Molded assembly to combine a steering tube made of resin blended with carbon fiber composites and a crown made of aluminum for use in a two wheeled vehicle fork assembly
View Patent ↗A molded assembly for a unique combination of a steering tube and crown for use in a two vehicle fork such as a bicycle fork, wherein the steering tube transversely connects to the crown at the crown's center position. The crown is further connected to the fork leg housings. The steering tube is comprised of a bottom neck portion and a main round body portion, wherein the bottom neck is varies in shape from a round to non-round exterior which is used to eliminate rotation when the tube is molded into the crown. The interior of the crown at the location where it is molded into the steering tube is also formed in a matching non-round shape. The steering tube is chemically made of uncured resin blended with carbon fiber composites, which can be cured under heat after the assembly is molded.
1. An assembly for use as a component of a bicycle fork, comprising:
a. a steering tube having a first proximal end and a second distal end, a flange located at the second distal end, the tube having a shoulder which is located near the second distal end of the tube, the shoulder dividing the steering tube into a neck between the shoulder and the second distal end and a round body portion extending from the shoulder to the first proximal end, the neck having a round interior and exterior surface, the steering tube having a thick tube wall section close the second distal end of the tube, a thin tube wall section at the first proximal end, and the tube wall tapering from adjacent the shoulder to the first proximal end;
b. a crown having a central portion including a top hollow shoulder and a bottom interior surface which matches the flange at the second end of the steering tube, the central portion of the crown having a round interior bore which matches the round exterior surface of the neck of the steering tube, the central portion connected to first and second side arms which respectively are connected to receiving members which respectively receive fork legs; and
c. said steering tube made of uncured resin with epoxy soaked carbon fibers and the crown made of material selected from the group comprising of copper, aluminum, magnesium and titanium, the steering tube placed into the crown so that the neck is inserted into the matching shaped bore of the crown, the steering tube and crown placed into a mold and subjected to heat so that the carbon fiber steering tube is bonded into the crown and the epoxy soaked carbon fibers do not fully cure until subjected to heat which bonds the steering tube to the crown.
2. The molded assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first and second arms join the central portion of the crown at a preferred angle ranging from 100 degrees to 180 degrees.
3. An assembly for use as a component of a two wheeled vehicle fork, comprising:
a. a steering tube having a first proximal end and a second distal end, a flange located at the second distal end, the tube having a neck which is located proximate the second end of the tube, the neck having a round exterior surface;
b. a crown having a central portion including a bottom interior surface which matches the flange at the second end of the tube, the central portion having a round bore which matches the round exterior surface of the neck of the steering tube; and
c. said steering tube made of uncured resin with epoxy soaked carbon fibers and the crown made of material selected from the group comprising of copper, aluminum, magnesium and titanium, the steering tube placed into the crown so that the neck is inserted into the matching shaped bore of the crown, the steering tube and crown placed into a mold and subjected to heat so that the carbon fiber steering tube is bonded into the crown and the epoxy soaked carbon fibers do not fully cure until subjected to heat which bonds the steering tube to the crown.
4. An assembly for use as a component of a bicycle fork, comprising:
a. a steering tube having a first proximal end and a second distal end, the tube having a neck portion located adjacent to the second distal end, the neck portion having a non-round exterior surface;
b. a crown having a central portion having an interior non-round bore which matches the non-round exterior surface of the neck of the steering tube; and
c. said steering tube made of uncured resin and the crown made of metal, the steering tube placed into the crown so that the neck is inserted into the matching shaped bore of the crown, the steering tube and crown placed into a mold and subjected to heat so that the steering tube is bonded into the crown.
5. The assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the metal out of which the crown is made is selected from the group comprising copper, aluminum, magnesium and titanium.
6. The assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the uncured resin of the steering tube is made of composites of carbon fiber blended with uncured resin, the uncured resin is able to be fully cured only after being subjected to heat.
7. An assembly for use as a component of a two-wheeled vehicle fork, comprising:
a. a steering tube having a first proximal end and a second distal end, the tube having a neck portion located adjacent to the second distal end, the neck portion having a non-round exterior surface;
b. a crown having a central portion having an interior non-round bore which matches the non-round exterior surface of the neck of the steering tube; and
c. said steering tube made of uncured resin with epoxy soaked carbon fibers and the crown made of aluminum, the steering tube placed into the crown so that the neck is inserted into the matching shaped bore of the crown, the steering tube and crown placed into a mold and subjected to heat so that the carbon fiber steering tube is bonded into the crown and the epoxy soaked carbon fibers do not fully cure until subjected to heat which bonds the steering tube to the crown.
8. The assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the exterior surface of the neck is elliptical and the interior bore of the crown is a matching elliptical shape.
9. An assembly for use as a component of a two-wheeled vehicle fork, comprising:
a. a steering tube having a first proximal end and a second distal end, the tube having a neck portion located adjacent to the second distal end, the neck portion having a non-round exterior surface;
b. a crown having a central portion having an interior non-round bore which matches the non-round exterior surface of the neck of the steering tube; and
c. said steering tube made of uncured resin and the crown made of metal, the steering tube placed into the crown so that the neck is inserted into the matching shaped bore of the crown, the steering tube and crown placed into a mold and subjected to heat so that the steering tube is bonded into the crown.
10. The assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said crown is made of aluminum.
11. The assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein the metal out of which the crown is made is selected from the group comprising copper, aluminum, and titanium.
12. The assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein the uncured resin of the steering tube is made of composites of carbon fiber blended with uncured resin, the uncured resin is able to be fully cured only after being subjected to heat.
13. The assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein the exterior surface of the neck is elliptical and the interior bore of the crown is a matching elliptical shape.