US 12,448,026 B1
Steering rack brace
Clint Kernen, Madison, IN (US); and Jason T. Stewart, Harvest, AL (US)
Assigned to Super ATV, LLC, Madison, IN (US)
Filed by Super ATV, LLC, Madison, IN (US)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/059,369.
Int. Cl. B62D 3/12 (2006.01); B62D 7/20 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 3/126 (2013.01) [B62D 7/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A brace assembly adapted for use with a steering rack assembly that includes a housing, a steering rack movably disposed with respect to the housing and a steering arm that traverses the housing in a longitudinal direction when the steering rack moves, wherein the steering rack assembly defines a longitudinal centerline, wherein the steering arm is adapted to receive a tie rod, wherein the brace assembly comprises:
a brace adapted to be rigidly coupled relative to the steering rack such that the brace extends along the longitudinal direction proximate to the housing;
a follower assembly adapted to rigidly couple to the steering rack assembly and traverse the housing in unison with the steering arm;
wherein one of the brace assembly or the follower assembly defines a linear track that extends in the longitudinal direction;
wherein the other of the brace or the follower assembly comprises a first roller bearing adapted to traverse the linear track to resist rotational forces applied to the steering rack about the longitudinal centerline.