Patents by Inventor Geoff Nichols

Geoff Nichols 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: 20250026167
    Abstract: Example adjustable suspension components for bicycles are described herein. An example bicycle suspension component includes a damper operable in a low damping state, a high damping state, and an intermediate damping state between the low damping state and the high damping state, a motion controller operable to change the damper between the low damping state, the intermediate damping state, and the high damping state, and a processor to, based on sensor data, activate the motion controller to change the damper between the intermediate damping state and one of the low damping state or the high damping state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: R. JOE SCHOOLCRAFT, JR., GEOFF NICHOLS, WARREN CHAMBLISS, MARK SANTURBANE, C. MICHAEL LIBERATO, II
  • Publication number: 20250010938
    Abstract: Example bicycle suspension components and control devices are described herein. An example shock absorber includes a damper body defining a first chamber and a reservoir defining a second chamber. A flow path is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber. The example shock absorber also includes a flow control member disposed in the flow path and a motor to operate the flow control member to affect fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: MARK SANTURBANE, GEOFF NICHOLS, CHRISTOPHER SHIPMAN, JEFFREY JOHN BALTES
  • Patent number: 12134296
    Abstract: Example adjustable suspension components for bicycles are described herein. An example bicycle suspension component includes a damper operable in a low damping state, a high damping state, and an intermediate damping state between the low damping state and the high damping state, a motion controller operable to change the damper between the low damping state, the intermediate damping state, and the high damping state, and a processor to, based on sensor data, activate the motion controller to change the damper between the intermediate damping state and one of the low damping state or the high damping state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: R. Joe Schoolcraft, Jr., Geoff Nichols, Warren Chambliss, Mark Santurbane, C. Michael Liberato, II
  • Patent number: 12128985
    Abstract: Example bicycle suspension components and control devices are described herein. An example shock absorber includes a damper body defining a first chamber and a reservoir defining a second chamber. A flow path is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber. The example shock absorber also includes a flow control member disposed in the flow path and a motor to operate the flow control member to affect fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Santurbane, Geoff Nichols, Christopher Shipman, Jeffrey John Baltes
  • Publication number: 20240113551
    Abstract: A bicycle component includes a platform having a mounting arrangement adapted to be mounted to a bicycle. A solar cell array is arranged on the platform. A battery charging unit also is arranged on the platform and is operatively connected to the solar cell array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: GEOFF NICHOLS, SAGE HAHN, HENDRIK SCOTT DEVRIES, JEFFREY BALTES, TODD BALTES
  • Patent number: 11894716
    Abstract: A bicycle component includes a platform having a mounting arrangement adapted to be mounted to a bicycle. A solar cell array is arranged on the platform. A battery charging unit also is arranged on the platform and is operatively connected to the solar cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Geoff Nichols, Sage Hahn, Hendrik Scott Devries, Jeefrey Baltes, Todd Baltes
  • Publication number: 20230339567
    Abstract: Example bicycle suspension components and control devices are described herein. An example shock absorber includes a damper body defining a first chamber and a reservoir defining a second chamber. A flow path is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber. The example shock absorber also includes a flow control member disposed in the flow path and a motor to operate the flow control member to affect fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: MARK SANTURBANE, GEOFF NICHOLS, CHRISTOPHER SHIPMAN, JEFFREY JOHN BALTES
  • Patent number: 11787503
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a bicycle includes an axle having an inner wall extending along a length of the axle between a first end and a second end of the axle. The inner wall at least partially defines a first volume and a second volume within the axle. The first volume has a first diameter, and the second volume has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The first volume is closer than the second volume to the first end of the axle. The axle assembly also includes a sensor attached to the inner wall of the axle within the second volume of the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Geoff Nichols
  • Patent number: 11745549
    Abstract: A pressure sensing assembly configured to be attached to a bicycle wheel having a tire and a rim mounted to the tire. The pressure sensing assembly includes a housing, a pressure transmitting member, a sensing chamber defined by the housing and the pressure transmitting member, and a sensing element. The pressure transmitting member is coupled the housing and has a central portion offset from the plane in a first direction. The sensing element is offset from the plane in a second direction opposite the first direction. The pressure transmitting member is configured to transmit a pressure in the tire to the sensing element via the sensing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM. LLC
    Inventor: Geoff Nichols
  • Patent number: 11724769
    Abstract: Example bicycle suspension components and control devices are described herein. An example shock absorber includes a damper body defining a first chamber and a reservoir defining a second chamber. A flow path is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber. The example shock absorber also includes a flow control member disposed in the flow path and a motor to operate the flow control member to affect fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Santurbane, Geoff Nichols, Christopher Shipman, Jeffrey John Baltes
  • Publication number: 20230182511
    Abstract: A pressure sensing assembly configured to be attached to a bicycle wheel having a tire and a rim mounted to the tire. The pressure sensing assembly includes a housing, a pressure transmitting member, a sensing chamber defined by the housing and the pressure transmitting member, and a sensing element. The pressure transmitting member is coupled the housing and has a central portion offset from the plane in a first direction. The sensing element is offset from the plane in a second direction opposite the first direction. The pressure transmitting member is configured to transmit a pressure in the tire to the sensing element via the sensing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: GEOFF NICHOLS
  • Publication number: 20230055332
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a bicycle includes an axle having an inner wall extending along a length of the axle between a first end and a second end of the axle. The inner wall at least partially defines a first volume and a second volume within the axle. The first volume has a first diameter, and the second volume has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The first volume is closer than the second volume to the first end of the axle. The axle assembly also includes a sensor attached to the inner wall of the axle within the second volume of the axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: GEOFF NICHOLS
  • Patent number: 11535069
    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: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Jordan, Trevor Krugman, Geoff Nichols, Benjamin Rothschild, David Jonathan Huft
  • Patent number: 11511826
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a bicycle includes an axle having an inner wall extending along a length of the axle between a first end and a second end of the axle. The inner wall at least partially defines a first volume and a second volume within the axle. The first volume has a first diameter, and the second volume has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The first volume is closer than the second volume to the first end of the axle. The axle assembly also includes a sensor attached to the inner wall of the axle within the second volume of the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Geoff Nichols
  • Publication number: 20220131404
    Abstract: A bicycle component includes a platform having a mounting arrangement adapted to be mounted to a bicycle. A solar cell array is arranged on the platform. A battery charging unit also is arranged on the platform and is operatively connected to the solar cell array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: GEOFF NICHOLS, SAGE HAHN, HENDRIK SCOTT DEVRIES
  • Publication number: 20210331550
    Abstract: Example adjustable suspension components for bicycles are described herein. An example bicycle suspension component includes a damper operable in a low damping state, a high damping state, and an intermediate damping state between the low damping state and the high damping state, a motion controller operable to change the damper between the low damping state, the intermediate damping state, and the high damping state, and a processor to, based on sensor data, activate the motion controller to change the damper between the intermediate damping state and one of the low damping state or the high damping state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: R. JOE SCHOOLCRAFT, JR., GEOFF NICHOLS, WARREN CHAMBLISS, MARK SANTURBANE, C. MICHAEL LIBERATO, II
  • Publication number: 20210179226
    Abstract: Example bicycle suspension components and control devices are described herein. An example shock absorber includes a damper body defining a first chamber and a reservoir defining a second chamber. A flow path is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber. The example shock absorber also includes a flow control member disposed in the flow path and a motor to operate the flow control member to affect fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: MARK SANTURBANE, GEOFF NICHOLS, CHRISTOPHER SHIPMAN, JEFFREY JOHN BALTES
  • Publication number: 20210171153
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a bicycle includes an axle having an inner wall extending along a length of the axle between a first end and a second end of the axle. The inner wall at least partially defines a first volume and a second volume within the axle. The first volume has a first diameter, and the second volume has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The first volume is closer than the second volume to the first end of the axle. The axle assembly also includes a sensor attached to the inner wall of the axle within the second volume of the axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: GEOFF NICHOLS
  • Patent number: 11001327
    Abstract: Example pedal detection devices for bicycles are described herein. An example a pedal detection device includes an electronics module to be disposed in a spindle of a crankset of the bicycle. The electronics module includes a sensor to detect angular velocity and/or position of the spindle, a driver, and an expander wedge movably coupled to the electronics module via the driver. Axial movement of the expander wedge relative to the electronics module causes the expander wedge to expand radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Santurbane, Mason Pluimer, Geoff Nichols, Kevin Wesling, Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 10919346
    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: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Jordan, Benjamin Rothschild, Geoff Nichols