Patents Assigned to SRAM, LLC
  • Publication number: 20120096850
    Abstract: A master cylinder assembly for a hydraulic actuation system for a handlebar-steered vehicle. The master cylinder assembly generally includes a housing mountable to a frame member of the handlebar-steered vehicle and having a chamber including a fluid cavity with first and second fluid cavity regions. The first fluid cavity region is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuation system. The housing includes discrete first and second housing portions. The first housing portion has first and second end portions. The first end portion of the first housing portion extends axially into the second fluid cavity region creating an annular gap radially outboard of the first end portion extending into the second fluid cavity region. The second end portion of the first housing portion is connected to the hydraulic actuation system. A piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the fluid cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Emmett Dunlap, III, Braden Snead
  • Publication number: 20120096851
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne R. Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 8162343
    Abstract: A mounting device is shown for mounting components to a bicycle handlebar having a handlebar axis. The mounting device includes a mounting bracket mountable to the handlebar about the handlebar axis. The mounting bracket includes a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion hingedly connected to the first clamp portion to interiorly receive the handlebar. An interior channel is defined by spaced sidewalls and formed in a portion of the circumferential length of one of the first and second clamp portions, and a hole is formed through the clamp portion and opens to the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Weiss, Scott McLaughlin, Paul Feuerstein, Matthew Morris
  • Publication number: 20120068436
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Powell, James Osbourne
  • Publication number: 20120017701
    Abstract: The present application relates to an input torque measuring device for a drive train of a bicycle. The drive train includes a first crank arm and a second crank arm. An inboard end of each crank arm is rotatably mounted to the bicycle at a bottom bracket of the bicycle. At least one chain ring is configured to rotate a driven wheel of the bicycle. A spider is connected to the first crank arm adjacent the bottom bracket and extends out to the at least one chain ring. The spider is configured to transmit force applied to the crank arms directly to the at least one chain ring. The spider may include a plurality of sensors configured to respond to the force applied by the spider to the at least one chain ring. The sensors produce an electronic signal relative to the force transmitted by the spider to the at least one chain ring and a processor configured to receive the electronic signals from each sensor of the spider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: SRAM. LLC
    Inventor: James Isaac Meyer
  • Patent number: 8100208
    Abstract: A drive system driving a vehicle wheel at various speeds. The drive system generally includes a transmission assembly configured to drive the vehicle wheel in a forward direction and a motor rotatable in a first direction and a second direction and configured to drive the transmission assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a first operating mode when the motor is rotating in the first direction to provide at least one first wheel speed in the forward direction. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a second operating mode when the motor is rotating in the second direction to provide at least one second wheel speed in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 8074774
    Abstract: A master cylinder for a bicycle hydraulic disc brake comprises a housing defining a cylinder, the cylinder having a first and a second end along its axis. A hydraulic fluid reservoir has a port between the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the cylinder, the port having an opening between the first and second cylinder ends. A piston having a seal resides in the cylinder with the seal between the piston and the cylinder. The seal has a leading seal edge with the leading seal edge being movable solely between the first cylinder and the port opening to vary the dead band distance between the leading seal edge and the port opening with the piston in a starting position. A lever is pivotably associated with the housing and operatively associated with the piston for moving the piston within the cylinder between the starting and a pressurized position as the lever is actuated between a rest position and an actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM LLC
    Inventor: Wayne R Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 8065926
    Abstract: The present application relates to an input torque measuring device for a drive train of a bicycle. The drive train includes a first crank arm and a second crank arm. An inboard end of each crank arm is rotatably mounted to the bicycle at a bottom bracket of the bicycle. At least one chain ring is configured to rotate a driven wheel of the bicycle. A spider is connected to the first crank arm adjacent the bottom bracket and extends out to the at least one chain ring. The spider is configured to transmit force applied to the crank arms directly to the at least one chain ring. The spider may include a plurality of sensors configured to respond to the force applied by the spider to the at least one chain ring. The sensors produce an electronic signal relative to the force transmitted by the spider to the at least one chain ring and a processor configured to receive the electronic signals from each sensor of the spider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: James Isaac Meyer
