Abstract:
A stand for a two wheeled vehicle having a hollow axle comprising, the stand having a telescoping support assembly having a foot at a first end thereof, the telescoping support assembly being extendable between an unextended position and an extended position and being releasably lockable in the extended position, a latch for releasably maintaining the telescoping support assembly in the extended position, a first member being disposable at first and second angular positions relative to a second end of the telescoping support assembly, the first angular position being coaxial with the telescoping support assembly and the second angular position being a predetermined angle with respect to the telescoping support assembly, the first member being releasably lockable in the second angular position. The stand is configured to fit and be retained within a hollow axle for storage, and to be deployed to provide a side stand using the hollow axle for reference to the two wheeled vehicle. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/670,989 filed Apr. 14, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of support stands, and more particularly to novel stands for supporting a motorcycle in a static or leaning position and which may be stored in the open-ended bore of the rear axle when not in use. 
     2. Prior Art 
     In the past, it has been the conventional practice to provide a stand for a two-wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle, bike or the like, by employing a deployable stand having one end pivotally mounted to the vehicle frame and the other end extendable for ground engagement. The pivot end is a fixed structure that usually represents a substantial mass, and attachment of the pivot end of the stand generally requires a weldment for permanent securement. Such an installation is permanent and is not intended to be detachably connected to the frame. Generally, the stand is located at a midpoint on the frame between the front and rear wheels of the motorcycle. 
     Problems and difficulties have been encountered with using conventional motorcycle stands which stem largely from the fact that a permanent attachment to the frame is necessary, and the location of the stand, being midway between the wheels, often times becomes an obstacle for mounting and dismounting the motorcycle by the rider. 
     Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide support stands for two-wheeled vehicles, such as a motorcycle, which will not interfere with the rider&#39;s use of the vehicle and which is not permanently attached to the frame of the motorcycle. The stand should be detachably connected to a portion of the motorcycle which will support the weight of the motorcycle in a leaning orientation and which employs articulated support members so that the stand may be deployed from a stored position on the motorcycle to an operative support position holding the bike in the leaning orientation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the back end of a conventional motorcycle incorporating an embodiment of the inventive motorcycle stand in its stored position on the rear axle of the vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view, similar to the view of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the stand deployed into its operative position for supporting the motorcycle. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the motorcycle stand illustrating adjustability for length. 
         FIG. 4  is a reduced front elevational view of a conventional motorcycle illustrated in a leaning position supported by the inventive motorcycle stand in its operative position. 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view of the motorcycle stand in its operative position. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the motorcycle stand preparatory for deployment into its storage position. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view, similar to the view of  FIG. 6 , illustrating a further step in preparing the motorcycle stand for storage within the open bore of a wheel axle. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view illustrating positioning of the motorcycle stand into the bore of an axle to complete storage thereof. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the back end of a conventional motorcycle illustrating, in a partially exploded view, another embodiment of the inventive motorcycle stand and it&#39;s mounting within the rear axle of the vehicle. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the stand of  FIG. 9   
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the stand of  FIG. 9  illustrating the stand about to be deployed into its operative state. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross section taken through a motorcycle axle and the stand of  FIG. 9  as stored therein between uses. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention that provides an adjustable length support member having a foot attached at its distal end for engaging the ground in order to support the motorcycle in a leaning position. In one embodiment, the opposite end of the support member includes a joint member which is pivotally attached to the end of the support member. The joint member is insertably received into the open-ended bore of the rear axle conventionally carried on the motorcycle and includes a biasing means for engaging and disengaging the support member to and from the joint member so as to permit pivoting of the support member to an angular disposition with respect to the joint member. A locking shoulder means via the biasing means releasably secures the end of the support member to the end of the joint member when the angle of the support member has been achieved. For extending the length of the support member, an extension rod or tube is slidably mounted within the support member and latch means are cooperatively provided between the rod or tube and the support member so that a pre-arranged adjustment can be made for length of the overall support member. A spring detent is provided on the joint member for releasably retaining the joint member in the bore of the axle. 
     In another embodiment, the end of the support member opposite the foot includes a member that is attachable to the end of the support member in either of two orientations, a first being concentric with the support member for storage in the rear axle of a motorcycle and the second being at angle with respect to the support member for functioning as a stand. Other aspects of this embodiment are similar to the first embodiment. 
