Abstract:
A bracket kit adapted to be attached to a motorcycle so as to operatively move the passenger foot pegs forward from their standard position. The kit is believed to be particularly beneficial when installed upon a trike-style motorcycle due to limited leg room.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/953,134, filed Mar. 14, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a bracket adapted to be attached to a motorcycle so as to operatively move the passenger foot pegs forward from their standard position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Countless Americans enjoy riding motorcycles. The feeling of freedom and pure exhilaration while cruising about the countryside with the wind in your hair is a passion enjoyed by many. And, as with most passions, people are constantly looking for ways to stand out from others while enjoying their passions. Many people customize their motorcycle by accessorizing or painting them, but these efforts at individuation quickly fade into a sea of ubiquity when other people start doing the same thing. Also, there are many who are looking to customize their motorcycle, but do not want to impact its potential re-sale value. One (1) way people customize their motorcycles is to modify the motorcycle to provide additional comfort to the rider(s). 
     Providing features to increase the comfort level of traveling in a motorcycle, especially for passengers who ride behind the motorcycle operator, creates a more pleasant riding experience. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a motorcycle can be modified or customized in an eye-catching manner, but also in a manner which is easy and reversible as well. The use of the present invention allows motorcycle owners the ability to customize their motorcycle, in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned issues and inherent problems and observed that there is a lack in the prior art for a means to easily move the passenger foot pegs of a motorcycle forward from their standard position. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a foot peg extension kit adapted to be attached to a motorcycle so as to operatively move the passenger foot pegs forward from their standard position. Each foot peg extension kit includes two (2) brackets each having an extension bar which extends outwardly. Each extension bar is configured to attach to the right and left side of a motorcycle respectively. Each bracket also has an adjustable foot rest plate which is itself removably and rotatably attached to each bracket. 
     Each foot rest plate is removably attached to the forward end of each extension bar. Each extension bar is made of steel bar stock and either covered with chrome or paint. Both extension bars each have a linear section and an offset and arcuate section between the rearward end and the forward end. The mounting surface of each bar comprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced mounting apertures and brackets which have an outwardly offset and generally “L”-shaped form and third bend. 
     Each foot rest plate has a platform with a slightly convex upper surface, a mounting ear portion integral to the platform which protrudes perpendicularly downward from the bottom surface, and a mounting ear which is rotatingly attached to each extension bar. Each foot rest plate is removabley attached and the arcuate top surface of the foot rest plate is capable of being rotatingly and selectively positioned by means of a fastener. Also each, foot rest plate has a textured high-friction pad located along a top surface of each platform. Each textured high-friction pad is adhesively bonded or otherwise affixed to each foot rest plate and is made of a water resistant non-slip material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a foot peg extension kit  10  depicting and in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2 a    is a side view of a left bracket portion  20  of the foot peg extension kit  10  depicting an installed state upon a motorcycle  100 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2 b    is a top view of the left bracket  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2 c    is a side view of the left bracket  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 a    is a side view of a right bracket portion  50  of the foot peg extension kit  10  depicting an installed state upon a motorcycle  100 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 b    is a top view of the right bracket  50 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3 c    is a side view of the right bracket  50  portion, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein is depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 3   c . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a foot peg extension kit (herein described as the “kit”)  10 , which provides a means to provide additional leg comfort to a passenger  200  while riding upon a motorcycle  100  by extending and relocating both foot rest plates  30  using bolt-on left bracket  20  and right bracket  50  portions. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the kit  10  depicting and in-use state upon a motorcycle  100 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The kit  10  is shown here attached to a trike-style motorcycle  100 ; however, it is understood that the benefits of forwardly relocating passenger foot rest plates  30  may be achieved when applied to many makes, models, and styles of motorcycles  100 , and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the invention. The kit  10  is believed to be especially beneficial on a trike-style motorcycle  100 . The kit  10  allows a motorcycle passenger  200  riding behind a driver  205  in a conventional manner, to further extend their leg portions for a more comfortable riding experience. The kit  10  is designed for easy attachment and compatibility with many popular motorcycles  100 . An existing motorcycle  100  is illustrated here having conventional and expected components such as, but not limited to: frame members  102 , an engine  103 , original passenger foot rests  104 , and original driver foot rests  106 . 
     The kit  10  includes a left bracket  20  having an adjustable foot rest plate  30 , and a right bracket  50  also providing attachment of a foot rest plate  30  (only the left bracket  20  shown here). It also envisioned that the rest plate  30  may be purchased separately, if desired, so as to better match the original driver foot rest portions  106 . The left  20  and right  50  brackets are to be made using sturdy steel bar stock sections being bent in a forging or similar metal forming process to form respective first extension bar  22  and second extension bar  52  portions to conform to a physical profile of the motorcycle  100 . It is further envisioned that the metal portions of the kit  10  would be preferably chrome plated; however, for particular applications, a painted finish in a matching color may also be available, without limiting the scope of the kit  10 . Attachment of the brackets  20 ,  50  would preferably utilize existing threaded peg-mounting features normally integral into side frame members  102  of the motorcycle  100 , and would be fastened thereto using supplied threaded fasteners  80 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 a , 2 b , 2 c   , installed, top, and side views of the left bracket portion  20  of the kit  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The left bracket  20  includes a formed first extension bar  22  having a general “U”-shape having an integral first mounting surface  26  at a rearward portion and a first fastener aperture  84   a  located at an opposing forward end. The first mounting surface  26  provides a vertical linear section having a plurality of equally-spaced mounting apertures  27 . The mounting apertures  27  are envisioned to be approximately three-eighths of an inch (⅜ in.) in diameter, and spaced approximately three-quarters of an inch (¾ in.) apart; however, it is understood that the kit  10  would be introduced having actual aperture spacing and diameters which correspond to specific motorcycle applications, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the invention. 
     An embodiment of the first extension bar portion  22  of the left bracket  20  is shown here including a first bend  24   a  and a second bend  24   b  resulting in an outwardly offset and overall arcuate shape, which when mounted to a particular motorcycle  100  having an engine  103  with a protruding clutch housing portion  110 , as seen here, may be positioned so as to extend up and over the protruding clutch housing  110  to a position slightly behind and above the original driver foot rest portion  106 . It is understood that various models of the first extension bar  22  may be introduced having differently positioned and number of bends  24   a ,  24   b  for mounting to various popular motorcycles  100 . 
     The forward end of the first extension bar  22  includes a single horizontal first fastener aperture  84   a  which provides bolted attachment of an outwardly extending foot rest plate  30 . The foot rest plate  30  provides a removably attachable platform onto which a passenger  200  may rest their foot. The foot rest plate  30  preferably provides a generally rectangular top surface being slightly convex front-to-rear and having an integral mounting ear portion  34  which protrudes perpendicularly downward along a bottom surface portion. The mounting ear  34  provides a centrally located third fastener aperture  84   c . The foot rest plate  30  is rotatingly affixed to the first extension bar  22  by inserting a threaded fastener  80  such as a bolt through the third fastener aperture portion  84   c  of the first extension bar  22  and through the mounting ear  34 , being subsequently secured using a corresponding nut fastener  82 . The arcuate top surface of the foot rest plate  30  may be rotatingly and selectively positioned to comfortably support the foot of the passenger  200 , and then fixed at the desired position by tightening the fasteners  80 ,  82 . The foot rest plate  30  also includes a textured high-friction pad  32  located along a top surface being adhesively bonded, or otherwise affixed thereto. The high-friction pad  32  is envisioned to be made using a rubber sheet material or the like, to prevent a passenger&#39;s  200  foot from slipping, especially during wet conditions. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , 3 c   , installed, top, and side views of the right bracket portion  50  of the kit  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The right bracket  50  provides similar attachment means and functionality as the previously described left bracket  20 . However due to physical variations between opposing side portions of the motorcycle  100 , as well as a need to facilitate servicing the engine  103  on the right side, it is envisioned that the right bracket  50  would be formed differently than the left bracket  20 . A particular embodiment of the right bracket  50  is shown here providing an outwardly offset and generally “L”-shaped form having a third bend  24   c . The right bracket  50  includes a second extension bar  52  which provides similar attachment to existing frame members  102  of the motorcycle  100  as the left bracket  20 . The second extension bar  52  includes a downwardly extending second mounting surface portion  56  at a rearward portion, also providing a plurality of mounting apertures  27 , and a second fastener aperture  84   b  at a forward end. The mounting apertures  27  provide similar bolted attachment of the right bracket  50  to corresponding threaded features integrated into the existing frame members  102  of the motorcycle  100 . The second fastener aperture  84   b  provides an attachment means to a respective third fastener aperture portion  84   c  of the remaining foot rest plate  30  (also see  FIGS. 2 b  and 2 c   ). 
     Upon installation of both bracket portions  20 ,  50  and foot rest plate portions  30 , the foot rest plate portions  30  are envisioned to be positioned slightly behind and above the original driver foot rests  106 , thereby allowing a motorcycle passenger  200  to extend their legs forwardly and rest their feet upon the foot rest plates  30  in a more comfortable manner. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the kit  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1, 2   a , and  3   a.    
     The method of installing and utilizing the kit  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the kit  10  having a desired finish and being particularly configured for an existing motorcycle  100  onto which the kit  10  is to be installed; removing the original passenger foot rests  104  by removing the original attaching hardware; removing any interfering existing vanity panels temporarily, as needed, from respective frame members  102  of the motorcycle  100  to complete the installation; fastening the foot rest plates  30  to the respective left  20  and right  50  brackets, if not previously attached, by inserting the supplied threaded fasteners  80  through respective fastener aperture portions  84   a ,  84   b  of each bracket  20 ,  50 , and through the third fastener apertures  84   c  of each foot rest plate  30 , and securing with a supplied nut fastener  82 ; fastening the left bracket  20  and right bracket  50  portions, as well as reinstalling the original passenger foot rests  104  to the integral threaded features of the frame members  102 , using the supplied threaded fasteners  80 ; adjusting the foot rest plates  30  in a rotating manner until obtaining comfortable contact with foot portions of the passenger  200 ; securing the foot rest plates  30  in position by tightening the respective threaded fasteners  80  and nut fasteners  82 ; replacing any other original portions of the motorcycle  100  having been temporarily removed during the installation process; and, benefiting from improved leg position of a motorcycle passenger  200  during a ride while utilizing the present invention  10 . 
     It is understood that the kit  10  may be quickly removed from the motorcycle  100 , and the original passenger foot rests  104  reinstalled to restore the motorcycle  100  to its original configuration. Additionally, the kit  10  may be installed upon another motorcycle  100  in like manner, if desired. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.