Abstract:
A ride on/ride off dirt bike stand for use with dirt bikes that do not come with a kickstand attached to the dirt bike for parking the dirt bike when not in use, such as motocross, rally, trials and/or track bikes. The dirt bike stand is free standing and includes an upper frame pivotally connected to a base frame, such that the upper frame may be pivoted and secured between an upright position and a lowered position. The upper frame may be height adjustable so that the dirt bike stand may be utilized with different dirt bikes having differing chassis heights. Also, the upper frame may include a rotatable platform to provide a greater surface area for supporting the dirt bike.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a dirt bike stand and method of use thereof, and more particularly to a ride on/ride off dirt bike stand for use with dirt bikes that do not come with a kickstand attached to the dirt bike for parking the dirt bike when not in use, such as motocross, rally, trials and/or track bikes. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Dirt bikes and other types of off-road motorcycles need to be periodically examined for maintenance and service purposes. Unlike automobiles, much of the maintenance of a dirt bike is carried out in the owner&#39;s garage. The maintenance procedure may include thoroughly checking all of the different components of the dirt bike, and as such, may require parts to be adjusted or even replaced. However, the inaccessibility of the underside to the dirt bike due to its close proximity to the floor makes it difficult to maintain and service the dirt bike when it is inoperable or when the engine is turned off. 
     During service and maintenance procedures, the only way to access the underside of the chassis, such as for oil changes, is to either lay the dirt bike on its side or to kneel or lie down in an awkward and/or uncomfortable position next to the dirt bike. Since dirt bikes do not come with a kickstand attached to the underside of the chassis, the dirt bike must be manually lifted onto a stand or to slide a stand under the dirt bike. Many different types of stands have been invented to try to keep dirt bikes or other off-road motorcycles in an upright position while simultaneously raising it off the ground. For example, numerous prior art stands have been disclosed which elevate dirt bikes off the floor to a level that is more convenient for accessing the underside of the chassis. The lifts include milk crate type-stands or lift-type stands, such as scissor-type jacks which are mechanically, hydraulically or electrically actuated. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide a dirt bike stand having full ride on and ride off capabilities. 
     It is further desirable to provide a dirt bike stand that supports a dirt bike or other off-road motorcycle that does not have a kickstand attached for access to the underside of the chassis. 
     It is still further desirable to provide a ride on/ride off dirt bike stand that is constructed to support dirt bikes in a stable and elevated position so that the chassis can be accessed for maintenance and service procedures. 
     It is yet further desirable to provide a ride on/ride off dirt bike stand that may be easily stowed and moved to different locations and that is economical to manufacture. 
     It is yet further desirable to provide a ride on/ride off dirt bike stand that is free standing, and not attached to the dirt bike, such that a person can ride onto and park the dirt bike, and when the person is ready to ride again, he/she can simply climb back on the dirt bike while it is still on the stand, start the dirt bike, and ride the dirt bike off the dirt bike stand. 
     It is yet further desirable to provide a dirt bike stand that allows a tired younger or older rider to not to have to manually lift their dirt bike onto a stand or fight with a lift stand after a hard ride or race. 
     It is yet further desirable to provide a ride on/ride off dirt bike stand that can be locked in a lowered position to create a low profile design for storage and transfer to and from the track or trail riding locations. 
     It is yet further desirable to provide a dirt bike stand that can be locked in an upright position for working on the dirt bike either in the field or shop and storage of the dirt bike in the shop. 
     It is yet further desirable to provide a dirt bike stand having height adjustment capabilities so that a person can use the dirt bike stand on different sized dirt bikes, such as when a child rider grows older and changes dirt bikes, without having to buy a new dirt bike stand for each size change. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, the invention relates to a ride on/ride off dirt bike stand for use with a dirt bike that does not have a kickstand attached to the dirt bike. The dirt bike has a chassis, and the dirt bike stand includes an upper frame pivotally connected to a base frame. The base frame is adapted to be placed directly on a generally flat horizontal support surface. Also, the base frame includes a pair of spaced base members, a front ramp and a rear ramp. The base members are substantially longitudinally parallel, and the front ramp and the rear ramp are secured intermediate of and perpendicular to the base members. The rear ramp is substantially longitudinally parallel to the front ramp, and the base frame may be substantially rectangular in shape. The front ramp and the rear ramp may each have a generally inverted-V shape. Further, the front ramp and the rear ramp may each include two legs adapted to be placed directly on the support surface and an apex positioned towards the chassis of the dirt bike. 
