Patents Assigned to SRAM, LLC
  • Patent number: 8992375
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive pawl within a bicycle transmission, wherein at least one torque transmission path extends from an input side to an output side across the same, and that has allocated thereto, relative to a first component supporting said pawl, a rotatable ring part, which interacts with the pawl for the alternate activation and deactivation of the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Göbel, Wolfram Frank
  • Publication number: 20150082939
    Abstract: A bicycle crank arm and chainring carrier assembly. The assembly includes a crank arm. A chainring carrier is sized and shaped to connect to the crank arm. A first pairing feature is formed on one of the crank arm and the chainring carrier and a second pairing feature is formed on the other of the crank arm and the chainring carrier to position the chainring carrier on the crank arm. A clearance is defined between the first and second pairing features when the first and second pairing features are paired. A torque-transmitting coupling between the crank arm and the chainring carrier is configured to transmit substantially all of the torque applied to the chainring carrier from the crank arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: James Isaac Meyer, Trevor Cole Krugman
  • Publication number: 20150041267
    Abstract: A control assembly for controlling a component, such as a bicycle shock absorber including a first actuator carried by the shock absorber. The first actuator has a fulcrum body supported in the shock absorber and a control arm displacing the fulcrum body. The first actuator pivots on the fulcrum body to operatively control a first characteristic of the shock absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Van Zyl, Andrew Shawver
  • Patent number: 8909424
    Abstract: The invention provides a wireless control system for a bicycle, including at least one shift actuator generating an input signal when actuated and a master control unit transmitting a shift signal responsive to the input signal. At least one electromechanical gear changer is provided and includes a gear changer control unit. The gear changer control unit receives the shift signal from the master control unit and controls the at least one electromechanical gear changer corresponding to the received shift signal. The gear changer control unit listens for the shift signal during a part of an awake mode cycle time, the master control unit transmitting the shift signal for a message duration time which is greater than the awake mode cycle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Jordan, Todd Squires
  • Patent number: 8886417
    Abstract: Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using 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: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 8869949
    Abstract: A rim brake with a synchronous link mechanism for synchronizing the movement of a pair of brake arms. The rim brake may be a hydraulic rim brake. The hydraulic rim brake may include a slave cylinder formed in one of the pair of brake arms including a piston, wherein the piston contacts the other of the pair of brake arms to impart movement thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Brian T. Jordan, Andreas Vonend, Andreas Guender
  • Patent number: 8863611
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes a lever for actuating a brake control mechanism and a shift control mechanism in a cable-release direction and a cable-pull direction. The lever is rotatable about a brake axis to actuate the brake control mechanism and rotatable about a shift axis to actuate the shift control mechanism in the cable-release direction and in the cable-pull direction. The bicycle control device is configured to not displace the shift control mechanism upon actuation of the brake control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Jordan, Christopher Shipman
  • Publication number: 20140300073
    Abstract: A bicycle suspension system of the invention generally includes at least two bicycle suspensions and a hydraulic control assembly. The hydraulic control assembly includes a pair of fluid pumps, and a fluid responder and a fluid path for each of the bicycle suspensions. The fluid pumps are mountable to a bicycle handlebar and form part of the hydraulic control assembly. A fluid responder is mountable each of the bicycle suspensions. The fluid paths link the fluid pump to a respective fluid responder. Each fluid responder is operatively connected to one of the bicycle suspensions to operate the bicycle suspension system between first and second suspension settings in response to fluid displacement between each fluid pump and each of the fluid responders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Neeley
  • Patent number: 8843273
    Abstract: A control system for adjusting suspension settings of a bicycle, including a bicycle sensor configured to sense a coasting condition and a non-coasting condition and generate input signals indicative of the sensed condition, and a control unit in communication with the bicycle sensor and configured to generate output signals in response to the input signals, the output signals receivable by the bicycle suspension to selectively adjust the suspension settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Wesling, Russell Rose, James Meyer, Jeremiah Boobar
  • Publication number: 20140265538
    Abstract: A rim is provided for a bicycle wheel having an axis about which the wheel rotates and a center plane normal to the axis, including a tire-engaging portion located at an outer perimeter of the rim. An inner perimeter portion is located radially inwardly from the tire-engaging portion. The rim includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall spaced from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the tire-engaging and inner perimeter portions. An image receiving area is located on each of the first and second sidewalls and a non-contact printed graphic is disposed on at least some of the image receiving area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Brady, Kevin Wesling
  • Patent number: 8833200
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a body, an actuator assembly and an actuator control assembly. The actuator assembly includes a lever arm in pivoting engagement with the body about a pivot axis spaced apart from an axis of a handlebar to which the body is attached. The lever arm is associated with a suspension adjust cable. The actuator control assembly includes a locking assembly and an adjustment assembly. The locking assembly is associated with each of the body and the actuator assembly. The locking assembly is capable of preventing pivoting of the actuator relative to the body in a first position corresponding to a first suspension setting. The adjustment assembly is associated with each of the body and the actuator assembly. The adjustment assembly is capable of preventing pivoting of the actuator relative to the body in a second position corresponding to a second suspension setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Hunt, Berndt Kretschmer, Kevin Wesling
  • Publication number: 20140235383
    Abstract: The invention includes a multi-speed transmission for an electric motor propelled bicycle with multiple gear combinations for driving the bicycle that constitute the full gear range of the transmission. A portion of the full gear range is operated to shift automatically and a portion is shifted manually. Additionally, the control of the electric motor and control of the shifting operations may be integrated to allow the output power of the motor to be decreased during a shifting operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Wesling
  • Publication number: 20140214285
    Abstract: A control device wearable by a bicycle rider, the control device including at least one control sensor generating input signals when actuated. A control processor is connected to the at least one control sensor generating control signals responsive to the input signals. A wireless transmitter is in communication with the processor transmitting the control signals and a power source is connected to the shift control processor and the wireless transmitter. The control device may one or more of a control gear changer, one or more suspension component, and other electronically-controllable components or systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Wesling
  • Publication number: 20140202810
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake mechanism is described including a housing. A master cylinder assembly is disposed within the housing, and the master cylinder assembly includes a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber includes a first chamber portion having a first diameter and a second chamber portion having a second diameter, with the first diameter greater than the second diameter. The fluid chamber includes a transition region between the first and second chamber portions. The mechanism includes a piston assembly having a piston disposed within the fluid chamber. A first seal is configured to sealingly engage between the first chamber portion and the piston, and a second seal is configured to sealingly engage between the second chamber portion and the piston. The mechanism includes an outlet port extending from the fluid chamber from or adjacent the transition region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Dunlap, Paul Feuerstein
  • Publication number: 20140171242
    Abstract: A front derailleur for use on devices such as bicycles is movable about a yaw axis while it moves laterally. The front derailleur may include a linkage in between a mount and a cage, with the linkage pivoting about two non-parallel axes. The front derailleur may include a linkage in between the mount and the cage that has links of different effective lengths. The front derailleur may include a single link and a cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 8740238
    Abstract: A handlebar-steered suspension fork that includes an outer tube and an inner tube reciprocally slidable within the outer tube. The outer tube includes at least one radial load region and at least one transition region. A fiber-reinforced material is wrapped about at least one of the outer tube radial load regions and not wrapped about at least one of the outer tube transitions regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Craig S. Mickelson
  • Patent number: 8714322
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake mechanism is described including a housing. A master cylinder assembly is disposed within the housing, and the master cylinder assembly includes a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber includes a first chamber portion having a first diameter and a second chamber portion having a second diameter, with the first diameter greater than the second diameter. The fluid chamber includes a transition region between the first and second chamber portions. The mechanism includes a piston assembly having a piston disposed within the fluid chamber. A first seal is configured to sealingly engage between the first chamber portion and the piston, and a second seal is configured to sealingly engage between the second chamber portion and the piston. The mechanism includes an outlet port extending from the fluid chamber from or adjacent the transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Dunlap, Paul Feuerstein
  • Publication number: 20140114538
    Abstract: An electromechanical front gear changer for a bicycle is provided, the bicycle having a chain, including a base member attachable to the bicycle. A linkage is movably coupled to the base member. A chain guide is movably coupled to the linkage for contacting the chain. A motor is supported by the base member. A gear transmission is driven by the motor to move the linkage. A CPU is provided for controlling the motor and a power supply is supported by the base member to power the motor and the CPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shipman, Brian Jordan, Mark Santurbane, Henry Tsao
  • Patent number: D715699
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Markus Reiter, Raymond Florczyk, Henrik Braedt
  • Patent number: D716191
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Markus Reiter