Abstract:
A Single-bolt Auxiliary Light Bracket is disclosed. The device provides a clean, sleek mounting apparatus for motorcycle auxiliary light fixtures. The device may further be provided in a variety of configurations to accomodate a variety of handlebar designs; in all embodiments, the bracket will attach to the existing motorcycle structure with a single bolt. The device is still further provided with recessed grooves formed in its surface for retaining headlamp wiring and other non-aesthetically-pleasing appurtances therewithin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to motorcycle accessories and, more specifically, to a Single-bolt Auxiliary Light Bracket  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Motorcycle accessory products have been, and continue to be, a large commercial market. It is rare for a motorcycle owner to simply purchase a motorcycle, and then leave it as-is without any change or improvement. This is particularly true in regards to the high-end, large street “cruiser” motorcycles. These street cruiser motorcycles tend to be very dressed up, and to display expansive amounts of chrome. It has become the source of great ownership pride to accessorize one&#39;s cruiser motorcycle with high quality accessory devices such as auxiliary lights. Auxiliary lights can be purchased in a wide variety of styles and for a wide variety of purposes on the motorcycle. Of particular popularity are the auxiliary headlights; these lights are typically mounted on either side of the main motorcycle headlight—here they provide additional beauty and safety. Before discussing how these auxiliary headlights have been attached in the past, we will first orient ourselves by discussing the main components of the fork area of a conventional street cruiser motorcycle.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a conventional motorcycle fork assembly  10 . The conventional motorcycle has a left fork tube  12  and right fork tube  14  extending between the motorcycle frame (not shown) and the shock absorbers (which support the front wheel). Although not depicted, there is a steering stem that attaches the fork assembly  10  to the frame of the motorcycle. The steering stem is centered on the frame (and between the fork tubes  12  and  14 ), and enables the fork assembly to rotate back and forth to provide vehicle steering.  
           [0006]    The fork tubes  12  and  14  and steering stem (not shown) on a street cruiser motorcycle are typically clamped together by an upper “triple clamp”  18  and a lower triple clamp  20 . Typically also, the lower triple clamp  20  provides support for the main headlight assembly  22 . The main headlight assembly  22  is attached to the lower triple clamp  20  by the main headlight mounting bolt  23  affixed therethrough. Now turning to FIG. 2, we can examine one example of a prior device and method for mounting auxiliary headlights to a motorcycle.  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a prior accessory mounting bracket assembly  29  for motorcycles. The assembly  29  consists of a center mounting bracket  30  and a mounting bar  31  extending out and up from the center mounting bracket  30 . The center mounting bracket  30  is attached to the top surface  22  of the lower triple clamp  20  by the main headlight mounting bolt  23 ; the mounting bracket  30  is “sandwiched” between the main headlight assembly  22  and the lower triple clamp  20 . A first auxiliary headlight  32 A and second auxiliary headlight  32 B are attached to, and extend from the opposing distal ends of the mounting bar  31 .  
           [0008]    There are at least two problems with this prior assembly  22 : (1) since it only has a single anchoring point to the lower triple clamp  20 , it is not particularly rigid (and is therefore unstable); and (2) although not depicted here, the auxiliary headlights  32  require electrical wiring in order that they function—this assembly  29  leaves those wires out in the open and unprotected as they run between the auxiliary headlights  32  and the main headlight  22  (which is where they receive their power). Also, the prior assembly  22  is not particularly aesthetically pleasing. If we now turn to FIG. 3, we can examine yet another prior design.  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another prior accessory mounting bracket  40 . In this simple design, the bracket  40  is designed to be attached directly to one of the fork tubes (see FIG. 1). The bracket  40  consists of a first bracket-half  42 A and a second bracket-half  42 B which are tightened together to clamp onto the fork tube (not shown). The bracket  40  has a mounting aperture  46  penetrating therethrough to accept the threaded mounting stud  30  that extends from the typical auxiliary headlight assembly  32 . The assembly  32  then attaches to the bracket  40  by a mounting nut  38  and washer  39  engaging the stud  30 . This prior design suffers from the same problems as the assembly described in FIG. 2, and has an even poorer aesthetic appearance.  
