IP Library Granted Patent US 10,850,793
Granted Patent B2
US 10,850,793 · App. 16/678,858 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Lower fork alignment system

Inventor: Mario Galasso (Sandy Hook, CT)
Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
B62K21/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,850,793
App. No.
16/678,858
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lower fork alignment system for a vehicle is described. The lower fork alignment system includes: a brace detachably coupling a first lower tube and a second lower tube of a lower fork, wherein the first and second lower tubes include: first and second receiving adjustment mechanism configured for receiving corresponding interfacing mechanisms of the brace, wherein upon receipt of alignment features of the interfacing mechanisms, one of the first lower tube and the second lower tube is enabled to be adjusted in a horizontal direction along a horizontal axis, and the other of the first lower tube and the second lower tube is enabled to be adjusted in a vertical direction along a vertical axis.

Claims (25)

1. A brace for coupling a right lower tube and a left lower tube of a lower fork, said brace comprising:

adjustment

a right brace shoulder, said right brace shoulder including a set of positive splines configured for fitting within a set of negative splines disposed in said right lower tube; and

a left brace shoulder, said left brace shoulder including a set of positive splines configured for fitting within a set of negative splines disposed in said left lower tube.

2. The brace of claim 1 further comprising:

said set of positive splines of said right brace shoulder including a positive spline which is a raised vertically shaped block, said raised vertically shaped block of said right brace shoulder configured to fit within a corresponding negative spline depression in said right lower tube.

3. The brace of claim 2 wherein said raised vertically shaped block of said right brace shoulder is configured to fit within a negative spline of said set of negative splines of said right lower tube, said negative spline of said set of negative splines of said right lower tube formed to lie parallel with the vertical axis of said right lower tube.

4. The brace of claim 2 wherein said set of positive splines of said right brace shoulder are smaller in area than said set of negative splines of said right lower tube such that when said right brace shoulder is placed over said right lower tube, said right lower tube is movable with respect to said right brace shoulder.

5. The brace of claim 1 wherein said right brace shoulder is configured to form a glue joint between said right brace shoulder and said right lower tube when said right brace shoulder is placed over said right lower tube.

6. The brace of claim 1 further comprising:

said set of positive splines of said left brace shoulder including a positive spline which is a raised vertically shaped block, said raised vertically shaped block of said left brace shoulder configured to fit within a corresponding negative spline depression in said left lower tube.

7. The brace of claim 6 wherein said raised vertically shaped block of said left brace shoulder is configured to fit within a negative spline of said set of negative splines of said left lower tube, said negative spline of said set of negative splines of said left lower tube formed to lie parallel with the vertical axis of said left lower tube.

8. The brace of claim 6 wherein said set of positive splines of said left brace shoulder are smaller in area than said set of negative splines of said left lower tube such that when said left brace shoulder is placed over said left lower tube, said left lower tube is movable with respect to said left brace shoulder.

9. The brace of claim 1 wherein said left brace shoulder is configured to form a glue joint between said left brace shoulder and said left lower tube when said left brace shoulder is placed over said left lower tube.

10. A brace for coupling a right lower tube and a left lower tube of a lower fork, said brace comprising:

a right brace shoulder, said right brace shoulder including a set of positive splines configured for fitting within a set of negative splines disposed in said right lower tube, wherein said set of positive splines of said right brace shoulder are smaller in area than said set of negative splines of said right lower tube such that when said right brace shoulder is placed over said right lower tube, said right lower tube is movable with respect to said right brace shoulder; and

a left brace shoulder, said left brace shoulder including a set of positive splines configured for fitting within a set of negative splines disposed in said left lower tube, wherein said set of positive splines of said left brace shoulder are smaller in area than said set of negative splines of said left lower tube such that when said left brace shoulder is placed over said left lower tube, said left lower tube is movable with respect to said left brace shoulder.

11. The brace of claim 10 wherein said right brace shoulder is configured to form a glue joint between said right brace shoulder and said right lower tube when said right brace shoulder is placed over said right lower tube.

12. The brace of claim 10 further comprising:

said set of positive splines of said right brace shoulder including a positive spline which is a raised vertically shaped block, said raised vertically shaped block of said right brace shoulder configured to fit within a corresponding negative spline depression in said right lower tube.

13. The brace of claim 12 wherein said raised vertically shaped block of said right brace shoulder is configured to fit within a negative spline of said set of negative splines of said right lower tube, said negative spline of said set of negative splines of said right lower tube formed to lie parallel with the vertical axis of said right lower tube.

14. The brace of claim 10 further comprising:

said set of positive splines of said left brace shoulder including a positive spline which is a raised vertically shaped block, said raised vertically shaped block of said left brace shoulder configured to fit within a corresponding negative spline depression in said left lower tube.

15. The brace of claim 14 wherein said raised vertically shaped block of said left brace shoulder is configured to fit within a negative spline of said set of negative splines of said left lower tube, said negative spline of said set of negative splines of said left lower tube formed to lie parallel with the vertical axis of said left lower tube.

16. The brace of claim 10 wherein said left brace shoulder is configured to form a glue joint between said left brace shoulder and said left lower tube when said left brace shoulder is placed over said left lower tube.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2025
From: FOX FACTORY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 073270/0027 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: FOX FACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 059588/0805 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2022
From: FOX FACTORY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 059616/0435 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2020
From: GALASSO, MARIO
To: FOX FACTORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054438/0603 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2020
From: FOX FACTORY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052163/0728 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16044193 · Jul 24, 2018
Continuation 15614314 · Jun 5, 2017
Division 14505342 · Oct 2, 2014
Provisional Application 62053618 · Sep 22, 2014
Related Publication 20200070927A1 · Mar 5, 2020
Cited By (4)
US 12,258,093 US 12,437,127 US 12,703,453 US 12,715,538