US20090212527A1 - Base of shock-absorbing front fork for bicycle - Google Patents

Base of shock-absorbing front fork for bicycle Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090212527A1
US20090212527A1 US12/107,469 US10746908A US2009212527A1 US 20090212527 A1 US20090212527 A1 US 20090212527A1 US 10746908 A US10746908 A US 10746908A US 2009212527 A1 US2009212527 A1 US 2009212527A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
base
bridge
straight tubes
shock
front fork
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/107,469
Inventor
Kuo-Pin Yu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Yuan Min An Enterprise Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Yuan Min An Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yuan Min An Enterprise Co Ltd filed Critical Yuan Min An Enterprise Co Ltd
Assigned to YUAN MIN AN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. reassignment YUAN MIN AN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: YU, KUO-PIN
Publication of US20090212527A1 publication Critical patent/US20090212527A1/en
Priority to US12/765,308 priority Critical patent/US8245403B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62KCYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K25/00Axle suspensions
    • B62K25/04Axle suspensions for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork
    • B62K25/06Axle suspensions for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork with telescopic fork, e.g. including auxiliary rocking arms
    • B62K25/08Axle suspensions for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork with telescopic fork, e.g. including auxiliary rocking arms for front wheel
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/49Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49609Spring making
    • Y10T29/49611Spring making for vehicle or clutch
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/49Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49616Structural member making
    • Y10T29/49622Vehicular structural member making
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/49Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49801Shaping fiber or fibered material
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/49Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49826Assembling or joining
    • Y10T29/49904Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a bicycle, and more specifically to a base of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle, which has advantages of high structural strength and long service life such that the base is suitable to be mounted on a mountain bicycle especially.
  • a conventional shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle includes an upper frame and a base.
  • the upper frame has an upright tube, a fork crown connected with a bottom end of the upright tube, and two branch tubes respectively extending downward from each of two ends of the fork crown.
  • the base has two straight tubes for receiving the branch tubes of the upper frame, and a bridge connected with the straight tubes.
  • a front wheel is pivotally mounted to bottom ends of the straight tubes. Silicone oil and/or a spring are received inside each straight tube to provide a shock-absorbing effect.
  • the straight tubes and the bridge are manufactured individually and connected with each other by adhesive. After the base is used for a long time, the adhesive between the straight tubes and the bridge will easily generate crevices due to the fatigue or the decline of the adhesive, causing separation of the straight tubes and the bridge.
  • the present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-noted circumstances. It is one objective of the present invention to provide a base of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle, which has high structural strength.
  • the base comprises two straight tubes and a bridge.
  • the bridge has two ends connected integrally with an upper section of each of the straight tubes, and a chamber therein.
  • the base of the present invention has high structural strength and long service life.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of the base according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the base according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the base according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 - 4 of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 1 .
  • a base 10 of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is made of fiber reinforced resin.
  • the fiber can adopt, but not limited to, carbon fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber or Kevlar fiber.
  • the resin can adopt, but not limited to, thermosetting resin or thermoplastic resin.
  • the base 10 comprises two straight tubes 20 and a bridge 30 .
  • the straight tubes 20 each have a large diameter portion 22 located at an upper section 21 thereof for accommodation of an oil seal (not shown), and a small diameter portion 24 for receiving a branch tube of an upper frame (not shown).
  • the bridge 30 has two ends connected integrally with the upper section 21 of each of the straight tubes 20 , a chamber 32 therein, and a foamed core 34 inside the chamber 32 .
  • the two straight tubes 20 are cured first, and then pre-pregs are wound around the upper sections 21 of the straight tubes 20 to form a model of the bridge 30 having the foamed core 34 therein.
  • the model of the bridge 30 and the foamed core 34 are placed in a mold (not shown) to be cured into its desired shape with heat treatment such that the pre-pregs are abutted against an inner wall of the mold due to inflation of the foamed core 34 .
  • the bridge 30 and the straight tubes 20 can be connected integrally with each other without any gap between the bridge 30 and the straight tubes 20 , as shown in FIG. 5 . Therefore the structure strength of the base 10 is high enough to bear high stress, and the service life of the base 10 is long such that the base 10 is suitable to be mounted on a mountain bicycle especially.
  • the base 10 of the shock-absorbing front fork of the present invention can be made with various kinds of design on the basis of the spirit of the present invention.
  • the foamed core 34 can be replaced by other liquids or solids, which can be changed to gas after heat treatment.
  • the shape of the large diameter portions 22 and the small diameter portions 24 of the straight tubes 20 are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, even the large diameter portions 22 and the small diameter portions 24 can be eliminated subject to the actual need.

