Patent attributes
A shock absorber includes a body having an outer cylinder which rotates relative to an inner cylinder to provide an adjustable damping force through fluid bypass. A plurality of ports are formed through the inner cylinder to provide the fluid bypass when a passageway within an inner surface of the outer cylinder is aligned therewith. Predetermined patterns of ports selectively adjust the dampening force of the shock absorber. When the passageway is rotated out of alignment with all the ports, no adjustment to the dampening force results as the inner surface of the outer cylinder seals the outer surface of the inner cylinder. When the passageway is rotated to be aligned with a pattern of the ports, the peak damping force is reduced during a longitudinal bypass zone of the stroke as defined by the port pattern. By locating a check valve within the passageway, bypass fluid flow will only occur in one direction.