Abstract:
A motorcycle lift [ 100]  comprises two lift arms [ 103 A,  103 B] attached to a cross bar [ 105].  Support sleeves [ 109 A,  109 B] attached to the ends of the lift arms surround the foot pegs [ 150 A,  150 B] of the motorcycle [ 301]  to securely engage the vehicle. Clamps [ 125 A,  125 B] provide a means to adjust the width between the support sleeves for engagement to the foot pegs. A lever [ 107]  attached to the cross bar raises and lowers the motorcycle. Replaceable sleeves [ 109 A,  109 B] allow relatively tight diametrical clearance with various foot peg designs to provide stable support. The design allows stable support even with foot pegs of folding designs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to motorcycle lifts and, more particularly, to motorcycle lifts engaging the foot pegs of the motorcycle.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A frequent need exists to raise a portion of a motorcycle for maintenance, repair or testing. For example, maintenance or repair to the wheels or tires, frame, engine, transmission, brakes and exhaust systems are performed more quickly and efficiently if there is a method to safely and reliably lift all or part of the motorcycle from a supporting surface such as the floor of a garage or workshop.  
           [0003]    A number of devices have been disclosed to lift the motorcycle from a support surface. For example, a lever-action vehicle lift is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,763. This patent discloses a number of methods in which to engage various components of the motorcycle. Different engagement devices are shown to use on different components of the motorcycle. The very fact that various configurations of a lift are needed for use with different motorcycle designs shows a limitation of current devices.  
           [0004]    Another problem with lifts in current use is poor stability of the motorcycle when lifted from the support surface. Engagement apparatus of the lift which merely support a component of the motorcycle are unlikely to offer stable support if the motorcycle is disturbed, or weight shifts during use.  
           [0005]    Still other vehicle lifts that may be used with motorcycles are very complicated, and often expensive.  
           [0006]    An improved motorcycle lift is needed which addresses the limitations of current devices.  
         Objects and Summary of the Invention  
         [0007]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle lift that engages the foot pegs of a motorcycle to perform a lift from a support surface.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle lift that accommodates various foot peg designs and sizes.  
           [0009]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle lift that provides stable support from the foot pegs of a motorcycle, even if the foot pegs are of a hinged or folding design.  
           [0010]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle lift that can be used from either side of the motorcycle.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle lift that provides stable support for the motorcycle even if the motorcycle is disturbed, or weight shifts on the motorcycle.  
           [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle lift that provides a means to adjust the height of the lift.  
           [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle lift that provides a means to adjust the width between the foot peg encapsulation on either side of the motorcycle.  
           [0014]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle lift that is simple and low in cost.  
           [0015]    The motorcycle lift comprises two lift arms attached to a cross bar. The ends of the lift arms comprise support sleeves that enclose or encapsulate the foot pegs on either side of the motorcycle with a sufficiently tight diametrical clearance and a sufficient length such that the motorcycle is supported in a stable configuration. A lever attachable to either end of the cross bar rotates the lift arms about pivot feet to raise the motorcycle. The lift arms are adjustable along the cross bar to engage the foot pegs, and for use with various motorcycle designs.  
           [0016]    The lift arms comprise engagement pins or other mechanical fasteners to adjust the length of the lift arms and allow adjustment of the height of the lift. The lever comprises a height adjustment to ensure the lever is supported in a stable configuration, and to provide minor height adjustment once the motorcycle is in a lifted condition.  
