Abstract:
A stabilizing rod system for securing a motorcycle to a trailer during transportation. The system has telescoping tubes which can be adjusted to fit different dimensions and a hook for securing the tubes to the trailer and a second hook for securing the tubes to the motorcycle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates, in general, to stabilizers, and, in particular, to stabilizers for securing a vehicle during transport. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   In the prior art various types of stabilizing devices have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,914 to Fotou discloses a stabilizing rod system for securing a motorcycle to a trailer comprising telescoping tubes which can be adjusted to fit different dimensions and a hook for securing the rod to the trailer and a hook for securing the rod to the handlebars of a motorcycle. However, the hooks are exposed and are not protected by the sleeves of the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,220 to Marcyan discloses a stabilizing rod system for securing a motorcycle to a trailer comprising telescoping tubes which can be adjusted by means of threaded rods and wing nuts to fit different dimensions. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,821 to Kitterman discloses a stabilizing rod system for securing a motorcycle to a trailer comprising telescoping tubes which can be adjusted by means of threaded rods to fit different dimensions. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,972 to Jackson, Sr. discloses a triangular stabilizing system for securing a motorcycle to a trailer. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a stabilizing rod system for securing a motorcycle to a trailer during transportation. The system has telescoping tubes which can be adjusted to fit different dimensions and a hook for securing the tubes to the trailer and a second hook for securing the tubes to the motorcycle. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved stabilizing system for transporting vehicles. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved stabilizing system for transporting vehicles which protects the transported vehicle. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved stabilizing system for transporting vehicles which is easily installed and uninstalled. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is perspective view of the present invention securing a motorcycle to a trailer. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of one end of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to best explain the invention so that others, skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, might utilize its teachings. 
   Referring now to the drawings in greater detail,  FIG. 1  shows a motorcycle  1  secured to a trailer  2  by the present invention  4  for transportation of the motorcycle. The stabilizing rod  4  of the present invention is secured at one end to the handlebars of the motorcycle and at the other end to a securing ring  3  fastened in any conventional manner to the floor of the trailer  2 . Also, it should be noted that normally two stabilizing rods  4  (one on either side of the motorcycle) would be used, however, only one is shown in  FIG. 1  for clarity. The handle bar hooks  17  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) are locked onto the motorcycle and can not be dislodged due to extreme road conditions and/or negative pressure caused by slack or undue pressure on the motorcycle forks which can be caused by the trailer  2  encountering swerving or extreme bumps, braking or pot holes. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the present invention comprises a pair of telescoping tubes  5 ,  6 . The tubes have a plurality of apertures therethrough. Tube  5  has a single aperture  13  at a first end, and the tube  6  has a plurality of apertures  12  at one end. The combined length of the tubes  5 ,  6  can be adjusted by aligning one of the apertures  12  with the aperture  13  and passing a bolt, or other securing means,  9  through the aligned apertures. 
   The second end of the tube  5  has an aperture  11  passing through. A cover  7  is placed over the second end of the tube  5  and an aperture  12  in the cover is aligned with an aperture  11  in the end of the tube  5 . A snap hook  8  is placed in the open end of the tube  5  and a bolt, or other securing means,  9  is passed through the aperture  12  in the cover, through the hook  8  and then through the end of the tube  5 . The bolt is secured with a nut  10  to hold the snap hook, or securing means,  8  to the second end of the tube  5 . The snap hook  8  will engage the securing ring  3  and thus hold the stabilizing rod  4  to the trailer  2 . The cover  7  will cover most of the snap hook  8  leaving just enough exposed to secure the hook to the securing ring  3 . The cover will protect the hook from being accidentally damaged by, for example, being struck by foreign objects, and will help protect the hook from the elements. 
   The other end of the tube  6  has an aperture  14  which will accept a bolt, or other securing means,  9  to fasten the locking collar or slotted cover  15  and hook  17  in a similar manner to the hook  8  and non-slotted cover  7 . In order to secure the hook  17  to the other end of tube  6 , the hook will be placed inside the cover with the curved portion  19  of the hook placed in the slot  16 . the locking collar  15  will cover most of the length of the hook  17 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Then they will be placed on the end of the tube with the cover  15  on the outside of the tube and the hook on the inside of the tube, and a bolt, or other securing means,  9  will be passed through the cover, the tube and the hook to secure them all together. The locking collar, because of the slot  16 , will slide as far as possible up to the motorcycle handlebars thus locking the hook securely onto the handle bars. The locking collar  15  protects the end of the tube  6  and acts like a bumper guard for the hook as it conceals and protects the hook. 
   In order to use the present invention, the hook  8  will be secured to the securing ring  3 . The length of the telescoping tubes  5 ,  6  will be adjusted so it is slightly shorter than the distance to the handlebars. Next the motorcycle fork will be compressed so the hook  17  can be looped around the handlebars. The second stabilizing rod  4  will be placed on the motorcycle in the same manner. 
   Although the Motorcycle Trailering Stabilizers and the method of using the same according to the present invention has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention.