Unitary crown fork assembly and method of fabrication

US8528926B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cycling Sports Group, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Christopher Philip Dodman · Bottmingen, CH
• Stephen B. Metz · Danbury, US
• Morten Kristiansen · Lillerød, DK

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 8, 2010
• Grant date: Sep 10, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 19, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

A bicycle is provided having a unitary steering tube-crown member and a unitary crank arm-spindle member. A multistage aluminum 3D forging process is used to form the unitary members. This may allow the fabrication of components with substantially hollow interior areas to reduce weight, reduce part count while maintaining high strength and ductility. The multistage 3D forging process provided also allows the combination of multiple components into a single unitary part.