Patents by Inventor John M. Loftus
John M. Loftus 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).
-
Patent number: 6155541Abstract: A suspension assembly, including inner and outer tubes that are adapted to the telescope with respect to each other. A self-contained shock-damping cartridge is disposed in the tubes and is removable as a unit. The cartridge has first and second chambers, which contain hydraulic fluid. A shaft movably extends substantially completely through both chambers, and a piston is associated with the shaft and the chambers such that movement of the shaft within the chambers forces hydraulic fluid from one of the chambers to the other, thus damping telescoping movement between the tubes. The cartridge is sealed to substantially prevent the hydraulic fluid from entering and exiting therefrom during telescoping movement.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1999Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: Cannondale CorporationInventors: Mark S. Farris, Michael A. Harrison, John M. Loftus, Aaron K. Taylor, Christoph E. Mack, Ross P. Collins
-
Patent number: 6145862Abstract: There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer tube which is mounted via brackets to the steering tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner tube that telescopes within the outer tube. A shock absorbing system, preferably in the form of a cartridge is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to maintain torsional rigidity between the outer tube to the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1998Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Cannondale CorporationInventors: Christopher P. D'Aluisio, Mario M. Galasso, Ross P. Collins, Mark S. Farris, Michael A. Harrison, John M. Loftus, Aaron K. Taylor, Christoph E. Mack
-
Patent number: 6135477Abstract: There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer tube which is mounted via brackets to the steering tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner tube that telescopes within the outer tube. A shock absorbing system, preferably in the form of a cartridge is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to maintain torsional rigidity between the outer tube to the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1998Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Cannondale CorporationInventors: Christopher P. D'Aluisio, Mario M. Galasso, Ross P. Collins, Mark S. Farris, Michael A. Harrison, John M. Loftus, Aaron K. Taylor, Christoph E. Mack
-
Patent number: 6007056Abstract: There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer steer tube which is adapted to be mounted in and extend through the head tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner steer tube telescopes within the outer steer tube. A shock absorbing system is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer steer tube and the outer surface of the inner steer tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to transmit the torsional steering force from the outer tube to the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1997Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Cannondale CorporationInventors: Mark S. Farris, Michael A. Harrison, John M. Loftus, Aaron K. Taylor, Christoph E. Mack, Ross P. Collins
-
Patent number: 5924714Abstract: There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer tube which can be mounted in and extend through the head tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner tube that telescopes within the outer tube. A shock absorbing system, preferably in the form of a cartridge is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to maintain torsional rigidity between the outer tube to the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1996Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Cannondale CorporationInventors: Mark S. Farris, Michael A. Harrison, John M. Loftus
-
Patent number: 5702092Abstract: There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer steer tube which is adapted to be mounted in and extend through the head tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner steer tube telescopes within the outer steer tube. A shock absorbing system is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer steer tube and the outer surface of the inner steer tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to transmit the torsional steering force from the outer tube to the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1996Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Cannondale CorporationInventors: Mark S. Farris, Michael A. Harrison, John M. Loftus, Aaron K. Taylor, Christoph E. Mack, Ross P. Collins
-
Patent number: 5494302Abstract: There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer steer tube which is adapted to be mounted in and extend through the head tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner steer tube telescopes within the outer steer tube. A shock absorbing system is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer steer tube and the outer surface of the inner steer tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to transmit the torsional steering force from the outer tube to the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1993Date of Patent: February 27, 1996Assignee: Cannondale CorporationInventors: Mark S. Farris, Michael A. Harrison, John M. Loftus, Aaron K. Taylor, Christoph E. Mack, Ross P. Collins
-
Patent number: 5320374Abstract: There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer steer tube which is adapted to be mounted in and extend through the head tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner steer tube telescopes within the outer steer tube. A shock absorbing system is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer steer tube and the outer surface of the inner steer tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to transmit the torsional steering force from the outer tube to the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1991Date of Patent: June 14, 1994Assignee: Cannondale CorporationInventors: Mark S. Farris, Michael A. Harrison, John M. Loftus
-
Patent number: D301137Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1986Date of Patent: May 16, 1989Assignee: Western Digital CorporationInventors: Thomas Treptow, John M. Loftus
-
Patent number: D371343Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1994Date of Patent: July 2, 1996Assignee: Doug Mockett & Company, Inc.Inventor: John M. Loftus