     The upper frame of the dirt bike stand, which is pivotally secured to the base frame intermediate of the front ramp and the rear ramp, is capable of being pivoted between an upright position and a lowered position, with the upper frame being biased toward the upright position. The upper frame includes a pair of spaced arm members and a support arm. The arm members are substantially longitudinally parallel, and the support arm is secured substantially perpendicular to each of the arm members. A lower section of each of the arm members is pivotally secured to the base frame. 
     The dirt bike stand may also include a pair of substantially vertical support plates rigidly attached to opposing sides of each of the base members. Each of the support plates can have a pivot aperture, an upright lock aperture and a lowered lock aperture. The pivot apertures of the support plates are coaxially aligned and axially spaced. The upright lock apertures of the support plates are coaxially aligned and axially spaced, and the lowered lock apertures of the support plates are also coaxially aligned and axially spaced. A stop block may be rigidly secured intermediate of the support plates of each of the pairs of substantially vertical support plates, while a plurality of rubber pads attached to a bottom of the base frame. 
     The lower section of each of the arm members of the upper frame has a pivot aperture and a locking aperture. The pivot apertures of the arm members are coaxially aligned with the pivot apertures of the support plates. The locking apertures of the arm members are coaxially aligned with the upright lock apertures of the support plates when the upper frame is in the upright position, while the locking apertures of the arm members are coaxially aligned with the lowered lock apertures of the support plates when the upper frame is in the lowered position. 
     Each of the arm members can also include an inner arm and an outer arm, with the inner arm being slidably engaged within the outer arm. The inner arm is coaxially and longitudinally aligned with the outer arm. Further, the inner arm may have an outer dimension less than an inner dimension of the outer arm such that the inner arm telescopes into and out of the outer arm. Moreover, the inner arm and the outer arm can each have a series of longitudinally aligned apertures through which a depressible detent protrudes. 
     The support arm of the dirt bike stand can be a generally L-shape or an axle with a platform rotatably connected to each of the arm members. The platform has opposing planar faces. The support arm is covered with a protective coating. 
     Further, the dirt bike stand may include a spring being secured between the upper frame and the base frame for biasing the upper frame in the upright position. The spring may have opposing legs, with one leg inserted into an interior of a bottom section of each of the arm member, respectively, of the upper frame, and the other leg of the spring positioned against a top surface of the base member of the base frame. A center coil of the spring is coaxially aligned with the pivot aperture. In addition, the dirt bike stand can include a locking pin capable of being inserted through either upright locking apertures or lowered locking apertures of the support plates of the base frame and locking apertures of the arm members of the upper frame to lock the dirt bike stand in the upright position or in the lowered position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an example of a dirt bike stand shown in use with a dirt bike in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the dirt bike stand disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an example of a dirt bike stand in an upright position in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the dirt bike stand disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the dirt bike stand shown in  FIG. 2  in a lowered position; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the dirt bike stand shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a cross-section view along line  5 - 5  of the dirt bike stand shown in  FIG. 4 , with the dirt bike stand in a lowered position; 
         FIG. 5   b  is a cross-section view along line  5 - 5  of the dirt bike stand shown in  FIG. 4 , with the dirt bike stand in an upright position; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of area  6  of the dirt bike stand shown in  FIG. 5   b;    
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another example of a dirt bike stand in an upright position in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the dirt bike stand disclosed herein; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the dirt bike stand shown in  FIG. 7  in a lowered position. 
     
    
    
     Other advantages and features will be apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The dirt bike stands discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the dirt bike stands and are not to be interpreted as limiting in scope. 
