Abstract:
The invention provides a pair of panels, positioned on opposite sides of a motorcycle, and supported on the front portion of the frame of the motorcycle to deflect air flow or wind away from the rider. The panels are pivotally mounted on a bracket which is secured to the frame, such that the panels may be positioned to provide maximum comfort to the rider.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a deflector assembly for a motorcycle. In its more specific aspect, this invention relates to a deflector assembly for a motorcycle for substantially reducing the flow of air against the rider, that is, to protect the rider against wind pressure, especially when operating at high speeds. 
   BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
   Motorcycles, especially those used for touring or commuting, have been provided with various designs of shields, deflectors, or fairings to protect the rider or cyclist against wind, water, dirt, and insects. The flow of air, particularly when traveling at high speeds, creates a tiring effect on the rider. With the engine of a motorcycle being mounted midway on the frame, and being exposed, heat from the engine can provide some discomfort to the rider. Therefore, in some instances, shields or deflectors have been designed to direct air toward or across the engine to provide a cooling effect. Thus, the general purpose of the use of shields or deflectors on a motorcycle has been to provide added comfort and safety for the rider. 
   Generally, the shields or deflectors in use or proposed in the prior art are relatively expensive and/or tend to be heavy, or bulky, and furthermore can be hazardous. Some shields are attached to the handlebars of the bike, or close to them, and therefore tend to interfere with seeing and steering. A windshield, mounted on, and extending above the handlebars of a motorcycle, is a somewhat common add-on, which helps to protect the rider&#39;s face from the wind. Even with a windshield, however, there is strong air turbulence under the windshield. 
   For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,315, there is shown a fairing comprised of a first section extending the breadth of the handlebars, a second section (windshield) extending above the handlebars for shielding the rider&#39;s face, and a third section extending downwardly on opposite sides of the front fork. The bottom section is provided with vents for directing cooling air toward the motorcycle engine and the cyclist. 
   A cowling assembly or fairing utilizing a windshield in combination with air inlets and outlets is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,494. Air is directed upwardly and away from the rider&#39;s head. 
   An air cooling shield for motorcycles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,412,634. Two or more shields are attached to both sides of the motorcycle, and are inclined downwardly and so arranged that the forward edge of the first shield is positioned at a lower level than the forward edge of the second shield. The shields direct air onto the cylinders of the engine, thereby providing a cooling effect. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,890 discloses a pair of leg shields mounted on each side of the crash bar of a motorcycle. Each shield is generally planar but curved convexly at the top and outer side to provide a lifting force to the shield. 
   German patent application P27262448, published Dec. 12, 1978, to Kreidler, discloses a motorcycle fairing consisting of an upper cover 1 (having a depending segment from the windshield that lies essentially in a horizontal plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bike) and leg cover 5 (which is essentially horizontally disposed and parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bike). The steering cover and leg cover overlap at 6 and 8, thereby forming a small air column. The planar surfaces of covers 6 and 8 that form this overlap, however, lie in a vertical plane and extend essentially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bike. Further the two overlapping sections are concentrically arranged, and are concentric to the axis of the fork, so that upon turning, section 6 turns within the arc of section 8. This cover arrangement appears to be unduly large, and the foot peg is restricted to a rearward position. 
   The applicant has recognized that the shields or fairings disclosed in the prior art are cumbersome, or expensive, or have a high vertical dimension that can interfere with seeing or steering, such as a conventional type windshield used in combination with deflectors or air vents to provide a cooling effect or to protect the rider against wind, water, dirt, etc. In response thereto, the applicant has in the past developed an improved deflector for a motorcycle. That improved deflector is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,171 issued on Mar. 28, 2000 to the applicant. 
   Recognizing that further improvements could be made in the design, assembly and mounting of deflectors for motorcycles, the applicant has invented and developed a deflector for motorcycles which provides such further improvements. 
   The present invention has, therefore, as its purpose to provide a deflector to protect the rider against wind pressure that overcomes many of the disadvantages of the prior art. The deflector of the present invention is more effective in protecting the rider against wind pressure, while at the same time offering less wind resistance, which lessens the load on the motorcycle engine. The deflector of the present invention directs the wind downward and away from the rider, such that the rider is exposed to little if any under the deflector turbulence. Further, the angular position of the deflector is adjustable, so as to provide the wind deflection which the rider considers most desirable. 
   It is another purpose or object of the invention to provide a deflector for substantially reducing the flow of air against the rider so as to overcome its tiring effect especially at high speeds. 
   It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a deflector for use in combination with a conventional type windshield to substantially reduce or eliminate underscreen turbulence. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide such a deflector that is relatively inexpensive, aesthetically pleasing, and simple to mount. 
   It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such a deflector that will enhance the comfort and safety of the rider. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Broadly, the invention provides a deflector assembly having a pair of panels symmetrically mounted on each side of a motorcycle as viewed from the front. That is, symmetrically mounted with reference to the cental vertical axis of the motorcycle. A motorcycle typically has a front fork with longitudinally spaced apart fork members, and a front steerable wheel is rotatably mounted on the fork. The frame of the motorcycle includes a front portion on which the front fork is rotatably mounted. The front portion of the frame may typically include a pair of tubular members joined together at the front end of the frame and diverging downwardly from each other and extending under the engine to support the engine, gas tank and rider. The deflector comprises a pair of panel members which are substantially identical, and which are mounted on opposite sides of the vertical central axis of the motorcycle. Each panel member is formed as a substantially planar surface, with the planar surfaces being substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle. Each of the panel members is secured to the longer leg of an L-shaped member. Each of the shorted legs of the L-shaped members are pivotally secured to one of the legs of a U-shaped member, which is in turn secured to a bracket which is in turn secured to the front portion of the frame of the motorcycle. In addition to being supported by the longitudinally extending longer leg of a L-shaped member, an elongated support member may be secured to the longer leg of the L-shaped member and the panel member, in a position generally perpendicular to the longer leg. Depending upon the design of the front portion of the frame of a particular motorcycle, the bracket by which the deflector assembly is attached to the motorcycle may be of different shapes, such as a Z-shape or an L-shape. The L-shaped members being pivotally secured to the U-shaped member, the angular position of the plane of the panel members may be adjusted to provide maximum comfort to the rider. It should be understood that such terms used herein and in the appended claims as being “substantially parallel” and “substantially transverse” are not intended to be restricted to the literal meaning, but can be slightly angled. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the deflector is used in combination with a conventional or standard windshield mounted on the handlebars of the motorcycle. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is side elevation view of a motorcycle having mounted thereon the deflector assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is left side perspective view of the front portion, viewed from the rear, of the motorcycle shown in  FIG. 1 , with the deflector assembly of the present invention mounted thereon; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view from the front of the motorcycle shown in  FIG. 1 , with the deflector assembly of the present invention mounted thereon; 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the deflector assembly of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top elevation view of the deflector assembly of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the deflector assembly of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top elevation view of a second embodiment of the deflector assembly of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate mounting bracket for the deflector assembly of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views, there is shown in  FIGS. 1–3  all or portions of a motorcycle of conventional structure provided with a deflector assembly in accordance with the present invention. Such a motorcycle  10 , has a front steerable wheel  12  and a rear wheel  14 . The front wheel  12  is rotatably supported on a front fork  16  and is steered by handlebars  18  mounted on the fork which is rotatably supported by the front portion  20  of a frame  22 . The usual principal components of a motorcycle, engine  24 , seat  26 , and fuel tank  28 , are supported by the frame  22 , which is supported at the rear end by rear wheel  14 . 
   The deflector assembly  30  of this invention is supported on the front portion  20  of the frame  22  as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The section of the front portion  20  of the frame  22 , shown in  FIG. 3 , is formed by two members  32  and  34  which are joined together at the top, and spread apart toward the bottom. The front portion extends above the portion shown in  FIG. 3  to rotatably support the front fork  16 . A generally horizontal cross-member  36  extends between the members  32  and  34 . The deflector assembly  30  of this invention includes essentially identical first and second panels  38  and  40 . As is best shown in  FIGS. 3–6 , the panels  38  and  40  are supported on the front portion  20  of the frame  22  by a support structure which includes a pair of L-shaped members  42  and  44 , a U-shaped member  46 , and a bracket  48 . Longer legs  50  and  52  of L-shaped members  42  and  44  are secured to the panels  38  and  40  respectively by securing devices, shown as pairs of screws and acorn nuts  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60 . To provide further support to the panels  38  and  40 , a pair of elongated members  62  and  64  are provided. These members are positioned substantially perpendicular to the longer legs  50  and  52  of the L-shaped members, and are secured to the panels  38  and  40  on the opposite side of the longer legs  50  and  52 , by securing devices  54  and  60 , and additional securing devices, shown as screws and acorn nuts,  66 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72 . Shorter legs  74  and  76  of the L-shaped members  42  and  44  are secured to legs  78  and  80  of the U-shaped member  46  by fastening devices shown as screws and acorn nuts  82  and  84 . 
   Central section  86  of the U-shaped member  46  is secured to bracket  48  which is in turn secured to a portion of the frame of the motorcycle  10 . The bracket  48  has a Z-shape, with a mid-section  88 , and first and second outer sections  90  and  92 . First outer section  90  is provided with an elongated slot  94  for receiving a fastening device  96  such as a screw and acorn nut which secures the central section  86  of the U-shaped member  47  to the bracket  48 . The second outer section  92  is provided with an aperture  98 , which is aligned with a hole in the cross member  36  of the frame  22  of the motor cycle. A securing device  100 , shown as a bolt and a nut, is received in the aperture  98  and the hole in the cross member  36  to secure the deflector assembly  30  to the frame of the motorcycle. 
   The first and second panel members  38  and  40  may be constructed of any suitable material such as metal (e.g., steel or aluminum), or plastic (e.g., LEXAN, LUCITE, acrylic, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride). As shown in the Figs., the panels are made of a transparent plastic. The plastic may be tinted or colored to be aesthetically more pleasing. The L-shaped members  42  and  44 , the U-shaped member  46 , and the elongated members  62  and  64  are formed of a strong material such as steel, and are provided with an attractive finish, such as chrome. Similarly, all of the fastening members are provided with an attractive finish, such as chrome. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a top elevation view of a second embodiment of this invention will be described. In this embodiment, opaque members  102  are mounted on the opposite side of the panels  38  and  40 , from the L-shaped members  42  and  44 . These opaque members are provide, such that if debris should become lodged between the L-shaped members  42  and  44 , and the panels  38  and  40 , it will be hidden from view. Further, as shown in the second embodiment, generally L-shaped reinforcing members  104  are positioned to strengthen the L-shaped members  42  and  44 . The L-shaped members  104  are secured by the same fasteners as secure the L-shaped members  42  and  44  to the U-shaped member  46  and the panels  38  and  40 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , if the motorcycle on which the deflector assembly of this invention is to be installed is more conveniently provided with vertical mounting holes in the front portion of the frame than a horizontal hole, then an L-shaped mounted bracket  106  is provided. 
   It thus will be observed that the deflector of this invention provides numerous advantages and provides for comfort and safety for the rider. The deflector adds very little weight to the motorcycle, and its outer boundary lies wholly within the front profile of the cycle. Most significantly, the deflector substantially reduces air pressure against the driver, while providing a cooling effect to the motor and the legs of the driver. A deflector fabricated of tinted plastic is particularly aesthetic, which is further enhanced by the symmetry of the structure when mounted on the cycle. Further, it should be understood that the foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.