IP Library › Granted Patent US 12703454
Granted Patent B2
US 12703454 · App. 18/393,370 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Adjustable axle retaining structure

Inventor: Daniel McCormick (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
B62K25/08B60B27/026B62L1/005B62K21/02B62K2025/044
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12703454
App. No.
18/393,370
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adjustable axle retaining structure is disclosed. The structure includes an axle receiving feature on a first leg of a fork assembly and a retaining sleeve within a clamping member on a second leg of the fork assembly. An axle is inserted through the clamping member, the wheel hub and coupled with the axle receiving feature. A component of the axle is tightened thereby moving the retaining sleeve partially out of the clamping member and toward the wheel hub until the wheel hub is in contact with both the retaining sleeve and the axle receiving feature, wherein the moving of the retaining sleeve allows the axle to radially couple the wheel hub with the fork assembly without modifying a preestablished geometry of the fork assembly.

Claims (41)

1 . A fork assembly comprising:

a crown;

a first leg coupled to said crown;

a second leg coupled to said crown;

said first leg or said second leg comprises a hub/axle retaining feature; and

an axle configured to couple a wheel hub between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly;

wherein said hub/axle retaining feature is further configured to maintain an acceptable geometry for said fork assembly, said acceptable geometry at least partially defined by a separation distance between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly, said hub/axle retaining feature enabling wheel hubs of different axial lengths to be retained between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly without deviating from said acceptable geometry for said fork assembly.

2 . The fork assembly of claim 1 , wherein said hub/axle retaining feature further comprises:

a retention feature, said retention feature configured to retain said axle with said fork assembly.

3 . The fork assembly of claim 1 , wherein said hub/axle retaining feature further comprises:

an extending portion, said extending portion limiting an axial distance, with respect to said axle, to which said wheel hub is able to move between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly.

4 . The fork assembly of claim 1 , further comprises:

a wheel hub interface sleeve, said wheel hub interface sleeve configured to move axially, with respect to said axle, and maintain said acceptable geometry and enable said wheel hubs of said different axial lengths to be retained between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly without deviating from said acceptable geometry for said fork assembly.

5 . The fork assembly of claim 4 further comprising:

a clamping member; and

a fastener, said clamping member and said fastener configured to secure said wheel hub interface sleeve at a desired location.

6 . A hub/axle retaining feature comprising:

an at least partially tubular member having a first end and a second end;

an opening defined by said at least partially tubular member, wherein said opening is configured to receive an axle therein, said hub/axle retaining feature is configured to be provided on a first leg of a fork assembly or on a second leg of said fork assembly; and

wherein said at least partially tubular member is configured to couple with said axle and maintain an acceptable geometry for said fork assembly, said acceptable geometry at least partially defined by a separation distance between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly, said hub/axle retaining feature enabling wheel hubs of different axial lengths to be retained between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly without deviating from said acceptable geometry for said fork assembly.

7 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 6 further comprising:

a retention feature, said retention feature configured to retain said axle with said fork assembly.

8 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 7 , wherein said retention feature further comprises:

a threaded portion, said threaded portion configured to threadedly couple with said axle.

9 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 7 , wherein said retention feature is selected from the group consisting of: a pin, a screw, and an alignment feature.

10 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 6 , further comprising:

an axle capture sleeve, said axle capture sleeve configured to retain said axle with said fork assembly.

11 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 10 , wherein said axle capture sleeve further comprises:

an axle fixing feature, said axle fixing feature configured to couple said axle capture sleeve and said axle.

12 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 11 wherein said axle fixing feature is selected from the group consisting of: a pin, a screw, and an alignment feature.

13 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 6 wherein said opening extends completely through said at least partially tubular member.

14 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 6 wherein one end of said at least partially tubular member is closed.

15 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 6 wherein said hub/axle retaining feature is configured to be fastened to said first leg of said fork assembly or said second leg of said fork assembly.

16 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 6 wherein said hub/axle retaining feature is integrated with said first leg of said fork assembly or said second leg of said fork assembly.

17 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 6 further comprising:

a lip, said lip configured to provide a limit on axial motion of a wheel hub toward said first leg of said fork assembly or said second leg of said fork assembly.

18 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 6 further comprising:

a wheel hub interface sleeve, said wheel hub interface sleeve configured to move axially, with respect to said axle, and maintain said acceptable geometry and enable said wheel hubs of said different axial lengths to be retained between said first leg of said fork assembly and said second leg of said fork assembly without deviating from said acceptable geometry for said fork assembly.

19 . The hub/axle retaining feature of claim 18 further comprising:

a clamping member; and

a fastener, said clamping member and said fastener configured to secure said wheel hub interface sleeve at a desired location.