Bicycle Fork Slot Routing for Hidden Cable Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle fork structures fail to effectively hide controlling cables, leading to exposure and vulnerability to degradation, rusting, and breakage due to wind, rain, and sunlight, especially when the number of cables increases, making it difficult to assemble and maintain the bicycle while compromising the appearance.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle fork structure with a monolithic carbon fiber design featuring a slot with openings on either side, restricting grooves, and a cover system that allows controlling cables to pass through, providing a secure and hidden pathway from the stem to the frame, enhancing cable protection and assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If controlling cables are fixed using a tie conventionally, then the installation is simple, but the cables cannot be effectively hidden and remain exposed outside the bicycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements cable routing by nesting the controlling cables within the fork structure. The cables are routed through the steerer tube and along the inner surface of the fork, effectively hiding them within the bicycle's structural components rather than exposing them externally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by routing cables through the steerer tube and along the inner surface of the fork in a vertical pathway. This dimensional approach allows cables to be concealed within the fork's height rather than requiring horizontal routing that would expose them.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of controlling cables increases, then the braking and shifting functionality is improved, but the difficulty in hiding the cables is enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable routing pathway into distinct sections: the steerer tube for initial cable entry, the inner surface of the fork for intermediate routing, and the slot near the fork tip for final cable exit. This segmentation allows multiple cables to be organized and routed separately through defined pathways, reducing routing complexity despite increased cable quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fork structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the bicycle, contains the cable routing pathway within its geometry, and offers protection for the cables. This multi-functionality allows the same structure to handle multiple cables without requiring additional external routing components.
3Device complexity
If controlling cables are exposed outside the bicycle, then the structure is simple, but the cables are vulnerable to degradation, rusting, and breakage from wind, rain, and sunlight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the fork's structure as a protective shell that encloses and shields the controlling cables. The fork acts as a physical barrier protecting cables from environmental factors such as wind, rain, and sunlight, thereby improving cable durability without requiring additional protective coatings or films.
Solution Approach 2:
The fork structure serves as an intermediary between the external environment and the controlling cables. By routing cables through the fork's internal pathways rather than externally, the fork mediates protection against environmental degradation while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Shape
If the fork is disposed vertical to the stem with an angle between them, then the bicycle geometry is optimized, but it becomes difficult for cables to pass from the stem interior to the fork interior and frame interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pre-designed slot in the fork structure near its tip, positioned to facilitate cable exit. This preliminary structural feature is built into the fork during manufacturing, providing a predetermined pathway that simplifies cable routing despite the angled geometry between the stem and fork.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot in the fork acts as an intermediary pathway that bridges the angular gap between the stem interior and fork interior. This dedicated routing channel mediates the transition of cables through the angled joint, maintaining both the optimized bicycle geometry and ease of cable installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle fork structure is a fork including a steerer tube, a first crown, and a second crown that are integrally formed as a monolithic unit. An end of the steerer tube opens along a vertical direction to form a slot with two openings that are respectively located on two sides of the slot. Another end of the steerer tube is connected to an end of the first crown and an end of the second crown. The first crown and the second crown are respectively located on another two sides of the slot that are not provided with the two openings. The slot is adapted to receive at least one controlling cable. With the slot having the two openings on the two sides of the slot, the controlling cable could conveniently pass from a stem to a frame, thereby casing the difficulty in hiding the controlling cable.