Abstract:
A wheel support system for a two wheeled vehicle comprises front and rear axles fixed for rotation with the front and rear wheels respectively and bearings on the frame of the vehicle which rotatably supporting the axles therein. Ornamental members are supported on respective free ends of the axles for rotation relative to the frame. The ornamental members are aesthetically pleasing and shield the view of the bearings on the forks for a better overall finished appearance of the frame of a motorcycle or bicycle. By supporting the axle within bearings on the frame with the ornamental members supported on the axle, the ornamental members are permitted to rotate relative to the frame. In order to ensure the rear axle position can be adjusted relative to the engine for adjusting tension to the drive train in a motorcycle, the bearings supporting the rear axle are adjustably supported on the frame relative to the engine.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a wheel support system for supporting the wheels onto the frame of a two wheeled vehicle and more particularly relates to an ornamental accessory which can be displayed on the wheel support system.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     For decades, motorcycle enthusiasts have customized their motorcycles by adding or removing components to give their motorcycles a unique and customized look. Aftermarket components like fuel tanks, handle bars, frames, suspensions, and wheels have provided a lucrative market for companies specializing in custom motorcycle component parts.  
         [0003]     The basic design of the front and rear axles has largely remained unchanged. The front axle is generally held secure by a clamping mechanism built into the front fork tubes. Bearings are fitted into the wheel hub which allow the wheel, through the bearings, to rotate about the axle shaft fixed on the fork tubes.  
         [0004]     The rear axle is also fixed to the frame where once again bearing clusters are pressed into the wheel hub which allow the wheel to rotate about the axle. Since a chain or belt system is generally used to provide the motive force to the rear wheel, the axle not only must be held secure, but also must employ a method of tensioning the drive medium and aligning the rear wheel to the geometry of the motorcycle itself.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,018,973 to Pomeroy and 4,632,415 to San Hai disclose front forks of a bicycle frame in which bearings are supported on the frame for rotatably supporting an axle fixed to the front wheel of the bicycle therein, contrary to conventional designs. This configuration however lacks suitable strength for use in heavier motorcycles and the like. Furthermore the configuration is aesthetically unappealing at each end of the axle due to the large bearings required to be supported in the forks of the frame.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     According to the present invention there is provided a wheel support system for a two wheeled vehicle having a frame including a front wheel mount and a rear wheel mount each supporting a respective wheel therein, the system comprising: 
        at least one axle fixed for rotation with a respective one of the wheels;     bearings rotatably supporting said at least one axle on the respective wheel mount of the frame for rotation of said at least one axle in relation to the frame;     a pair of ornamental members supported on respective free ends of said at least one axle for rotation relative to the frame.        
 
         [0010]     The use of an ornamental member supported on the axle provides an aesthetically pleasing member which shields view of the bearings on the forks for a better overall finished appearance of the frame of a motorcycle or bicycle. By supporting the axle within bearings on the frame with the ornamental member supported on the axle, the ornamental member is permitted to rotate relative to the frame when suitable mounting means are provided.  
         [0011]     The ornamental members are preferably keyed for rotation with said at least one axle and are secured to said at least one axle by threaded fastening means.  
         [0012]     Said at least one axle preferably projects axially outward beyond the respective bearings at each end of the axle.  
         [0013]     The system may comprise a kit for modifying a conventional wheel rotatably supporting a conventional axle therein with conventional bearings, in which said at least one axle includes mounting means for fixing the axle in place of the conventional bearings for rotation with the wheel and wherein there is provided a modified wheel mount supporting the bearings which rotatably support said at least one axle therein.  
         [0014]     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a wheel support system for a two wheeled vehicle having a frame supported on a front wheel and a rear wheel and which supports an engine thereon, the system comprising: 
        an axle supporting the rear wheel thereon; and     a rear wheel mount including a pair of discs, each having a bore formed therein which is parallel to and radially offset from a central axis of the respective disc which receives a respective end of the axle therein and each being supported on the frame for rotation about the central axis thereof;     whereby distance between the axle and the engine is varied as the discs are rotated relative to the frame.        
 
         [0018]     Preferably there is provided locking means for selectively restricting rotation of the discs relative to the frame wherein the locking means includes a worm gear engaging peripheral teeth on each disc to control rotational position of the discs.  
         [0019]     The axle may be fixed to the rear wheel for rotation therewith by providing bearings rotatably supporting the axle within the bores in the discs.  
         [0020]     There may be provided a pair of ornamental members supported on respective free ends of the axle for rotation relative to the frame.  
         [0021]     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of modifying a motorcycle comprising a frame, a front wheel rotatably supported on a front axle mounted on a front wheel mount and a rear wheel rotatably supported on a rear axle mounted on a rear wheel mount, the method comprising: 
        fixing at least one axle to rotate with the respective wheel;     supporting said at least one axle for rotation relative to the respective wheel mount.        
