Patents by Inventor John Marking

John Marking 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: 20240109384
    Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John MARKING, Vegard HAMSO
  • Patent number: 11927242
    Abstract: An electronic external bypass for a shock assembly is disclosed herein. The electronic external bypass has a compression side fluid connection, a rebound side fluid connection, and an external bypass fluid flow path physically separate from the shock assembly, the external bypass fluid flow path fluidly coupling the compression side fluid connection with the rebound side fluid connection. The electronic external bypass includes a solenoid circuit, the solenoid circuit to control a flow of a working fluid through the external bypass fluid flow path, the solenoid circuit includes a poppet valve and an active valve configured to control a pop pressure of the poppet valve, such that the solenoid circuit provides an infinitely adjustable bypass pressure for the shock assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Bobby Smith, John Marking
  • Patent number: 11866120
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, David Batterbee, John Marking
  • Patent number: 11833874
    Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John Marking, Vegard Hamso
  • Patent number: 11760150
    Abstract: A vehicle damper is described. The vehicle damper includes: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the cylinder via the working fluid, the reservoir operable to receive the working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; a valve in a flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir; and a remotely-operable valve having a position allowing the working fluid to significantly by-pass the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 11708878
    Abstract: A damper assembly with a bypass for a vehicle comprises a pressure cylinder with a piston and piston rod for limiting the flow rate of damping fluid as it passes from a first to a second side of said piston. A bypass provides a fluid pathway between the first and second sides of the piston separately from the flow rare limitation. In one aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable based upon one or more variable parameters associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Publication number: 20230184308
    Abstract: A damper assembly with a bypass for a vehicle comprises a pressure cylinder with a piston and piston rod for limiting the flow rate of damping fluid as it passes from a first to a second side of said piston. A bypass provides fluid pathway between the first and second sides of the piston separately from the flow rate limitation. In one aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable based upon one or more variable parameters associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John MARKING
  • Publication number: 20230098340
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a damper. The damper comprises a fluid chamber having a piston dividing the chamber into a compression and rebound sides, a reservoir in fluid communication with the compression side of the chamber, and an isolator disposed between the compression side and the reservoir, whereby the isolator obstructs fluid flow between the compression side and the reservoir. In one embodiment, a bypass provides a fluid path between the compression side and the isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John MARKING
  • Publication number: 20230081379
    Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John MARKING, Vegard HAMSO
  • Publication number: 20230019929
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for position sensitive dampening with an active valve. In one aspect a fluid damper is provided comprising a damper chamber divided by a piston into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber; a secondary compression chamber in fluid communication with the damper chamber; and an active valve controlling fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul COX, John MARKING, Everet Owen ERICKSEN
  • Publication number: 20230002002
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, David Batterbee, John Marking
  • Publication number: 20220389983
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for position sensitive dampening with an active valve. In one aspect a fluid damper is provided comprising a damper chamber divided by a piston into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber; a secondary compression chamber in fluid communication with the damper chamber; and an active valve controlling fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul COX, John MARKING, Everet Owen ERICKSEN
  • Patent number: 11519477
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a damper. The damper comprises a fluid chamber having a piston dividing the chamber into a compression and rebound sides, a reservoir in fluid communication with the compression side of the chamber, and an isolator disposed between the compression side and the reservoir, whereby the isolator obstructs fluid flow between the compression side and the reservoir. In one embodiment, a bypass provides a fluid path between the compression side and the isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 11499601
    Abstract: A damper assembly with a bypass for a vehicle comprises a pressure cylinder with a piston and piston rod for limiting the flow rate of damping fluid as it passes from a first to a second side of said piston. A bypass provides fluid pathway between the first and second sides of the piston separately from the flow rate limitation. In one aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable based upon one or more variable parameters associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Publication number: 20220281282
    Abstract: A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John MARKING
  • Publication number: 20220250703
    Abstract: A system for controlling vehicle motion is described. The system includes: a first set of sensors coupled with a vehicle, the first set of sensors configured for sensing the vehicle motion; and a vehicle suspension damper coupled with the first set of sensors, the vehicle suspension damper configured for adjusting a damping force therein, the vehicle suspension damper comprising: a primary valve; a pilot valve assembly coupled with the primary valve, the pilot valve assembly configured for metering a flow of fluid to the primary valve, in response to at least the sensing; and an orifice block coupled with the primary valve and comprising a control orifice there through, the control orifice configured for operating cooperatively with the pilot valve assembly in the metering the flow of fluid to the primary valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, John Marking
  • Patent number: 11408482
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Publication number: 20220242187
    Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John MARKING, Vegard HAMSO
  • Patent number: 11376914
    Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John Marking, Vegard Hamso
  • Publication number: 20220203799
    Abstract: A vehicle damper is described. The vehicle damper includes: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the cylinder via the working fluid, the reservoir operable to receive the working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; a valve in a flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir; and a remotely-operable valve having a position allowing the working fluid to significantly by-pass the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John MARKING