GB2389349A

GB2389349A - Front suspension assembly for bicycle wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2389349A
Application number: GB0303916A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-06
Filing date: 2003-02-20
Publication date: 2003-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-20
Also published as: TW562010U; GB0303916D0; GB2389349B

Abstract

The assembly includes a crown portion having two collars 31 and two operation tubes 32 connected to the two collars. Two main tubes 33, each have an open top 36 through which two resilient members 40 the two operation tubes 32 are inserted. A bridge 34 is integrally formed with the two main tubes 33 and located at the same plane with the two main tubes and the two collars 31.

Description

FRONT SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR BICYCLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a front suspension device for bicycles wherein a bridge is integrally connected between two tubes of the 5 front fork to reinforce the structure of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional bicycle front suspension device 10 designed for the downslope mountain bikes is shown in Fig. 1 and generally includes two crowns 11, 12 between which two main tubes 13 are connected. Two 10 springs are respectively mounted to the two main tubes 13 and biased between the crows 12 and a collar on each of the main tubes 13. A connection November 14 is connected between the two main tubes so that the brake mechanism can be connected to the connection member 14. This dual-crown type front suspension device is sold at high price and cannot be 15 installed to regular bicycle frames. Figures 2 and 3 show another front suspension device 20 which includes two main tubes connected to the crown of the front fork and suspension members are mounted on the two main tubes. A connection member 24 has two collar portions 22 which are mounted to the two main tubes and two rods 23 extend from the connection 20 member 24 so as to be connected with brake arms respectively. As shown in Fig. 3, the connection member 24 is located in front of the two collar portions 22 and the main tubes. In other words' the connection member 24

and the main tubes are located on two different planes, and this could be suffered by stress concentration.

The present invention intends to provide a front suspension device that has a reinforcement bridge connected between the two main 5 tubes of the front fork and the bridge is located at the same plane of the two main tubes so that the device has better structural strength to bear high and frequent stress during operation.

SIlMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is 10 provided a front suspension device for bicycles wherien the device col,.prises.' crr>X.n portion two collars which are connected to two operation tubes. Two main tubes each have an open top and two resilient members and the two operation tubes are respectively inserted in the main tubes via the open tops. A bridge is connected between the two main tubes 15 and located at the same plane with the two main tubes and the two collars.

The two operation tubes presses on the two resilient members when the bicycle is ridden on a rugged road.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying

20 drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a conventional dual-crown front suspension device;

Fig. 2 shows another conventional front suspension device; Fig. 3 shows a side view of the front suspension device as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an exploded view to show the front suspension device of 5 the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view to show the front suspension device of the present invention, and Fig. 6 shows a side view of the front suspension device of the present invention.

I O DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

R evening to Figs. 4 and 5' the front suspension device for bicycles ofthe present invention comprises a front fork 30 which includes a crown portion with a steerer tube 300 extending from a top thereof and two collars 31 are located at two ends of the crown portion. Two securing 15 members 310 are connected to the two collars 31 respectively and each securing member 310 has a threaded section 311. Two operation tubes 32 are inserted in the two collars 31 and each have a threaded inner periphery 320 which is engaged with the threaded section 311.

Two main tubes 33 each have an open top 36 and a bridge 34 is 20 connected between the two main tubes 33. She bridge 34 is connected between two respective peripheries of the open tops 36 of the two main tubes 33. Two resilient members 40 are respectively received in the two main tubes 33 via the open tops 36 and said two operation tubes 32 are

movably inserted in the two main tubes 33 via the open tops 36. The lower ends of the two operation tubes 32 press on the two resilient members 40.

Each of the main tubes 33 has a connection frame 35 extending therefrom such that brake arms or other parts of the brake system (not shown) are 5 connected to the connection frames 35.

Referring to Fig. 6, the bridge 34 is located at the same plane with the two main tubes 33 and the two collars 31. Therefore, when the two front tubes 33 are moved upward when the front wheel rolls over a protrusion, the resilient members 40 are compressed by the operation tubes 10 32 to absorb the shock transmitted to the bicycle.

The hrid,e 3, the two main tubes 33 and the two collars 31 are located at the same plane so that the bridge 34, the main tubes 33 and the collars 31 are suffered less stress than the conventional front suspension device. The structure of the front suspension device of the present invention 15 is simple and effective, the crown portion of the front fork 30 and the bridge 34 dispense and this makes the term of use lasts longer.

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 20 scope of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A front suspension device for bicycles, comprising: a crown portion having two collars and two operation tubes connected to the two collars, 5 two main tubes each having an open top and a bridge connected between the two main tubes, the bridge and the two main tubes being integrally formed in one piece formation with the bridge being connected between peripheral portions of the open tops of the two main tubes, the two operation tubes being movably received in the two main tubes via the two 10 respective open tops of the two main tubes, the bridge being located in the same plane with the two main tribes and the two collars; and two resilient members respectively received in the two main tubes and said two operation tubes being pressingly disposed on the two resilient members. 15

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising two securing members connected to the two collars and the operation tube inserted in the collar and fixed to the securing member.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each securing member has a threaded section and each operation tube having a threaded 20 inner periphery which is engaged with the threaded section.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the main tubes has a connection frame extending therefrom.