 
         [0024]     The method preferably includes supporting said at least one axle to extend axially outward beyond the respective wheel mount and supporting an ornamental member at each end of said at least one axle, in which the ornamental members are fixed to rotate with said at least one axle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are respective side elevational, front elevational and perspective views of the front wheel of a motorcycle incorporating the wheel support system of the present invention therein.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view along the line  44  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the components of the wheel support system of the front wheel of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  are respective side elevational, front elevational and perspective views of the rear wheel of a motorcycle incorporating the wheel support system therein.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view along the line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the components of the wheel support system of the rear wheel of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a schematic side elevational view of a motorcycle including the front and rear wheels in accordance with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6  respectively. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0033]     Referring to the accompanying figures, there is illustrated a wheel support system generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . The system  10  may be supported on either the front wheel  12  or the rear wheel  14  of a two wheeled vehicle, for example a motorcycle  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0034]     The motorcycle  16  is similar to conventional designs including a frame  18  having a front wheel mount  20  supporting the front wheel  12  thereon and a rear wheel mount  22  supporting the rear wheel  14  thereon. An engine  24  is supported on the frame  18  for driving rotation of the rear wheel  14 .  
         [0035]     The wheel support system  10  at the front wheel  12  includes a modified wheel rim  26  which supports a brake rotor  28  thereon similar to conventional motorcycle wheels. A through bore  30  is coaxially received through the wheel rim  26  for receiving the axle  32  of the wheel therethrough. Slots are provided at each end of the axle for receiving a respective key  34  therein such that the axle is fixed for rotation with the wheel rim  26 .  
         [0036]     Each end of the axle  32  includes a first portion  36  of reduced diameter which extends axially outward beyond the wheel rim. A spacer bushing  38  is received about the first portion  36  at each end of the axle for providing proper spacing between a shoulder formed in the axle at each end of the rim and the bearing  40  which is also supported about the first portion  36  of reduced diameter of the axle.  
         [0037]     The bearing  40  is surrounded by the bottom end of the lower fork tube  42  on each side of the wheel for supporting the axle and wheel carried thereon rotatably on the frame of the vehicle. A snap ring  44  internally mounts within the bottom end of each fork tube for retaining the bearing  40  therein.  
         [0038]     At each end of the axle a second portion  46  of reduced diameter extends axially outward which is further reduced in diameter in relation to the first portion  36  and which includes a slot formed therein for engagement by a keyed locking insert  48 . An axle nut  50  secures to the keyed locking insert which provides further backing for retaining the bearings fixed on the axle.  
         [0039]     The second portion  46  of reduced diameter projects axially beyond the fork tubes  42  forming the front wheel mounts  20  for securing an ornamental member  52  thereon. An axial bore is located at each end of the axle for receiving a mounting bolt  54  threadably therein.  
         [0040]     The ornamental member  52  includes a recess formed at an internal end for surrounding the lock nut  50  and a through bore which receives the mounting bolt  54  therethrough. A suitable washer  56  engages the head of the bolt on the ornamental member at an outer end of the through bore which is formed as a recess receiving a suitable cap member  58  with sealing O-ring  60  therein to fully conceal the mounting hardware of the ornamental member and the bearings within the front wheel mount.  
         [0041]     The axle nut  50  is secured to the keyed locking insert by suitable set screws  62  while the ornamental member  52  is keyed to the axle by a slot in the second portion  46  of reduce diameter which receives a suitable key  64  therein so that all components of the wheel and ornamental member rotate together in relation to the fork tube of the front wheel mount by means of bearings  40  at each end of the axle.  
         [0042]     The rear wheel similarly includes a wheel rim  70  which carries a rotor  72  for the rear brakes similar to conventional wheel designs. The rear rim also carries a drive pulley  74  which couples to the vehicle engine  24  by a suitable drive belt.  
         [0043]     A through bore  76  is received concentrically through the wheel rim for receiving an axle  78  therein similarly to the front wheel. The axle includes slots formed at each end thereof for receiving respective keys  80  which fix rotation of the axle with the wheel rim.  
         [0044]     Beyond the keys formed in the slots at each end of the axle, the axle includes a first portion of reduced diameter  84  which projects in an axial direction beyond the wheel rim at each side of the wheel for positioning a bushing  82  thereon. The bushings assist in locating bearings  86  assembled in clusters at each end of the axle about the first portion  84  of reduced diameter.  
         [0045]     A rotatable disc  88  includes a bore  90  formed therein which is parallel to and offset radially from a central axis of the disc for receiving the bearing clusters  86  therein so that the discs  88  are rotatably supported on the axle  78  about an eccentric axis of the discs. The discs  88  are each supported within a respective housing  92  for relative rotation therebetween.  
         [0046]     The housings  92  are each fixed on the respective soft tail swing arms  94  forming the rear wheel mounts  22 . A worm adjustment pin  94  communicates with gear teeth about a periphery of each disc  88  for controlling rotational position of the disc in relation to the surrounding housing whereby position of the offset bore locating the bearings and axle therethrough is also adjusted.  
         [0047]     A locking member  96  surrounds an outer end of each disc  88  and includes a pair of eccentric locking screws therein to set the desired position of the disc eccentrically locating the axle therein.  
         [0048]     A snap ring  100  is received within the bore in the rotatable discs  88  for retaining the bearing cluster  86  therein.  
         [0049]     A second portion  102  of reduced diameter of the axle extends axially outward beyond the rear wheel mounts  22  and beyond the discs  88 . The second portion  102  includes a slot for mating with a keyed locking insert  104  to which an axle nut  106  is secured by set screws  108 .  
         [0050]     An ornamental member  110  is again mounted at both outer ends of the axle for concealing the bearings and associated components. The ornamental member  110  includes an internal recess which fully surrounds the outer portion of the disc  88  supporting the bearings therein and the eccentric lock about an outer periphery thereof.  
         [0051]     A through bore extends from the internal recess to an outer recess through which a mounting bolt  112  is received for threaded connection with an internal bore formed at the respective end of the axle. A suitable washer  114  surrounds the mounting bolt  112  for engagement with the ornamental member  110  to secure it to the end of the axle.  
         [0052]     A suitable cap member  116  with associated sealing O-ring  118  are received within the external recess of the ornamental member  110  to fully conceal the mounting bolt and any other components associated with the axle. The second portion  102  of reduced diameter includes a slot formed therein for receiving a key  120  which fixes the ornamental member for rotation with axle.  
         [0053]     Each of the ornamental members is considerably smaller in diameter than the associated wheel so as not to interfere with proper operation of the wheel.  
         [0054]     The offset bores formed in the discs  88  of the rear wheel mounts permit position of the axle and bearings received therein to be adjusted in relation to the frame so that position of the drive belt pulley  74  on the rear wheel can be adjusted towards or away from the engine on the frame whereby tension on the drive belt about the pulley  74  can be adjusted while still permitting the axle to remain rotatable with the wheel relative to the frame and the ornamental members  110  supported at the ends of the axle to rotate with the wheel as well.  
         [0055]     The system described herein entails using axles that are bound to the wheel with bearings located in the framework allowing the axle and wheel combination to rotate. With an extended axle configuration, an ornamental outboard hub is placed on the axle which in turn rotates with the wheel visually improving the overall aesthetic appeal of the motorcycle.  
         [0056]     The scope of the design includes the additions of outboard axle hubs to both the front and rear axles of a motorcycle. In both instances, the hubs are locked to the rotating axle allowing them to rotate with the wheel itself.  
         [0057]     The artistic merit of the design is for illustrative purposed only and not intended to limit the scope of the design. These and other objects of the present design will become more apparent to those skilled in the art throughout the foregoing and the following description. Various modifications could be made without departing from the true sprit and scope of the-proposed design.  
         [0058]     As described above, with the axle keyed to the wheel and the bearings located in the lower fork tubes, the wheel hubs fastened to the axle ends will rotate with the wheel.  
         [0059]     The rear wheel hubs serve the dual purpose of rotating with the rear wheel and also hiding the eccentric rear wheel aligning mechanism to give an overall finished look to the rear wheel.  
         [0060]     Rear wheels typically contain double and triple bearing clusters. This system includes this criteria as the eccentric components will contain bearing clusters.  
         [0061]     The eccentric alignment mechanism utilises a worm drive adjustment screw and a split threaded locking collar to lock the mechanism once proper belt/chain tension and wheel alignment is attained.  
         [0062]     The bearing is housed in the lower fork tube backed up with an internal snap ring.  
         [0063]     A keyed locking ring and nut set the axle and spacer against the bearing to prevent lateral movement of the wheel. The axle nut is redundantly locked to the locking ring via a setscrew.  
         [0064]     The front hub is keyed to the protruding axle shaft and bolted in place. The cap with insignia is held in place in the hub with a compressed O-ring which fits machined grooves.  
         [0065]     The hubs can be changed for aesthetic reasons without disturbing the set of the wheel and bearing configuration.  
         [0066]     The triple cluster bearing configuration is housed in the eccentric bearing holder with the bearings backed up with an internal snap ring.  
         [0067]     A keyed locking ring and nut set the axle and spacer against the bearings to prevent lateral movement of the wheel. The axle nut is redundantly locked to the locking ring via a setscrew.  
         [0068]     The split locking collar is tightened to the housing block to prevent the eccentrics from rotating once adjusted.  
         [0069]     The spinning hub is keyed to the protruding axle shaft and bolted in place. The cap with insignia is held in place in the hub with a compressed O-ring which fits machined grooves.  
         [0070]     While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.