Abstract:
A motorcycle backrest includes a base fender bracket, and a removable backrest portion. The base fender bracket is adapted to be rigidly secured to a motorcycle at a position residing over the rear fender. The base fender bracket includes first and second upstanding support plates, each including a hole. The removable backrest portion includes a cushion and first and second rearward extending plates each including a hole. A pin is configured to extend through the holes in the upstanding plates and through the holes in the rearward extending plates when aligned to thereby removably couple the removable backrest portion to the base fender bracket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 61/548,478, filed Oct. 18, 2011 (pending) and 61/613,004, filed Mar. 20, 2012 (pending) the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to motorcycle backrests and, more specifically, to backrests that are removable from the motorcycle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many different types of motorcycle backrest designs and configurations are known. Some backrests are mounted permanently to the motorcycle, such a by welding. Other backrests are removable and may even include relatively quick releases. In spite of this, it would be desirable to provide further improvements to motorcycle backrests that allow for quick release of the backrest, while retaining a pleasing aesthetic appearance with the backrest removed, and ensuring that the backrest is securely fastened to the motorcycle when attached. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Generally, the invention is directed to a motorcycle backrest comprising a base fender bracket adapted to be rigidly secured to a motorcycle at a position residing over the rear fender. The base fender bracket includes first and second upstanding support plates, each including a hole. A removable backrest portion includes a cushion and first and second rearward extending plates each including a hole. A pin is configured to extend through the holes in the upstanding plates and through the holes in the rearward extending plates when aligned to thereby removably couple the removable backrest portion to the base fender bracket. The motorcycle backrest can further comprise an adjustable connection between the removable backrest portion and the base fender bracket allowing an angle between the cushion and the base fender bracket to be adjusted. The upstanding support plates can each include an additional hole, and the rearward extending plates can each include a plurality of position adjustment holes. Another pin is configured to extend through the additional holes in the upstanding support plates and through selected ones of the position adjustment holes in the rearward extending plates to thereby set an angular position of the cushion. In other embodiments, different types of adjustable connections may be used. For example, in one other embodiment, a cam-type adjustment mechanism may be used. More specifically, an adjustment mechanism can have notches in the rearward extending plates defining angle adjustment positions, and mating adjustment pieces or elements fixed on the upstanding support plates. As another optional feature, a backrest cushion may be provided with a vibrating device. The motorcycle backrest can further comprise a luggage rack coupled to the removable backrest portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of the backrest. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective rear view of the backrest. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3-7  are respective side views of the backrest showing different positions of adjustability. 
           [0008]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the fender bracket portion of the backrest. 
           [0009]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the backrest illustrating an optional luggage rack. 
           [0010]      FIG. 10  is a side view similar to  FIG. 9 , but showing the luggage rack secured to the backrest at a different orientation relative to the base fender bracket. 
           [0011]      FIG. 11  is a perspective front view of another embodiment of a backrest. 
           [0012]      FIG. 12  is a perspective rear view of the backrest shown in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0013]      FIGS. 13-17  are respective, side schematic views of the backrest of  FIG. 11  showing different positions of adjustability. 
           [0014]      FIG. 18  is a rear view of the backrest including an optional vibrating element. 
           [0015]      FIG. 19  shows, respectively, a partial perspective view at an upper portion and a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11  at a lower portion of the Figure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the backrest  10  of a first illustrative embodiment includes a base fender bracket  12  that is rigidly connected to the fender (not shown) of a motorcycle, for example, through the use of a pair of nuts  14  and bolts  16  secured through selected holes  18 ,  20  in the base fender bracket  12 . Holes  18 ,  20  are aligned with holes (not shown) in the motorcycle fender, which may be under the passenger seat. It will be appreciated that other manners of rigidly mounting the base fender bracket  12  to the motorcycle may be used and/or may be necessary in various applications. Respective first and second upstanding backrest mounting plates  22 ,  24  are provided and are rigidly affixed to a fender attachment plate  26  the base fender bracket  12 , such as by welding. A removable backrest portion  30  is further provided and includes a cushion  32  carried by a cushion support plate  34  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The cushion support plate  34  is rigidly affixed to first and second vertical plates  36 ,  38 , such as by welding. The first and second vertical plates  36 ,  38  are coupled to one another for further support and stability by a horizontal plate member  40  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0017]    In order to securely fix the removable backrest portion  30  to the base fender bracket  12 , the removable backrest portion  30  is placed in the position as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  with a lower surface  36   a ,  38   a  of each vertical plate  36 ,  38  resting squarely on the upper planar surface  26   a  of the fender attachment plate  26 . Respective holes  36   b ,  38   b  in the vertical plates  36 ,  38  are aligned with holes  22   a ,  24   a  of the mounting plates  22 ,  24  and a main pivot clevis pin  50  is inserted through the aligned holes as shown. The main pivot clevis pin  50  is held in position by appropriate stop elements, such as rings  52  or other elements such as detent mechanisms (not shown). 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, an adjustability feature is provided for the backrest  10 . In this regard, a multi-position clevis pin  60  is provided and may be inserted through aligned holes  62 ,  64  in the mounting plates  22 ,  24  and selected holes  66   a - e ,  68   a - e  the vertical plates  36 ,  38 . In this example, the user has the option of choosing five different positions to change the angle of the removable backrest portion  30  relative to the base fender bracket  12 . This is accomplished by pivoting the backrest portion about clevis pin  50  until the desired holes  66   a - e  and  68   a - e  are aligned with holes  62 ,  64  ( FIG. 8 ). Each position option is shown in respective  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 . Due to the interaction of the bottom surfaces  36   a ,  38   a  of the vertical plates  36 ,  38  and the upper planar surface  26   a , as well as the location of the main pivot clevis pin  50  and multi-position clevis pin  60 , the backrest portion  30  will be securely fastened to the base fender bracket  12  and will not pivot in either direction around the clevis pin  50 . 
         [0019]    This will allow the backrest  10  to be mounted on several different rear fender styles and configurations while maintaining the backrest portion  30  in a desired angular orientation relative to the passenger seat. Removing each clevis pin  50 ,  60  will release the removable backrest portion  30  from the base fender bracket  12 , leaving the base fender bracket  12  rigidly attached to the fender. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate two additional embodiments including a luggage rack  70  secured to the vertical plates  36 ,  38  and extending rearwardly from the removable backrest portion  30 . The luggage rack  70  preferably has a 90° orientation relative to the backrest cushion  30  (approximately), however, it will be appreciated that the connection between the luggage rack  70  and the vertical plates  36 ,  38  may also be adjustable to change the angular orientation of the luggage rack  70  relative to the backrest cushion  32 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 11-19  illustrate another embodiment of a backrest  110 . In these drawing figures, the same reference numerals in “ 100 ” series format are used to denote the same structure illustrated and discussed in connection with the first embodiment ( FIGS. 1-10 ). Therefore, any “ 100 ” series number which corresponds to the number shown and described in connection with the first embodiment need not be further discussed as the structure and operation is the same or very similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-10 .  FIGS. 11-17  and  19  best illustrate an alternative adjustment mechanism  180  used to adjust the angle of the removable backrest portion  130  relative to the base fender bracket  112 . In particular, each rearwardly extending plate or vertical plate  136 ,  138  includes a series of notches  184  (only one set shown) formed on a lower rear edge thereof. These notches selectively mate with cam elements  188 . Respective cam elements  188  (only one shown) are rigidly affixed to each mounting plate or upstanding support plate  122 ,  124 . This rigid fixation may, for example, be formed by welding each cam element  188  to the respective upstanding support plate  122  or  124 . Once the removable backrest portion  130  is fixed in position via the connections respectively made by the cam and notch attachments at the rear and the main clevis pin  150  at the front, the backrest portion  130  is rigidly fixed to the base fender bracket  112 . To attain the desired position, the main clevis pin  150  is removed and the desired angle between the backrest portion  130  and the base fender bracket  112  is set by placing the desired notches  184  into mating engagement with the cam elements  188 . The holes  122   a ,  124   a  are aligned respectively with the holes  136   b ,  138   b  and the clevis pin  150  is inserted through each of the aligned holes  122   a ,  124   a ,  136   b ,  138   b .  FIGS. 13-17  illustrate various adjusted, fixed positions between the backrest portion  130  and the base fender bracket  112 . In this embodiment, the clevis pin  150  is fixed in position using a lock  190  inserted through a hole  192  in the clevis pin  150  that is exposed from a sleeve or collar  194  rigidly affixed to the rearward extending vertical plate  136 , such as by welding. Once the lock  190  is inserted through the hole  192 , the clevis pin  150  may not move in the one direction due to the interference between the lock  190  and the sleeve  194 , and cannot move in the opposite direction due to the head  150   a  of the pin  150  bearing against the upstanding backrest mounting plate  122 .  FIG. 18  further illustrates a wireless vibrator device  196  that may be mounted within the cushion  132  and which may provide comfort to the user. For example, the vibrator device  196  may be a Shiatsu massage unit. Two screws  198 ,  200  may be used to secure a panel that provides access to the vibrator device  196 , or massage unit, for replacement of batteries or other maintenance. As another embodiment, not shown, a luggage rack may be used in conjunction with the backrest and may use the same clevis pin  150  to lock it in place with the remainder of the removable backrest. This allows the luggage rack to be a quick release item separate from the backrest and the luggage rack may be used with or without the backrest via the same clevis pin  150 . 
         [0022]    While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various preferred embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not the intention of the Applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The various features of the invention may be used alone or in any combination depending on the needs and preferences of the user. This has been a description of the present invention, along with the preferred methods of practicing the present invention as currently known. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims.