BEN JASINSKI, KEVIN DUELLMAN
  • Publication number: 20200247504
    Abstract: A bicycle system includes controller devices. Each controller device includes at least one respective input element configured to receive input from a user. The system includes operation-enacting devices. Each operation-enacting device is configured to enact at least one respective operation on the bicycle. The system includes a network coordinator device configured to (i) establish a wireless network for communications between the network coordinator device, the controller devices, and the operation-enacting devices, and (ii) transmit to the operation-enacting devices, via the wireless network, a roster identifying the controller devices and the operation-enacting devices paired to the wireless network. The controller devices are configured to transmit to the operation-enacting devices, via the wireless network, signals indicating input received by the input elements of the controller devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: ALEXANDER KON-I HO
  • Publication number: 20200231245
    Abstract: Example dampers for bicycle suspension components are described herein. An example damper includes a damper body defining a chamber, a shaft extending into the chamber of the damper body, and an adjustable piston system having a piston body coupled to the shaft. The adjustable piston system controls a flow of fluid between the first and second chambers. The adjustable piston system includes an adjustable rebound orifice forming part of a rebound flow path to control the flow of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber across the piston body, an adjustable compression orifice forming part of a low flow compression flow path to control the flow of fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber across the piston body, an isolation member to separate the rebound flow path and the low flow compression flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: TIMOTHY LYNCH
  • Publication number: 20200231249
    Abstract: A bicycle control system may be provided to control a first gear changer with a control unit and a second gear changer with the first gear changer. The control unit may control both first and second gear changers. The system includes a predetermined shift path and may transition in and out of the predetermined shift path responsive to various controls. Shifts out of the predetermined shift path may be recovery shifts where both first and second gear changers are controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: ALEXANDER KON-I HO
  • Patent number: 10717496
    Abstract: Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using and/or controlling the systems to operate a bicycle that allows front and rear gear changer mechanisms to be controlled with only two switches. The switches can be arranged so that each hand is only required to operate one switch to shift the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan
  • Publication number: 20200223513
    Abstract: Bicycle component motion control begins when a motorized bicycle component is commanded to shift or actuate. The bicycle component motion control compares parameters of a component of the bicycle to be moved, to predetermined thresholds to provide safe shifting or actuation. The shift or actuation starts only when the battery voltage and the battery temperature are within predetermined acceptable ranges, respectively. Once the shift or actuation has started, the shift or actuation is aborted if the battery voltage remains below a predetermined low voltage threshold for a predetermined amount of time. If the shift or actuation is aborted when the component is in a position, in which the bicycle may not operate at a particular level or is inoperable, the shift or actuation command is modified to move the component to a previous position or an intermediate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: ALEXANDER KON-I HO, SAGE HAHN, SANG KIM
  • Patent number: 10710672
    Abstract: Responsive to a hydraulic piston advancing out of a piston housing in a second brake arm and contacting a piston cam surface of a first brake arm, the second brake arm pivots around a second pivot. As this is happening, a cam surface in the second brake arm lifts a contact surface of a first force transfer member of the first brake arm, imparting torque to the first brake arm which then pivots around a first pivot. The cam surface is shaped to impart synchronous motion to the first and second pad holders. Splitting one of the brake arms with a centering member permits a centering adjust feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Dunlap, III, Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 10703146
    Abstract: A pressure measuring device for a bicycle has a housing that includes a pressure chamber. The pressure chamber has a valve disposed in a first opening and a second opening into or out of a tire assembly volume of a tire assembly. A sense element is in pressure communication with the pressure chamber along a flow path between the first and second openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Jordan, Trevor Krugman, Geoff Nichols, Benjamin Rothschild, David Jonathan Huft