     While the dirt bike stands have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the construction and the arrangement of the structural and function details disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the dirt bike stands are not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification. 
     Referring to the figures of the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout the several views, and initially to  FIG. 1 , a dirt bike stand  10  onto which a dirt bike  12  or similar type of off-road motorcycle is shown supported thereon in phantom. The dirt bike stand  10  is intended for cooperation with the chassis  14  of dirt bikes that do not come with a kickstand attached for parking the dirt bike  12  when not in use, such as motocross, rally, trials and/or track bikes. The dirt bike stand  10  is one-directional and free standing, such that a person (not shown) can ride onto to park the dirt bike  12 . While stationary and supported in an upright position by the dirt bike stand  10 , the person may perform various service and/or maintenance procedures to the dirt bike  12 . When the person is ready to ride the dirt bike  12  again, he/she just climbs back on the dirt bike  12  while it is still on the dirt bike stand  10 , starts the engine of the dirt bike  12 , puts the dirt bike  12  in gear and rides the dirt bike  12  off the dirt bike stand  10 . The dirt bike stand  10  may be constructed from a variety of materials, such as steel, aluminum or other sturdy material designed to sustain a load such as weight of the dirt bike  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 6 , the dirt bike stand  10  has a substantially horizontal, rectangular shaped base frame  16  which is intended to be placed directly on a generally flat horizontal support surface, such as a floor or the ground. The base  16  includes a pair of spaced, substantially longitudinally parallel base members  18   a  and  18   b . A front ramp  20  and a rear ramp  22  are respectively attached to terminal ends of the base members  18   a  and  18   b . The front ramp  20  and/or the rear ramp  22  may have a generally inverted-V shape, such that the two (2) legs are placed directly on the support surface, while the apex is positioned towards the chassis  14  of the dirt bike  12 . The base frame  16  may include rubber pads  24  on a bottom side for use on concrete. 
     An upper frame  26  is pivotally secured to the base frame  16 , such as intermediate of the front ramp  20  and the rear ramp  22  and intermediate of a pair of substantially vertical support plates  34   a  and  34   b . The upper frame  26  may have a generally inverted U-shape and include a pair of spaced, substantially longitudinally parallel arm members  28   a  and  28   b . Terminal ends of the arm members  28   a  and  28   b  are pivotally secured to the base members  18   a  and  18   b  of the base frame  16 , respectively. The support plates  34   a  and  34   b  are firmly attached to opposing sides of the base members  18   a  and  18   b , and the arm members  28   a  and  28   b  pivotally traverse in between the support plates  34   a  and  34   b . The other terminal ends of the arm members  28   a  and  28   b  are joined via a substantially horizontal support member  30 . As illustrated, the support member  30  may be generally L-shaped and may be coated with a protector  32 , such as a rubber coating, to protect the chassis  14  of the dirt bike  12 . The support member  30  is substantially perpendicular to both of the arm members  28   a  and  28   b.    
     The base members  18   a  and  18   b  are hereinafter collectively referred to as base members  18 , the arm members  28   a  and  28   b  are hereinafter collectively referred to as arm members  28 , and the support plates  34   a  and  34   b  are hereinafter collectively referred to as support plates  34 . Turning to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the arm members  28  of the upper frame  26  are pivotally secured to the base members  18  of the base frame  16  in between the support plates  34 . The arm members  28  include a locking aperture  52 , which is aligned with at least one set of apertures in the support plates  34 . The apertures in the support plates  34  can include three (3) separate sets of axially spaced and coaxially aligned apertures: one set of pivot apertures  36  serving as the pivot point between the upper frame  26  and the base frame  16 , one set of upright pin apertures  38  to allow the dirt bike stand  10  to be locked in an upright position for maintenance and/or servicing of the dirt bike  12 , and one set of lowered pin apertures  40  to allow the dirt bike stand  10  to be locked in an lowered position for storage and transport of the dirt bike stand  10 . A locking pin  42  may be inserted through the upright pin apertures  38  of the support plates  34  and the locking apertures  52  of the arm members  28 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5   b , to lock the dirt bike stand  10  in the upright position, or may be inserted through the lowered pin apertures  40  of the support plates  34  and the locking apertures  52  of the arm members  28 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ,  5   b , to lock the dirt bike stand  10  in the lowered position. A bolt  44  may be inserted through the pivot apertures  36  and secured using a nut  46  to form the pivot point between the base frame  16  and the upper frame  26 . 
     The upper frame  26  is biased toward the upright position using at least one spring  48 . Each of the springs  48  may having opposing legs, with one leg inserted into an interior of a bottom portion of the arm members  28  and the other leg positioned against a top surface of the base members  16 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b  and  6 . The center helical coil of the spring  48  is coaxially aligned with and may include a brass bushing  72  about the bolt  44 . The spring  48  biases the arm members  28  of the upper frame  26  toward the upright position. A stop block  50  may be secured intermediate of the support plate  34  to form a stop for the arm members  28  when they pivot to a fully upright position, which as illustrated can be past vertical. Thus, when the dirt bike stand  10  is in the upright position, the upper frame  26  is generally perpendicular to the base frame  16 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , each of the arm members  28  of the upper frame  26  can be made to be adjustable for different sized dirt bikes. In particularly and as exemplified, but not by way of limitation, the arm members  28  may include an inner arm  60  slidably engaged within and coaxially aligned with an outer arm  54 . The inner arm  60  and the outer arm  54  may each include a series of longitudinally aligned apertures  56  through which a depressible detent  58  protrudes. The depressible detent  58  may be spring loaded or substantially V-shaped depressible detent. The inner arm  60  has an outer diameter (or similar dimension) less than an inner diameter (or similar dimension) of the outer arm  54 , such that the inner arm  60  slides along the interior of the outer arm  54 . In order to raise or lower the height of the support member  30  in relation to the chassis  14  of the dirt bike  12 , the person would depress the detents  58  allowing the outer arm  54  to slide either up or down longitudinally along the inner arm  60 . When a desired height is reached, the person allows the detents  58  to protrude through the appropriate apertures  56 , thereby locking the height of the upper frame  26 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the support member  30  of the upper frame  26  of the dirt bike stand  10  may alternatively be a platform  62  rotatably connected to the arm members  28 . As illustrated, the upper terminal ends of the arm members  28  may each include a cylindrical joint  64  into which opposing ends of an axle  66  is rotatably secured. The platform  62  may have a sufficient width such that the axle  66  passes through a center axial channel  68 , enabling the platform  62  to having opposing usable faces  70 . In this example, the platform  62  makes flush and solid contact with the chassis  14  of the dirt bike  12  during usage. Similarly to the support member  30 , the platform  62  may be covered with a protective layer of material to protect the chassis  14  of the dirt bike  12  during usage. 
     Pursuant to the method of using the dirt bike stand  10 , such as for maintenance, service or storage of the dirt bike  12 , the person riding their dirt bike  12  onto the dirt bike stand  10  roll the front tire of the dirt bike  12  onto and over the front ramp  20 , thereby making contact with the upper frame  26 . As the rider continues to roll the front tire of the dirt bike  12  forward, the upper frame  26  pivots from the upright position to the lowered position, and once the front tire clears the support member  30  (or the platform  62 ) of the dirt bike stand  10 , the upper frame  26  springs back from the lowered position making contact with the chassis  14  of the dirt bike  12 . The rider can then get off the dirt bike  12  and pulls the dirt bike  12  backwards to set the dirt bike stand  10  in the upright position, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . While on the dirt bike stand  10 , a number of maintenance or other service procedures may be conducted. When the person is ready to ride the dirt bike  12  again, the rider would climb back on the dirt bike  12  while it is still on the dirt bike stand  10 . The rider simply starts the engine of the dirt bike  12 , puts it in gear, and rides the dirt bike  12  off the dirt bike stand  10 . 
     Whereas, the dirt bike stands have been described in relation to the drawings and claims, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of the dirt bike stands.