Abstract:
A shield apparatus for mounting on a motorcycle or the like which includes a front strut, a rear strut, a top cover and two bracket plates. The shield apparatus is mounted on the front handle members and the rear portion of the motorcycle so that the top cover thereof can be functioned to minimize the effects of windage and adverse weather conditions during motorcycle runs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a shield apparatus and more particularly to a shield apparatus for motorcycles. 
     Riding a motorcycle is not only a recreational pasttime enjoyed by millions of people, but it is also or alternatively an important source of transportation for many millions of commuters. Whether out of desire or due to necessity, many motorcycle owners choose to mount a shield apparatus on their motorcycles as a means for protecting themselves from light, sunshine and rain during riding. 
     A shield apparatus which can accommodate most any conventional two-wheeled motorcycle is available. Typically, such shield apparatus is supplied with a frame or bracket, one end being attached to the motorcycle by the preexisting bolt which is used to maintain the shield at a preselected height. The other end of the shield apparatus is typically connected either to the preexisting motorcycle frame members which extend upwardly and rearwardly from the motorcycle seat region to the rear wheel axle supporting member, or to the axle supporting member itself. At least one substantial disadvantage associated with the above manner of mounting the shield apparatus is that it must be bolted to its frame or bracket. Therefore, improving the technique used to mount the conventional shield apparatus would be deemed desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a shield apparatus which can be mounted on a motorcycle or the like in such a manner that it does not create much windage during motorcycle runs. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a shield apparatus which can be readily assembled and disassembled. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a shield apparatus having a cover sheet which can be detached therefrom to facilitate washing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     This invention will be more fully understood in conjunction with the following detailed description together with the attaching drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of this invention which shows that the shield apparatus is mounted on a motorcycle; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view illustrating the first embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of a second embodiment of this invention which is mounted completely on the motorcycle; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the top cover means of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the substantially L-shape member of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 shows the rear strut means of the second embodiment; and 
     FIG. 7 shows how the shield of the second embodiment functions during motorcycle runs. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shield apparatus mounted on a motorcycle is shown thereon. This shield apparatus includes a front strut means 1, a rear strut means 2 and a top cover means 3. The front strut means 1 include a substantially U-shape rod 12 which has two vertical arms 120 to be mounted on a handle of the motorcycle and an upper transverse portion having a projecting member 121 at its intermediate portion, and a substantially L-shaped member 13 having a vertical portion 131 secure to the projecting member 121 of the upper transverse portion and a forwardly extending horizontal portion 132 with a screw rod 133 extending upwardly therefrom. 
     Two plate members 11 each have a front end secured to each vertical arm 120, and a rear end secured to the handle of the motorcycle and projected forwardly therefrom. 
     The rear strut means 2 includes a lower upright one piece rod member 22 which has a threaded bottommost portion 221 and a coiled resilient portion 222 thereabove for providing the rear strut means a degree of resiliency and flexibility. An upper one-piece rod member 23 is interconnected with the lower one-piece rod member through an adjustment screw 231a. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, a plate member 21&#39; is mounted in proximity to a rear seat of the wheeled body and projects rearwardly therefrom. A screw member 212 is secured to the threaded bottommost portion 221 of the rear strut means 2 to the plate member 21&#39;. 
     A plate member 211 is secured to the wheeled body below the rear seat, and a stem 21 extends upwardly from the plate member 211 and is secured to the threaded bottommost portion of the rod 22 at 231b. 
     The top cover means 3 includes a sheet member 32 having a front transverse side 41 and a rear transverse side 42, a front sheet holding rod 30 attached to the front transverse side 41 and a rear sheet holding rod 31 attached to the rear transverse side 42. Bracket plates 34 and 36 are secured to and project respectively from the intermediate portions of the front and rear rods 30 and 31. Circular holes are provided in the bracket plate 34 and 36 for permitting the bracket plates 34 and 36 to be respectively sleeved movably on a top most threaded end portion 234 of the rear strut 2 and the screw rod 133 of the front strut 1. 
     Sleeves 14 are disposed respectively around the topmost threaded end portion 234 of the rear strut and the screw rod 133 of the front strut and inserted into the circular holes of the bracket plates 34 and 36, each sleeve 14 having a first end with an outwardly projecting flange 142 at one side of each bracket plate 34 and 36 and a second end 143 at the other side of the bracket plate. 
     A retaining plate 15 abuts with the second end of each sleeve 14. On the front strut, clamping nut 16 clamps the retaining plate 15 against the sleeve 14 and positions them on the screw rod 133. On the rear strut, nuts 16, 232 and 233 are provided to clamp the retaining plate 15 and the sleeve 14. The bracket plates 34 and 36 are rotatable and vertically movable relative to the respective sleeves between the flanges of the sleeve and the retaining plates. Since the bracket plates 34 and 36 are movable relative to the front and rear struts, the front and rear sheet holding rods 30 and 31 and the cover sheet 32 can make a limited vertical and angular displacement relative to the front and rear strut means 1 and 2 and incline upward and downward relative to a horizontal line so as to minimize windage. 
     FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show another embodiment of this invention in which elements similar to those of the first embodiment are designated by similar reference numerals. This embodiment is somewhat different from the previous embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, a bracket block 34&#39; is connected detachably to the front sheet holding rods 30. The sheet holding rod 30 is inserted in a sleeve portion 32a of the sheet 32 formed by sewing the cover sheet 32. The sleeve portion 32a has a discontinuation 32b to expose the sheet holding rod 30. The bracket block 34&#39; is sleeved on the exposed portion of the rod 30 and is attached fixedly thereto by means of a screw 34a&#39;. It can be appreciated that the block 34&#39; so attached allows the sheet 32 to be separated from the rod 30. The rear bracket block 36&#39; is attached likewise to the sheet 32. Accordingly, the sheet 32 of this embodiment can be readily detached from the rods 30 and 31 for washing. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the L-shaped member 13&#39; is a rod having an upwardly projecting screw rod portion 132&#39; and a rear plate 131&#39; to be connected to the U-shaped rod 12. Blocks 34&#39; and 36&#39; each have a circular hole therein for permitting the topmost threaded portion of the rear strut means 2 or the screw rod 132&#39; of the front strut means 1 to extend therethrough. Two nuts 16 and 17 are disposed respectively above and below the bracket block on the topmost threaded portion 234 of the rear strut 2 or the screw rod 132&#39; of the front strut 1. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, a plate member 21&#39; is mounted in proximity to a rear seat of the wheeled body and projects rearwardly therefrom. The bottommost portion 221 of the rear strut means 2 is connected with threads to a screw member 212 for securing the plate member 21&#39; to the wheeled body. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the nuts on the topmost threaded portion 234 of the rear strut 2 are spaced apart from the bracket block 36&#39; to permit the bracket block to rotate and move upward and downward relative to the topmost threaded portion, and the nuts on the screw rod 132&#39; hold the bracket block 34&#39; in such a manner that the block 34&#39; can pivot about the screw rod 132&#39;. 
     While two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in considerable detail, it will be understood that these were only by way of example and that various changes in the details of the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as reflected in the appended claims.