Abstract:
A device for use in conjunction with a standard swingarm stand for a motorcycle consisting of a reversible bracket that will engage traditional swingarms or swingarms equipped with spools. The reversible bracket mounts to the stand at the point of engagement with the swingarm and can be adjusted for different width swingarms.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of provisional application No. 60/383,940 entitled “Reversible Motorcycle Support” filed May 30, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to motorcycle stands, and more particularly, to stands designed to support the underside of the rear swingarm of a motorcycle.  
           [0003]    Motorcycle swingarm stands are a common tool used to support a motorcycle to allow for maintenance such as chain maintenance, changing of tires or cleaning. Unlike a side stand and a center stand which are permanently connected to the motorcycle, a typical swingarm stand is a separate device that engages the lower face of the rearward portion of each side of a motorcycle swingarm and is designed such that a simple downward rotation lifts the rear wheel off the ground and securely holds the motorcycle in that position. Some motorcycle swingarms are equipped with small horizontal projections called “spools” for secure engagement with mating brackets on the swingarm stand. Spools simplify the engagement process and improve stability and are typically found on road racing motorcycles that are not equipped with a side stand or a center stand. The structure of swingarm stands vary, but whatever the configuration, a stand will be either equipped to support standard or spooled swingarms but not both. This means that two different stands were necessary in order to support motorcycles with spools and standard swingarm motorcycles. This invention is directed to making a rear stand universal for both types of swingarm, thus eliminating the need for duplication of otherwise similar stands.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is an improvement to a motorcycle swingarm stand that will enable a single stand to provide support for motorcycles with either a standard swingarm or a spool-equipped swingarm. A typical motorcycle rear stand is modified to incorporate a bracket that can be easily switched to engage either the standard or the spooled swingarm. The bracket is also width adjustable to conveniently fit different motorcycle swingarms.  
           [0005]    A typical swingarm stand consists of a support structure made from round or square tubing designed to be operated by hand and lift the rear wheel of a motorcycle off the ground. A pair of vertically disposed arms are equipped with a bracket at the upward end that engages the bottom face of the swingarm or engages spools affixed to the swingarm. The improved bracket is configured so that it may be reversed to engage both types of swingarms as necessary.  
           [0006]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved stand  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved bracket in detail  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a motorcycle swingarm equipped with spools with a rear stand in the ready position.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a swingarm stand in operation.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the reversible bracket.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the reversible bracket.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    As shown in FIG. 1, the swingarm stand of the present invention is designated generally at  10 . The stand has a support frame  12  with two parallel generally vertical but slightly rearwardly disposed tubes  14 , 15  at the lower portion of which are connected two rearwardly disposed horizontal tubes  16 , 17 . The rearward ends of horizontal tubes  16 , 17  are connected by a horizontal transverse member  18 . The transverse member  18  also serves as handle for holding the stand during operation. Attached at the base of vertical members  14 , 15  a pair of forward and longitudinally disposed wheels  19  are affixed by brackets  20 . The stand structure disclosed above is for the purpose of describing the function of a swingarm stand generally and any structural configuration that accomplishes the same end is contemplated.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 shows a detail of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The top of vertical tubes  14 , 15  are configured with a transversely disposed guide  22 . A vertically disposed threaded hole  23  is provided in the top of guide  22  for attaching the reversible bracket shown generally at  24 . Reversible bracket  24  is configured with a pair of transverse members  26 , 27  spaced such that they will fit slidably over the guide  22  but prevent rotation of bracket  24 . Nothing in this disclosure is meant to limit transverse members  26 , 27  and guide  22  to the square profile shown in FIG. 2, but may be round or of some other design that provides the same orienting function of said members. Bracket  24  is provided with a standard swingarm engaging member  28  attached to one end of transverse members  26 , 27 . Standard engaging member  28  functions to contact the lower face of a swingarm and may be a horizontally disposed cylindrical member as shown in FIG. 2, or may have a flat surface of some other design that provides adequate support for the motorcycle. A spool engaging member  30  is affixed to transverse members  26 , 27  at the opposite end from standard engaging member  28 . Spool engaging member  30  has a vertically disposed, generally flat configuration that has a v-shaped or semi-circular profile  31  on its upper edge to fit securely around the spool  40  (see FIG. 3).  
         [0015]    Bracket  24  is attached to guide  22  by means of a bolt  34 . The bolt  34  can be loosened and bracket  24  can be lifted vertically so the transverse members  26 , 27  clear guide  22  and the bracket then spun 180 degrees so the opposite end of bracket  24  is now in the functioning position. With bolt  34  still loose, brackets  24  and  25  can be adjusted in the transverse direction to whatever width necessary, then bolt  34  tightened.  
         [0016]    Operation of the stand  10  is shown generally in FIGS. 3 and 4. The brackets  24  are first properly set up to fit the desired swingarm style and width. FIG. 3 shows a swingarm  38  equipped with spools  40 . The stand  10  is place so the spool engaging member  30  of bracket  24  contact the spools  40 . FIG. 4 shows the operation of the stand  10 . A downward force is applied to cross member  18  which causes the stand wheels  19  to roll along the floor and lift the swingarm  38  until horizontal members  17  contact the floor, simultaneously raising the wheel  42  from floor and stabilizing the motorcycle  36 . Raising the cross member  18  reverses the process and lowers the motorcycle wheel  42  until it makes contact with the floor.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. A rotatable bracket  50  is attached to the top of the vertical tubes  14 , 15  by means of a removable pin  52  inserted through holes  54  in the bracket and in the vertical tubes  14 , 15 . Removal of the pin  52  allows the bracket  50  to be rotated 180 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the vertical tube  14 , 15 . Bracket  50  is provided with standard swingarm engaging means  56  and spool engaging means  58 . Means may be provided for adjusting the width similar to the previous disclosure.  
         [0018]    Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 6. A bracket  60  is contemplated that is rotatable about an axis “A” perpendicular to vertical tubes  14 , 15 . The bracket  60  is equipped with a horizontally disposed main support shaft  62  that is inserted through a hole  64  in the top of vertical tubes  14 , 15 . Adjustment holes  66 , 67  are provided in the shaft  64  to secure the bracket and provide for width adjustments. The shaft  62  is secured by means of a pin  70  that is inserted through a hole  72  in vertical tubes  14 , 15 . Bracket  60  is provided with means  74  for engaging a standard swingarm and spool engaging means  76  located 180 degrees from standard means  74 . Adjustment is accomplished by removing pin  70  and rotating bracket  60  about axis A and reinserting pin  70  through hole  64  and appropriate hole  66  or  67 .