Abstract:
A carousel device for pivotally moving a two-wheeled vehicle includes a base with a plurality of roller bearings and a carousel having a pair of opposing wings which are operatively positioned on the base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for pivotably moving a heavy object, and more particularly for moving the heavy object, such as, for example, a motorcycle, in a small or confined area.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Today&#39;s motorcycles are large, often weighing over one thousand pounds or more. While riders of these motorcycles can easily maneuver the motorcycles at operating speeds, it is difficult for the rider to move the motorcycle when the vehicle is stopped or in idle. The rider must have sufficient strength to move the vehicle when the vehicle is not running not in gear.  
           [0003]    Often, owners of motorcycles wish to keep the motorcycle in a confined or small parking in a garage or other protected area. The motorcycle rider must move the motorcycle in and out of the confined space by continually repositioning or moving the motorcycle back and forth many times in order to position the motorcycle in a desired space. For example, if a vehicle is driven headfirst into a space, often the rider wishes to have the motorcycle facing outward again when removing the motorcycle from the space. This causes the rider to spend great amounts of effort and energy when maneuvering the motorcycle in a confined space. Alternatively, the motorcycle would have to be in a large enough space to turn the vehicle in a 180° radius. This also causes problems, however, because turning the motorcycle in a short radius or a moving forwards and backwards can sometimes be dangerous. Therefore, there is a need for a device for rotatably moving the motorcycle in an enclosed area.  
           [0004]    There is also a need to be able to rotatably turn the motorcycle 180° so that the motorcycle can be positioned for a forward exit.  
           [0005]    There is a further need to have a device which allows a motorcycle to be easily positioned thereon without having to lift or raise the motorcycle from the ground.  
           [0006]    There is a further need for a device which allows the motorcycle to be parked with a kickstand on a ground surface.  
         DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for parking a motorcycle which includes a carousel and a pair of opposing wings extending from the carousel. The carousel has a plurality of roller bearings mounted on a lower surface to allow for easy maneuverability of the carousel device.  
           [0008]    The pair of opposing wings is positioned at an opposing, or 180°, angle with respect to each other on the carousel. Each wing is mounted at a first end to a section of the carousel. Each wing has a second end which is an opposed relationship to the first end. The second end defines a downwardly extending angle which allows the motorcycle to be easily rolled onto the wing. The wings have sufficient length to accommodate various sizes and widths of motorcycles.  
           [0009]    In a preferred aspect, the carousel has a plurality of, and in certain embodiments, at least about 10 to about 20, and in certain aspects of about 16 carousel roller bearings, preferably mounted at evenly spaced intervals thereon, to allow for smooth or gliding turning of the carousel device. The carousel device can be pivoted in a 360° radius.  
           [0010]    In a preferred aspect, the carousel device has a low profile such that motorcycle rider hardly perceives that the motorcycle is leaving the ground. The carousel allows the rider to move the motorcycle onto the low profile carousel without the need for any “balancing” or feeling of tipping over. In certain embodiments, the carousel has an elevation of about 1½ to about 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, about 1⅝ inches from the ground to the top of the carousel device. The low profile of the carousel device readily allows the rider to easily move the motorcycle onto the carousel device.  
           [0011]    In certain aspects of the present invention, at least one wing roller bearing can be positioned on a lower surface of each wing to further allow the carousel to rotatably turn. The wing roller bearing is capable of supporting the full weight of the motorcycle on the carousel device. The wing roller bearings allow the wing to pivot about an axis through the center of the carousel.  
           [0012]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motorcycle on a carousel device of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one wing showing bearings mounted in supports on a lower surface of the wing.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one end of one wing showing bearings mounted in supports on a lower surface of the wing.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base of the carousel device.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevation view of a section of a carousel device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a carousel or turntable device  10  for turning a motorcycle  8  or other heavy object. The carousel device  10  includes a carousel  12  and a base member  60 . The carousel device  10  is preferably form of a rigid durable material such as steel webbing or other suitable materials.  
         [0019]    The carousel device  10  further includes a pair of opposed wings  20  and  30  which are operatively mounted to and extend in opposing directions from the carousel  12 . The first wing  20  has a first end  22  which is operatively mounted to the carousel  12  and an opposing second end  24 .  
         [0020]    The second wing  30  also defines a first end  32  and a second end  34 . It should be understood that the first wing  20  and second wing  30  can have identical features. For ease of illustration, only one wing  20  will be described in detail.  
         [0021]    The carousel  12  can have a plurality of openings  18  which receive a suitable securing device such as a bolt or the like, not shown, for securing the wing  20  onto the carousel  12 . The wing  20  has an opposing end  24  which is opposed relationship to the first end  22  and the carousel  12 .  
         [0022]    The second end  24  can have at least one angled surface  28  which has a leading edge or distal end  29 . The angled surface  28  of the second end  24  angles in a downward direction from a horizontal plane defined by a top surface  40  of the wing  20 . In certain embodiments, the angled surface  28  can be bent at a 45° with respect to the planar surface  40 .  
         [0023]    In certain aspects of the invention, the wing  20  can further define opposing flange sections  42  which also extend in a depending manner, in a direction from the plane defined by the top surface  40 . Also, in certain embodiments, the flanges  42  can be bent or positioned at approximately 90° with respect to the surface  40 .  
         [0024]    At least one bearing support  50  is shown operatively connected to a lower surface  44  of the planar section  40  of the wing  20 . A bearing  52  is operatively mounted in the bearing support  50 . The bearing  50  provides support to the wing and allows for smooth rolling of the wing  20  in an arcuate path about a center of the carousel  12 . There is no swivel action or other potentially “jamming” or stoppage of the carousel  12  with the use of the smoothly contacting bearing  52 . In certain embodiments, the bearing support  50  can be positioned at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinally extending edge  46  of the wing  20 . In the embodiment shown, the bearing support  50  has a first end  54  which is in a spaced apart relationship to the first end  22  of the wing  20 . The first end  54  is preferably positioned at a first distance D 1  from the edge  46 . In the embodiment shown, the first end  54  of the bearing support  50  is preferably positioned at about 1½ inches from the edge  46 .  
         [0025]    The bearing support  50  defines a second end  56  which is in a spaced apart relationship to the second end  24  of the wing  20 . In the embodiment shown, the second end  56  is positioned at a second distance D 2  from the edge  46 . In the embodiment shown, the end  56  is preferably positioned at approximately 1 inch from the edge  46 . The bearing support  50  and the bearing  52  held therein are positioned at an angle with respect to the edge  46  to allow for easy rotation of the bearing  50  and rolling of the wing  20  as the wing  20  pivots about a center point defined by the carousel  12 . In the embodiment shown, the wing  20  has a second bearing support  50 ′ which holds a second bearing  52 ′ which has similar features to the bearing support  50  and bearing  52  described above. It should be understood that the opposing bearing supports  50  and  50 ′ are positioned at acute angles with respect to each other to allow for easy rotation of the wings  20  and  30  about a pivot point defined by the carousel  12 .  
         [0026]    The base  60  of the carousel device  10  generally includes at least one support member  62  operatively connected to a vertically extending skirt or bearing support member  61 . In the embodiment shown, the base  60  has a generally circular shape. Also, in the embodiment shown, the base  60  has a plurality of opposing support members  62  which can be positioned at right angles to each other, generally as shown. In certain embodiments, the carousel device  10  can be secured or fixedly attached to a surface, such as a garage floor, by lagging, or securing the carousel using a suitable bolt or other means (not shown) through one or more openings  67  in the bearing support member(s)  61 .  
         [0027]    The base  60  further includes a central support member  64  which defines a center pivot point  66  for the carousel  12 . In certain embodiments, the center pivot point  66  such as a shaft or other suitable member is connected to the central support section  64 . In a preferred embodiment, the central support member  64  can be a suitable material to which the center point pivot  66  is mounted.  
         [0028]    A plurality of roller bearings  80  are operatively mounted to the bearing support member  61 . In the embodiment shown, the bearings  80  are mounted on an inside surface  63  of the bearing support member  61 . It should be understood however, that alternative embodiments of the present invention are contemplated and that the bearings  80  could be mounted on an outside vertical surface  65  of the bearing support member  61 . In certain embodiments, about  12  to about  20 , and preferably about  16 , roller bearings  80  are evenly spaced around the circumference of the bearing support member  61 .  
         [0029]    The roller bearing  80  is operatively mounted to the bearing support member  61  using an axially extending pin member such as, for example, button-head bolt  82 . The pin member  82  extends axially through an opening  78  in the bearing support member  61  and through an opening  84  in the bearing  80 . The pin  82  is secured to the bearing support member  61  by a suitable securing means such as a nut  86 . The bearing  80  freely rotates about a longitudinal axis A extending through the pin  82 .  
         [0030]    The carousel  12  includes a table section  14  and in certain embodiments, a decorative plate  16 . In certain embodiments, the table section  14  is a steel plate of that has a suitable thickness to support a heavy object; for example, approximately ⅜ inches in thickness.  
         [0031]    A mating center pivot point  70  depends from a central portion of a lower surface  68  of the table section  14 . The mating center point  70  is preferably a tubular structure which is positioned at a right angle with respect to the table section  14 . The center pivot point  66  on the base  60  is axially positioned within the mating center point member  70  such that the table section  14  can pivotally rotate about a vertically extending axis B defined by center points  66  and  70 . As the table section  14  is rotated about the axis B, a circumferentially extending edge section of the lower surface  68  of the table section  14  rolls over the bearings  80 .  
         [0032]    In use, the motorcycle is first rolled across the leading edge  29 , up onto the angled surface  28 , across the top surface  40  of the first wing  20 , onto the carousel  12  and at least partially across the table section  14 , and, finally, at least partially onto the second wing  30 . In order to turn the motorcycle, the rider pivots the carousel device  10  about the axis B through the center of the carousel  12 . As the carousel  12  pivots, the lower surface  68  of the table section  14  rolls over the bearings  80 . The wings  20  and  30  also pivot about the axis B and are circumferentially moved in a desired direction. The carousel device  10  can be pivoted to any position about a 360° path.  
         [0033]    While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments as set forth above, but is rather intended to cover such alternative embodiments and equivalences may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.