An accumulator defines an accumulator volume that can be placed into communication with a spring chamber of a gas spring. A working volume of the gas spring is the sum of the spring chamber volume and the accumulator volume. The accumulator can be configured so that the accumulator volume can be selectively increased or decreased as desired, thus modifying performance of the associated gas spring.

A shock absorber is provided that includes a shock body and a shaft assembly. The shock body has an inner chamber. The inner chamber is defined by a cylindrical interior surface. At least one groove is formed in the interior surface within at least one select length of the shock body. A piston of the shaft assembly is received within the inner chamber of the shock body. The piston includes valving to allow dampening matter that is received within the inner chamber to pass through the piston to allow the piston to move within the inner chamber. The at least one groove that is formed within the interior surface is configured to allow at least some of the dampening matter to bypass the valving of the piston to allow the piston to move through the at least one select length with less resistance.

A suspension apparatus includes a spring piston and a spring tube body. The spring piston is slidably disposed within the spring tube body to move within the spring tube body over a travel along an axis of reciprocation. The spring piston bounds a primary positive gas spring chamber at least a first portion of a primary negative gas spring chamber. The suspension apparatus also includes a secondary negative gas spring chamber and a separator. The separator permits fluid pressure communication between the primary negative gas spring chamber and the secondary negative gas spring chamber over a first portion of the travel of the spring piston, and the separator prevents fluid pressure communication between the primary negative gas spring chamber and the secondary negative gas spring chamber over a second portion of the travel of the spring piston.

The present invention provides a seal housing (102) for releasable attachment to a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (101), the seal housing (102) being suitable for retaining a seal assembly and the seal housing (102) comprising a generally annular main body (201). The annular main body (201) defines an annular disc-shaped portion (202) having an upper surface (203), a lower surface (204), an outer peripheral edge (205) and an inner edge (206). Said inner edge (206) bounds a circular opening (207) extending the full height of said annular disc shaped portion (202) between said upper and lower surfaces (203, 204). The annular main body (201) further defines an annular collar portion (208) upstanding from the upper surface (203) of said disc shaped portion (202) adjacent said peripheral edge (205) of said disc shaped portion (202), said annular collar portion (208) extending height-wise from a base end (209) joined to said disc-shaped portion (202) to an upper end (210), and width-wise from an inner edge (211) to an outer peripheral edge (212), said inner edge (211) of said annular collar portion (208) bounding a circular opening (213) extending the full height of said annular collar portion (208). The annular main body (201) also further defines an annular flange portion (216) extending height-wise downwardly from the lower surface (204) of said disc-shaped portion (202) from a base end (217) joined to said lower surface (204) of said disc-shaped portion (202) to a distal end (218), and width wise from an inner edge (219) to an outer edge (220).

A gas spring comprising: a cup-shaped body; a movable piston which is inserted in an axially slidable manner in the cup-shaped body and is coupled to the cup-shaped body in a fluid-tight manner, so as to delimit a variable-volume closed chamber adapted to contain a pressurised gas; and a safety plug provided with a shank which extends in pass-through manner in the bottom wall of the cup-shaped body, and protrudes cantilevered within the cup-shaped body so that its distal end can be reached/struck by the movable piston in the case of overtravel; the distal end of the shank having a substantially tubular structure that directly communicates with the closed chamber.

A multi-mode air shock is disclosed herein. The air shock includes an air spring having a primary air chamber, and a damper having an insertion end to telescope within the primary air chamber and a coupler to couple with a portion of a vehicle. An adjuster housing is fixedly coupled to an end of the air spring opposite of the damper, the adjuster housing having a secondary air chamber in communication with the primary air chamber and a mounting structure to couple with a different portion of the vehicle. There is a bulkhead with a valve to open or close the fluid communication between the primary air chamber and the secondary air chamber. The air shock also includes a tertiary air chamber in fluid communication with the secondary air chamber but not in fluid communication with the primary air chamber except via the secondary air chamber.

A front fork of a bicycle may include a suspension system that includes a damper. The damper may include a hollow tube with orifices that may be partially blocked by an adjustable blocker. A free end of the adjuster that adjusts the blocker may maintain its axial position in any rotational position. Ambient air may be introduced through a valve and retained in the suspension system. The suspension may include a mechanical spring in a chamber away from the valve that introduces the ambient air.

A shock absorber is provided that includes a shock body and a shaft assembly. The shock body has an inner chamber. The inner chamber is defined by a cylindrical interior surface. At least one groove is formed in the interior surface within at least one select length of the shock body. A piston of the shaft assembly is received within the inner chamber of the shock body. The piston includes valving to allow dampening matter that is received within the inner chamber to pass through the piston to allow the piston to move within the inner chamber. The at least one groove that is formed within the interior surface is configured to allow at least some of the dampening matter to bypass the valving of the piston to allow the piston to move through the at least one select length with less resistance.

A cushion module is provided herein and includes a mounting manifold and a retaining plate. An array of pneumatic assemblies is coupled to and disposed between the mounting manifold and the retaining plate. Each pneumatic assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod and configured to receive pressurized air for moving the piston rod to a selected position. The pressurized air supplied to each pneumatic cylinder is variable and the piston rods collectively define a support surface having variable contour and firmness, and on which an object is rested to assess the comfortability of the support surface.

A gas pressure spring comprising a housing having a gas-filled interior, a longitudinal axis, a closed housing end and an open housing end which is situated opposite the closed housing end. The gas pressure spring additionally includes a piston rod which is displaceable along the longitudinal axis and is guided out of the housing in a sealed manner through the open housing end, a piston unit which is fastened on the piston rod and a damping unit for damping the displacement of the piston unit.