Toe link support and method of supporting a toe link

• US 11,554,623 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2019
• Issued: 01/17/2023
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Justin, Ely, Ernie
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilensky, Moshe
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cook, Kyle A
• Application Number:
  US16/729,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 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 method of supporting a toe link comprising:

boring a toe link aperture of a hub of a vehicle suspension system;

inserting an inner spacer into the bored toe link aperture from an inner side of the hub;

inserting a first end of an outer spacer into the bored toe link aperture of the hub and inserting a second end of the outer spacer into an aperture of a tie rod end;

inserting a bolt through the aperture of the tie rod end and through an aperture of

the outer spacer and an aperture of the inner spacer, wherein a diameter of the inner spacer and a diameter of the outer spacer each correspond to a diameter of the bored toe link aperture of the hub, and wherein a diameter of the aperture of the outer spacer and a diameter of the aperture of the inner spacer are the same as a diameter of the toe link aperture; and

securing the bolt with a nut, wherein the nut is disposed apart from the hub.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the toe link aperture has been damaged such that the toe link aperture is out of round prior to boring the toe link aperture.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a damaged bolt from the toe link aperture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein material of the inner spacer and the outer spacer is more resistant to damage than material of the hub.