Fork and steering assembly for bicycles
US5273301A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/2078
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A light weight aluminum bicycle fork with positive feel and improved control in rough conditions, and is stiffer in torsional stiffness, fore and aft stiffness and side-to-side stiffness and has a higher overall rigidity than prior art forks. A large diameter steering tube has an hourglass external surface and bearing raceway seats formed therein and a very large diameter head tube has a corresponding bearing raceway seat formed in the lowered end thereof to receive, by way of a press-fit, aircraft-type torque tube bearings. An upper bearing assembly is seated in a raceway seat formed in the upper end of the head tube. Adhesive is used to maintain the bearings in position and prevent their loosening. A pair of large diameter crown miter tubes are welded to the lower end of the steering tube and a pair of large diameter, tapered, blade tubes are welded to the crown miter tubes and have dropouts welded to the lower ends of the blades. The blades utilize proportional tubing with metal located at specific locations on the wheel sides where maximum stress forces are found. A one-piece aluminum bar, neck and large diameter stem is provided. A tightening wedge and the stem have complement…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.