Suspension fork having reserved arch
AssigneeAnswer Products, Inc.
InventorsBrent T. Graves, James C. Rathbun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A front suspension fork for cycles includes an inverted U-shaped reversed arch having downwardly extending legs that are integral with the upper ends of the outer sections of the telescopic fork, thereby to define a rigid unitary slider component fork. The reversed arch is inclined rearwardly at an acute angle relative to the vertical plane of the fork. Strengthening mass portions extend forwardly from the lower ends of the arch between the inner fork sections, thereby to increase the rigidity of the slider component without interfering with brake operation.
Claims11
A reversed arch front suspension fork assembly for cycles having a front wheel rotatably mounted on an axle, and brake means for braking the front wheel, comprising:
- a vertical generally U-shaped inverted suspension fork having front and rear sides, said fork including:
- (a) a horizontal crown portion (4) having a pair of ends;
- (b) a pair of vertical sectional telescopic leg portions (6,8) extending downwardly from said crown portion ends, respectively, each of said fork leg portions including:
- (1) an inner upper tubular fork section (6b,8b) having an upper end connected with the associated end of said crown portion;
- and
- (2) an outer lower tubular fork section (6a,8a) slidably mounted concentrically about said inner fork section, said outer fork section having upper and lower ends, said outer fork section including axle connecting means integral with the lower end of said outer fork section for connecting one end of the front wheel axle with said outer fork section;
- (c) a generally vertical reversed arch portion (14) integral with and connected between the upper ends of said outer leg sections to define a unitary rigid slider component (15), said reversed arch portion having an inverted generally U-shaped configuration defining a pair of downwardly extending arch leg portions (14a,14b) the lower ends of which are integral with the upper ends of said outer fork sections, respectively, said reversed arch portion being inclined rearwardly at an acute angle (α) relative to the vertical plane containing said fork;
- and
- (d) brake connecting means for connecting front wheel brake means with said rigid slider component;
- (e) said arch leg sections including at their upper ends inwardly directed thickened end portions (6d,8d);
- (f) said reversed arch leg portions including at their lower extremities wrap-around mass end portions (14d) that extend forwardly between said inner fork sections for connection with said arch leg upper end thickened portions, respectively, thereby to increase the torsional stiffness of the fork.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.