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.
Claims22
An axle assembly comprising:
- a unitary axle body having a first end and a second end connected by a tubular body portion, said tubular body portion having an inner wall, said inner wall defining a through bore;
- a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion positioned between said first end and said second end, said first bearing portion including threads positioned adjacent said first end of said unitary axle body, said first bearing portion including a smooth bearing surface inwardly spaced from threads and said first end of said unitary axle body;
- said second end of said unitary axle body including a grip portion;
- wherein said first bearing portion and said second bearing portion are configured for mounting in a first dropout and a second dropout, respectively, of a suspension fork, wherein said threads of said first bearing portion are configured for mounting in complementary threads in a corresponding threaded portion of said first dropout;
- and
- a pivotable lever coupled to said axle assembly, said pivotable lever configured to rotate said axle assembly about a longitudinal axis of said unitary axle body such that said threads of said first bearing portion interlock with said complementary threads in said corresponding threaded portion of said first dropout, said pivotable lever being pivotable about a fastener positioned on at least one of a first wing extending outwardly from a longitudinal axis of said unitary axle body and a second wing extending outward from said longitudinal axis of said unitary axle body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.