Arrangement for temporary pre-tensioning of a telescoping fork

{
  "publication_number": "US10088008B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Arrangement for temporary pre-tensioning of a telescoping fork",
  "abstract": "An arrangement for the temporary pre-tensioning of fork tubes (1, 2) of a telescoping fork, displaceable with respect to each other, comprises a base body (3) attached to a first fork tube (1) to secure and guide at least a first locking element (4) and a second locking element (5), whereby the locking elements (4, 5) interact with a receptacle element (6) attached to the second fork tube (2). A common actuation element (7) is provided within the housing of the base body (3) to actuate the locking elements (4,5).",
  "claims": [
    "1. An arrangement for temporary pre-tensioning of fork tubes of a telescoping fork that are displaceable with respect to each other, having a base body attached to a first fork tube to secure and guide at least a first locking element and a second locking element, whereby the locking elements in their locked position interact with a receptacle element attached to a second fork tube, wherein a common actuation element is provided within a housing of the base body to actuate the locking elements.",
    "2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuation element includes a shaft element positioned crosswise to the direction of motion of the locking elements and mounted between the parallel-mounted locking elements within the housing of the base body such that it may rotate.",
    "3. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuation element includes an actuation lever on the end outside the housing of the base body, and wherein the area of the actuation element within the housing includes an actuation rocker to actuate the locking elements.",
    "4. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each locking element is implemented as a spring-loaded locking stud such that the end assigned to the receptacle element may be connected with the receptacle element and the fork tubes may be held in specified pre-tensioning positions and may be releasable again when the pre-tension amount is increased, and wherein the end of each locking element within the housing of the base body includes a cross-pin for connection to the actuation element.",
    "5. Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the ends of the actuation rockers on the sides facing the locking elements possess cutout sections providing a positive form fit so that each locking element may be brought into its locked or pre-tension position depending on the rotation direction of the shaft element by means of the resulting pivoting motion of the actuation rockers.",
    "6. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuation element is provided with an actuation lever and also with a shaft element as a single component.",
    "7. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the base body with a base plate is connected directly or indirectly to the first fork tube and wherein it includes a cover attached to the base plate to seal against the environment.",
    "8. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the locking elements facing the receptacle element possess an area of increasing diameter, each of which is provided with a slot with rear cutout to hold the locked position or the pre-tension position using a positive fit.",
    "9. Arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the slot of the receptacle element is open on one side.",
    "10. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each locking element interacts with a return spring so that the locking element is returnable toward the base body.",
    "11. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle element is attached to the second fork tube by means of a securing bracket.",
    "12. Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the ends of the actuation rockers on the sides facing the locking elements possess cutout sections providing a positive form fit so that each locking element may be brought into its locked or pre-tension position depending on the rotation direction of the shaft element by means of the resulting pivoting motion of the actuation rockers."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to an arrangement for temporary pre-tensioning of the fork tubes of a telescoping fork that are displaceable with respect to each other.\n\nIt is known from vehicle technology, for example off-road motorcycles, to temporarily pre-tension the fork tubes of a telescoping fork that may be displaced with respect to each other before the start of a race in order to improve the start condition at the starting line. For this, an arrangement is required to temporarily pre-tension the fork tubes and/or the telescoping fork.\n\nFor example, such an arrangement is known from patent document US 2006/0237273 A1 by means of which the telescoping fork is temporarily pre-tensioned. For this, a securing plate is attached to the first fork tube of the telescoping fork, and includes a receptacle for a locking pin that may engage with a slot of a ring attached to the second fork tube in order to temporarily hold the pre-tensioned telescoping fork in the pre-tensioned condition. The locking pin is guided into a receptacle of the securing plate. To actuate the locking pin, an assigned actuation knob is provided whose exterior thread is threaded into the interior thread of the locking pin. A spring element is also provided between the actuation knob and the locking pin that rests on the securing plate. Upon pressing of the actuation knob, the locking pin is locked within the slot of the ring attached to the second fork tube.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16F 9/56",
    "B62K 2025/047",
    "B62K 25/06",
    "B62K 25/08",
    "F16F 2230/0005",
    "F16F 9/54"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B62K 25/08",
    "F16F 9/56",
    "B62K 25/06",
    "F16F 9/54"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "GROEBNER FERTIGUNGS GmbH"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Andreas Groebner"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-06-01",
  "publication_date": "2018-10-02",
  "grant_date": "2018-10-02",
  "priority_date": "2016-06-03",
  "application_number": "US-201715611119-A",
  "family_id": "58694132",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
  "citations": [
    "US7051852B2",
    "US20060237273A1",
    "US20100252972A1",
    "US20120292148A1",
    "US20140360827A1",
    "US20160144926A1"
  ]
}