Patents Assigned to SRAM, LLC
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Patent number: 8485320Abstract: A bicycle brake actuated by a control cable has a first main brake arm and a second main brake arm mounted for pivotable movement with respect to the first main brake arm. A first transfer brake arm is pivotally connected to the first main brake arm, and a second transfer brake arm is pivotally connected to the first transfer brake arm and pivotally connected to the second main brake arm. The first main brake arm has a cable guide for receiving the control cable. The first transfer brake arm has a cable anchor for receiving the control cable, the control cable extending between the cable guide and the cable anchor. The first main brake arm and second main brake arm each support a brake shoe and apply braking force to a wheel when actuated.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventor: Brian Jordan
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Patent number: 8464844Abstract: A control assembly is mountable to a handlebar. The control assembly features a housing mountable to the handlebar and a brake actuation mechanism including a brake lever pivotally connected to a housing. The brake lever defines a fluid cavity inside the brake lever such that the fluid cavity pivots with the lever relative to the housing. A piston is provided in the fluid cavity and also pivots with the lever relative to the housing. Actuation of the lever causes the piston to move in the fluid cavity to provide compressive force to a fluid. The fluid cavity is in fluid communication with a hydraulic line.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventor: Brian Jordan
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Patent number: 8464845Abstract: A master cylinder for a bicycle hydraulic disc brake configured to be disposed on either a right or left portion of a bicycle handlebar without effecting operation of the master cylinder by a user.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2011Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventor: Wayne R. Lumpkin
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Patent number: 8459142Abstract: A reach-adjustable lever assembly mounted to a handlebar for actuating one of a gear-change and braking device. The lever assembly generally including a support member, a lever pivotably connected to the support member and a reach adjust mechanism. The reach adjust mechanism includes a follower, a cam and a cam seat for retaining the cam in a current user-selectable position. The follower is fixedly supported on one of the support member and the lever and the cam is rotatably supported on the other of the support member and the lever. The cam has a plurality of user-selectable positions. The lever is rotatably biased toward a rest position to position the cam against the follower. The cam and the follower are configured to provide a different rest position of the lever for each of the user-selectable positions.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: James Orrico, Matt Morris, Paul Feurstein
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Publication number: 20130139642Abstract: A solitary chainring of a bicycle front crankset for engaging a drive chain, including a plurality of teeth formed about a periphery of the chainring, the plurality of teeth consisting of an even number. The plurality of teeth includes a first group of teeth and a second group of teeth arranged alternatingly between the first group of teeth. The first group of teeth and the second group of teeth are equal in number. Each of the first and second group of teeth include an outboard side and an inboard side opposite the outboard side and each tooth of the first group of teeth includes at least a first protrusion on the outboard side thereof and each tooth of the second group of teeth are free of the first protrusions on the outboard side and the inboard side.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: Markus Reiter, Raymond Florczyk, Henrik Braedt
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Patent number: 8448761Abstract: A valve mechanism for a gas spring suspension system that equalizes the gas between positive and negative gas chambers when the pressure in the negative gas chamber exceeds the pressure in the positive gas chamber. The suspension system includes a tube, a piston assembly slidably displaceable along the tube and a valve mechanism. The piston assembly separates the tube into the positive gas chamber and the negative gas chamber. The valve mechanism is configured to permit gas flow between the positive and negative gas chambers when the gas pressure in the negative gas chamber exceeds the gas pressure in the positive gas chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2006Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Christopher Shipman, John Cheever, Michael Nono
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Publication number: 20130127145Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2012Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventor: SRAM, LLC
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Publication number: 20130112510Abstract: A hydraulically actuated rim brake with a pair of brake arms. Both brake arms may rotate about a common axis, which is the axis of a single bolt that mounts the assembly to the bicycle. The system has one piston slidably disposed in a piston cylinder. The piston's cylinder may be formed in one of the two brake arms. Actuation of the piston in the cylinder causes movement of both brake arms.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: Brian Jordan, Christopher Shipman, Neil Swanson
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Publication number: 20130061705Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventor: BRIAN JORDAN
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Patent number: 8393449Abstract: A brake actuation assembly for a hydraulic brake system of a handlebar-steered vehicle, the brake actuation assembly including a housing mountable to a handlebar of the vehicle and having a chamber formed therein. A piston assembly is received and axially guided within the chamber. A linkage is pivotally attached to the housing and the piston assembly and a lever blade is connected to the linkage to effect movement of the linkage, wherein movement of the linkage produces a variable rate of travel of the piston assembly relative to the travel of the lever blade.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventor: Charles E. Dunlap
