Abstract: A handlebar-steered suspension fork that includes an outer tube and an inner tube reciprocally slidable within the outer tube. The outer tube includes at least one radial load region and at least one transition region. A fiber-reinforced material is wrapped about at least one of the outer tube radial load regions and not wrapped about at least one of the outer tube transitions regions.

Abstract: A handlebar-steered suspension fork that includes an outer tube and an inner tube reciprocally slidable within the outer tube. The outer tube includes at least one radial load region and at least one transition region. A fiber-reinforced material is wrapped about at least one of the outer tube radial load regions and not wrapped about at least one of the outer tube transitions regions.

Abstract: An end of a composite cylinder is formed about an end connection assembly having two longitudinally arranged pieces having a contour which prevents the withdrawal of the end connection assembly from the cylinder. The two pieces of the end connection assembly are relatively forced apart and a snap ring having a certain rest diameter is reduced in diameter and inserted into the end connection assembly to a position between the pieces. The snap ring then assumes its rest diameter positioned between the pieces, forcing them to maintain intimate contact with the inner surface of the cylinder, thus removing any residual gap from the assembly process and/or preloading the interface between the end of the composite cylinder and the end assembly prior to application of an axial load.

Abstract: An end of a composite cylinder is formed about a multipiece end assembly having a contour which prevents the withdrawal of the end assembly from the cylinder. The pieces of the end assembly are relatively forced apart and a spacer is positioned between the parts to maintain the pieces in intimate contact with the inner surface of the cylinder thus preloading the end prior to application of an axial load or removing any residual gap from the manufacturing process. The cylinder may have end assemblies at both ends and to which may be coupled external connectors such as flange members, for construction of a marine riser.