Bicycle front fork assembly

• US 20060197303A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley L. Waldron, Christopher P D'Aluisio, Mike Sinyard
• Original Assignee: Bradley L. Waldron, Christopher P D'Aluisio, Mike Sinyard
• Inventors: D'Aluisio, Christopher P., Waldron, Bradley L., Sinyard, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/276
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/16 the material being wholly or mainly of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/02 Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2201/02 Rubber springs
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06

Abstract

A wheel support portion for a bicycle, such as a front fork assembly, arranged to reduce vibrations that originate at the bicycle wheel and are transmitted to the rider of the bicycle through the wheel support. Desirably, the front fork assembly is configured to be supported by a bicycle frame and includes a pair of fork legs, which extend in a downward direction along opposing sides of a front wheel of the bicycle. Preferably, the fork legs are configured to support the front wheel at their lower ends. Each of the fork legs defines a cavity and a damping member is positioned within the cavity. Also disclosed is a preferred method of manufacturing the wheel support.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a wheel support for a bicycle, comprising:

constructing a body including a pair of legs interconnected at a first end and configured to support a bicycle wheel at a second end, each of said pair of legs defining a substantially fixed length between said first end and said second end, an intermediate portion between said first and second end including an outer wall portion and an internal wall portion defining a cavity;

inserting a damping member into said cavity, said damping member comprising a vibration damping material.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing a dropout to said second end of each of said pair of legs.

3. A bicycle fork, comprising:

a body defining at least one fork leg having a fixed length, a lower end of said fork leg configured to support a wheel for rotation about a wheel axis, said body comprising a lateral wall extending in a direction substantially parallel to said wheel axis, said lateral wall at least partially defining a cavity; and

a vibration damping member positioned within said cavity.

4. A bicycle fork, comprising:

a body defining a steer tube and at least one fork leg having a fixed length, a lower end of said fork leg configured to support a wheel for rotation about a wheel axis, a side surface of said fork leg defining an opening communicating with a cavity; and

a vibration damping member positioned within said cavity.