Adjustable axle retaining structure
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorDaniel McCormick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable axle retaining structure is disclosed. The structure includes an axle receiving feature on a first leg of a fork assembly and a retaining sleeve within a clamping member on a second leg of the fork assembly. An axle is inserted through the clamping member, the wheel hub and coupled with the axle receiving feature. A component of the axle is tightened thereby moving the retaining sleeve partially out of the clamping member and toward the wheel hub until the wheel hub is in contact with both the retaining sleeve and the axle receiving feature, wherein the moving of the retaining sleeve allows the axle to radially couple the wheel hub with the fork assembly without modifying a preestablished geometry of the fork assembly.
Claims19
A fork assembly comprising:
- a crown;
- a first leg coupled to said crown;
- a second leg coupled to said crown;
- said first leg or said second leg comprises a hub/axle retaining feature;
- and
- an axle configured to couple a wheel hub between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly;
- wherein said hub/axle retaining feature is further configured to maintain an acceptable geometry for said fork assembly, said acceptable geometry at least partially defined by a separation distance between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly, said hub/axle retaining feature enabling wheel hubs of different axial lengths to be retained between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly without deviating from said acceptable geometry for said fork assembly.
A hub/axle retaining feature comprising:
- an at least partially tubular member having a first end and a second end;
- an opening defined by said at least partially tubular member, wherein said opening is configured to receive an axle therein, said hub/axle retaining feature is configured to be provided on a first leg of a fork assembly or on a second leg of said fork assembly;
- and
- wherein said at least partially tubular member is configured to couple with said axle and maintain an acceptable geometry for said fork assembly, said acceptable geometry at least partially defined by a separation distance between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly, said hub/axle retaining feature enabling wheel hubs of different axial lengths to be retained between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly without deviating from said acceptable geometry for said fork assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.