Abstract:
A running board assembly for a three wheel motorcycle including independent first and second support frame members. Each of the support frame members further includes: i) a substantially U-shaped configuration having a rear lateral section, a longitudinal section, and a front lateral section; ii) a connector on the rear lateral section adapted for connection to a motorcycle frame; and iii) a connector on the front lateral section adapted for connection to a motorcycle engine block. A running board member is connected to each of the support frame members.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/297,656 filed on Dec. 8, 2005, which claimed the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/634,770 filed Dec. 9, 2004, both incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to running boards and in particular to running boards for three wheel motorcycles. Running boards for three wheel motorcycles are known in the art, for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,705 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. However, prior art devices possess certain disadvantages which are overcome by the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a running board positioned on a support frame. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pair of support frame members. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of running boards mounted on the frame of a three wheel motorcycle. 
         FIG. 4  is an alternative support frame design. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the connection to the centerstand mounting lugs. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the connection to the engine block. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the running board assembly  1  of the present invention. This embodiment of running board assembly  1  will comprise a running board  2  positioned on a support frame member  20 . This embodiment also illustrates a running board  2  which is formed of a front running board section  3  and a rear running board section  4 . However, it will be understood that alternate embodiments could comprise a running board  2  formed of one section or possibly more than two sections. 
     The rear running board section  4  seen in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  may include a fender lip  15  and a shoulder  16 . When running board  2  is positioned on a three wheel motorcycle, fender lip  15  will be positioned against the front inside surface of the three wheel motorcycle&#39;s fender and the lower edge of the fender will rest upon shoulder  16 . In certain embodiments, fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws, snaps, etc.) could connect the motorcycle&#39;s fender and the fender lip  15  or another type of connection be made between the fender and fender lip  15 . In other embodiments, the motorcycle&#39;s fender will not be fixed to fender lip  15 . In either of the above two alternatives, a section of rubber or polymer material (e.g., weather stripping) may be positioned between the inside surface of the three wheel motorcycle&#39;s fender and fender lip  15 . 
     Running board  2  will include a floor  7 . The front of running board  2  will further include a front wall  8  extending upwardly from floor  7 . In one embodiment, front wall  8  will include a vent aperture  9  formed therein. In a still more preferred embodiment, vent aperture  9  will be selectively openable and closeable. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , vent vanes  10  may be operated to open or close vent aperture  9 . 
     Support frame member  20  is best seen in  FIG. 2 . It will be understood that when installed on a three wheel motorcycle, there will generally be a right support frame member  20 A and a left support frame member  20 B which are mirror images of one another and support a running board  2  on each side of the three wheel motorcycle. A reference in this description to support frame member  20  without the “A” or “B” designation will apply equally to support frame members  20 A and  20 B. 
     The illustrated embodiment of support frame member  20  comprises a generally U-shaped configuration formed of rear lateral section  21 , longitudinal section  22 , and front lateral section  23 . Section  22  is “longitudinal” in the sense that it will generally extend in a front to rear direction along the side of the three wheel motorcycle (see  FIG. 3 ), while sections  21  and  23  are lateral in the sense that they generally extend in a side to center direction beneath the three-wheel motorcycle. Additionally, it can be seen in  FIG. 2  that “U-shaped” only generally describes support frame member  20  since in the illustrated embodiment, front lateral section  23  curves inwardly (toward the center of the three wheel motorcycle—see  FIG. 3 ) from longitudinal section  22  while rear lateral section  21  extends inwardly at a right angle to longitudinal section  22 . For purposes of the present invention, support frame member  20  is considered U-shaped whenever it is formed of a longitudinal section  22  generally extending in the front to rear direction and two lateral sections  21  and  23  generally extending in a side to center direction from longitudinal section  22 . In one preferred embodiment, support frame member  20  is constructed of one inch steel diameter tubing, but other embodiments could be constructed of any material of any cross-sectional shape having suitable strength. 
     It can be seen in  FIG. 2  that support frame member  20  may have multiple connection points and brackets formed thereon. For example in the illustrated embodiment, front lateral section  23  will have a engine block connector  25  which is formed of an upstanding metal tab  34  welded to front lateral section  23  and a bolt aperture formed though upstanding tab  34 . As used herein, the term “bolt” is intended to include conventional bolts along with screws, pins, rivets, and the like. Naturally, other embodiments could include other method of fixing connector  25  to the engine block (e.g., welding). Front lateral section  23  will also have welded to it a front running board bracket  27  (extending in a longitudinal direction) with a bolt aperture formed therethrough. Likewise, longitudinal section  22  has a rear running board bracket  26  (extending in a lateral direction) which is welded to longitudinal section  22  and has bolt apertures on each side of longitudinal section  22 . Near the junction of longitudinal section  22  and rear lateral section  21 , there is an upwardly extending support plate connector  28  having an aperture therethrough. Support plate connector  28  will be bolted to a downwardly extending connector (hidden from view in  FIG. 2 ) on support plate  29  as seen on support frame member  20 B. In  FIG. 2 , support frame member  20 A is shown without support plate  29  to more clearly illustrate support plate connector  28 . However, it will be understood that both support frame members  20 A and  20 B will have support plates  29  when assembled with running boards  2  as suggested by  FIG. 3 . 
     The end of rear lateral section  21  not connected to longitudinal section  22  will have a centerstand connector  24 . Centerstand connector  24  will include two upwardly extending tabs  35  welded to rear lateral section  21  with apertures formed through the tabs  35 . The outer tab  35  will have triangular reinforcing section  36  welded to it and rear lateral section  21 . 
       FIG. 3  suggests how running board assemblies  1  will be mounted on a three wheel motor cycle. Motor cycle body  40  shows conceptually several basic elements of the motorcycle, including an engine block  41  and conventional centerstand mount  44 . Typically, the center stand mount will include a pair of centerstand lugs to which the centerstand is rotatively mounted by a bolts passing through the lugs and centerstand. With the removal of the centerstand, the centerstand connector  24  on each support frame member  20  may be bolted to one of the centerstand lugs, thereby securing rear lateral sections  21  to the motorcycle body.  FIG. 5  illustrates the center stand connector  24  on support frame members  20 A and  20 B engaging center stand lugs  44 . On the lower front end of engine block  41 , there will typically be a series of bolts engaging the engine block for various purposes. One of these bolts (indicated at  42  on  FIGS. 3 and 6 ) will be removed on each side of engine block  41 . Then engine block connector  25  on each support frame member  20  will be aligned with the bolt hole and the bolt once again threaded into the engine block, thereby securing the front lateral section  23  to the engine block. 
     With support frame members  20  secured to the three wheel motorcycle, running boards  2  are mounted to support frame members  20 .  FIG. 1  illustrates how in one embodiment, rear running board section  4  includes a tongue  6  resting on floor  7  of front running board section  3 . Bolts may extend through holes drilled in tongue  6  and floor  7  and into bolt apertures formed in lateral running board bracket  26 , thereby securing front section  3  and rear section  4  together on support frame member  20 . It can also be seen how support plate  29  rests under and supports rear section  4 , while longitudinal running board bracket  27  may be bolted to and support front section  3 . 
     An alternate embodiment of frame support members  20  is seen in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a closed loop configuration of the support frame member. Closed loop support frame member  50  will include a rear lateral section  21 , a pair of longitudinal sections  22 , and a front lateral section  23 . Frame support member  50  is a closed loop configuration in that the left and right support frame member  20 A and  20 B seen in  FIGS. 1-3  are in effect joined by bridging sections  51 A and  51 B in order to form a continuous ring or loop. Frame support member  50  is otherwise substantially similar to earlier frame support members  20  in that it includes centerstand connectors  24 , engine block connectors  25 , lateral and longitudinal running board brackets  26  and  27 , and support plates  29 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will see many obvious modifications and variations. All such modifications and variations are intended to come within the scope of the following claims.