Axles, such as for bicycles
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorAndrew Laird
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension for a two-wheeled vehicle includes first and second fork legs. Each fork leg includes a dropout. Each dropout has an opening therethrough. At least a portion of one of the openings is threaded. Each of the dropouts includes a split-damp pinch bearing defining the opening and operable between an open position and a locked position, and a hand operable actuator pivoted to the bearing for operation thereof. The suspension further includes a one-piece axle. The axle is disposed through the openings. The axle has a threaded first end engaged with the threaded portion. The axle has an ergonomic grip formed at a second end. The bearing tightly engages an outer surface of the axle in the locked position, thereby rotationally coupling the axle to the dropout.
Claims12
An axle assembly configured to be disposed within an opening of a first split-clamp pinch bearing of a first dropout of a suspension fork and within an opening of a second split-clamp pinch bearing of said suspension fork, said axle assembly comprising:
- an axle body, said axle body comprising:
- threads configured to be engaged with threads disposed on at least a portion of an interior surface of said first split-clamp pinch bearing;
- and
- a bore formed through said axle body;
- and
- a lever coupled to said axle body;
- a grip portion, said grip portion including a recess formed therein for stowing said lever;
- and
- wherein said first split-clamp pinch bearing and said second split-clamp pinch bearing are configured, when in a locked position, to clamp said axle body within said first split-clamp pinch bearing and within said second split-clamp pinch bearing, thereby preventing said axle body from un-threading from said first split-clamp pinch bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.