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US 10,633,049 B2Granted
Aerodynamic front fork for a bicycle
AssigneeWilliam F. Logan
InventorWilliam F. Logan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerodynamic front fork assembly for a bicycle may include an elongated crown portion extending from a steerer tube to a distal end behind a front wheel, with one or more fork blades projecting in a generally forward direction from the distal end of the crown portion to engage the front wheel. The crown portion may substantially fill the gap between the front wheel and the down tube of the bicycle, thereby collectively forming an airfoil with the front wheel and the down tube.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a fork for a bicycle, the method comprising:
- constructing a solid core by adhesively connecting together a plurality of end grain balsa wood blocks;
- encasing the solid core in an outer shell comprising a composite material;
- wherein the solid core and the outer shell comprise an elongate crown extending from a proximal end portion through an intermediate portion to a distal end portion, and extending from a rear face to a front face, the rear face having a linear lengthwise profile, and the front face having an arcuate lengthwise profile;
- coupling the proximal end portion of the elongate crown to a steerer tube, the crown extending at an oblique angle from the steerer tube;
- and
- forming a front fork for a bicycle by affixing one or more fork blades to the distal end portion of the crown, such that each of the one or more fork blades is configured to extend in a generally forward direction from the distal end portion of the crown;
- wherein the front fork is configured to receive a front wheel of the bicycle, the front wheel being received by a distal end of the one or more fork blades, the rear face of the crown generally conforming to an adjacent down tube of the bicycle, and the front face of the crown being adjacent to an outer perimeter of the front wheel, such that the crown substantially fills a gap between the front wheel and the down tube;
- and
- wherein the crown, the front wheel, and the down tube are configured to collectively form an airfoil.
6 more elements
A method of manufacturing a fork for a bicycle, the method comprising:
- assembling and securing together a plurality of balsa wood blocks to form a unitary stack;
- machining the unitary stack to shape the unitary stack into a solid core;
- orienting the solid core with a steerer tube receiver;
- forming a fork crown by encasing the solid core and the steerer tube receiver in an outer shell comprising a composite material;
- wherein the fork crown has an elongate shape, extending from a proximal end portion proximate the steerer tube receiver through an intermediate portion to a distal end portion, and extending from a rear face to a front face, the front face having an arcuate lengthwise profile;
- coupling the proximal end portion of the fork crown to a steerer tube, the crown extending at an oblique angle from the steerer tube;
- and
- forming a front fork for a bicycle by affixing one or more fork blades to the distal end portion of the crown, such that each of the one or more fork blades is configured to extend in a generally forward direction from the distal end portion of the crown;
- wherein the front fork is configured to receive a front wheel of the bicycle, the front wheel being received by a distal end of the one or more fork blades, the rear face of the crown generally conforming to an adjacent down tube of the bicycle, and the front face of the crown being adjacent to an outer perimeter of the front wheel, such that the crown substantially fills a gap between the front wheel and the down tube;
- and
- wherein the crown, the front wheel, and the down tube are configured to collectively form an airfoil.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.