  • Patent number: 8061667
    Abstract: A mounting device for mounting first and second bicycle control components to a bicycle handlebar having a handlebar axis. The mounting device generally includes first and second mounting brackets. The first mounting bracket is adjustably mounted to the handlebar about the handlebar axis. One of the first and second bicycle control components is attached to the first mounting bracket. The second mounting bracket is adjustably attached to the first mounting bracket. The other of the first and second bicycle control components is attached to the second mounting bracket. The second mounting bracket is displaced between alternative attachment positions on the first mounting bracket. The first mounting bracket is rotated between alternative mounting positions on the handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Weiss, Scott McLaughlin, Paul Feuerstein
  • Patent number: 8046996
    Abstract: A master cylinder assembly for a hydraulic actuation system for a handlebar-steered vehicle including a fluid cavity having an adjustable length. The master cylinder assembly generally includes a housing, a piston assembly, an actuator and an adjuster. The housing is mountable to a frame member and includes a chamber having a fluid cavity with first and second regions. The first region is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuation system. The piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the fluid cavity. The actuator is operatively connected to the housing and operatively connected to the piston to slidably displace the piston between an open fluid circuit position permitting fluid flow between the first and second regions and a closed fluid circuit position blocking fluid flow between the first and second regions. The adjuster is operatively connected to the housing to adjust a length of the fluid cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Emmett Dunlap, III
  • Publication number: 20110253863
    Abstract: A mounting device for mounting first and second bicycle control components to a bicycle handlebar having a handlebar axis. The mounting device generally includes first and second mounting brackets. The first mounting bracket is adjustably mounted to the handlebar about the handlebar axis. One of the first and second bicycle control components is attached to the first mounting bracket. The second mounting bracket is adjustably attached to the first mounting bracket. The other of the first and second bicycle control components is attached to the second mounting bracket. The second mounting bracket is displaced between alternative attachment positions on the first mounting bracket. The first mounting bracket is rotated between alternative mounting positions on the handlebar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Weiss, Scott McLaughlin, Paul Feuerstein
  • Publication number: 20110247448
    Abstract: A mounting device is shown for mounting components to a bicycle handlebar having a handlebar axis. The mounting device includes a mounting bracket mountable to the handlebar about the handlebar axis. The mounting bracket includes a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion hingedly connected to the first clamp portion to interiorly receive the handlebar. An interior channel is defined by spaced sidewalls and formed in a portion of the circumferential length of one of the first and second clamp portions, and a hole is formed through the clamp portion and opens to the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Weiss, Scott McLaughlin, Paul Feuerstein, Matthew Morris
  • Patent number: 8006574
    Abstract: The present application relates to an input torque measuring device for a drive train of a bicycle. The drive train includes a first crank arm and a second crank arm. An inboard end of each crank arm is rotatably mounted to the bicycle at a bottom bracket of the bicycle. At least one chain ring is configured to rotate a driven wheel of the bicycle. A spider is connected to the first crank arm adjacent the bottom bracket and extends out to the at least one chain ring. The chain ring is attached to the spider by a fastener extending through a bushing within an opening of the spider. Sensors may be attached to the spider or the crank arms and may be directly connected to a flexible circuit board. The sensors, the flexible circuit boards and other components of the input torque measuring device may be encapsulated in a protective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: James Meyer
  • Patent number: 7988173
    Abstract: A bicycle suspension system of the present invention generally includes a bicycle suspension and a hydraulic control assembly. The hydraulic control assembly includes a fluid pump, a fluid responder and a fluid path. The fluid pump is mountable to a bicycle handlebar. The fluid responder is mountable to the bicycle suspension. The fluid path links the fluid pump and the fluid responder. The fluid responder is operatively connected to the bicycle suspension to operate the bicycle suspension between first and second suspension settings in response to fluid displacement between the fluid pump and the fluid responder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Morris
  • Patent number: 7988590
    Abstract: A pawl for controlling the rotation of a gear in a planetary gear mechanism. The pawl includes a nose and first and second pivot axes. The nose is engageable with the gear. The pawl is rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first mode permitting rotation of the gear in a first direction and a second direction and a second mode preventing rotation of the gear in the first direction. The pawl is rotatable about the second pivot axis to permit rotation of the gear in the second direction while the pawl is the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Jordan, Christopher Shipman, Kevin Wesling
  • Patent number: 7959529
    Abstract: A bicycle multi-gear cassette mountable to a wheel hub that generally includes a truncated conical shell and a plurality of toothed sprockets having different numbers of teeth. The shell includes a plurality of coaxial annular cylinders of variable diameter extending along an axis of the shell and a plurality of coaxial annular discs of variable diameter extending radially of the axis. The cylinders and discs are alternatingly arranged in a stepped sequence. The toothed sprockets are disposed on the shell and extend radially of the shell axis. At least one of the toothed sprockets includes a recess on a side facing an adjacent toothed sprocket having a smaller number of teeth. The recess includes a first region having a first depth and a second region having a second depth. The first depth is greater than the second depth. The shell and the plurality of toothed sprockets embody a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Henrik Braedt
  • Publication number: 20110079945
    Abstract: A coil spring suspension designed for a handlebar-steered vehicle. The coil spring suspension generally includes a first tube, a coil spring, a shaft and a guide. A first end of the coil spring is disposed within the first tube and fixedly supported proximate a first end of the first tube. The coil spring extends beyond a second end of the first tube. The shaft fixedly supports a second end of the coil spring. The shaft and the first tube are slidably displaced relative to each other upon suspension loading to lengthwise compress the coil spring. The guide is disposed within the first tube and connected to the coil spring between the first and second ends of the coil spring. The guide is displaced with the coil spring under suspension loading and limiting lateral displacement of the coil spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Powell
  • Publication number: 20110048161
    Abstract: A control cable actuation device designed to be attached to a handlebar-steered vehicle frame member for a cable assembly including a control cable slidably disposed within a control cable housing. The actuation device includes a cable adjuster attachable to the frame member and an actuation lever configured to displace one end of the control cable. The cable adjuster is configured to receive the control cable and to axially displace to slidably displace the cable within the cable housing under cable adjustment. The lever is rotatably attached to the cable adjuster about a first axis to slidably displace the cable within the cable housing under cable actuation. The lever is also configured to rotate about a second axis to axially displace the cable adjuster to slidably displace the cable within the cable housing under cable adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: CHRISTOPHER SHIPMAN
  • Patent number: 7870936
    Abstract: A bicycle suspension system including a travel adjustment apparatus. The bicycle suspension system includes a piston tube and a piston assembly slidably disposed in the piston tube forming a shock-absorbing mechanism. The piston assembly is in contact with the piston tube. The travel adjustment apparatus includes first and second fluid chambers, a fluid valve mechanism for controlling fluid flow between the first and second fluid chambers, and an actuating assembly operatively connected to the fluid valve mechanism operable between at least two rider-selectable travel settings to operate the fluid valve mechanism between at least two valve settings corresponding to the rider-selectable travel settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Shipman
  • Patent number: 7837180
    Abstract: A gas spring suspension system that maximizes the travel of the suspension system. The suspension system includes an outer tube and an inner tube slidable within the outer tube. A piston assembly is slidably mounted in the inner tube to sealingly separate a positive spring and a negative gas chamber. A floating piston is slidably mounted in the inner tube to separate a gas chamber from the negative gas chamber. The positive spring biases the inner and outer tubes apart from each other and the negative gas chamber biases the inner and outer tubes toward each other. The floating piston is configured to slidably displace within the inner tube in response to pressure differentials between the negative gas chamber and the gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan