Abstract:
A Motorcycle and All-Terrain Vehicle Mounted Tie Down Bracket is disclosed. Also disclosed is a device that easily attaches to a conventional cycle or vehicle “triple clamp” and remains there during normal use of the cycle or vehicle. The device includes a portion for bolting to the cycle or vehicle as well as a portion for hooking a conventional tie-down strap through. The tie-down portion is bent out respective to the mounting portion in order to make it easier to reach the tie-down portion for tying it down.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relies for priority upon Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/318,376, filed Sep. 10, 2001 under 35 U.S.C. §119(e). 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to accessories for motorcycles and the like and, more specifically, to a Motorcycle and All-Terrain Vehicle Mounted Tie Down Bracket  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Many devices are known for tying down a motorcycle or ATV for transporting on a trailer or truck. Examples in the field include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,078,821, 4,243,243, 4,852,779, 5,529,448, 5,326,202, 4,752,177, 4,441,736 and 4,072,257. These references discuss a variety of utility trailers, stabilizing hitches, racks, hand grip mounts, strapping systems and suspension wear reducers for towing or carrying a motorcycle or ATV.  
           [0006]    For reference purposes, FIG. 1 is provided. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional dirt bike  10 . The typical arrangement for mounting the front wheel  12  to the conventional dirt bike  10  (as well as ATV&#39;s and ATC&#39;s) is via a fork assembly  14 . The fork assembly  14  generally consists of a left fork tube  16 , a right fork tube  18  and a handlebar pivot tube  20 . These three tubes  16 ,  18  and  20  are interconnected by an upper triple clamp  22 A and a lower triple clamp  22 B.  
           [0007]    To transport motorcycles or ATV&#39;s, tie down straps are typically used to secure the transported vehicle in the bed of a truck, box van, trailer or other transporting vehicle. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional tie-down strap  50 . Tie-down straps typically consist of a pair of nylon straps  52 A and  52 B interconnected by a tensioning device  54 , such as a clamp or ratcheting assembly. Hooks  56 A and  56 B are attached to the distal ends of the straps  52 A and  52 B. In use, the typical practice is to place one hook  56  on the motorcycle or ATV steering handle bar, and attach the other hook to an eyelet or other attachment point on the transporting vehicle—at an approximate angle of 45 degrees. This method is repeated using a second tie-down strap on the opposite side of the motorcycle or ATV. When tension is applied to both tie-down straps, the vehicle&#39;s front suspension is compressed, creating retaining force against the surface of the transporting vehicle. This spring-like tension holds the motorcycle or ATV securely in place for transport.  
           [0008]    Utilizing the motorcycle&#39;s or ATV&#39;s handlebar as an attachment point for a tie-down strap has several, disadvantages. When the vehicle is transported, vibration and motion will cause the nylon strap or hook to rub against various components on the motorcycle or ATV, potentially causing damage at these locations. Damage to electrical wires, control cables, body fairings and even the handlebars themselves is common, creating additional operating expense as well as potential safety hazards due resulting from component failure. Furthermore, the tie-down hook  56  can slide along the handlebar, thus loosening the tensioning force and creating the possibility of losing the transported vehicle.  
           [0009]    None of the aforementioned references solve these problems adequately. In fact, U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,821 includes hose clamps  109  and a pin  107  which, when secured to the frame member  93  of the motorcycle, will scratch the paint and possibly even create a dent. What is needed, therefore, is a restraint device and system for motorcycles and ATV&#39;s that provides reliable security without causing damage to the motorcycle or ATV.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Motorcycle and All-Terrain Vehicle Mounted Tie Down Bracket. The device should easily attach to a conventional cycle or vehicle “triple clamp” and remain there during normal use of the cycle or vehicle. The device should include a portion for bolting to the cycle or vehicle as well as a portion for hooking a conventional tie-down strap through. The tie-down portion should be bent out respective to the mounting portion in order to make it easier to reach the tie-down portion.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional dirt bike;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional tie-down strap;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional triple clamp;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a front view of a preferred tie-down bracket of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 4;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a pair of brackets of FIGS. 4 and 5 installed on a conventional triple clamp; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a dirt bike tied down utilizing the brackets of FIGS.  4 - 6 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Motorcycle and All-Terrain Vehicle Mounted Tie Down Bracket.  
         [0020]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional triple clamp  22 , such as those depicted above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. Although many different shapes and sizes are used, they all typically have the following common elements: The front bracket  24 , the rear bracket  26  and a plurality of assembly bolts  28  for attaching the two brackets  24  and  26  to one another, thereby clamping the fork tubes and pivot tube (not shown) firmly together. Having briefly discussed the conventional triple clamp, we shall now turn to FIG. 4 to discuss the details of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a front view of a preferred tie-down bracket  30  of the present invention. As shown, the bracket  30  comprises a tie-down tab  32  and a mounting tab  34  which meet at the crease  36  formed in the bracket  30 . The tie-down tab  32  is generally flat and circular in shape, and is further defined by a tie-down aperture formed therethrough.  
         [0022]    Similarly, the mounting tab  34  is generally flat and circular in shape, an it is further defined by a mounting aperture formed therethrough. In most situations (as is also depicted here), the diameter of the tie-down tab and tie-down aperture are typically larger than the diameter of the mounting tab and mounting aperture. The larger diametered tie-down elements provide ease in attaching and detaching the tie-down straps; the smaller diametered mounting elements reduce any interference with the steering of the cycle or vehicle. The bracket  30  is shown from another vantage point in FIG. 5.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a side view of the bracket  30  of FIG. 4. As shown with hidden lines, the apertures  38  and  40  pass entirely through the tic-down tab  32  and mounting tab  34 , respectively. The angle  41  between the tie-down tab  32  and the mounting tab  34  can vary for different embodiments of the bracket  30 , but it is shown here to be approximately 45 degrees. In fact, in some embodiments, the crease  36  may be eliminated, and the bracket  30  will be entirely flat. The material used to construct the bracket  30  is chosen from the variety of metals and composites to provide a strong, durable device that will resist corrosion, wear, cracking or other failure. Now we will turn to FIG. 6 to examine how simply a conventional cycle or ATV can be modified with the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a pair of brackets  30  of FIGS. 4 and 5 installed on a conventional triple clamp  22 . To install, the user need simply remove the two lower assembly bolts  28 A and  28 B, thread the bolt  28  through the mounting aperture  40 , and re-tighten the assembly bolt  28  securely. As depicted on the left side (as viewed from the cycle), the bracket  30  is completely installed and retained firmly in place by the assembly bolt  28 B. Due to the unique shape of the bracket  30 , the tie-down tab  32  and tie-down aperture  38  extend clear of the triple clamp  22  as well as the other components of the cycle or vehicle (not shown), particularly when the tie-down straps are attached at an outward angle of forty-five degrees (the conventional approach). FIG. 7 depicts how a cycle restrained using these novel brackets  30  would look.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a dirt bike  10  tied down utilizing the brackets  30  of FIGS.  4 - 6 . In this example, a pair of eyelets  60 A and  60 B are provided on the surface (e.g. the trailer bed) for tying the dirt bike  10  to. A pair of tie-down straps  50  connect between the brackets  30 A and  30 B now extending outwardly from the lower triple clamp  22 B. As can be seen, the straps  50  have been tightened until they are in condition for transporting the bike  10 . The brackets  30  extend outward from the triple clamp  22 B enough so that the hooks  56 A and  56 C can be attached thereto and still permit the straps  50  to clear the other components on the dirt bike  10 . Since the overall profile of the brackets  30  is small, when the user wishes to use the bike  10 , he or she need merely disconnect the tie-down straps —no removal of the brackets  30  is necessary.  
         [0026]    A further point is that the brackets  30  can be attached to either the upper or lower triple clamp on the cycle or vehicle; depending upon the particular cycle or vehicle, one or the other clamp  22  may provide easier access and more convenience. Furthermore, the brackets  30  may be installed at the upper assembly bolts rather than the lower assembly bolts. Certainly, it is expected that on certain types of vehicles it will be best to attach the brackets to other locations on the vehicle (e.g. other structural assembly bolts)—the configuration of the bracket  30  of the present invention is versatile and strong enough to accommodate such installation approaches. The example depicted and discussed herein was for triple clamp installation since most cycles and ATV&#39;s are tied down with the most stability at this location.  
         [0027]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.