Abstract:
A motorcycle accessory rack is provided which includes spaced-apart first and second brackets having a plurality of support rods secured thereto and extending therebetween. The first and second brackets may be secured to a supporting surface such as a wall or the like. The rods may be moved in their respective slots or openings or moved to different slots or openings to accommodate accessories from different models of motorcycles. Optional helmet hangers and jacket hangers are also provided at the sides of the rack.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a motorcycle accessory rack and more particularly to a mounted motorcycle accessory wall rack having adjustable mounting points to accommodate different motorcycle accessories such as a windshield, rider backrest, passenger backrest, luggage rack or tour pack. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Late model motorcycles such as Harley-Davidson have accessories for the motorcycle such as a detachable windshield, a rider backrest, a passenger backrest, a luggage rack or a tour pack, which may be detachably secured to the motorcycle or selectively removed therefrom. When the accessories are removed from the motorcycle, it is convenient to have a rack upon which the accessories may be stored. Harley-Davidson builds many different types of motorcycles and most of those models use different means or methods of mounting their detachable hardware. All of the prior art mounting racks, of which Applicant is aware, are built for only accessories from one model or family of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. For example, if a consumer has a Harley-Davidson Softail® and wall rack for those accessories and then purchases or trades that motorcycle in on a Harley-Davidson Touring model, the wall rack the consumer owned for the Softail® would not be compatible with any of the detachable accessories for the Touring model. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0006]    A motorcycle accessory rack is described which includes a first vertically disposed bracket having an inner end, an outer end, an upper end, a lower end, an inside surface and an outside surface and a second vertically disposed bracket horizontally spaced from the first bracket and which has an inner end, an outer end, an upper end, a lower end, an inside surface and an outside surface. A plurality of elongated and horizontally disposed rods having first and second ends are secured to the first and second brackets respectively and extend therebetween for supporting motorcycle accessories thereon. At least some of the rods are selectively adjustably secured to the brackets to permit the rods to be moved with respect to said brackets or to be moved to different slots or openings in the brackets to accommodate accessories from different motorcycle models. The accessory rack of this invention also includes coat hangers and helmet hangers which are removable from the rack and which may be sold as optional equipment. 
         [0007]    It is therefore principal object of the invention to provide an improved motorcycle accessory rack. 
         [0008]    A further object of the invention is to provide a motorcycle accessory rack which permits it to accept accessories from many different types of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a motorcycle accessory rack having latching points which are adjustable to accommodate different accessories from different models of motorcycles. 
         [0010]    A further object of the invention is to provide coat hangers and helmet hangers in association with the rack which are removable therefrom and which may be sold as optional equipment. 
         [0011]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the motorcycle accessory rack of this invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the motorcycle accessory rack of this invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of one of the brackets of the rack of this invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the other bracket of the rack of this invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating various accessories being positioned on the accessory rack of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0019]    The motorcycle accessory rack of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  10 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , rack  10  includes horizontally spaced-apart side brackets  12  and  12 ′ which are mirror images of one another. Bracket  12  includes an inner end  14 , an outer end  16 , an upper end  18  and a lower end  20 . Mounting flange  22  is provided at inner end  14  and includes a plurality of openings  24  formed therein to enable screws  25  to be inserted therethrough to secure the bracket  12  to a vertically disposed wall or the like. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the forward end  16  of bracket  12  includes a protruding nose portion  26  having an opening  28  formed therein. Bracket  12  includes a pair of parallel slots  29  and  30  formed therein adjacent the upper end  18  thereof. Bracket  12  also includes an elongated slot  32  formed therein adjacent the lower end  20  thereof. Slot  32  is provided with spaced-apart, semi-circular recesses  34 ,  36  and  38 . 
         [0020]    A pair of vertically disposed slots  40  and  42  are formed in bracket  12  outwardly of slot  30 . A horizontally disposed slot  44  is also formed in bracket  12  below and inwardly of slot  42 . A diagonally extending slot  46  is formed in bracket  12  outwardly of slots  40  and  42 . Horizontally disposed slot  48  is formed in bracket  12  above and outwardly of slot  32 . A vertically disposed slot  50  is formed in bracket  12  below the outer end of slot  48 . Opening  52  is formed in bracket  12  below and outwardly of slot  50 . 
         [0021]    The numeral  54  refers to a mushroom shaped, plastic hanger holder including a threaded bolt  56  extending therefrom which is adapted to extend through opening  52  and secured therein by nut  58  so that the head portion  60  of hanger  54  is positioned laterally outwardly of bracket  12 . The numeral  62  refers to another hanger including a head portion  64 , support arm  66  and flat plate  68  which has openings  70  and  72  formed therein. Bolts  74  and  76  are adapted to extend through openings  70  and  72  respectively so as to extend through slots  40  and  42  respectively and be retained therein by nuts  74  and  76  respectively so as to position hanger  62  outwardly of bracket  12  as seen in the drawings. 