           [0017]    The diametrical clearance between the support sleeves and the foot peg outer diameter, and a sufficiently long sleeve provides stable support from the foot peg, even if the foot peg is of a folding design, or if the motorcycle is disturbed or weight shits occur during maintenance. The support sleeve may be integral to the ends of the lift arms, or they may be replaceable sleeves of a polymeric material to protect the foot pegs from abrasion damage. Use of replaceable sleeves allows quick change of sleeves to accommodate different diameter motorcycle foot pegs.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment  100  of the motorcycle lift showing lift arms attaching two peg supports to a crossbar of the lift, and a lever attached to one end of the crossbar;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1A is a cross section detail drawing of a peg support taken through lines  1 A- 1 A of FIG. 1 showing a support sleeve enclosing a foot peg shown in phantom lines;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1B is a cross section detail drawing of an alternative embodiment of the peg support having the support sleeve bonded to the sleeve attachment portion;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a cross section detail drawing of a peg support taken through lines  2 - 2  of FIG. 1 showing attachment of the support sleeve in the sleeve attachment portion;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a front elevation drawing of lift  100  showing encapsulation of folding foot pegs and motorcycle  301  in the lifted condition;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of the peg support sleeve having a resilient flange for convenient insertion and removal from the lift;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5A is a side elevation drawing of lift  100  positioned under a motorcycle and engaged to the foot pegs; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5B is a side elevation drawing of lift  100  in which the lever has been rotated to lift the motorcycle in a raised position.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    The following is a description of the preferred embodiments of a motorcycle lift utilizing the foot pegs of a motorcycle for stable lifts.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of embodiment  100  of the motorcycle lift comprising first peg support  101 A, second peg support  101 B, first lift arm  103 A, second lift arm  103 B crossbar  105 , and lever  107 . First lift arm  103 A and second lift arm  103 B connect respective peg supports  101 A,  101 B to crossbar  105  so that the lift arms are generally perpendicular to crossbar  105 . Lever  107  is fastened to crossbar  105  so that it is generally perpendicular to the plane of lift arms  103 A,  103 B, and crossbar  105 . In the preferred embodiments, crossbar  105  is a rectangular tube of steel construction. The first lift arm and peg support components are described below. The respective second lift arm and peg support components are similar to the first lift arm and peg support components.  
         [0029]    First peg support  101 A comprises a peg support sleeve  109 A enclosed by a sleeve attachment portion  111 A. In the preferred embodiments, sleeve attachment portion  111 A is a tube or cylinder totally enclosing respective sleeve  109 A.  
         [0030]    In the preferred embodiments, first lift arm  103 A comprises a base portion  113 A, slide post  115 A, and adjustable base sleeve  117 A. Base portion  113 A and slide post  115 A are rectangular tubes sized so that slide post  115 A slides into base portion  113 A with a loose or sliding fit. An attachment means such as weld  119 A attaches base portion  113 A to base sleeve  117 A. A height adjustment means such as pin  121 A, insertable through hole  123 A of base portion  113 A and one of a plurality of holes  124 A of slide post  115 A, allows quick adjustment of the length of lift arm  103 A. Other height adjustment means, such as clamp bolts, through bolts, clamp bands, turn bolts, eccentric cams and other mechanical adjusting means may be utilized.  
         [0031]    Adjustable base sleeve  117 A is a rectangular tube selected to provide a sliding fit with crossbar  105 . In the preferred embodiments, a width adjusting means, such as clamp bolt  125 A threaded into boss  127 A of adjustable sleeve  117 A, allows adjustment of sleeve  117 A longitudinal position along crossbar  105  when clamp bolt  125 A is loosened. Tightening clamp bolt  125 A clamps base portion  117 A in the desired position. In other embodiments, other width adjustment means, such as hole and pin designs, through bolts, clamp bands, turn bolts and other mechanical adjusting means may be utilized.  
         [0032]    Lever  107  comprises lever arm  129 , lever engagement element  131 , and lever height adjustment means  133 . In the preferred embodiment, lever engagement element  131  is a sleeve selected for a sliding fit on crossbar  105 . Clamp bolt  135 , threaded in boss  137  of element  131  allows longitudinal adjustment of lever  107  position along crossbar  105 , and clamping in the desired position. Lever engagement element  131  also allows engagement with first end  139 A or second end  139 B of crossbar  105 . Other lever engagement and adjustment means may be used such as socket engagement, slot engagement, and use of various mechanical fasteners.  
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiments, lever height adjustment means  133  comprises a height adjustment screw  141  threaded in threaded hole or boss  143  on the outboard end of lever  107 . Knob or head  145  allows easy adjustment of screw  141 .  
         [0034]    Pivot feet  147  attached to the bottom portion of crossbar  105  provide pivot support to cross bar  105  from a supporting surface ( 303  of FIG. 3). In the preferred embodiments, pivot feet  147  are tubes welded to the crossbar side opposite lift arms  103 A and  1103 B.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 1A is a cross section detail drawing of peg support  101 A taken through lines  1 A- 1 A of FIG. 1. A foot peg  150  inserted into peg support  101 A is shown in phantom lines. The diameter of inner diameter or aperture  151  of sleeve  109 A is chosen to provide a loose or sliding fit with the outer diameter of foot peg  150 . Sleeve  109 A encloses and preferably totally encloses foot peg  150  to provide stable support for the motorcycle when it is lifted by lift  100 . Surprisingly, it has been found that a small diametrical clearance between the outer diameter of foot peg  150  and the inner diameter or aperture  151  of peg support sleeve  109 A and a relatively long sleeve length provides stable support of the motorcycle, even if the peg is a folding-type foot peg. A minimum diametrical clearance, preferably at least a sliding fit, facilitates insertion of foot peg  150  into sleeve  109 A and allows rotation between foot peg  150  and sleeve  109 A when the motorcycle is raised or lowered.  
         [0036]    In a similar manner, sleeve attachment portion  111 A attaches sleeve  109 A to lift arm  103 A. In the preferred embodiment, sleeve attachment portion  111 A encloses and, preferably totally encloses sleeve  109 A. A sliding fit diametrical clearance between the outer barrel diameter (surface  154 ) of sleeve  109 A and the inner diameter or aperture  155  of sleeve attachment portion  111 A allows easy insertion and removal of sleeve  151 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1B shows an alternative embodiment of peg support  101 A showing support sleeve  110  bonded to sleeve attachment portion  111 A. Bonding may be by adhesives, or by interference fit, or sleeve  110  may be a coating bonded to aperture  151  of sleeve attachment portion  111 A. Diametrical clearances between foot peg  150  and peg support sleeve  110  are similar to those described in FIG. 1A. In the preferred embodiments, sleeve  110  is made of a polymeric material such as PVC, PE, PA, PI, or ABS, preferably of a material having a hardness less than structural components such as sleeve attachment portion  111 A. Coating materials which may be used to form sleeve  110  include polymers such as epoxies, other thermo sets, or thermoplastics. High density, high-strength foamed polymers may also be used. The polymeric material is chosen to provide abrasion protection to foot peg  150 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional drawing of peg support  101 A taken through lines  2 - 2  of FIG. 1. Sleeve attachment portion  111 A encloses and supports peg support sleeve  109 A. Sleeve  109 A comprises body portion  161 , flange portion  163 , and groove  165 . Flange portion  163  and snap ring  167  retain sleeve  109 A in sleeve attachment portion  111 A. Snap ring  167  serves as releasable retainer means to allow quick removal and installation of a new or different sleeve in sleeve attachment portion  111 A.  
         [0039]    Adequate sleeve length  169  and limited diametrical clearance between peg  150  diameter and sleeve aperture  151  diameter as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are especially important for use with folding foot peg designs. In the preferred embodiments, sleeve length  169  is at least 1.5″. In the more preferred embodiments, sleeve length  169  is at least 2″. In the still more preferred embodiments, sleeve length  169  is at least 3″. In the most preferred embodiments, sleeve length  169  is at least 4″. Sleeve length  169  is preferably at least 50%, more preferably 75%, and most preferably 90% or more of the length of foot peg  150 .  
         [0040]    Sleeve attachment portion length  171  must be sufficient to provide adequate support of sleeve  109 A and is preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 75%, and most preferably at least 90% of the length of the sleeve  109 A. In embodiments not utilizing a separate sleeve  109 A, the length and diametrical clearances of attachment portion  111 A should meet the requirements of sleeve  109 A.  
         [0041]    In the preferred embodiments, the diametrical clearance between the inner diameter of sleeve  109 A and the outer diameter of foot peg  150  is less than 0.5″. In the more preferred embodiments, the diametrical clearance is less than 0.25″, and in the most preferred embodiments, the diametrical clearance is less than 0.125″. Small diametrical clearance is most important when the lift is used on motorcycles with folding type foot pegs.  