           [0010]    What is needed is a method and device for attaching auxiliary headlights to motorcycles that is structurally dependable, aesthetically pleasing in its shape, as well as in providing a storage location for the power supply wiring leading to the auxiliary headlights.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Single-bolt Auxiliary Light Bracket and the method for installing the Bracket. The device should provide a clean, sleek mounting apparatus for motorcycle auxiliary light fixtures. The device should be provided in a variety of configurations to accomodate a variety of handlebar designs; in all embodiments, the bracket should attach with a single bolt to the existing motorcycle structure. The device should further be provided with recessed grooves formed in its surface for retaining headlamp wiring and other non-aesthetically-pleasing appurtances therewithin.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    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:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a conventional motorcycle fork assembly;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a prior accessory mounting bracket for motorcycles;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another prior accessory mounting bracket;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of mounting bracket of the present invention installed on a conventional fork assembly;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a top view of the bracket of FIG. 4;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate bracket of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a top view of another alternate bracket of the present invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a top view of yet another alternate bracket of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    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 Single-bolt Auxiliary Light Bracket.  
         [0022]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of mounting bracket  50  of the present invention installed on a conventional fork assembly. As shown, the bracket  50  attaches to the underside of the lower triple clamp  20  using the main headlight mounting bolt  23  (or, if necessary, a longer bolt in place of the original equipment mounting bolt). Unlike the prior brackets, the present invention extends between the two fork tubes  12  and  14 , as well as the steering stem (not shown), similar to the triple clamps, in order to provide an extremely rigid and durable mounting platform for the auxiliary headlights  32 . Furthermore, and as will be discussed below, the top surface (as installed here) of the bracket  50  includes a wire groove cut into it; the wire groove is provided to encase the electrical supply wiring for the auxiliary headlights as the wiring runs between the main headlight  22  and the auxiliary headlights  32 . In addition to hiding the wiring, the bracket  50  presents a smooth, clean and polished surface on the bottom-side of the triple clamp  20 . Although not depicted here, it should be understood that the bracket  50  can also be attached to the top or bottom surface of the upper triple clamp  18 ; this enables the user more options for installing auxiliary headlights, including the possibility of two pair of lights  32 ; one pair extending from a bracket  50  attached to the upper triple clamp  18  and one pair extending from a bracket  50  attached to the lower triple clamp  20 . It should further be understood that the bracket  50  is attachable to either the top surface or the bottom surface of the triple clamp  18  or  20 , depending upon the specific component arrangement on a particular motorcycle. If we turn now to FIG. 5, we can examine the present invention in more detail.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a top view of the bracket  50  of FIG. 4. The first embodiment of the bracket  50 A (as also depicted in FIG. 4) comprises a base  52 A from which a pair of arms  58 A and  58 B extend. Each of the arms  58  is defined by a mounting aperture  60 A and  60 B for an auxiliary headlight. The base  52 A is defined by a front face  54 A which has a profile that preferably matches the profile of a triple clamp (see FIG. 4) on a popular model of street cruiser motorcycle. The base  52 A further is defined by a rear face  56 A having a plurality of arcuate sockets formed in its profile. At substantially the center of the rear face  56 A is the steering stem socket  64 A. The steering stem socket  64 A is shaped an positioned to cooperate with the motorcycle&#39;s steering stem so that when the bracket  50 A is mounted, the steering stem is received within the socket  64 A to brace the bracket  50 A thereagainst to provide additional rigidity to the attachment.  
         [0024]    Two other arcuate sockets defining the rear face  56 A are the left and right fork tube sockets  62 A and  62 B, respectively. Similar to the steering stem socket  64 A, these sockets  62  are positioned and shaped to accept the respective motorcycle fork tubes therein when the bracket  50 A is attached to the triple clamp (see FIG. 4). The combination of the mounting bolt (see FIG. 4) holding the bracket  50 A to the triple clamp (see FIG. 4) and the sockets  62  and  64  housing their respective tubes creates rigidity in the attachment heretofore not offered with the prior auxiliary light mounting brackets.  
         [0025]    Centered on the base  52 A is the bracket mounting aperture  66 A disposed on the surface of the base  52 A to cooperatively align with the existing headlight mounting bolt (see FIG. 4). A further novel aspect of the bracket of the present invention is the wire groove  70  depicted here by hidden lines to indicate that it is on the top surface of the bracket  50 A. As shown, the wire groove  70  leads from the perimeter of the fork tube sockets  62  (directly adjacent to the arms  58 , where the auxiliary lights are mounted). The wire groove  70  is on the top surface, leaving a smooth bottom surface  68 A to the bracket, so that when the bracket  50 A is installed, the exposed bottom surface  68 A presents a clean and aesthetically pleasing package. As discussed above, it should be understood that the bracket  50 A can be mounted upside-down against the top of the triple clamp (see FIG. 4), in certain applications; in these cases, the bottom surface  68 A will actually be exposed on top of the mated bracket  50  and triple clamp (see FIG. 4). Now turning to FIG. 6, we can examine another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate bracket  50 B of the present invention. This embodiment is provided to be provide a slightly different appearance and mounting position for the auxiliary headlights (i.e. on the outer sides of the fork tubes rather than in front of the fork tubes); it can also be mounted to either the top or bottom surface of one of the triple clamps (see FIG. 4) using the mounting bolt for the main headlight (see FIG. 4).  
         [0027]    As shown here, the right and left fork tube sockets  62 D and  62 C, respectively, are actually formed in the front face  54 B of the base  52 B. The steering stem socket  64 B, however, is an arcuate portion formed in the rear face  56 B of the base  52 B. The bracket  50 B defines a right and left arm  58 D and  58 C that extend outwardly to the right and left of the fork tube socket to which they are adjacent. Each of the arms  58  terminates in a auxiliary headlight mounting aperture  60  at its end in order to provide a location to bolt the auxiliary headlight to. As should be apparent, the location of these mounting apertures  60  relative to the fork tubes (once they reside within the sockets  62 ) dictates that the auxiliary lights (see FIG. 4) will be located on the far outer sides of the fork tubes, providing a look that is slightly different from that shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0028]    Furthermore, as is also shown, the wire groove  70 A traces a slightly different path than the wire groove of the bracket of FIG. 5 due to the repositioning of the sockets  62 , arms  58  and apertures  60 ; similar to the bracket of FIG. 5, the wire groove  70 A runs between the perimeter of the fork tube sockets  62 D to the vicinity of the rear face  56 B of the base  52 B. Finally, turning to FIG. 7, we can examine another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a top view of another alternate bracket  50 C of the present invention. This design differs from those in FIGS. 4, 5 and  6  in one critical way—rather than mounting to the triple clamp using the headlight mounting bolt, this bracket  50 C actually mounts to the bottom of the steering stem via a steering stem mounting bolt  72  extending upwardly from the bracket mounting aperture  66 C. Rather than bracing against the steering stem, then, the bracket actually attaches to the bottom end of it; the conventional steering stem includes a threaded aperture formed therein—it is into this threaded aperture that the steering stem mounting bolt  72  engages.  
         [0030]    In order to provide the correct location for mounting to the steering stem, the base  52 C has a steering stem cap portion  74  extending from it (causing the rear face  56 C to curve outwardly); the cap portion  74  will cover the bottom end of the steering stem when the bracket  50 C is installed. Since the bolt of the main headlight is not used, this bracket  50 C can be attached to triple clamps that do not have a headlight attached thereto.  
         [0031]    Similar to the bracket of FIG. 5, this bracket  50 C has the tube sockets  62 E and  62 F located in the rear face  56 C. The arms  58 E and  58 F extend obliquely from the base portion  56 C, and have mounting apertures  60 A and  60 B at their distal ends. As a result of the oblique extension of the arms  58 , the auxiliary headlights will be positioned in front of the fork tubes, and also out to the side as well. This provides yet another unique appearance option for the user. Although, not depicted here, it is expected that the bracket  50 C will be provided with a wire groove (see FIGS. 5 and 6) will be provided to house the wiring. Since the bracket  50 C bolts to the steering stem bottom end, there is no steering stem socket provided in this bracket  50 C.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a top view of yet another version of the present invention. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 7, this embodiment is designed to cap the bottom end of the steering stem, and attach by a bolt through the bracket mounting aperture  66 D and into a threaded hole in the bottom of the steering stem (which is conventionally available).  
         [0033]    In addition to providing yet another shape for the arms  58 , this embodiment  50 D has wire grooves of similar design and function as described above in connection with other embodiments. This groove  70 B creates a pocket that is actually a wide, recessed area for creating a clearance for protrusions extending from the lower triple clamp. Of course, additional wiring grooves may be disbursed across the surface of the bracket  50 D.  
         [0034]    Also unique to this depiction is a brake line bore  80 . The brake line bore  80  provides a stylish manifold for the front brake lines. Instead of using the stock brake lines or hoses interconnecting the handlebar-mounted brake lever and the front brake(s), the user can attach a shortened brake line between the brake lever (not shown) and the bore  80 ; an additional brake line is then connected between the other end of the bore  80  and the brake caliper(s) located at the front forks. In this manner, the area of the headlamp is rendered sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing, since the clutter of the brake line is substantially reduced. In most embodiments, the bore  80  is threaded at each end (depicted here by vertical lines) so that the new, short brake lines can threadedly engage them.  
         [0035]    It should be understood that some of the mounting apertures described herein may be interchanged with mounting studs, posts or threaded bolts, in order to provide a “male” mounting gender for the lights or other external devices rather than a “female” mounting gender.  
         [0036]    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.