Abstract

A base of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle includes two straight tubes and a bridge. The bridge has two ends connected integrally with an upper section of each of the straight tubes. The bridge has a chamber therein. Thus, the base of the shock-absorbing front fork has the advantages of high structural strength and long service life.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates generally to a bicycle, and more specifically to a base of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle, which has advantages of high structural strength and long service life such that the base is suitable to be mounted on a mountain bicycle especially.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • A conventional shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle includes an upper frame and a base. The upper frame has an upright tube, a fork crown connected with a bottom end of the upright tube, and two branch tubes respectively extending downward from each of two ends of the fork crown. The base has two straight tubes for receiving the branch tubes of the upper frame, and a bridge connected with the straight tubes. A front wheel is pivotally mounted to bottom ends of the straight tubes. Silicone oil and/or a spring are received inside each straight tube to provide a shock-absorbing effect.
  • However, the straight tubes and the bridge are manufactured individually and connected with each other by adhesive. After the base is used for a long time, the adhesive between the straight tubes and the bridge will easily generate crevices due to the fatigue or the decline of the adhesive, causing separation of the straight tubes and the bridge.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-noted circumstances. It is one objective of the present invention to provide a base of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle, which has high structural strength.
  • It is another objective of the present invention to provide a base of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle, which has long service life.
  • To achieve these objectives of the present invention, the base comprises two straight tubes and a bridge. The bridge has two ends connected integrally with an upper section of each of the straight tubes, and a chamber therein.
  • Accordingly, the base of the present invention has high structural strength and long service life.
  • Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of the base according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the base according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
  • FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the base according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a base 10 of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is made of fiber reinforced resin. The fiber can adopt, but not limited to, carbon fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber or Kevlar fiber. The resin can adopt, but not limited to, thermosetting resin or thermoplastic resin. The base 10 comprises two straight tubes 20 and a bridge 30.
  • The straight tubes 20 each have a large diameter portion 22 located at an upper section 21 thereof for accommodation of an oil seal (not shown), and a small diameter portion 24 for receiving a branch tube of an upper frame (not shown).
  • The bridge 30 has two ends connected integrally with the upper section 21 of each of the straight tubes 20, a chamber 32 therein, and a foamed core 34 inside the chamber 32.
  • During the actual manufacture, the two straight tubes 20 are cured first, and then pre-pregs are wound around the upper sections 21 of the straight tubes 20 to form a model of the bridge 30 having the foamed core 34 therein. Next, the model of the bridge 30 and the foamed core 34 are placed in a mold (not shown) to be cured into its desired shape with heat treatment such that the pre-pregs are abutted against an inner wall of the mold due to inflation of the foamed core 34. As a result, the bridge 30 and the straight tubes 20 can be connected integrally with each other without any gap between the bridge 30 and the straight tubes 20, as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore the structure strength of the base 10 is high enough to bear high stress, and the service life of the base 10 is long such that the base 10 is suitable to be mounted on a mountain bicycle especially.
  • The base 10 of the shock-absorbing front fork of the present invention can be made with various kinds of design on the basis of the spirit of the present invention. For example, the foamed core 34 can be replaced by other liquids or solids, which can be changed to gas after heat treatment. Further, the shape of the large diameter portions 22 and the small diameter portions 24 of the straight tubes 20 are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, even the large diameter portions 22 and the small diameter portions 24 can be eliminated subject to the actual need.
  • The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (4)

1. A base of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle, comprising:
two straight tubes; and
a bridge having two ends connected integrally with an upper section of each of said straight tubes, and a chamber therein.
2. The base as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridge is provided with a foamed core inside said chamber.
3. The base as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two straight tubes and said bridge are made of fiber reinforced resin.
4. The base as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said straight tubes has a large diameter portion located at said upper section thereof, and a small diameter portion.
US12/107,469 2008-02-26 2008-04-22 Base of shock-absorbing front fork for bicycle Abandoned US20090212527A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/765,308 US8245403B2 (en) 2008-02-26 2010-04-22 Process of making base of shock-absorbing front fork for bicycle

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TW097203297U TWM336905U (en) 2008-02-26 2008-02-26 Bottom seat for front shock absorption fork of bicycle
TW97203297 2008-02-26

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/765,308 Continuation US8245403B2 (en) 2008-02-26 2010-04-22 Process of making base of shock-absorbing front fork for bicycle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090212527A1 true US20090212527A1 (en) 2009-08-27

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US12/107,469 Abandoned US20090212527A1 (en) 2008-02-26 2008-04-22 Base of shock-absorbing front fork for bicycle
US12/765,308 Expired - Fee Related US8245403B2 (en) 2008-02-26 2010-04-22 Process of making base of shock-absorbing front fork for bicycle

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/765,308 Expired - Fee Related US8245403B2 (en) 2008-02-26 2010-04-22 Process of making base of shock-absorbing front fork for bicycle