         [0022]    The numerals  78 ,  80 ,  82   84  and  86  refer to elongated support rods which have internally threaded openings at each end thereof adapted to threadably receive bolts  88 . At least some of the support rods have plastic or rubber grommets  90  selectively movably positioned thereon as will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
         [0023]    Bracket  12 ′ includes an inner end  14 ′, an outer end  16 ′, an upper end  18 ′ and a lower end  20 ′. Mounting flange  22 ′ is provided at inner end  14 ′ and includes a plurality of openings  24 ′ formed therein to enable screws  25 ′ to be inserted therethrough to secure the bracket  12 ′ to a vertically disposed wall or the like. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the forward end  16 ′ of bracket  12 ′ includes a protruding nose portion  26 ′ having an opening  28 ′ formed therein. Bracket  12 ′ includes a pair of parallel slots  29 ′ and  30 ′ formed therein adjacent the upper end  18 ′ thereof. Bracket  12 ′ also includes an elongated slot  32 ′ formed therein adjacent the lower end  20 ′ thereof. Slot  32 ′ is provided with spaced-apart, semi-circular recesses  34 ′,  36 ′ and  38 ′. 
         [0024]    A pair of vertically disposed slots  40 ′ and  42 ′ are formed in bracket  12 ′ outwardly of slot  30 ′. A horizontally disposed slot  44 ′ is also formed in bracket  12 ′ below and inwardly of slot  42 ′. A diagonally extending slot  46 ′ is formed in bracket  12 ′ outwardly of slots  40 ′ and  42 ′. Horizontally disposed slot  48 ′ is formed in bracket  12 ′ above and outwardly of slot  32 ′. A vertically disposed slot  50 ′ is formed in bracket  12 ′ below the outer end of slot  48 ′. Opening  52 ′ is formed in bracket  12 ′ below and outwardly of slot  50 ′. 
         [0025]    The numeral  54 ′ refers to a mushroom shaped, plastic hanger or holder including a threaded bolt  56 ′ extending therefrom which is adapted to extend through opening  52 ′ and secured therein by nut  58 ′ so that the head portion  60 ′ of hanger  54 ′ is positioned laterally outwardly of bracket  12 ′. The numeral  62 ′ refers to another hanger including a head portion  64 ′, support arm  66 ′ and flat plate  68 ′ which has openings  70 ′ and  72 ′ formed therein. Bolts  74 ′ and  76 ′ are adapted to extend through openings  70 ′ and  72 ′ respectively so as to extend through slots  40 ′ and  42 ′ respectively and be retained therein by nuts  74 ′ and  76 ′ respectively so as to position hanger  62 ′ outwardly of bracket  12 ′ as seen in the drawings. 
         [0026]    The numerals  78 ′,  80 ′,  82 ′  84 ′ and  86 ′ refer to elongated support rods which have internally threaded openings at each end thereof adapted to threadably receive bolts  88 ′. At least some of the support rods have plastic or rubber grommets  90 ′ selectively movably positioned thereon as will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
         [0027]    The rack  10  of this invention may be assembled in various different ways. In other words, the rods  84  may be selectively adjustably mounted in their slots shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  or may be moved to different slots or openings. For example, one of the rods could be inserted in slots  29  and  29 ′ or slots  30  and  30 ′. Rod  86  may be inserted in the slots  48  and  48 ′ rather than the position shown in  FIG. 1 . The rod  80  may be placed in any position in the slots  32  and  32 ′ or may be inserted in their slots. 
         [0028]    The fact that the rods may adjustably moved in their slots or moved to different slots or openings enables the rods to be positioned so that various motorcycle accessories may be attached thereto. For example, in  FIG. 5 , a detachable windshield  92  is positioned on the rack  10  as are a back rest  94 , rack  96 , etc. A helmet  98  may be positioned on either or both of the hangers  62  and  62 ′ and a jacket  100  may be hung on either or both of the hangers  54  and  54 ′. The rack  10  may also be used to support a rider backrest, or a tour pack. 
         [0029]    The attachment points of the accessories which enable them to be removably secured to the motorcycle are connected or secured to the various rods or grommets thereon. The adjustability of the rods permit them to be moved to a location between the brackets  12  and  12 ′ so as to accommodate accessories from different models of motorcycles. 
         [0030]    Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives in that it is able to accommodate accessories from different models of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Although the invention has been described as particularly well suited for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, it is possible it could be used for other makes of motorcycles. 
         [0031]    Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.