Patents by Inventor Darek C. Barefoot

Darek C. Barefoot has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240060544
    Abstract: A suspension system includes a first compression chamber and a second compression chamber with a damping chamber therebetween. The compression chambers may be independently filled with a compressible fluid, and the relative pressures may govern the rebound rate of the suspension. Seals that minimize friction, an adjustment system, and a stop are also included to enhance rider joy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Eric Prinster
  • Patent number: 11904977
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a compensator and a variable volume chamber. The compensator contains a compressible fluid and the variable volume chamber contains a substantially incompressible fluid. During a compression stroke, an increase in the volume of the incompressible fluid in the variable volume chamber compresses the compensator and thereby increases the available volume in the variable volume chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott Winans, Timothy A. Fry
  • Patent number: 11835107
    Abstract: A suspension system includes a first compression chamber and a second compression chamber with a damping chamber therebetween. The compression chambers may be independently filled with a compressible fluid, and the relative pressures may govern the rebound rate of the suspension. Seals that minimize friction, an adjustment system, and a stop are also included to enhance rider joy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Eric Prinster
  • Patent number: 11827311
    Abstract: An assembly for minimizing the disengagement of a chain from a chain ring is disclosed. The assembly includes a bracket and a chain guide assembly. The chain guide assembly includes an inboard leg, an outboard leg, and a lock. The lock may be configured to allow a rider to remove the outboard leg of the chain guide assembly without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott Winans, Timothy A. Fry, Sean Gregory Mailen
  • Publication number: 20230341039
    Abstract: A drive system for a vehicle includes a chain ring and a drive chain. The chain ring has a plurality of teeth serially arranged and joined to one another. A first subset of teeth has a first outer face that applies a lateral pressure to a link of a drive chain in a first direction. A second subset of teeth has a second outer face that applies a lateral pressure to another link of a drive chain in a second direction. The teeth all have substantially the same width. The top surfaces of the teeth are offset from the centerline of the drive chain. The centerlines of the top surfaces of the teeth are arranged asymmetrically on one side of the centerline of the drive chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Scott Winans, Darek C. Barefoot, Timothy A. Fry
  • Patent number: 11719325
    Abstract: A drive system for a vehicle includes a chain ring and a drive chain. The chain ring has a plurality of teeth serially arranged and joined to one another. A first subset of teeth has a first outer face that applies a lateral pressure to a link of a drive chain in a first direction. A second subset of teeth has a second outer face that applies a lateral pressure to another link of a drive chain in a second direction. The teeth all have substantially the same width. The top surfaces of the teeth are offset from the centerline of the drive chain. The centerlines of the top surfaces of the teeth are arranged asymmetrically on one side of the centerline of the drive chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Winans, Darek C. Barefoot, Timothy A. Fry
  • Patent number: 11713802
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a chain ring having teeth positioned in one of three lateral positions. At least one tooth may be placed in each lateral position. At least half the teeth may be positioned in a middle lateral position. The teeth in the first and third lateral positions may apply opposing lateral forces to a bicycle drive chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott S. Winans, Timothy A. Fry
  • Patent number: 11685464
    Abstract: A front fork of a bicycle may include a suspension system that includes a damper. The damper may include a hollow tube with orifices that may be partially blocked by an adjustable blocker. A free end of the adjuster that adjusts the blocker may maintain its axial position in any rotational position. Ambient air may be introduced through a valve and retained in the suspension system. The suspension may include a mechanical spring in a chamber away from the valve that introduces the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventor: Darek C. Barefoot
  • Publication number: 20230192234
    Abstract: An assembly for minimizing the disengagement of a chain from a chain ring is disclosed. The assembly includes a bracket and a chain guide assembly. The chain guide assembly includes an inboard leg, an outboard leg, and a lock. The lock may be configured to allow a rider to remove the outboard leg of the chain guide assembly without tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott Winans, Timothy A. Fry, Sean Gregory Mailen
  • Patent number: 11613326
    Abstract: An assembly for minimizing the disengagement of a chain from a chain ring is disclosed. The assembly includes a bracket and a chain guide assembly. The chain guide assembly includes an inboard leg, an outboard leg, and a lock. The lock may be configured to allow a rider to remove the outboard leg of the chain guide assembly without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott Winans, Timothy A. Fry, Sean Gregory Mailen
  • Patent number: 11524746
