Abstract:
A motorcycle passenger arm rest assembly includes a pair of mounting brackets that are mounted on a front surface of a motorcycle trunk lid, near each side of the lid. A support arm is connected to each bracket. The support arm carries an arm rest, to support the arm rests at a position suitable to support the arms of a motorcycle passenger. The support arms are configured to allow the arm rests to pivot from a first extended position, to provide support for a passenger&#39;s arms, to a second retracted position, to enable a passenger to easily mount and dismount from the passenger seating area.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Touring motorcycles provide seating for a passenger behind the motorcycle operator. There continues to be a need for passenger arm rests that are positioned to support the arms of a motorcycle passenger while the motorcycle is being operated, but does not inhibit passenger mounting and dismounting from the motorcycle. 
     
    
     
       SUMMARY 
       Brief Description of the Drawings 
         [0002]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and together with the description serve to explain principles of embodiments. Other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of embodiments will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts. 
           [0003]      FIG. 1  is a partial side view of a passenger seating area of a motorcycle equipped with one embodiment of the passenger arm rest of the present invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a motorcycle trunk lid with the arm rest assembly of  FIG. 1  secured to a front outer surface of the lid. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mounting bracket for mounting the arm rest assembly to the trunk lid. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a bracket assembly for securing the mounting bracket of  FIG. 3  to the trunk lid and for linking the arm rest assembly to the passenger backrest. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the inner surface of the trunk lid showing a mounting plate for securing the mounting bracket of  FIG. 3  to the lid. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6A  is a first side perspective view of a mounting arm for mounting the arm rest to the mounting bracket. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6B  is a second side perspective view of a mounting arm for mounting the arm rest to the mounting bracket. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7A  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of an arm rest support frame. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7B  is a side perspective view of an arm rest covering the arm rest support frame of  FIG. 7A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments or variations may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken or construed in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims. The terms used in the claims are intended to have their plain, ordinary meaning and no disclosure or written description herein shall be construed to specially or uniquely define the claim terms unless it is explicitly stated herein that such term is being given a specific definition. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a partial side view of a passenger seating area of a motorcycle equipped with one embodiment of the passenger arm rest  10  of the present invention. As illustrated, the passenger arm rest  10  is comprised of a pair of arm rest assemblies  12  and  14  mounted on either side of the motorcycle adjacent to a cushioned passenger back rest  16 . As is common for touring motorcycles, the passenger backrest  16  may be mounted in part to a front portion of a lid  18  of a motorcycle trunk  20  carried at the rear end of the motorcycle. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the motorcycle trunk lid  18  with the arm rest assemblies  12  and  14  secured to a front outer surface of the lid  18  at opposite sides of lid  18 . For ease of description, the passenger backrest, which is located between arm rest assemblies  12  and  14 , is not shown. Each arm rest assembly  12  and  14  is identical to one another, with the exception that assembly  12  is a mirror image to assembly  14 . For ease of description, the subsequent description of the arm rest assemblies will be made by reference to arm rest assembly  12 . In one embodiment, arm rest assembly  12  is comprised of a mounting bracket  22 , an arm rest support arm  24 , and an arm rest  26 . Each mounting bracket  22  includes a first bracket portion  22   a,  and a second bracket portion  22   b.  The first bracket portion  22   a  includes a rear portion  28 , which is shaped to match a front surface and lip of lid  18 . The first bracket portion  22   a  further includes a forward projecting bottom and side portion  30  and  32 , respectively. In one embodiment, the rear portion, bottom portion and side portion of mounting bracket  22  are integrally formed from stamped metal. In an alternative embodiment, the rear, bottom and side portions may be separate components that are connected to one another in a suitable manner, such as welding. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , which is a perspective view of the first bracket portion  22   a  of mounting bracket  22 , the rear portion  28  is configured with a plurality of openings  34 , which allow mounting bracket  22  to be secured to lid  18  with connectors (not shown). In one embodiment, each opening  34  is elongate, to permit adjustments in the location of mounting bracket relative to corresponding mounting holes in lid  18 . As further shown in  FIG. 3 , the side portion  32  is configured with a plurality of openings  36 , which enable mounting of the arm rest support arm  24  relative to mounting bracket  22  with appropriate connectors. In one embodiment, openings  36  are arranged as a pair of lower openings and a pair of upper openings. The arm rest support arm  24  may be secured to one or the other pair of openings  36 , which provides a vertical adjustment of the arm rest  26  carried on the arm rest support arm  24 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the second bracket portion  22   b  of mounting bracket  22 . The second bracket portion  22   b  is comprised of a metal base  38  configured to secure a plurality of connectors  40  to correspond with the plurality of openings  34  in the first bracket portion. The second bracket portion thus is positioned with the plurality of connectors  40  in the plurality of openings  34 . Connectors  40  have a length sufficient to pass through the rear portion  28  and extend through corresponding mounting holes in lid  18  to thereby allow mounting bracket  22  to be secured to lid  18 . The second bracket portion  22   b  is further provided with a tab  42  that is secured to base  38  and extends at an angle relative thereto. Tab  42  is provided with a mounting hole  44 . Tab  42  allows mounting bracket  22  to be secured in part to a portion of the passenger back rest with an appropriate connector, such as a threaded nut and bolt. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , with the second bracket portion  22   a  of mounting bracket  22  positioned against the front outer surface of lid  18 , near one side of lid  18 , the first bracket portion  22   b  and its connectors  40  pass through corresponding mounting holes in lid  18 . A metal plate  46  configured with openings that correspond with connectors  40 , is positioned against the inner surface  48  of lid  18  with an end portion of connectors  40  exposed after passing through the openings of plate  46 . Corresponding connectors, such as threaded nuts  50 , are then secured to connectors  40  to secure mounting bracket  22  to lid  18 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the arm rest support arm  24  which mounts to the side portion  32  of mounting bracket  22 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the inner surface of support arm  24 , which faces the side portion  32 , is provided at one end with a pair of mounting holes  52  that extend through the lower portion  54  of support arm  24 . Mounting holes  52  correspond to either the upper or lower pair of holes  36  in side portion  32 , according to the desired position of arm rests  26 , to allow support arm  24  to be secured to mounting bracket  22  such as by threaded connectors, e.g., nuts and bolts. The opposite end of support arm  24  is provided with a central bore  56  and an arcuate slot  58  that is generally coaxially located around the central bore  56 . According to the one embodiment shown, the arcuate slot  58  travels about 180 degrees around the bore  56 . The arcuate slot defines ends  60  and  62 , which function as stops to limit a range of travel of the arm rest (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 6B , the support arm  24  is configured with a channel  64  below end  62  to provide access to a threaded bore  66  that extends to end  62 . The threaded bore  66  receives a threaded adjustment screw (not shown) that permits variation of the stop point for the arm rest  26 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the arm rest  26  comprises a support frame  68  which is covered by a cushioning material that is surrounded with a covering material in a standard manner known in the art, such as by over-molding. Frame  68  may be made from any suitable support material, such as metal. The frame  68  is provided with a mounting stud  70  that is configured with a central bore  72 . Adjacent to the stud  70 , the frame  68  is also provided with a post  74 . When arm rest  26  is mounted to the support arm  24 , the stud  70  extends through the central bore  56  and the post  74  is located within the arcuate slot  58 . A connector, such as a threaded bolt, connects to the central bore  72  of stud  70  to secure arm rest  26  to the support arm  24 . So connected, arm rest  26  is able to pivot through a range of travel defined by the arcuate slot  58 , with the post  74  serving to support the arm rest against ends  60  and  62 . As previously disclosed the location of post  74 , and hence the position of arm rest  26 , can be varied relative to end  62  by virtue of the position of the adjustment screw that can be located in the threaded bore  66 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , arm rest  26  on arm rest assembly  12  is shown in a first, extended position with the post  74  at or near end  62  of the arcuate slot, for use by a motorcycle passenger. Arm rest  26  is able to pivot  180  degrees, as shown on arm rest assembly  14 , when the arm rest  26  is not in use, such as to permit easy access for a motorcycle passenger to the passenger seat area. 
         [0020]    It is to be understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise. 
         [0021]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.