     Therefore, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide novel support stands for motorcycles which are adjustable in length and which are detachably mounted to the rear axle of the motorcycle and wherein the stands may be deployable between a stored position on the axle and an operative position to support a motorcycle in a leaning position. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide novel stands for motorcycles which are not permanently attached to the frame or any other portion of the motorcycle and which may be conveniently and manually deployed from a stored position on the axle of a motorcycle to an operative position supporting the motorcycle. 
     Yet another object resides in providing a support for a two wheeled vehicle which includes a member releasably retained on the rear axle of the vehicle and which further includes a support member having a stored position on the axle and an operative position outwardly extendable for supporting the vehicle in a leaning position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the novel motorcycle stand incorporating the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow  10  by numeral  11  and is illustrated as being in a storage position so that the motorcycle can be ridden in a normal fashion without interference from the stand  10 . It is to be noted that the stand  10  is detachably carried on an axle  19  as part of a rear wheel  12  including tire  13 . The stand  10  includes a foot  14  that is the only component of the stand that is exposed when the stand is in the storage position. The foot  14  bears against or is adjacent a housing cover  15 . Therefore, it can be seen that the motorcycle stand  10  is mounted on the rear axle  11  and is deployable between a storage position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and an extended or operational position, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , respectively. 
     Referring now in detail to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the motorcycle stand  10  includes a tubular support member  16  having one end pivotally joined to an anchor or a joint member  17 . If it is desired to lengthen the support member  16 , a rod or tubular extension  18  may be extended from the member  16  and held in position by a latch  22 . In  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the support stand is deployed into its operative position to support the motorcycle in a leaning orientation. The rod  18  has been extended from the end of support member  16  so that the foot  14  rests on ground level. The joint member  17  resides within the axle of the rear wheel as an anchor or mounting member. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the joint member  17  is pivotally carried on the upper end of support member  16  by means of a pivot  20 . The joint member  17  further includes a retaining detent  21  which is spring biased to bear against the inner surface of the open-ended bore within the axle  19  in order to releasably retain the support stand in either its storage or operative position. As illustrated in broken lines, the joint member  17  has been pivoted for either insertion into the bore of the axle or to illustrate deployment of the support member  16 . The manual latch  22  comprises a spring biased button which protrudes through an opening  24  in the support member  16  in order to hold the rod  18  therein. When it is desired to extend the length of the support member  16 , the latch  22  is depressed permitting the rod  18  to be withdrawn from the support member to the position shown in broken lines and the rod is held in this position by the push-button latch  22  engaging with a hole  23  at the lower end of the support member  16 . 
     Referring now in detail to  FIG. 5 , it can be seen that the support member or arm  16  has been outwardly deployed to its operative position by withdrawing the support member out of the axle  19  and pivoting about pivot  20  to the latched position shown. The longitudinal axis of the support member is angular with respect to a vertical axis. It can be seen that foot  14  rests on the ground and that rod  18  has been extended from its position inside the bore of support member  16 . 
     The rod  18  is retained in the extended position by means of latch  22  engaging with hole  23 . Upon retraction of the extension rod  18  into support member  16 , latch  22  will be retained in opening  24 . It is to be noted that the latch  22  is spring biased outwardly so that the normal bias of the latch is to occupy either opening  24  or opening  23 . The joint member  16  includes the detent  21  that is outwardly urged by an expansion spring to bear against the bore of axle  19  to releasably retain the entire support assembly in place. Once the support member is in place as shown in  FIG. 5 , note that the member  16  is locked to the joint member by means of engaging shoulders  26  on the end of joint member  17  and shoulder  27  near the end of support member  16 . The pair of shoulders are pulled together by means of an expansion spring  28  which bears against one end of the joint member within chamber  30  and bears against an element  31  at its opposite end. The element  31  is carried at the end of a slide mount  32  that has the pivot  20  at its end opposite to element  31 . Therefore, as the mount  32  slidably moves in and out of the end of joint member  17  in response to compression or expansion of spring  28 , the shoulders  26  and  27  are engaged or disengaged. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , it can be seen that the shoulders  26  and  27  are disengaged as the joint member  17  is moved in the direction of the arrow. The solid line showing of support member  16  is representative of a disengagement of the shoulders while in broken lines, engagement is illustrated as in  FIG. 5 . The compression of spring  28  is manual by pulling the end of support  16  outwardly in the direction of the arrow. 