    Abstract: An assembly for minimizing the disengagement of a chain from a chain ring is disclosed. The assembly includes a bracket and a chain guide assembly. The chain guide assembly includes a chain guide, a first lock and a second lock. The first lock and the second lock are capable of being actuated separately to lock the chain guide into a position in each of a first and second orientation relative to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott Winans, Cole Hanson
  • Patent number: 11376913
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a first end and a second end that reciprocate relative to one another. The shock absorber includes a gas spring chamber, a damping chamber, and a floating piston. The first side of the floating piston is in fluid communication with the gas spring chamber. The second side of the floating piston is in fluid communication with the damping chamber. The gas in the gas spring chamber applies pressure against the floating piston, which applies pressure to the substantially incompressible fluid in the damping chamber. This pressure transfer may be adequate to minimize or prevent cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Eric Prinster, Scott Winans
  • Publication number: 20220178435
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a chain ring having teeth positioned in one of three lateral positions. At least one tooth may be placed in each lateral position. At least half the teeth may be positioned in a middle lateral position. The teeth in the first and third lateral positions may apply opposing lateral forces to a bicycle drive chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott S. Winans, Timothy A. Fry
  • Patent number: 11293537
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a chain ring having teeth positioned in one of three lateral positions. At least one tooth may be placed in each lateral position. At least half the teeth may be positioned in a middle lateral position. The teeth in the first and third lateral positions may apply opposing lateral forces to a bicycle drive chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott S. Winans, Timothy A. Fry
  • Publication number: 20220033033
    Abstract: An assembly for minimizing the disengagement of a chain from a chain ring is disclosed. The assembly includes a bracket and a chain guide assembly. The chain guide assembly includes an inboard leg, an outboard leg, and a lock. The lock may be configured to allow a rider to remove the outboard leg of the chain guide assembly without tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Scott Winans, Timothy A. Fry, Sean Gregory Mailen
  • Publication number: 20210285533
    Abstract: A drive system for a vehicle includes a chain ring and a drive chain. The chain ring has a plurality of teeth serially arranged and joined to one another. A first subset of teeth has a first outer face that applies a lateral pressure to a link of a drive chain in a first direction. A second subset of teeth has a second outer face that applies a lateral pressure to another link of a drive chain in a second direction. The teeth all have substantially the same width. The top surfaces of the teeth are offset from the centerline of the drive chain. The centerlines of the top surfaces of the teeth are arranged asymmetrically on one side of the centerline of the drive chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Scott Winans, Darek C. Barefoot, Timothy A. Fry
  • Patent number: 11091218
    Abstract: A suspension unit for a front fork of a vehicle includes an annular tube. The first tube defines a compression chamber and a damping chamber. A damper includes a first valve allowing gas to variably flow from the compression chamber to the damping chamber and a second valve allowing gas to flow from the damping chamber to the compression chamber. An external adjuster allows a rider to adjust the first valve to improve ride conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventor: Darek C. Barefoot
  • Publication number: 20210237828
    Abstract: A front fork of a bicycle may include a suspension system that includes a damper. The damper may include a hollow tube with orifices that may be partially blocked by an adjustable blocker. A free end of the adjuster that adjusts the blocker may maintain its axial position in any rotational position. Ambient air may be introduced through a valve and retained in the suspension system. The suspension may include a mechanical spring in a chamber away from the valve that introduces the ambient air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: Darek C. Barefoot
  • Patent number: 11054014
    Abstract: A drive system for a vehicle includes a chain ring and a drive chain. The chain ring has a plurality of teeth serially arranged and joined to one another. A first subset of teeth has a first outer face that applies a lateral pressure to a link of a drive chain in a first direction. A second subset of teeth has a second outer face that applies a lateral pressure to another link of a drive chain in a second direction. The teeth all have substantially the same width. The top surfaces of the teeth are offset from the centerline of the drive chain. The centerlines of the top surfaces of the teeth are arranged asymmetrically on one side of the centerline of the drive chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Winans, Darek C. Barefoot, Timothy A. Fry
  • Patent number: 11008062
    Abstract: A front fork of a bicycle may include a suspension system that includes a damper. The damper may include a hollow tube with orifices that may be partially blocked by an adjustable blocker. A free end of the adjuster that adjusts the blocker may maintain its axial position in any rotational position. Ambient air may be introduced through a valve and retained in the suspension system. The suspension may include a mechanical spring in a chamber away from the valve that introduces the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventor: Darek C. Barefoot