Patent US5494302A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5494302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspension assembly for a vehicle
Assignee: BlackRock Capital Investment Corp
•
Filing: 1993-03-26
•
Granted: 1996-02-27
•
Expires: 2013-03-26
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer steer tube which is adapted to be mounted in and extend through the head tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner steer tube telescopes within the outer steer tube. A shock absorbing system is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer steer tube and the outer surface of the inner steer tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to transmit the torsional steering force from the outer tube to the inner tube. The needle bearings thus bear radial loads as well as maintain the in line relationship of the outer and inner tubes for rotational forces while allowing the two tubes to freely telescope.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark S. Farris
- 👤 Michael A. Harrison
- 👤 John M. Loftus
- 👤 Aaron K. Taylor
- 👤 Christoph E. Mack
- 👤 Ross P. Collins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:14
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K25/00; B62K25/04; B62K25/06; B62K25/08; B62K21/00; B62K21/18; B62K21/20; F; F16; F16F; F16F9/00; F16F9/10; F16F9/14; F16F9/16; F16F9/32; F16F9/3207; F16F9/3235; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/2078; Y10T74/20786
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A suspension fork assembly for a steerable wheel including an elongated inner tube and an elongated outer tube coaxially mounted together and adapted to telescope with respect to each other, comprising the inner tube having an outer wall with a plurality of axially extending outwardly facing surfaces, comprising a given number of at least three such surfaces, a set of inner race inserts with one of the inner race inserts disposed on each of the outwardly facing surfaces, the outer tube having an inner wall with a plurality of axially extending inwardly facing surfaces of the given number, a set of outer race inserts of the given number with one of the outer race inserts disposed on each of the inwardly facing surfaces, a plurality of needle bearing sets of the given number, each set being disposed normal to longitudinal axes of said tubes and between the respective race inserts of the outer wall of the inner tube and the respective race inserts of the inner wall of the outer tube, whereby the race inserts of the inner and outer tubes in combination with the needle bearing sets allow the tubes to telescope with respect to each other, and enable torsional steering forces to be transferred between the inner tube and the outer tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A suspension fork assembly for a steerable wheel including an elongated inner tube and an elongated outer tube coaxially mounted together and adapted to telescope with respect to each other, comprising the inner tube having an outer wall with a plurality of axially extending outwardly facing surfaces, comprising a given number of at least three such surfaces, a set of inner race inserts with one of the inner race inserts disposed on each of the outwardly facing surfaces, the outer tube having an inner wall with a plurality of axially extending inwardly facing surfaces of the given number, a set of outer race inserts of the given number with one of the outer race inserts disposed on each of the inwardly facing surfaces, a plurality of needle bearing sets of the given number, each set being disposed normal to longitudinal axes of said tubes and between the respective race inserts of the outer wall of the inner tube and the respective race inserts of the inner wall of the outer tube, whereby the race inserts of the inner and outer tubes in combination with the needle bearing sets allow the tubes to telescope with respect to each other, and enable torsional steering forces to be transferred between the inner tube and the outer tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A suspension fork as in claim 1 wherein each of said outwardly facing surfaces is disposed within a longitudinal channel within the outer wall of the inner tube, each respective inner race insert being positioned within a longitudinal channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A suspension fork as in claim 1 each of said inwardly facing surfaces is disposed within a longitudinal channel within the inner wall of the outer tube, each respective outer race insert being positioned within a longitudinal channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A suspension fork as in claim 1 wherein said given number comprises four race inserts on each of said inner and outer tubes and four needle bearing sets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A suspension fork as in claim 1 wherein said sets of race inserts and needle bearings are arranged in a radially spaced relationship about the inner tube, the race inserts having a total thickness selected to produce a desired interference fit for the race inserts and the needle bearings between the inner tube and the outer tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A suspension fork as in claim 1 further including a shock absorbing system disposed within and coupled between said inner and outer tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A suspension fork as in claim 1 further including a cartridge type shock absorber disposed in the inner tube, the shock absorber having a first end attached to the inner tube and a second end attached to the outer tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A suspension fork as in claim 1 wherein the inner tube has four inner race insert inserts spaced about its outer perimeter, the inner tube telescoping within an outer tube, the outer tube having four outer races inserts spaced about its inner circumference, wherein the inner and outer race inserts have a thickness which achieves a desired interference fit between the inner tube and the outer tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A suspension fork as in claim 1 wherein said inner tube is a cylindrical tube having a hollow interior, wherein the suspension fork includes a shock absorber disposed in the hollow interior of the inner tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
221 words
A suspension fork assembly for a steerable wheel including an elongated inner tube and an elongated outer tube coaxially mounted together and adapted to telescope with respect to each other, comprising the inner tube having an outer wall with a plurality of axially extending outwardly facing flat surfaces, comprising a given number of at least three such surfaces, a set of flat sided inner race inserts with one of the inner race inserts disposed on each of the outwardly facing surfaces, the outer tube having an inner wall with a plurality of axially extending inwardly facing flat surfaces of the given number, a set of flat sided outer race inserts of the given number with one of the outer race inserts disposed on each of the inwardly facing surfaces, a plurality of sets of needle bearings of the given number, each set being disposed normal to longitudinal axes of said tubes and between the respective race inserts of the outer wall of the inner tube and the respective race inserts of the inner wall of the outer tube, whereby the races of the inner and outer tubes in combination with the sets of needle bearings allow the tubes to telescope with respect to each other, and enable torsional steering forces to be transferred between the inner tube and the outer tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
A suspension fork assembly for a steerable wheel including an elongated inner tube and an elongated outer tube coaxially mounted together and adapted to telescope with respect to each other, comprising the inner tube having an outer wall with a plurality of axially extending outwardly facing flat surfaces, comprising a given number of at least three such surfaces, a set of flat sided inner race inserts with one of the inner race inserts disposed on each of the outwardly facing surfaces, the outer tube having an inner wall with a plurality of axially extending inwardly facing flat surfaces of the given number, a set of flat sided outer race inserts of the given number with one of the outer race inserts disposed on each of the inwardly facing surfaces, a plurality of sets of needle bearings of the given number, each set being disposed normal to longitudinal axes of said tubes and between the respective race inserts of the outer wall of the inner tube and the respective race inserts of the inner wall of the outer tube, whereby the races of the inner and outer tubes in combination with the sets of needle bearings allow the tubes to telescope with respect to each other, and enable torsional steering forces to be transferred between the inner tube and the outer tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A suspension fork as in claim 10 wherein said given number comprises four race inserts on each of said inner and outer tubes and four needle bearing sets radially spaced about the inner tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A suspension fork as in claim 10 further including a shock absorbing system disposed within and coupled between said inner and outer tubes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A suspension fork as in claim 10 further including a cartridge type shock absorber disposed in the inner tube, the shock absorber having a first end attached to the inner tube and a second end attached to the outer tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A suspension fork as in claim 10 wherein said sets of race inserts and needle bearings are arranged in a radially spaced relationship about the inner tube, the race inserts having a total thickness selected to produce a desired interference fit for the race inserts and the needle bearings between the inner tube and the outer tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A suspension fork as in claim 10 wherein said inner tube is a cylindrical tube having a hollow interior, wherein the suspension fork includes a shock absorber disposed in the hollow interior of the inner tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US575152A
Cited
US601978A
Cited
US636726A
Cited
US689970A
Cited
US723075A
Cited
FR362619A
Cited
US846079A
Cited
GB264003A
Cited
GB295316A
Cited
GB469697A
Cited
GB529305A
Cited
GB585122A
Cited
US2477748A
Cited
US2493342A
Cited
US3208767A
Cited
US3327814A
Cited
US3459441A
Cited
US3797276A
Cited
US3964765A
Cited
US4254639A
Cited
US4537374A
Cited
US4509386A
Cited
US4705491A
Cited
US5157987A
Cited
US4898566A
Cited
US4815763A
Cited
US5074678A
Cited
US4971344B1
Cited
US4971344A
Cited
US5044648A
Cited
EP0420610A1
Cited
US5195766A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-26 | 1999-08-28 | 2000-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-26 | 2003-08-28 | 2004-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-26 | 2007-08-28 | 2008-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |