U.S. patent application number 17/031846 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-24 for front fork offset adjustment device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mu-Rong Li. Invention is credited to Mu-Rong Li.
Application Number | 20220089245 17/031846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005166801 |
Filed Date | 2022-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220089245 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Mu-Rong |
March 24, 2022 |
FRONT FORK OFFSET ADJUSTMENT DEVICE
Abstract
A bicycle front fork adjustment device includes two legs and
each leg includes a dropout which includes a first portion and a
second portion. The second portion extends from the first portion
in a direction away from the first portion. A room is formed in
outside of each of the dropouts and located corresponding to the
first and second portions. A first hole and a second hole are
respectively defined through the inner bottom of the room, and
respectively located corresponding to the first and second
portions. The room forms an opening via which an adjustment member
is adjustably located in the room. The adjustment member includes a
passage which is located corresponding to the first or the second
hole by adjusting the adjustment member between a first position
and a second position in the room.
Inventors: |
Li; Mu-Rong; (TAICHUNG CITY,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Li; Mu-Rong |
TAICHUNG CITY |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005166801 |
Appl. No.: |
17/031846 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62K 25/02 20130101;
B62K 21/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62K 21/02 20060101
B62K021/02 |
Claims
1. A bicycle front fork adjustment device comprising: a front fork
including a crown portion and two legs extending from the crown
portion, each leg including a dropout which includes a first
portion and a second portion, the second portion extending from the
first portion in a direction away from the first portion, a room
formed in an outside of each of the dropouts and located
corresponding to the first and second portions, a first hole
defined through an inner bottom of the room and located
corresponding to the first portion, a second hole defined through
the inner bottom of the room and located corresponding to the
second portion, the room forming an opening which is located away
from the inner bottom of the room, and an adjustment member
adjustably located in the room of each leg, the adjustment member
having a passage defined therethrough, the adjustment member being
located at a first position in the room when the passage is located
corresponding to the first hole, the adjustment member being
located at a second position in the room when the passage is
located corresponding to the second hole.
2. The bicycle front fork adjustment device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the adjustment member is an elongate member, the room is an
elongate room so as to accommodate the adjustment member.
3. The bicycle front fork adjustment device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the adjustment member includes a connection portion and a
sealed portion, the passage is located at the connection portion,
when the adjustment member is located at the first position, the
sealed portion seals the second hole of the dropout corresponding
thereto, when the adjustment member is located at the second
position, the sealed portion seals the first hole of the dropout
corresponding thereto.
4. The bicycle front fork adjustment device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein each dropout includes a bore which is located between the
first and second holes, the adjustment member includes a reception
hole facing the room of the dropout corresponding thereto, a
securing member includes a head and a shank, the shank extends
through the bore and is connected to the reception hole, the head
contacts an inside of the dropout.
5. The bicycle front fork adjustment device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein an inner periphery of each room includes a straight portion
and a tapered portion, the straight portion is located away from
the inner bottom of the room, the tapered portion is located away
from the opening of the room, the adjustment member is shaped to be
engaged with the room, an outer periphery of the adjustment member
includes a tapered face and a straight face, when the adjustment
member is located in the room, the tapered face of the adjustment
member is matched with the tapered portion of the room, and the
straight face of the adjustment member is matched with the straight
portion of the room.
6. The bicycle front fork adjustment device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein each of the legs includes a brake mount movably connected
thereto, the brake mount extends in a common direction as the
second portion extends.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Fields of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a bicycle front fork, and
more particularly, to a front fork offset adjustment device.
2. Descriptions of Related Art
[0002] Bicycle front forks play an important role for operation of
a bicycle. For example, the value of trail affects the turning and
straight movement of the bicycle. In order to have a desired value
of trail, the users usually adjust the fork offset (rake). However,
the steps for adjustment of the fork offset is complicated.
Taiwanese Patent M585740 discloses a front fork offset adjustment
wherein the angle that the dropouts adjust is fixed. Most of the
users replace a new front fork to meet their needs. Although some
users own multiple front forks, the cost for preparing the front
forks will be not suitable for most users. It is also not a
convenient way for the users to carry spare front forks with
them.
[0003] The present invention intends to provide a front fork offset
adjustment device which is easily operated and eliminates
shortcomings mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a bicycle front fork
adjustment device and comprises a front fork including a crown
portion and two legs extending from the crown portion. Each leg
includes a dropout which includes a first portion and a second
portion, wherein the second portion extends from the first portion
in a direction away from the first portion. A room is formed in the
outside of each of the dropouts and located corresponding to the
first and second portions. A first hole is defined through the
inner bottom of the room and located corresponding to the first
portion. A second hole is defined through the inner bottom of the
room and located corresponding to the second portion. The room
forms an opening which is located away from the inner bottom of the
room. An adjustment member is adjustably located in the room of
each leg. The adjustment member has a passage defined therethrough.
The adjustment member is located at a first position in the room
when the passage is located corresponding to the first hole. The
adjustment member is located at a second position in the room when
the passage is located corresponding to the second hole. The
bicycle hub is connected to the passage and the first hole or the
second hole to achieve the purpose of adjusting the fork
offset.
