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-clamp 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.
Claims18
A suspension for a two-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- first and second fork legs, each fork leg comprising a dropout, each dropout having an opening therethrough,
- wherein at least a portion of one of the openings is threaded, and
- wherein each of the dropouts comprises:
- a split-clamp 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;
- and
- a one-piece axle:
- disposed through the openings,
- having a threaded first end engaged with the threaded portion, and
- having an ergonomic grip formed at a second end,
- wherein the bearing tightly engages an outer surface of the axle in the locked position, thereby rotationally coupling the axle to the dropout.
A suspension for a two-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- first and second fork legs, each fork leg comprising a dropout, each dropout having an opening therethrough,
- wherein at least a portion of one of the openings is threaded, and
- wherein at least one of the dropouts comprises:
- a split-clamp 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;
- a one-piece axle:
- disposed through the openings,
- having a threaded first end engaged with the threaded portion, and
- having an ergonomic grip formed at a second end,
- wherein the bearing tightly engages an outer surface of the axle in the locked position, thereby rotationally coupling the axle to the dropout;
- and
- a lever pivoted to the grip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.