Frame alignment jig

{
  "publication_number": "US11014218B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Frame alignment jig",
  "abstract": "An alignment jig for holding components relative to a bicycle frame during curing, the alignment jig comprising, a spacing axle adapted to hold respective components a selected distance apart; and an alignment wedge coupled to and spaced from the spacing axle, the alignment wedge adapted to fit between and contact the inner surfaces of a pair of stays of a bicycle frame to align the alignment jig relative to the bicycle frame.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An alignment jig for holding components relative to a bicycle frame during curing, the alignment jig comprising: a spacing axle defining a spacing axis, the spacing axle comprising: a first portion adapted to hold a first rear fork end; a second portion adapted to hold a second rear fork end, the first portion and the second portion so spaced to hold the first rear fork end and the second rear fork end a first distance apart to be aligned with bonding locations on the bicycle frame; an alignment clamp adapted to selectively clamp the spacing axle in a selected position, the alignment clamp forming a first receiving cavity; a member coupled to the spacing axle at the alignment clamp, the member extending perpendicular to the spacing axis, the member comprising: a first end disposed in the first receiving cavity of the alignment clamp; and a second end; and an alignment wedge coupled to the member, which extends between the alignment clamp and the alignment wedge, the alignment wedge spaced from the spacing axle and adapted to fit between and contact an inner surface of a first stay of the bicycle frame and an inner surface of a second stay of the bicycle frame to align the alignment jig relative to the bicycle frame based on contact with the inner surface of the first stay and the inner surface of the second stay.",
    "2. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein a distance between the spacing axle and the alignment wedge is adjustable.",
    "3. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein the spacing axle comprises a first end face adapted to abut an inner surface of the first rear fork end and a second end face adapted to abut an inner surface of the second rear fork end, the first end face and the second end face so spaced to hold the first rear fork end and the second rear fork end the first distance apart.",
    "4. The alignment jig of claim 3, wherein the alignment wedge is spaced from the spacing axle along an alignment axis that is perpendicular to the spacing axis.",
    "5. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein the alignment wedge forms a second receiving cavity in which the second end of the member is disposed.",
    "6. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first end of the member and the spacing axle is adjustable to adjust a distance between the alignment wedge and the spacing axle.",
    "7. The alignment jig of claim 6, further comprising an adjustment bolt received in the first end of the member, the adjustment bolt adjustable to drive the member to adjust the distance between the first end of the member and the spacing axle.",
    "8. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein the member defines an alignment axis perpendicular to the spacing axis and wherein the alignment wedge comprises: a first extension extending perpendicular to the spacing axis and the alignment axis to a first side of the alignment wedge and a second extension extending perpendicular to the spacing axis and the alignment axis to a second side of the alignment wedge, the first extension adapted to contact the first stay and the second stay, the second extension adapted to contact a third stay of the bicycle frame and a fourth stay of the bicycle frame.",
    "9. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein the first stay is a first chain stay and the second stay is a second chain stay.",
    "10. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein the first rear fork end comprises a first dropout and the second rear fork end comprises a second dropout.",
    "11. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein the member defines a vertical alignment axis from the first end of the member to the alignment wedge, the vertical alignment axis perpendicular to the spacing axis, and wherein the alignment jig is adapted to downward maintain downward vertical pressure between the first rear fork end and the bicycle frame and the second rear fork end and the bicycle frame.",
    "12. A method for bonding components to a bicycle frame comprising: providing an alignment jig comprising: a spacing axle defining a spacing axis: an alignment clamp adapted to selectively clamp the spacing axle in a selected position, the alignment clamp forming a first receiving cavity; a member coupled to the spacing axle at the alignment clamp and extending perpendicular to the spacing axis, the member comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is disposed in the first receiving cavity of the alignment clamp; an alignment wedge coupled to the member, which extends between the alignment damp and the alignment wedge, the alignment wedge spaced from the spacing axel; positioning a first rear fork end and a second rear fork end at spaced apart positions on the spacing axle of the alignment jig; positioning the alignment wedge below the spacing axle and between and in contact with an inner surface of a first stay of the bicycle frame and an inner surface of a second stay of the bicycle frame to align the first rear fork end with a first bonding location on the bicycle frame and align the second rear fork end with a second bonding location on the bicycle frame; and performing a curing operation to cure a first bond between the first rear fork end and the bicycle frame at the first bonding location and a second bond between the second rear fork end and the bicycle frame at the second bonding location, the alignment jig maintaining downward vertical pressure on the first rear fork end and the second rear fork end during the curing operation due to the force of gravity.",
    "13. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting a position of the spacing axle relative to the alignment wedge.",
    "14. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting a distance of the alignment wedge from the spacing axle.",
    "15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first rear fork end comprises a first dropout and the second rear fork end comprises a second dropout.",
    "16. The alignment jig of claim 1, wherein the alignment clamp defines a spacing axle receiving area to receive the spacing axle and wherein the alignment clamp comprises a set of releasable clamp jaws that are adjustable to adjust a clamping force on the spacing axle.",
    "17. The alignment jig of claim 16, wherein a distance between the first end of the member and the spacing axle is adjustable to adjust a distance between the alignment wedge and the spacing axle.",
    "18. The alignment jig of claim 16, further comprising an adjustment bolt that passes through a portion of the alignment clamp and is received in the first end of the member, the adjustment bolt adjustable to drive the member to adjust a distance between the first end of the member and the spacing axle.",
    "19. The alignment jig of claim 18, wherein the alignment wedge forms a second receiving cavity in which the second end of the member is disposed."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates generally to assembly jigs. Specifically, embodiments of this disclosure relate to assembly jigs for bicycle frames. More particularly, embodiments of this disclosure relate to alignment jigs for the assembly of bicycle frames.\n\nBicycle frames have long been constructed of multiple pieces. For carbon fiber, composite or mixed material frames, individual components of the frame are often joined to each other, or to other non-carbon or carbon pieces using a bonding agent such as liquid epoxy resin. For example, a dropout or other component may be inserted into a receiving slot or opening in a tube of a carbon fiber frame and bonded to the tube of the frame using a bonding agent. In most cases, this epoxy bonding agent must fully cure before the frame can proceed through the rest of manufacturing. For these bonding agents, in almost all instances the ambient temperature is inversely proportional to the cure time for the resin. In other words, at higher temperature, the epoxy resin cures faster. Accordingly, in order to maximize throughput of a factory, manufacturers desire to cure the bonded assemblies at the highest safe temperature for the materials used. Higher cure temperatures may increase a factory's efficiency while conversely, low cure temperatures reduce a factory's efficiency.\n\nThe desired high temperature curing processes may be problematic for a number of reasons. In particular, bicycle frames require a high degree of precision for alignment and assembly (e.g., of their components). Minor misalignment can result in performance or safety issues.",
  "cpc": [
    "B25B 11/02",
    "B23K 37/0443",
    "B62K 19/18",
    "B62K 19/30"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23K 37/04",
    "B25B 11/02",
    "B62K 19/18",
    "B62K 19/30"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "HED CYCLING PRODUCTS INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "ALEXANDER GREGORY PAUL",
    "CLOUTIER MICHAEL DAVID",
    "GOODRICH CURT PRESTON",
    "EDIN CHRISTOPHER ANDREW"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-10-03",
  "publication_date": "2021-05-25",
  "grant_date": "2021-05-25",
  "priority_date": "2017-10-03",
  "application_number": "US-201816150858-A",
  "family_id": "65896792",
  "citations": [
    "US2007114752A1"
  ]
}