Appeal No. 2004-0610 Page 2
Application No. 09/624,120
BACKGROUND
The appellants' invention relates to a hydraulic damper or shock absorber
adapted for use in a suspension system such as the suspension systems used for
automotive vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hydraulic
damper or shock absorber having a continuously variable damping characteristic which
is adjustable by a solenoid actuated continuously variable servo valve to vary the
damping characteristics between a relatively low level of damping for a soft ride for
comfort and a relatively high level of damping for a firm ride for handling (specification,
p. 1). A copy of the dependent claims under appeal is set forth in the appendix to the
appellants' brief. Claim 1, the only independent claim on appeal, reads as follows:
An adjustable shock absorber comprising:
a pressure tube defining a working chamber;
a piston rod extending through said pressure tube and into said working
chamber;
a valveless piston slidably disposed within said pressure tube and
connected to said piston, said piston dividing said working chamber into an
upper working chamber and a lower working chamber;
a valve assembly separate from said piston in communication with said
upper and lower working chambers, said valve assembly including a first variable
orifice disposed in a first fluid path extending directly between said upper working
chamber and said lower working chamber for controlling flow from said upper
working chamber to said lower working chamber and a second variable orifice
disposed in a second fluid path extending directly between said lower working
chamber and said upper working chamber for controlling flow from said lower
working chamber to said upper working chamber, said second fluid path being
separate from said first fluid path.
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