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Publication number: 20130049322Abstract: A hub for a bicycle, including a hub body, and a torque tube disposed in the hub body. A first mating element is disposed at a first end of the torque tube and a second mating element is disposed at a second end thereof. Each of the first mating element and the second mating element includes an anti-rotation hub feature, and the torque tube transfers torque between the first mating element and the second mating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: Russell L. Rose, Jesse Jakomait
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Publication number: 20130043717Abstract: A FRP rim for a bicycle, including a radially outer tire-engaging portion and a radially inner spoke-engaging portion. A first sidewall is in a spaced configuration with a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the radially outer tire-engaging portion and the radially inner spoke-engaging portion and one or more integral bumper is located on an outermost radial extent or peak portion of the radially outer tire-engaging portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2011Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: Josh Poertner, Michael Hall, David Morse
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Publication number: 20130029795Abstract: A front derailleur for use on devices such as bicycles includes a moveable chain guide for engaging a chain and able to cause the chain to be moved between two or more chainrings. The guide includes a first discrete alignment indicator and a second discrete alignment indicator for aligning the derailleur.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: Brian Jordan, Mark V. Santurbane
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Publication number: 20130008751Abstract: A brake actuation assembly for a hydraulic brake system of a handlebar-steered vehicle, the brake actuation assembly including a housing mountable to a handlebar of the vehicle and having a chamber formed therein. A piston assembly is received and axially guided within the chamber. A linkage is pivotally attached to the housing and the piston assembly and a lever blade is connected to the linkage to effect movement of the linkage, wherein movement of the linkage produces a variable rate of travel of the piston assembly relative to the travel of the lever blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventor: Charles Emmett Dunlap, III
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Patent number: 8342614Abstract: A composite rim for a bicycle wheel generally includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a radially inner spoke-engaging portion and first and second sidewalls. The second sidewall is spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions. The rim includes at least one through-hole and a pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement at the through-hole. The tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls form a toroid.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Joshua Poertner, Michael Hall, David Morse
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Publication number: 20120235332Abstract: A control assembly for an in-line bicycle shock absorber can include a control member rotatably mounted to a housing of the shock absorber, the control member having an interior bore, and with one end of the bore being closed and another end of the bore being open. The control assembly also includes a piston slidably mounted within the interior bore of the control member. The control member is rotated to adjust a first characteristic of the shock absorber and the piston is displaced within the interior bore to adjust a second characteristic of the shock absorber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: Brian Jordan, Steven Olds, Christopher Shipman, Kevin Wesling
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Publication number: 20120181120Abstract: A bicycle brake actuated by a control cable has a first main brake arm and a second main brake arm mounted for pivotable movement with respect to the first main brake arm. A first transfer brake arm is pivotally connected to the first main brake arm, and a second transfer brake arm is pivotally connected to the first transfer brake arm and pivotally connected to the second main brake arm. The first main brake arm has a cable guide for receiving the control cable. The first transfer brake arm has a cable anchor for receiving the control cable, the control cable extending between the cable guide and the cable anchor. The first main brake arm and second main brake arm each support a brake shoe and apply braking force to a wheel when actuated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventor: Brian Jordan
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Publication number: 20120160625Abstract: A control assembly is mountable to a handlebar. The control assembly features a housing mountable to the handlebar and a brake actuation mechanism including a brake lever pivotally connected to a housing. The brake lever defines a fluid cavity inside the brake lever such that the fluid cavity pivots with the lever relative to the housing. A piston is provided in the fluid cavity and also pivots with the lever relative to the housing. Actuation of the lever causes the piston to move in the fluid cavity to provide compressive force to a fluid. The fluid cavity is in fluid communication with a hydraulic line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventor: Brian Jordan
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Publication number: 20120157250Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventor: Brian Jordan
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Patent number: 8167328Abstract: A suspension system for a handlebar-steered vehicle includes an upper tube, a lower tube reciprocally slidable relative to the upper tube. A positive spring assembly biases the upper and lower tubes away from each other. A piston assembly is attached to the lower tube. The suspension includes a travel adjustment mechanism including a locking mechanism and an actuator. The locking mechanism is connected to the positive spring assembly and selectively maintains a first portion of the positive spring assembly in a compressed state with the upper and lower tubes drawn toward each other. The actuator is operatively connected to the locking mechanism to releasably engage the locking mechanism to maintain the first portion of the positive spring assembly in the compressed state.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2010Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Robert Powell, James Osbourne