Patents by Inventor William O. Brown

William O. Brown 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: 20250230852
    Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2025
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon GILBERT, William O. BROWN, IV
  • Patent number: 12330739
    Abstract: A fork assembly including a steerer tube and a crown, wherein the steerer tube is fixedly aligned to the crown in a predefined orientation at a time of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen, Christopher Otterness
  • Patent number: 12270452
    Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon Gilbert, William O. Brown, IV
  • Publication number: 20250084928
    Abstract: A pressure balanced valve with integral pressure relief function is disclosed. The pressure relief valve includes a cap with an opening therein, a plunger configured to fill the opening in the cap, and a spring configured to hold the plunger against the cap. The pressure relief valve providing a fluid pathway through a piston, wherein the fluid pathway extends between a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber and provides a bypass for fluid to flow from the second fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber when a pressure of a fluid in the second fluid chamber is above a blow-off pressure of the pressure relief valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Holaday, Season Chu, William O. Brown, IV, Joshua Coaplen
  • Patent number: 12234879
    Abstract: A user accessible shock travel spacer assembly is disclosed herein. The system is used on a shock assembly having a shaft with an initial predefined stroke length. A retaining cap having a retaining cap thickness and a retaining cap opening therethrough. The retaining cap opening having a diameter that is larger than an outer diameter (OD) of a shaft of a shock assembly. At least one fastener to fasten the retaining cap with a portion of the shock assembly about the shaft, such that the retaining cap reduces a stroke length of the shaft of the shock assembly by the retaining cap thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon Gilbert, Andrew Laird, Bryan Wesley Anderson, William M. Becker, William O. Brown, IV
  • Patent number: 12172729
    Abstract: An air spring assembly is disclosed. The air spring assembly includes an upper fork tube having a base lug on one end, a lower fork tube having an opening to receive the upper fork tube in a first axial end, and a fork tube gas seal to form a gas seal between the upper fork tube and the lower fork tube. A partial cartridge tube within a portion of the upper fork tube, the partial cartridge tube including a partial cartridge tube gas seal between an outer diameter (OD) of the partial cartridge tube and an inner diameter (ID) of the upper fork tube. An annular volume formed between the ID of the upper fork tube, the OD of the partial cartridge tube, the partial cartridge tube gas seal, and the base lug of the upper fork tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick
  • Publication number: 20240400153
    Abstract: An air bleed system for a suspension fork or shock absorber includes: a fluid passage between an interior of the suspension and an exterior of the suspension; and an automatic air bleed assembly having a material with oleophobic and hydrophobic properties to allow the fluid passage to remain open while limiting the introduction of external fluid into the interior of the suspension and limiting the escape of internal fluid out of the interior of the suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Becker, Wesley E. Allinger, William O. Brown, IV
  • Publication number: 20240359524
    Abstract: A travel spacer is disclosed herein. The travel spacer includes a first separable portion and a second separable portion. The first separable portion and the second separable portion can be combined to form the travel spacer. The first separable portion and the second separable portion are configured to be combined about a shaft of a shock assembly without requiring removal of the shaft from the shock assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon GILBERT, Andrew LAIRD, Bryan Wesley ANDERSON, William M. BECKER, William O. BROWN, IV, Samuel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20240229890
    Abstract: A reduced friction valve assembly is disclosed. The reduced friction valve assembly includes a valve body comprising at least one fluid flow port therethrough. The valve assembly also includes at least one shim pressed against the valve body, the at least one shim configured to control the fluid flow through the at least one fluid flow port. The valve assembly additionally includes at least one friction reducing material disposed between the at least one shim and the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Shvytov, William O. Brown, IV
  • Publication number: 20240229889
    Abstract: An air spring assembly is disclosed. The air spring assembly includes a piston assembly including a piston, at least one compliant member, a seal configured to provide an air tight seal between the piston and a wall of an air chamber, and a fastener configured to couple the piston with a shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Wesley E. Allinger, Samuel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20240124090
    Abstract: A fork assembly including a steerer tube and a crown, wherein the steerer tube is fixedly aligned to the crown in a predefined orientation at a time of manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK, Joshua COAPLEN, Christopher OTTERNESS
  • Publication number: 20240116596
    Abstract: An air spring assembly is disclosed. The air spring assembly includes an upper fork tube having a base lug on one end, a lower fork tube having an opening to receive the upper fork tube in a first axial end, and a fork tube gas seal to form a gas seal between the upper fork tube and the lower fork tube. A partial cartridge tube within a portion of the upper fork tube, the partial cartridge tube including a partial cartridge tube gas seal between an outer diameter (OD) of the partial cartridge tube and an inner diameter (ID) of the upper fork tube. An annular volume formed between the ID of the upper fork tube, the OD of the partial cartridge tube, the partial cartridge tube gas seal, and the base lug of the upper fork tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK
  • Patent number: 11760437
    Abstract: A fork assembly including a steerer tube and a crown, wherein the steerer tube is fixedly aligned to the crown in a predefined orientation at a time of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen, Christopher Otterness
  • Publication number: 20230235807
    Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon GILBERT, William O. BROWN, IV
  • Patent number: 11708124
    Abstract: A non-uniform steerer tube. The non-uniform steerer tubes includes an axis-symmetric outer surface and a non axis-symmetric inner surface. The axis-symmetric outer surface and the non axis-symmetric inner surface defining a wall thickness therebetween. The wall thickness varying along an axial length of the non-uniform steerer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen, Christopher Otterness
  • Patent number: 11629771
    Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon Gilbert, William O. Brown, IV
  • Publication number: 20230023599
    Abstract: An electronically actuated dropper seatpost is disclosed. The electronically actuated dropper seatpost includes an upper post and a lower post telescopically coupled with the upper post. The electronically actuated dropper seatpost also includes an electronically adjustable valve assembly configured to control a telescopic movement of the upper post and the lower post. The electronically adjustable valve assembly including a valve controlling a flow path and a motive component, wherein an electronic input to the motive component will change a flow rate of a fluid through the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Coaplen, William O. Brown, IV, Thomas Pollock, Everet Owen Ericksen, Christopher Otterness
  • Publication number: 20230020325
    Abstract: A fork assembly including a steerer tube and a crown, wherein the steerer tube is fixedly aligned to the crown in a predefined orientation at a time of manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK, Joshua COAPLEN, Christopher OTTERNESS
  • Publication number: 20220371682
    Abstract: A non-uniform steerer tube. The non-uniform steerer tubes includes an axis-symmetric outer surface and a non axis-symmetric inner surface. The axis-symmetric outer surface and the non axis-symmetric inner surface defining a wall thickness therebetween. The wall thickness varying along an axial length of the non-uniform steerer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK, Joshua COAPLEN, Christopher OTTERNESS
  • Patent number: 11498639
    Abstract: An air spring assembly is disclosed. The air spring assembly includes an upper fork tube having a base lug on one end, a lower fork tube having an opening to receive the upper fork tube in a first axial end, and a fork tube gas seal to form a gas seal between the upper fork tube and the lower fork tube. A partial cartridge tube within a portion of the upper fork tube, the partial cartridge tube including a partial cartridge tube gas seal between an outer diameter (OD) of the partial cartridge tube and an inner diameter (ID) of the upper fork tube. An annular volume formed between the ID of the upper fork tube, the OD of the partial cartridge tube, the partial cartridge tube gas seal, and the base lug of the upper fork tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick