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).
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Publication number: 20240124090Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK, Joshua COAPLEN, Christopher OTTERNESS
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Publication number: 20240116596Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK
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Publication number: 20240069860Abstract: A voice-controlled question answering system that is capable of answering questions using both a knowledge base and a search engine. The knowledge base is used to answer questions when answers to those questions are contained in the knowledge base. If an answer using the knowledge base is unavailable, and if the question is suitable for answering using an unstructured search approach, the system may obtain an answer using a search engine. The search engine results may be processed to obtain an answer to the question suitable for output using a voice user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Daniel Lewis Spector, Fergus O'Donoghue, Chase Wesley Brown, JR., Shayne Leon Snow, Brandon Gerald Li Horst, William Folwell Barton
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Patent number: 11760437Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen, Christopher Otterness
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Publication number: 20230235807Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Damon GILBERT, William O. BROWN, IV
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Patent number: 11708124Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 13, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen, Christopher Otterness
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Patent number: 11629771Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Damon Gilbert, William O. Brown, IV
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Publication number: 20230023599Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Joshua Coaplen, William O. Brown, IV, Thomas Pollock, Everet Owen Ericksen, Christopher Otterness
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Publication number: 20230020325Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK, Joshua COAPLEN, Christopher OTTERNESS
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Publication number: 20220371682Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK, Joshua COAPLEN, Christopher OTTERNESS
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Patent number: 11498639Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick
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Publication number: 20220252163Abstract: A rotary flow control valve that requires no linear motion is disclosed. The rotary flow control valve comprises a drive mechanism and a rotary flow control valve coupled with the drive mechanism, wherein the rotary flow control valve is rotated by the drive mechanism without requiring conversion of a linear motion to a rotational motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Joshua COAPLEN, William O. Brown, IV, Thomas Pollock, Christopher Otterness
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Publication number: 20220176829Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for controlling an electric vehicle's electric motor output. The method obtains electric vehicle data, user-related data, and receives input from at least one sensor. A controller is utilized to evaluate the electric vehicle data, the user-related data, and the input from the at least one sensor, and automatically tailor an output power curve of an electronic motor to obtain a best performance for the electric vehicle for a given rate of conservation of a battery power.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Applicant: Fox Factory, IncInventors: David M. HAUGEN, Wesley E. ALLINGER, Everet Owen ERICKSEN, Paul KLAWER, Nobuhiko NEGISHI, Thomas L. FLETCHER, Jason SMITH, Phillip A. KENDRICK, William O. BROWN, IV, Bjorn BORGERS
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Patent number: 11305834Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen, Christopher Otterness
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Patent number: 11292550Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen, Christopher Otterness
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Publication number: 20210317891Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Damon GILBERT, Andrew LAIRD, Bryan Wesley ANDERSON, William M. BECKER, William O. BROWN, IV
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Publication number: 20200262509Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK
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Publication number: 20200208706Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Damon GILBERT, William O. BROWN, IV
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Publication number: 20200130772Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK, Joshua COAPLEN, Christopher OTTERNESS
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Publication number: 20200130773Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. BROWN, IV, Daniel MCCORMICK, Joshua COAPLEN, Christopher OTTERNESS