     To store the support member within the bore of axle  19  from the position shown in  FIG. 5 , the support member is pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIG. 6 , followed by pivoting of the support member in the direction, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The shoulders are disengaged and the support member is free to rotate about pivot  20 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the longitudinal axis of the support member  16  and the joint member  11  are coaxially disposed with respect to one another and the members  16  and  17  can then be pushed in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIG. 8  for storage within the bore of the axle  19 . Abutment of the foot  14  with the end of the axle serves as a stop and the showing in  FIG. 8  is also the showing in  FIG. 1  of the support member in its storage position. 
     To deploy the support member into its operative position, the reverse of the procedures described and shown in  FIGS. 5-8  are followed. From the storage position shown in  FIG. 8 , the support member  16  and joint member  17  are slid through the bore of axle  19  while still being retained therein by the retaining detent  21 . When the end of joint member  17  is beyond the terminating end of the axle, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the support member  16  can be pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIG. 6  to compress the spring  28  and the member can be pivoted into the operative position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , wherein the engagement of shoulders  26  and  27  can be permitted due to the expansion of spring  28  so that a releasable locking means is provided. To extend the length of the support member, the tube or rod  18  may be deployed, as previously described by releasing the latch  22  and engaging the latch into the lower opening  23 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 9 through 12 , an alternate embodiment of the present invention may be seen. This embodiment is functionally equivalent to the first embodiment, though differs in certain structural aspects. In particular, as may be best seen in the exploded view of  FIG. 10 , a telescoping assembly comprising a tubular support member  33 , similar to the tubular support member  16  of the prior embodiment, is used together with a tubular extension  34 , similar to tubular extension  18  in the prior embodiment. The tubular extension  34  has a foot  35 , also similar to the foot  14  of the prior embodiment. A push button spring detent  36 , similar to push button detent  22  of the prior embodiment, is provided to lock the telescoping assembly comprising tubular support member  33  and tubular extension  34  in an unextended position by engagement of the push button with hole  37  in tubular support member  33 , or in one of two extended positions by engagement with hole  38  or  39  in the tubular support member  33 . 
       FIG. 12  presents a cross-section of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 9 through 11 . The tubular support member  33 , the tubular extension  34  and the foot  35 , as well as the spring loaded push button  36 , may be seen therein. Also shown therein is a member  40  having a pin  41  which may extend longitudinally into a hole in the end of tubular support member  33 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The pin  41  also has a square end  42  thereon with a spring loaded ball  43  for providing a detent type engagement with retaining member  44 , held and angularly oriented within hollow axle  45  by a screw  46  fastening the retaining member  44  to the internal end of the hollow axle. A spring member  47  in a slot in member  40  retains pin  41  with respect to member  40 , as well as provides a spring detent to releasably retain member  40  with respect to tubular support member  33  when in the orientation illustrated in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12 . 
     Also visible, particularly in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , is a hole  48  passing through the end of tubular support member  33  at an angle with respect to the axis thereof. With the assembly in the angular orientation illustrated in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12 , the end of hole  48  cooperates with the end of spring  47  to provide a detent to retain member  40  in the position shown with respect to the tubular support member  33 . However, member  40 , with pin  41  thereon, may be withdrawn from the coaxial engagement with the end of tubular support member  33  as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12 , and instead, coupled to the tubular support member  33  by passing pin  41  through hole  48  to be retained in that position by spring  47  lying within slot  49  and passing into hole  50  in the end of tubular support member  33 . When so positioned, the stand of this embodiment may function as previously illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Thus in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 8 , one end of the overall assembly may be rotated through an angle between a first angular orientation with respect to the telescoping assembly wherein the end configured to extend into the hollow axle is co-linear with the telescoping assembly, and a second angular position facilitating use of the assembly as a motorcycle stand, whereas in the embodiment of  FIGS. 9 through 12 , the end of the assembly is similarly capable of being oriented at either of these two angular positions, though by removing the end of the assembly and repositioning the same with respect to the telescoping assembly. Obviously also, there are other differences in design detail, though the function and use of these, as well as other embodiments, is the same. 
     Thus while particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.