Abstract:
An apparatus for securing a motorcycle in an upright position for transport. It consists of a female quick disconnect coupler attached to one end of a tie down strap, used to connect to a male coupler fitting machined as the end of an attachment bolt affixed either inside the open end of the handlebar, or threaded into the motorcycle frame or frame component. This provides a fast, convenient metal to metal securing point at the front end of the motorcycle at the outward end of the handlebars, as well as a coupling point located in another position as may be necessary to secure the motorcycle. Utilization of the quick disconnect coupler system provides the fastest means of attaching the tie down strap in a positive lock, metal to metal connection.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to a tie-down securing method for motorcycles.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    Motorcycles come in various styles, sizes, and utility function. Some are designed for recreational cruising and travel, while others are designed for performance, racing, or off road use. Invariably at some point in the association with the motorcycling experience it becomes necessary to transport the motorcycle in a truck, or on a trailer. Motorcycles intended for off road use such as dirt bikes or racing motorcycles offer no other legal means of being moved other than on a trailer or in a truck. This necessitates securing the motorcycle in a manner that keeps the motorcycle safely attached to the transport medium while attempting to minimize or eliminate damage to the motorcycle. Typically, the motorcycle is lashed or tied to the transport medium using a combination of straps, ropes, bungee cords, or commercial style tie-down straps.  
           [0005]    Numerous devices and methods exist for securing or tying a motorcycle to a transport medium. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,171,034B1-6,109,494-6,065,914-5,701,771-5,529,448-5,326,202 all offer various methods and equipment intended to provide the securing method necessary to provide stable and secure attachment of the motorcycle to the transport medium. While these prior art devices disclosed in the cited patents do offer a means of securing the motorcycle, they are not without certain limiting and inconvenience factors, most often associated with damage potential as a result of misapplication of the installation or an inherent design oversight. Herewith are two examples. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,914 no provision is made that prevents the handlebar Shook attachment device  32  from sliding on the handlebar  50 . Any inward movement of the attachment device  32  toward the motorcycle  12  could potentially loosen the apparatus. In U.S. Pat. No. 6.171.034 B1, the shackle  14  is bolted around the motorcycle fork tubes. Potential misapplication of the shackle  14  to a fork tube of a diameter not applicable to the specified application could result in potential indentation damage to the fork tube resultant of over tightening of the bolt  24  in the fastening attempt. The potential for damage to the fork tubes or the whole motorcycle as a result of failure to remove the shackle  14  exists in any possible attempt to operate the motorcycle with these shackles  14  still attached. There is also the additional inconvenience of the installation and removal process of the shackle  14  required of every use. It is therefor desirable to provide a restraint system that not only removes any subjective installation decision making on the part of the user, but makes the process as expedient and uncomplicated as possible.  
         OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, objectives of the quick disconnect motorcycle tie down system are:  
           [0007]    to provide a conveniently located metal to metal attachment point for a motorcycle securing device consisting of a quick disconnect coupling feature, one part of which is incorporated on the end of a nylon or material tie down strap, the other part of which is attached to the motorcycle handlebars, frame, or frame component;  
           [0008]    to be very quickly and easily installed or removed;  
           [0009]    to provide a multiplicity of applications irrespective of motorcycle manufacturer, model, style, or intended use or function;  
           [0010]    to provide an attachment method which eliminates potential damage resultant of contact between the securing straps and the motorcycle.  
           [0011]    Additional objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent to all from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing descriptions.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The applicant has invented a motorcycle securing method incorporating a quick disconnect coupling feature between the securing device, typically a strap, and the motorcycle. Attachment of the quick disconnect male end to the motorcycle can be done in one of two ways. 1.) By inserting a goose neck expander inside the handlebar, secured by utilizing a specially machined bolt incorporating the quick disconnect male end portion as the bolt head, thereby providing both the gooseneck securing bolt and the male quick disconnect fitting in one. This becomes the interconnect attachment point for the female disconnect coupler end of the tie down strap. 2.) By replacement of a motorcycle frame assembly bolt with a bolt incorporating the male quick disconnect fitting as the bolt head, again providing the interconnect attachment point for the female disconnect coupler end of the tie down strap. Incorporation of a quick disconnect coupling feature with the traditional tie down strap arrangement provides both a secure hard point attachment location on the motorcycle itself along with a hard point attachment connection on the end of the tie down strap. Additionally, once the male disconnect coupler-headed bolts are permanently installed on the motorcycle, either inside the handlebar as a part of the internal gooseneck expander, or as a frame replacement bolt, this method of anchoring a motorcycle is devoid of any decision making required of attempting to discern the most potentially damage free and balance point secure location or attachment point on the motorcycle. 
       
    
    
     BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWING VIEWS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 schematically shows the tie down system in place as a front view of a motorcycle secured in a truck bed utilizing the embodiment of the invention mounted inside the handlebar ends and anchored with the tie down straps to the truck bed floor (top view) or truck bed side (bottom view).  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a closer view of the embodiment of the invention inserted into the motorcycle handlebar end to which is attached the tie down strap utilizing the quick disconnect coupler.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a closer view of the embodiment of the invention with the end cover cap in place.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a close up view of an optional variation of the invention embodiment using a D-ring style bar end in place of the quick disconnect coupler, thus becoming a permanently installed component through which the tie down strap is inserted.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the invention showing the component pieces and their relative assembly and fitment relationship.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 shows the motorcycle handlebar with inserted invention embodiment and connected female quick disconnect coupler.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the invention embodiment showing the assembled components fit and in place inside the motorcycle handle bar end with the female quick disconnect coupler attached.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 shows motorcycle handlebar end with cutaway view of installed components (lower drawing) with attached bar end cover cap in place (upper and lower drawing).  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 shows a cutaway view (lower drawing) of the optional invention embodiment consisting of the non-disconnecting D-ring bar end tie down strap attachment fitting (upper and lower drawing). 
     
    
     DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0022]    [0022]                                        1. motorcycle    2. tie down strap        3. handlebar grip    4. handlebar        5. quick disconnect coupler    6. D-ring        7. truck bed    8. truck bed tie down anchor        9. brake lever   10. gas tank       11. bar end   12. bar end cap       13. fixed D-ring style bar end   14. threaded gooseneck bolt       15. male detent end of threaded gooseneck bolt   16. thrust washer       17. internal gooseneck threaded expander   18. quick disconnect actuating spring       19. internal locking detent ball bearings   20. bar end insert shank       21. plain end screwdriver slot   22. D-ring coupling insert                    
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    In FIG. 1, a motorcycle  1  containing the preferred embodiment of the invention installed in the handlebar grip  3  is depicted secured to a truck bed  7 , and secured using the tie down strap  2  attached to the quick disconnect coupler  5  utilizing the D-ring  6 . The tie down strap  2  is then secured to the truck bed anchor  8 . Motorcycles are manufactured using a Multiplicity of various handlebar  4  shapes, sizes, styles, and dimensions, without uniformity of handlebar grip  3  size, distance of the grips from each other, or distance from the ground. Depiction of the motorcycle  1  and the included embodiment of the invention is not to be construed as any application specificity limitation concerning the motorcycle  1 , the handlebar  4  or handlebar grip  3  size, shape, or dimension.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 shows the exploded view components which comprise the embodiment of the invention. The internal gooseneck threaded expander  17  is comprised of an internally threaded solid metal plug of an outside diameter determined by the application specificity and cut on an angle in such manner as to allow the contact face surfaces of the cut pieces to override each other when tightened together by the threaded gooseneck bolt  14 . These pieces are adjoined to the end of the bar end  11  by insertion of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  through the thrust washer  16  and continuing through the hole in the end of bar end  11  which is manufactured in such manner as to provide a bar end insert shank  20  which is the same diameter as the internal threaded gooseneck expander  17 , the diameter being determined by the specific application. Once inserted inside the hollow handlebar grip  3  the assembly is then tightened by means of a screwdriver blade engaged in the plain end screwdriver slot  21  on the end of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14 . The tightening force applied to the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  serves to further wedge the internal threaded gooseneck expander  17  inside the hollow handlebar grip  3  as a function of the angular cut of the component pieces.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 shows an external view of the invention embodiment in place inside the handlebar grip with the quick disconnect coupler  5  attached. Incorporated with the quick disconnect coupler  5  is the D-ring  6  attached by means of the D-ring coupling insert  22 . The coupling insert  22  would be manufactured in such manner as to allow the D-ring  6  to pivot or move as may be required of the angular plane of attachment determined by the anchor point to which the opposite end of the tie down strap  2  is attached. This insert  22  could be a threaded rod or bolt screwed into the threaded end of the quick disconnect coupler  5 , or could be a rod or bolt welded in place in the end of the quick disconnect coupler  5  dependent upon the manufacturing particulars of the coupler. The size, shape and dimension of the D-ring  6  as illustrated is not to be construed as any specificity limitation as may apply to this component of the embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the invention embodiment in place inside the handlebar grip  3 . The internal gooseneck threaded expander  17  is secured using the threaded gooseneck bolt  14 . The threaded gooseneck bolt  14  passes through the thrust washer  16  and the bar end  11 . The bar end insert shank  20  is then inserted into the handlebar grip  3 , and the components secured in place by tightening of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14 . On the end of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  is the male detent end  15  machined in such manner as to provide the locking surface against which are positioned the internal locking detent ball bearings  19  incorporated inside the quick disconnect coupler  5 . A rearward movement of the outside cylindrical housing cover of the quick disconnect coupler  5  against the internal quick disconnect actuating spring  18  allows release of the lock position of the internal locking detent ball bearings  19 . The rearward most position of the outside cylindrical housing cover of the quick disconnect coupler  5  allows insertion of the open end of the coupler  5  over the male detent end  15  of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14 . Once the outside cylindrical housing cover of the quick disconnect coupler  5  is released, the quick disconnect actuating spring  18  returns the cover to the closed position, forcing the internal locking indent ball bearings  19  into a locked position against the male detent end  15  of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14 . The positive lock function of the quick disconnect coupler  5  over the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  is a function of the internal clearance tolerance between the internal detent ball bearings  19  and the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  male detent end  15 . This male detent end  15  is manufactured in such manner as to provide a recessed mating surface against which the internal detent ball bearings  19  are recessed and held into position once any rearward actuating force is removed from the outside cylindrical housing cover of the quick disconnect coupler  5 . The quick disconnect actuating spring  18  returns the housing cover to the static position which is designed to lock the internal locking detent ball bearings  19  effectively against the male detent end  15  of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  when so engaged. It is the positive locking aspect of this coupling device which forms the basis of the security this interconnect system offers as it applies to securing a motorcycle for transport.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 and FIG. 9 depict an optional variation of the invention embodiment which employs use of the same internal gooseneck threaded expander  17  tightened with the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  affixed as an extension of the bar end insert shank  20 . This bar end insert shank  20  is additionally manufactured incorporating a fixed D-ring style bar end  13  which thus provides a fixed attachment point for the S hook end of any tie down strap  2  as may be such affixed. While not offering the quick disconnect aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it does offer a convenient, readily accessible alternative style access point to which may be affixed a securing strap. FIG. 4 illustrates this installation as it would appear in relation to the handlebar grip  3  while incorporating a threaded-thru style tie down strap  2 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention with the quick disconnect coupler  5  removed and a snap on bar end cap  12  secured in place. This cap acts as an aesthetic enhancement to the installation while protecting the installed components against the abrasive or contamination effects of any dirt and debris. This bar end cap  12  could be manufactured of plastic, metal, nylon, or any material providing the aesthetics or functionality as may be deemed necessary by virtue of the applicability. FIG. 3 illustrates the embodiment of the invention inclusive of this bar end cap  12 .  
         [0029]    To secure the motorcycle to a trailer or truck bed, the motorcycle  1  is placed in an upright position in the truck bed  7 . The bar end cap  12  is removed and the quick disconnect coupler  5  end of the tie down strap  2  is inserted into the open bar end  11 . Rearward actuation of the quick disconnect coupler  5  outside cylindrical housing cover allows engagement of the coupler end with the male detent end  15  of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14 . Quick disconnect actuating spring  18  assistance in return of the outside cylindrical housing cover to the forward static position locks the internal locking detent ball bearings  19  in position against the male detent end  15  of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14 . Once connected, tightening of the tie down strap  2  against the truck bed anchor  8  secures the motorcycle in position.  
         [0030]    An optional alternative method of utilizing the quick coupling aspect of this invention as it applies to securing a motorcycle is to use the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  as a replacement bolt in the frame, or a frame member component of the motorcycle  1 . Utilization of an application specific version of this bolt would be threaded and sized in such manner as to become a direct replacement of the chosen frame bolt(s). Incorporating the male detent end  15  of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  would provide an additional metal to metal securing point on the motorcycle  1 . Utilization of this bolt devoid of the components  11  and  17  required of the handlebar grip  3  mount allows esthetic embellishment as may be desired, dependent upon the application. It retains the secure interconnectivity feature afforded the invention by utilization of the quick disconnect coupler  5  equipped tie down strap  2  being positively connected to the male detent end  15  of the bolt.  
         [0031]    Installation of both the handlebar grip  3  mounting method of the preferred embodiment of the invention, combined with the optional frame replacement bolt version of the threaded gooseneck bolt  14  on the same motorcycle would provide a fast, convenient, easily used method able to be utilized in a manner that effectively secures both ends of the motorcycle, a situation not afforded by other prior art motorcycle restraint devices.