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: 20250230852Abstract: 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: April 1, 2025Publication date: July 17, 2025Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Damon GILBERT, William O. BROWN, IV
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Patent number: 12330739Abstract: 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: September 18, 2023Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen, Christopher Otterness
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Patent number: 12270452Abstract: 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: March 29, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Damon Gilbert, William O. Brown, IV
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Publication number: 20250084928Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2023Publication date: March 13, 2025Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Holaday, Season Chu, William O. Brown, IV, Joshua Coaplen
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Patent number: 12234879Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Damon Gilbert, Andrew Laird, Bryan Wesley Anderson, William M. Becker, William O. Brown, IV
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Patent number: 12172729Abstract: 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: November 10, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick
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Publication number: 20240400153Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William M. Becker, Wesley E. Allinger, William O. Brown, IV
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Publication number: 20240359524Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Damon GILBERT, Andrew LAIRD, Bryan Wesley ANDERSON, William M. BECKER, William O. BROWN, IV, Samuel Shaffer
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Publication number: 20240229890Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2023Publication date: July 11, 2024Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Igor Shvytov, William O. Brown, IV
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Publication number: 20240229889Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2023Publication date: July 11, 2024Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: William O. Brown, IV, Wesley E. Allinger, Samuel Shaffer
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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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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