# US 9,039,023 B2 · Outer tube for front fork > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,023 B2 - Document ID: US9039023B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/430,467 - Filed: 2012-03-26 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-26 - Assignees: Showa Corporation - Applicants: Tomoya Toda - Inventors: Tomoya Toda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039023B2 ## CPC - B62K 19/16: the material being wholly or mainly of plastics - B62K 19/32: Steering heads (bearings therefor B62K21/06) - B62K 21/02: Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine - B62K 25/08: for front wheel - F16F 9/3235: {of cylinders (F16F9/483 takes precedence)} - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract In an outer tube for a front fork, a metal upper collar to which an upper vehicle body attaching bracket is connected is fitted and attached to an upper end portion of the plastic pipe, a metal sleeve is fitted and attached between an intermediate portion and a lower end portion of the plastic pipe, and the sleeve is provided with a lower collar to which a lower vehicle body attaching bracket is connected, and a seal case for inserting and supporting the inner tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Right and left outer tubes for a front fork each tube having a plastic pipe, wherein a metal upper collar is fitted and attached to an upper end portion of the plastic pipe, a metal sleeve is fitted and attached between an intermediate portion and lower end portion of the plastic pipe, and the sleeve is provided with a lower collar and a seal case for inserting and supporting an inner tube, the right and left outer tubes are connected by an upper vehicle body attaching bracket and a lower vehicle body attaching bracket, the upper vehicle body attaching bracket is attached to the metal upper collar of the right outer tube and the metal upper collar of the left outer tube, the lower vehicle body attaching bracket is attached to the lower collar of the metal sleeve of the right outer tube and the lower collar of the metal sleeve of the left outer tube, and a portion of the sleeve which is between the lower collar and seal case is formed as a thin connecting portion which is thinner than the lower collar and the seal case. ### Claim 2 Right and left outer tubes for a front fork each tube having a plastic pipe, wherein a metal upper collar is fitted and attached to an upper end portion of the plastic pipe, a metal sleeve is fitted and attached between an intermediate portion and a lower end portion of the plastic pipe, and the sleeve is provided with a lower collar and a seal case for inserting and supporting an inner tube, the right and left outer tubes are connected by an upper vehicle body attaching bracket and a lower vehicle body attaching bracket, the upper vehicle body attaching bracket is attached to the metal upper collar of the right outer tube and the metal upper collar of the left outer tube, the lower vehicle body attaching bracket is attached to the lower collar of the metal sleeve of the right outer tube and the lower collar of the metal sleeve of the left outer tube, the upper collar is provided with an inner peripheral upper step portion which is brought into contact with an upper end surface of the plastic pipe, the sleeve is provided with an inner peripheral lower step portion which is brought into contact with a lower end surface of the plastic pipe, and a portion of the sleeve which is between the lower collar and seal case is formed as a thin connecting portion which is thinner than the lower collar and the seal case. ### Claim 3 Right and left outer tubes for a front fork each tube having a plastic pipe, wherein a metal upper collar is fitted and attached to an upper end portion of the plastic pipe, a metal sleeve is fitted and attached between an intermediate portion and a lower end portion of the plastic pipe, and the sleeve is provided with a lower collar and a seal case for inserting and supporting an inner tube, the right and left outer tubes are connected by an upper vehicle body attaching bracket and a lower vehicle body attaching bracket, the upper vehicle body attaching bracket is attached to the metal upper collar of the right outer tube and the metal upper collar of the left outer tube, the lower vehicle body attaching bracket is attached to the lower collar of the metal sleeve of the right outer tube and the lower collar of the metal sleeve of the left outer tube, and an opening portion is formed in a notch manner in a portion of the sleeve which is between the lower collar and seal case. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The outer tube for a front fork according to claim 3, wherein the sleeve is structured such that the opening portion is formed in a notch manner in a side surface in a vehicle body right and left direction. ### Claim 5 Right and left outer tubes for a front fork each tube having a plastic pipe, wherein a metal upper collar is fitted and attached to an upper end portion of the plastic pipe, a metal sleeve is fitted and attached between an intermediate portion and a lower end portion of the plastic pipe, and the sleeve is provided with a lower collar and a seal case for inserting and supporting an inner tube, the right and left outer tubes are connected by an upper vehicle body attaching bracket and a lower vehicle body attaching bracket, the upper vehicle body attaching bracket is attached to the metal upper collar of the right outer tube and the metal upper collar of the left outer tube, the lower vehicle body attaching bracket is attached to the lower collar of the metal sleeve of the right outer tube and the lower collar of the metal sleeve of the left outer tube, the upper collar is provided with an inner peripheral upper step portion which is brought into contact with an upper end surface of the plastic pipe, the sleeve is provided with an inner peripheral lower step portion which is brought into contact with a lower end surface of the plastic pipe, and an opening portion is formed in a notch manner in a portion of the sleeve which is between the lower collar and seal case. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The outer tube for a front fork according to claim 5, wherein the sleeve is structured such that the opening portion is formed in a notch manner in a side surface in a vehicle body right and left direction.