[0005] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration
only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the front fork offset
adjustment device of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the front fork offset
adjustment device of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is an end view of the adjustment member of the front
fork offset adjustment device of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of the adjustment member of the front
fork offset adjustment device of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 5 shows that the front fork offset adjustment device of
the present invention is cooperated with a wheel;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view, taken along line VI-VI in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 7 shows that the adjustment member is removed from the
room of the dropout of the front fork;
[0013] FIG. 8 shows that the adjustment member is rotated and to be
put in the room of the dropout of the front fork;
[0014] FIG. 9 shows that the adjustment member is located at the
second position in the room of the dropout;
[0015] FIG. 10 shows that the adjustment member located at the
second position in the room of the dropout, and the wheel is
installed to the front fork;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view, taken along line X-X in
FIG. 9;
[0017] FIG. 12 shows that the wheel is equipped with another brake
disk and is installed to the front fork, wherein the adjustment
member located at the first position, and
[0018] FIG. 13 shows that the adjustment member located at the
second position of the front fork as disclosed in FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 11, the front fork offset adjustment
device of the present invention comprises a front fork 1 including
a crown portion and two legs 11 extending from the crown portion.
Each leg 11 includes a dropout 2 which includes a first portion 21
and a second portion 22. The second portion 22 extends from the
first portion 21 in a direction away from the first portion 21. A
room 23 is formed in the outside of each of the dropouts 2 and
located corresponding to the first and second portions 21, 22. A
first hole 211 is defined through the inner bottom of the room 23
and located corresponding to the first portion 21. A second hole
221 is defined through the inner bottom of the room 23 and located
corresponding to the second portion 22. The room 23 forms an
opening 234 which is located away from the inner bottom of the room
23. An adjustment member 3 is adjustably located in the room 23 of
each leg 11. The adjustment member 3 includes a passage 311 defined
therethrough.
[0020] The adjustment member 3 is located at a first position
(offset65) in the room 23 when the passage 311 is located
corresponding to the first hole 211. Alternatively, the adjustment
member 3 is located at a second position (offset44) in the room 23
when the passage 311 is located corresponding to the second hole
221. The axle of the hub of a front wheel 8 is engaged with the
passage 311 and one of the first hole 211 or the second hole
221.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 12, when adjusting the front fork
offset, from the first position to the second position, the front
wheel 8 is removed from the front fork 1 first, and the adjustment
member 3 is removed from the room 23. The adjustment member 3 is
then rotated 180 degrees, and the adjustment member 3 is put into
the room 23 again with the second hole 221 is located corresponding
to the passage 311. The front wheel 8 is installed to the front
fork 1 as shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 to engage the axle of the hub of
the front wheel 8 with the passage 311 and the second hole 221.
[0022] Specifically, the adjustment member 3 is an elongate member,
and the room 23 is an elongate room so as to accommodate the
adjustment member 3. The elongate adjustment member 3 and the
elongate room 23 ensure that the adjustment member 3 not to shake.
The adjustment member 3 includes a connection portion 31 and a
sealed portion 35, wherein the passage 311 is located at the
connection portion 31. When the adjustment member 3 is located at
the first position, the sealed portion 35 seals the second hole 221
of the dropout 2 corresponding thereto. When the adjustment member
3 is located at the second position, the sealed portion 35 seals
the first hole 211 of the dropout 2 corresponding thereto. This
arrangement ensures that the users install the axle of the hub of
the front wheel 8 with the passage 311 and the desired first hole
211 or the second hole 221. In addition, dust can be prevented from
entering the hub.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 11, each dropout 2 includes a
bore 24 which is located between the first and second holes 211,
221. The adjustment member 3 includes a reception hole 32 facing
the room 23 of the dropout 2 corresponding thereto. A securing
member 4 includes a head 41 and a shank 42. The shank 42 extends
through the bore 24 and is threadedly connected to the reception
hole 32. The head 41 contacts the inside of the dropout 2.
Preferably, the head 41 is in flush with the inside of the dropout
2.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the inner periphery of each room
23 includes a straight portion 231 and a tapered portion 232 when
viewed from laterally. The straight portion 231 is located away
from the inner bottom of the room 23. The tapered portion 232 is
located away from the opening 234 of the room 23. The adjustment
member 3 is shaped to be engaged with the room 23. The outer
periphery of the adjustment member 3 includes a tapered face 33 and
a straight face 34. When the adjustment member 3 is located in the
room 23, the tapered face 33 of the adjustment member 3 is matched
with the tapered portion 232 of the room 23, and the straight face
34 of the adjustment member 3 is matched with the straight portion
231 of the room 23. The engagement between the tapered portion 232
and the tapered face 33 makes the adjustment member 3 be easily
engaged with the room 23.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, each of the legs 11 includes a
brake mount 5 movably connected thereto. The brake mount 5 extends
in a common direction as the second portion 22 extends. The brake
mount 5 is adjusted relative to the leg 11 after the fork offset is
changed, such that the brake part 6 can be re-positioned to
properly clamp the brake disk 7.
[0026] While we have shown and described the embodiment in
accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those
skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
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