Telescoping suspension fork having a quick release wheel axle clamp
AssigneeMaverick American LLC
InventorsPaul H. Turner, Frank E. Vogel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A telescoping fork for the front wheel of a two wheel vehicle comprises a pair of outer tubes that each have a bottom end and a top end. An upper structural member and a lower structural member connect the outer tubes. Further, each outer tube tapers outwardly, both externally and internally, in a direction from the bottom end toward the lower structural member and from the top end toward the lower structural member. The structural members may attach to a top and bottom of a steering column.
Claims26
A telescoping fork for the front wheel of a two wheeled vehicle, the fork comprising:
- a pair of outer tubes that each have a top end and a bottom end;
- an upper structural member connecting the outer tubes;
- and
- a lower structural member connecting the outer tubes, wherein the lower structural member is spaced below the upper structural member, wherein the upper structural member and the lower structural member are configured to be connected to a steering mechanism;
- wherein each outer tube tapers outwardly, both externally and internally, in a direction from the bottom end toward the lower structural member and from the top end toward the lower structural member.
A fluid damping system, comprising:
- a tube member having a closed end and an open end;
- a hollow damper rod extending through the open end of the tube member;
- a damper piston valve coupled to the damper rod and movable within the tube member, wherein the damper piston valve comprises a one-way valve that permits fluid flow in an upward direction upon compression;
- a sealing member disposed to create a seal between the tube member and the damper rod near the top end of the tube member;
- a sleeve disposed over a top portion of the damper rod;
- wherein the damper rod includes at least an upper orifice and a lower orifice that are located between the sealing member and the piston valve to permit fluid flow past the piston valve by passing through the damper rod during extension of the damper rod out of the tube member, wherein the lower orifice is manually closable, and wherein the sleeve is configured to close the upper orifice upon extension such that further extension is limited if the lower orifice is closed.
A releasable clamp system for clamping a wheel axle of a wheel to a two wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- a frame member defining a shape that is adapted to receive a portion of the wheel axle;
- a cover plate pivotally attached to the frame member that is adapted to receive another portion of the wheel axle, wherein the cover plate is movable between a closed position where the frame member and the cover plate generally encompass and clamp the wheel axle, and an open position that permits removal of the wheel axle;
- a lever pivotally attached to the cover plate;
- and
- a hook member pivotally attached to the lever, where the hook member is configured to hook onto the frame member and be pulled by the lever to secure the cover plate to the frame member when the cover plate is moved to the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.