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TW (1) TWM336905U (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102014105049A1 (en) * 2014-04-09 2015-10-15 Dt Swiss Ag Fork component for an at least partially muscle-operated bicycle
US11794542B2 (en) * 2021-03-08 2023-10-24 DRiV Automotive Inc. Shock absorber with metal damper tube and composite mounting attachment and spring seat

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5078417A (en) * 1989-07-19 1992-01-07 Cycle Composites, Inc. All terrain cycle fork with fiber reinforced resin blades and crown and method of making same
US5181732A (en) * 1988-07-25 1993-01-26 Look S.A. Composite bicycle fork
USD368054S (en) * 1995-04-17 1996-03-19 Answer Products, Inc. Bicycle suspension fork
US5626355A (en) * 1994-04-01 1997-05-06 Voss; Darrell W. Telescoping-type front fork bicycle suspensions
USD401537S (en) * 1996-07-15 1998-11-24 Rockshox, Inc. Bicycle front fork lower tube assembly
USD415449S (en) * 1998-12-22 1999-10-19 Chin-Sung Tsai Suspension fork
US20030001358A1 (en) * 2001-07-02 2003-01-02 Becker William M. Bicycle fork cartridge assembly
USD470440S1 (en) * 2000-12-26 2003-02-18 Rockshox, Inc. Bicycle shock absorber lower tube assembly
US6607185B2 (en) * 2001-10-17 2003-08-19 Answer Products, Inc. Suspension fork having reserved arch
US20040084871A1 (en) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-06 Mario Galasso Suspension assembly for a vehicle
US7413207B2 (en) * 2005-09-16 2008-08-19 Yuan Min An Enterprise Co., Ltd. Front fork for a bicycle

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2546473B1 (en) * 1983-05-24 1987-12-11 Verre Tisse Sa TUBULAR MATERIAL BASED ON A RESIN REINFORCED BY A TEXTILE MATERIAL AND FRAME OF A BICYCLE OR SIMILAR VEHICLE MADE FROM SUCH A MATERIAL
FR2589121B1 (en) * 1985-10-29 1987-12-11 Verre Tisse Sa BICYCLE FORK OR THE LIKE BASED ON A RESIN REINFORCED BY A TEXTILE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF
DE3825245A1 (en) * 1988-07-25 1990-02-08 Look Sa METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BICYCLE FORK AND BICYCLE FORK PRODUCED BY THIS METHOD
US5016895A (en) * 1989-07-19 1991-05-21 Cycle Composites, Inc. Cycle fork with fiber reinforced resin blades and crown and method of making same
US5762352A (en) * 1996-03-15 1998-06-09 Lee; Kyu-Wang Bicycle fork having a fiber reinforced steerer tube and fiber reinforced crown and blades and method of making same
US6049982A (en) * 1998-05-22 2000-04-18 Tseng; Shao-Chien Integrated molding method for the front fork of a bicycle
US7503576B1 (en) * 2006-08-07 2009-03-17 Answer Products, Inc. Molded assembly to combine a steering tube made of resin blended with carbon fiber composites and a crown made of aluminum for use in a two wheeled vehicle fork assembly
TWM324023U (en) * 2007-06-12 2007-12-21 Yuan Min An Entpr Co Ltd Rear frame of a bicycle

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5181732A (en) * 1988-07-25 1993-01-26 Look S.A. Composite bicycle fork
US5078417A (en) * 1989-07-19 1992-01-07 Cycle Composites, Inc. All terrain cycle fork with fiber reinforced resin blades and crown and method of making same
US5626355A (en) * 1994-04-01 1997-05-06 Voss; Darrell W. Telescoping-type front fork bicycle suspensions
USD368054S (en) * 1995-04-17 1996-03-19 Answer Products, Inc. Bicycle suspension fork
USD401537S (en) * 1996-07-15 1998-11-24 Rockshox, Inc. Bicycle front fork lower tube assembly
USD415449S (en) * 1998-12-22 1999-10-19 Chin-Sung Tsai Suspension fork
USD470440S1 (en) * 2000-12-26 2003-02-18 Rockshox, Inc. Bicycle shock absorber lower tube assembly
US20030001358A1 (en) * 2001-07-02 2003-01-02 Becker William M. Bicycle fork cartridge assembly
US6607185B2 (en) * 2001-10-17 2003-08-19 Answer Products, Inc. Suspension fork having reserved arch
US20040084871A1 (en) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-06 Mario Galasso Suspension assembly for a vehicle
US7413207B2 (en) * 2005-09-16 2008-08-19 Yuan Min An Enterprise Co., Ltd. Front fork for a bicycle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20100199498A1 (en) 2010-08-12
TWM336905U (en) 2008-07-21
US8245403B2 (en) 2012-08-21

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: YUAN MIN AN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD., CHINA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:YU, KUO-PIN;REEL/FRAME:020840/0507

Effective date: 20080403

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION