The present invention relates to a front fork assembly and to a front fork comprising the same. The present invention further relates to a motorcycle that is provided with such a front fork assembly or front fork. According to the invention, the front fork assembly (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) comprises a tuned mass damper (150) that is fixedly attached to the unsprung section (103, 104) of the telescopic unit.

A damper includes a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, a rod-side fluid chamber, a piston-side fluid chamber, an annular fluid chamber, and a stopper mechanism. The cylinder includes an inner tube and an outer tube. The rod-side fluid chamber is defined by the piston in the inner tube on a lower end side. The piston-side fluid chamber is defined by the piston in the inner tube on an upper end side. The annular fluid chamber is between the inner and outer tubes. At least one communication hole communicates the rod-side fluid chamber with the annular fluid chamber. A communication passage communicates the rod-side fluid chamber with the annular fluid chamber. A check valve in the communication passage allows fluid to flow from the annular fluid chamber to the rod-side fluid chamber and disallows the fluid to flow from the rod-side fluid chamber to the annular fluid chamber.

A damper includes a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, a rod-side fluid chamber, a piston-side fluid chamber, an annular fluid chamber, and a stopper mechanism. The cylinder includes an inner tube and an outer tube. The rod-side fluid chamber is defined by the piston in the inner tube on a lower end side. The piston-side fluid chamber is defined by the piston in the inner tube on an upper end side. The annular fluid chamber is between the inner and outer tubes. At least one communication hole communicates the rod-side fluid chamber with the annular fluid chamber. A communication passage communicates the rod-side fluid chamber with the annular fluid chamber. A check valve in the communication passage allows fluid to flow from the annular fluid chamber to the rod-side fluid chamber and disallows the fluid to flow from the rod-side fluid chamber to the annular fluid chamber.

A liquid-filled tubular vibration damping device including: an inner axial member; an intermediate sleeve made of synthetic resin and formed by twin sleeve divisions and divided in a circumferential direction; a main rubber elastic body connecting the inner axial member and a tubular part of the intermediate sleeve; an outer tubular member receiving the tubular part inserted therein; twin liquid chambers formed in the main rubber elastic body and communicated by an orifice passage; an outer flange formed at a first end in an axial direction of the tubular part of the intermediate sleeve; an outer circumference rubber fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the tubular part to be press-fitted in the outer tubular member; and an orifice groove formed in the outer circumference rubber and covered by the outer tubular member so that the orifice passage is formed.

A liquid-filled tubular vibration damping device including: an inner axial member; an intermediate sleeve made of synthetic resin and formed by twin sleeve divisions and divided in a circumferential direction; a main rubber elastic body connecting the inner axial member and a tubular part of the intermediate sleeve; an outer tubular member receiving the tubular part inserted therein; twin liquid chambers formed in the main rubber elastic body and communicated by an orifice passage; an outer flange formed at a first end in an axial direction of the tubular part of the intermediate sleeve; an outer circumference rubber fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the tubular part to be press-fitted in the outer tubular member; and an orifice groove formed in the outer circumference rubber and covered by the outer tubular member so that the orifice passage is formed.

A suspension (1) for a bicycle (101) comprising an elastic element (2) and a blocking/releasing device (3) of the elastic element (2). The blocking/releasing device (3) comprises:a closed hydraulic circuit (4) containing a working fluid (5);a cylinder-piston assembly (60) comprising a cylinder (10) and a piston (6) slidable inside said cylinder, said cylinder-piston assembly (60) being inserted in the hydraulic circuit (4) and being operatively disposed in parallel with said elastic element;a valve (8) commanded by an actuator (9) inserted in the hydraulic circuit (4) and configurable according to an open configuration, so that the working fluid (5) freely flows in the hydraulic circuit for enabling movements of the piston (6) inside the cylinder (10), and a closed configuration, so that the working fluid (5) is prevented from flowing in the hydraulic circuit (4) and the piston (6) is kept blocked by the working fluid (5);a main housing (11) receiving inside the cylinder-piston assembly (60); wherein the hydraulic circuit (4) is made in a space formed between the walls of the main housing (11) and the walls of the cylinder (10).

A suspension (1) for a bicycle (101) comprising an elastic element (2) and a blocking/releasing device (3) of the elastic element (2). The blocking/releasing device (3) comprises:a closed hydraulic circuit (4) containing a working fluid (5);a cylinder-piston assembly (60) comprising a cylinder (10) and a piston (6) slidable inside said cylinder, said cylinder-piston assembly (60) being inserted in the hydraulic circuit (4) and being operatively disposed in parallel with said elastic element;a valve (8) commanded by an actuator (9) inserted in the hydraulic circuit (4) and configurable according to an open configuration, so that the working fluid (5) freely flows in the hydraulic circuit for enabling movements of the piston (6) inside the cylinder (10), and a closed configuration, so that the working fluid (5) is prevented from flowing in the hydraulic circuit (4) and the piston (6) is kept blocked by the working fluid (5);a main housing (11) receiving inside the cylinder-piston assembly (60); wherein the hydraulic circuit (4) is made in a space formed between the walls of the main housing (11) and the walls of the cylinder (10).

A joint cushioning system includes a pad of a foam material which is resiliently compressible. The pad has an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A magnetorheological fluid impregnates the foamed material. The magnetorheological fluid is configured to be alternated between a first state wherein the foamed material is bendable and compressible and a second state wherein the magnetorheological fluid forms rigid columns within the foamed material such that the foamed material is less bendable and compressible. An actuating system is mounted on the pad and is in operational communication with magnetorheological fluid. The actuating system actuates the magnetorheological fluid from the first state to the second state when a condition has been met.

A joint cushioning system includes a pad of a foam material which is resiliently compressible. The pad has an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A magnetorheological fluid impregnates the foamed material. The magnetorheological fluid is configured to be alternated between a first state wherein the foamed material is bendable and compressible and a second state wherein the magnetorheological fluid forms rigid columns within the foamed material such that the foamed material is less bendable and compressible. An actuating system is mounted on the pad and is in operational communication with magnetorheological fluid. The actuating system actuates the magnetorheological fluid from the first state to the second state when a condition has been met.

In a vibration isolation device, for a combined volume compliance C.sub.V of a first volume chamber and a second volume chamber, an effective cross sectional area A.sub.e of the first volume chamber and the second volume chamber, a pressure receiving area A.sub.P of a first end flange and a second end flange, an effective fluid inertia L of a damping medium in an orifice, a stiffness k.sub.S of an elastic element, and an upper limit frequency .sub.r of application of vibration isolation, one of the combined volume compliance C.sub.V and the stiffness k.sub.S has a negative value, the other thereof has a positive value, and the combined volume compliance C.sub.V and the stiffness k.sub.S satisfy a predetermined relationship.