         [0042]    Peg support  101 A may accommodate different foot peg sizes by substitution of a support sleeve  109 A with aperture  151  diameter chosen to meet the diametrical clearance requirements of FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the preferred embodiments, sleeve  109 A is made of a polymeric material with a hardness less than the structural components such as sleeve attachment portion  111 A or lift arm  103 A and foot peg  150  to prevent abrading or scratching foot peg  150 .  
         [0043]    In the preferred embodiments, the structural components of lift  100  including lift arms  103 A,  103 B, crossbar  105 , and lever  107 , are made of structural steel shapes such as steel tubes. Other structural materials and shapes may be used such as aluminum, stainless steel, or high strength plastics. In the preferred embodiments, sleeve attachment portions  111 A,  111 B are made of steel tube.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 3 is a front elevation drawing of a motorcycle  301  being supported in a lifted condition from support surface  303  by lift device  100 . Sleeves  109 A and  109 B of peg supports  101 A and  101 B support folding foot pegs  150 A and  150 B. Meeting the adequate length and diametrical clearance requirements of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and  2  allows stable support of motorcycle  301  by foot pegs  150 A and  150 B, even though the foot pegs are foldable, such as by hinges  305 A and  305 B.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing of another embodiment  401  of peg support sleeve  109 A. Flange  403  provides a retaining means at one end of sleeve attachment portion  111 A,  111 B, and spring flange  405  provides a releasable retaining means at a second end of the sleeve attachment portions. Slots  407  provide resilience to flange  405  and allow sleeve  401  to be snapped into aperture  151  of the sleeve attachment portion.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 5A is a side elevation drawing showing employment of lift  100  for lifting motorcycle  301 . Before attaching lift  100 , at least one of the clamp bolts  125 A,  125 B (FIG. 1) are loosened and one or both lift arms  103 A,  103 B adjusted outward to allow insertion of foot pegs  150 A,  150 B (only one side is shown, the back side is similar). The lift arms are adjusted inwardly until foot pegs  150 A,  150 B are fully enclosed as shown in FIG. 3, and the respective clamp bolts  125 A,  125 B are tightened. Optionally lift arm  103 A,  103 B lengths are adjusted by removal of lock pins  121 A,  121 B (FIG. 1) and re-secured in the desired holes  124 A,  124 B to provide the desired lift height. Rotating lever arm  107  in the direction of arrow  501  rotates lift arms  103 A and  103 B about pivot foot  147  and raises foot pegs  150 A and  150 B to raise motorcycle  301  from supporting surface  303  in the raised position of FIG. 5B. Lever height adjustment knob  145  may be used to adjust height of lever  107  to ensure adequate rotation about pivot foot  147  to ensure stability, and to provide a fine height adjustment for motorcycle  301 .  
         [0047]    Lowering motorcycle  301  is performed by reversing the lift procedure. Lever  107  is rotated in a direction opposite from arrow  501  to lower the vehicle to support surface  303 . The clamp bolt of at least one lift arm is loosened to allow removal of peg supports  101 A and  101 B from foot pegs  150 A and  150 B. Lift  100  may be used from either side of motorcycle  301 , or the device may be used in a mirror-image location as shown in the phantom lines of FIG. 5A  
         [0048]    Accordingly, the reader will see that MOTORCYCLE LIFT provides a quick and secure method to raise a motorcycle. The device provides the following additional advantages:  
         [0049]    The lift can be used with virtually any motorcycle;  
         [0050]    The lift can be used with motorcycles having foot pegs which fold;  
         [0051]    Quick-change sleeves allow proper fit with virtually any foot peg design;  
         [0052]    Full encapsulation of the foot pegs provides stability even upon upset;  
         [0053]    The lift can be reversed or used from either side of the motorcycle; and  
         [0054]    The lift is simple and low in cost.  
         [0055]    Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the peg support sleeve may be connected directly to the lift arm so that the sleeve attachment portion is a simple fastening method such as welding or use of mechanical fasteners. Or, a separate support sleeve may be omitted and the dimensions of sleeve attachment portions  111 A,  111 B may be adjusted to the requirements of the invention. Or, the sleeve attachment portions may be rectangular tubes and the support sleeves comprising a similar cross-sectional shape on their outer diameters. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.