Vehicle steering head
AssigneeHeinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG
InventorHeinz Kettler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle steering head including a fork tube adapted to engage a handlebar, a support tube which rotatably supports the fork tube, a latch element disposed within the support tube, and a slide which is moveable with respect to the support tube, wherein the slide is moveable from at least one position wherein linkage element prevents the fork tube from rotating with respect to the support tube to at least another position wherein the linkage element allows the fork tube to rotate with respect to the support tube in at least two directions.
Claims58
A vehicle steering head including a support tube which rotatably supports therein a fork tube to which a wheel fork and a handlebar can be secured, the steering head comprising:
- a latch element projecting from the fork tube and disposed within the support tube;
- and
- a linkage element disposed within the support tube,
- wherein the linkage element is moveable in a direction which is substantially parallel to an axis of the fork tube and comprises at least one stop surface for limiting a rotation of the fork tube when the latch element contacts the at least one stop surface.
A vehicle steering head including a support tube which rotatably supports therein a fork tube to which a wheel fork and a handlebar can be secured, the steering head comprising:
- a latch element disposed within the support tube, the latch element being moveable in a direction which is substantially parallel to an axis of the fork tube;
- and
- a linkage element that is rotatable with the fork tube, the linkage element comprising at least one stop surface;
- wherein the at least one stop surface limits the rotation of the fork tube with respect to the support tube, and
- wherein the latch element is connected to a slide, the slide being disposed within the support tube.
A vehicle steering head including a support tube which rotatable supports therein a fork tube to which a wheel fork and a handlebar can be secured, the steering head comprising:
- a latch element disposed within the support tube, the latch element being moveable in a direction which is substantially parallel to an axis of the fork tube;
- and
- a linkage element that is rotatable with the fork tube, the linkage element comprising at least one stop surface;
- wherein the at least one stop surface limits the rotation of the fork tube with respect to the support tube, and
- a slide that is disposed within the support tube and retains the latch element.
A vehicle steering head including a support tube which rotatable supports therein a fork tube to which a wheel fork and a handlebar can be secured, the steering head comprising:
- a latch element disposed within the support tube, the latch element being moveable in a direction which is substantially parallel to an axis of the fork tube;
- and
- a linkage element that is rotatable with the fork tube, the linkage element comprising at least one stop surface;
- wherein the at least one stop surface limits the rotation of the fork tube with respect to the support tube, and
- wherein the linkage element comprises a mudguard.
A vehicle steering head including a support tube which rotatably supports therein a fork tube to which a wheel fork and a handlebar can be secured, the steering head comprising:
- a latch element disposed within the support tube, the latch element being moveable in a direction which is substantially parallel to an axis of the fork tube;
- and
- a linkage element connected to the fork tube so as to rotate therewith, the linkage element comprising at least one stop surface;
- wherein the at least one stop surface limits the rotation of the fork tube with respect to the support tube, and
- wherein the latch element comprises a rod like member which is arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the fork tube.
A vehicle steering head including a support tube which rotatably supports therein a fork tube to which a wheel fork and a handlebar can be secured, the steering head comprising:
- a latch element disposed within the support tube, the latch element being moveable in a direction which is substantially parallel to an axis of the fork tube;
- and
- a linkage element that is rotatable with the fork tube, the linkage element comprising at least one stop surface;
- wherein the at least one stop surface limits the rotation of the fork tube with respect to the support tube, and
- a bearing support disposed on at least one end of the support tube.
A vehicle steering head including a support tube and fork tube which is rotatably mounted with respect to the support tube, the steering head comprising:
- an upper bearing support disposed at an upper end of the support tube;
- a lower bearing support disposed at a lower end of the support tube;
- the fork tube comprising a fork end and a handlebar engaging end;
- a latch element projecting from the fork tube between the fork end and the handlebar engaging end, the latch element being disposed within the support tube;
- and
- a linkage element slidable disposed within the support tube, the linkage element comprising at least one stop surface for engaging the latch element;
- wherein the linkage element is moveable in a direction which is substantially parallel to an axis of the fork tube from a first position, wherein the latch element and the at least one stop cooperate to limit the rotational movement of the fork tube, to a second position where the latch element releasably engages a locking element disposed on the linkage element whereby the fork tube is prevented from rotating in any direction.
A vehicle steering head including a support rube and fork tube which is rotatably mounted with respect to the support tube, the steering head comprising:
- an upper bearing support disposed at an upper end of the support tube;
- a lower bearing support disposed at a lower end of the support tube, the lower bearing support comprising at least one stop surface;
- the fork tube comprising a fork end and a handlebar engaging end;
- a latch element slidably disposed adjacent the fork tube between the fork end and the handlebar engaging end, the latch element being disposed within the support tube;
- and
- a linkage element moveably disposed adjacent the lower support bearing, the linkage element comprising at least one stop surface for engaging the at least one stop surface of the lower bearing support and comprising a recess for receiving the latch element,
- wherein the latch element is moveable in a direction which is substantially parallel to an axis of the fork tube from a first position where the latch element engages only the lower bearing support, wherein the at least one stop of the lower bearing support cooperates with the at least one stop of the linkage element to limit the rotational movement of the fork tube, to a second position where the latch element releasably engages a recess in the linkage element whereby the fork tube is prevented from rotating in any direction.
A vehicle steering head comprising:
- a fork tube adapted to engage a handlebar;
- a support tube which rotatably supports the fork tube;
- a latch element disposed within the support tube;
- a slide which is moveable with respect to the support tube;
- and
- a linkage element;
- wherein the slide is moveable from at least one position wherein the linkage element prevents the fork tube from rotating with respect to the support tube to at least another position wherein the linkage element allows the fork tube to rotate with respect to the support rube in at least two directions, and
- wherein the slide is adapted to move the latch element from outside the support tube.
A vehicle steering head comprising:
- a support tube adapted to be coupled to a vehicle frame;
- an upper bearing support arranged at an upper end of the support tube;
- a lower bearing support arranged at a lower end of the support tube, the lower bearing support comprising at least one stop surface;
- a cylindrical element rotatably mounted to the support tube via the upper and lower bearing supports;
- the cylindrical element having one end that is adapted to be connected to a wheel fork and another end that is adapted to be connected to a handlebar;
- a latch element movably disposed within the support tube;
- a slide coupled to the latch element;
- the latch element being movable from outside the support tube;
- a linkage element that is rotatable with respect to the support tube;
- and
- the linkage element cooperating with the lower bearing support to limit a rotational movement of the linkage element with respect to the support tube,
- wherein the latch element and the linkage element are releasably engagable with each other to prevent rotational movement of the cylindrical element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.