Toe link support and method of supporting a toe link

• US 10,518,597 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shock Therapy, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Justin, Ely, Ernie
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US16/228,463
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/462 Toe-in/out
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/43 Fittings, brackets or knuckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4402 Spacers or shims
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/8207 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/90 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/006 Attaching arms to sprung or unsprung part of vehicle, characterised by comprising attachment means controlled by an external actuator, e.g. a fluid or electrical motor B62D7/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/008 Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 17/00 Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in

Abstract

A toe link support is disclosed. In a first aspect, the toe link aperture of a hub has been bored out to receive inner and outer spacers. The spacers have bolt holes through which a toe link bolt is inserted to secure a toe link to the hub. The bolt is secured by a nut. The spacers protect the hub from damage by the bolt, and vice versa, resulting from motion of the toe link. In a second aspect, the outer spacer is further configured to be inserted into the bolt hole of the toe link, further protecting the bolt from damage. A method of supporting a toe link is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A toe link support comprising:

an inner spacer of substantially cylindrical shape, the inner spacer further comprising;

opposed first and second ends, wherein the first end is inserted into the toe link aperture of a hub from the inner side of the hub, the second end having a flange thereabout such that insertion depth of the first end into the toe link aperture is limited by engagement of the flange with the inner side of the hub, wherein the outer surface of the inner spacer engages the inner surface of the toe link aperture; and

a longitudinal aperture therethrough, the aperture being configured to receive a toe link bolt therethrough;

an outer spacer of substantially cylindrical shape, the outer spacer further comprising;

opposed first and second ends, wherein the first end is inserted into the toe link aperture of a hub from the outer side of the hub, the second end having a flange thereabout such that insertion depth of the first end into the toe link aperture is limited by engagement of the flange with outer side of the hub, wherein the outer surface of the inner spacer engages the inner surface of the toe link aperture; and

a longitudinal aperture therethrough, the aperture being configured to receive a toe link bolt therethrough; and

a rod end having a rod end aperture therethrough for receiving a toe link bolt therethrough, the second end of the outer spacer being further configured to be inserted into the rod end aperture, wherein the second end of the outer spacer is inserted into the rod end aperture from the inner side of the rod end, wherein insertion depth of the second end of the outer spacer into the rod end aperture is limited by engagement of the flange with the inner side of the rod end.

2. The toe link support of claim 1, wherein the toe link aperture of the hub has been bored out to a larger diameter than its original factory diameter.

3. The toe link support of claim 1, wherein the first end of the inner spacer engages the first end of the outer spacer.

4. The toe link support of claim 1, wherein the second end of the outer spacer engages an outer high misalignment spacer inserted into the rod end aperture from the outer side of the rod end.

5. The toe link support of claim 1, wherein a toe link bolt is inserted through the aperture of an outer high misalignment spacer, the outer high misalignment spacer being inserted into the rod end aperture from the outer side of the rod end, the toe link bolt also being inserted through the apertures of the inner and outer spacers, respectively, and secured with a nut.