Patent Publication Number: US-5529448-A

Title: Adjustable hand grip mount for securing a motorcycle to a transportation vehicle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to connective mounts and particularly, to mounts used to detachably secure a motorcycle to a transportation vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to connective mounts detachably connected to the hand grips of a motorcycle for engaging one or more tie-straps connected to the transportation vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Motorcycles are commonly transported in the bed of a pickup truck, flat bed trailer or other general transportation vehicle having no inherent apparatus for supporting the motorcycle in an upright position. Normally the motorcycle is positioned on the bed of the transportation vehicle and secured in an upright position with tie-straps connected to the transportation vehicle and connected directly to the motorcycle. 
     The tie-straps are commonly attached to the motorcycle&#39;s hand grips as the hand grips are the structural components of the motorcycle positioned most vertically and laterally distal the motorcycle&#39;s center of gravity. By attaching the straps at these points, the motorcycle is better stabilized in an upright position as the supporting force is exerted on the motorcycle at points laterally equi-distal to the motorcycle&#39;s center of gravity and with a maximum leverage force relative thereto. 
     Difficulties arise; however, with the aforedescribed methodology in that the full supporting force is applied to the very limited area of the hand grips which are commonly made of rubber, poly-foam or other soft elastic material. Consequently, the hand grips are often damaged by the tie-straps during transport. Further, as the supporting forces pull laterally against the motorcycle, the tie-straps commonly slip off the hand grips causing the motorcycle to fall. Also, when the tie-straps slip, movement of the straps relative to the motorcycle&#39;s handle bars commonly results in damages to the mirrors, brake levers, clutch levers, gauges and other relatively delicate apparatus commonly attached to the handle bars proximate the hand grips. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the principle object of the present invention to provide an adjustable hand grip mount, detachably connected to the hand grips of a motorcycle, which when used with tie-straps connected to the hand grip mount will secure the motorcycle to the transportation vehicle in an upright position. 
     Another object of the present invention is to distribute an even supporting force across a maximum area of the hand grips to minimize damage thereto. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable hand grip mount connected to the hand grips in fixed relation thereto, whereby the tie-straps may be connected to the adjustable hand grip mount at a predetermined lateral and vertical distance from the motorcycle&#39;s center of gravity to provide optimal leveraged support of the motorcycle by the tie-straps and adjustable hand grip mount. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to displace the tie-straps from the motorcycle hand grips, mirrors, brake levers, clutch levers, gauges and other relatively delicate apparatus commonly connected to or proximate the motorcycle&#39;s handle bars to minimize the chance of the aforementioned delicate apparatus being inadvertently damaged by the tie-straps. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable hand grip mount which is easily attached to a pair of co-planar hand grips of any motorcycle irrespective of the displacement or angular relation of the hand grips. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to selectively deny access to the motorcycle&#39;s throttle to reduce a potential theft of the motorcycle. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention are accomplished through the use of a telescopic frame member having a tubular right frame member slidably received within a tubular left frame member and having tubular left and right receptacles rotably connected to the left and right frame members respectively, for engaging the hand grips of the motorcycle. The left and right frame members define one or more strap holes at the distal ends thereof for engaging one or more tie-straps connected to the transportation vehicle. A plurality of locking holes are formed by the left and right frame members in longitudinal displacement thereon for receiving a locking device which secures the telescopic frame member at a selected longitudinal extension. Rotational connectors are connected to the telescopic frame and to the receptacles to space the telescopic frame a predetermined distance above the motorcycle. The connectors also facilitate the rotational movement of the receptacles. 
     The rotational movement of the receptacles in combination with the sliding movement of the frame members permits the receptacles to receive any pair of co-planar hand grips irrespective of their displacement or angular relation. Once the hand grips are received within the receptacles, the locking device is inserted within selected locking holes to lock the present invention to the hand grips in fixed relation thereto. 
     The receptacles are tubular and thereby distribute the support forces exerted by the tie-straps evenly across a maximum area of the hand grips. One of the two receptacles encompasses the hand grip used as a throttle and thereby denies access thereto by a would-be thief. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Apparatus embodying features of my invention are depicted in the accompanying drawings which form a portion of this disclosure and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a motorcycle and used to support the motorcycle on a transportation vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to the handle bars of the motorcycle; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along Line 5--5 of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along Line 6--6 of FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing diametrically displaced locking holes having a padlock received therein. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing for a clearer understanding of the invention, it should be noted that the preferred embodiment of the invention is used to secure a motorcycle 1 or other vehicle having hand grips 2 in an upright position on a transportation vehicle 3. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the present invention contemplates the use of a tubular telescopic frame 4 having a tubular left frame member 5 and a tubular right frame member 6 slidably received within the tubular left frame member 5. Strap holes 7 are defined by the left and right frame members 5 and 6 proximate the distal ends thereof for receiving one or more tie-straps 8 which are connected to the transportation vehicle 3. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of rotational connectors 9a and 9b are connected to the left and right frame members 5 and 6, respectively and extend perpendicularly therefrom. The rotational connectors 9a and 9b include a pair of tubular first fittings 10a and 10b respectively, connected to the left and right frame members 5 and 6, respectively, in perpendicular extension therefrom. The rotational connectors 9a and 9b also include a pair of tubular second fittings 11a and 11b, respectively which are rotably connected to the first fittings 10a and 10b, respectively, in coaxial relation thereto. 
     A pair of studs 12a and 12b are threadably connected, at a lower end thereof, to the second fittings 11a and 11b, respectively, and extend therefrom within the first fittings 10a and 10b, respectively in coaxial relation thereto. An upper end of stud 12a extends through a left portal 13, defined by the left frame member 5, and within the interior of the left frame member 5. An upper end of stud 12b extends through a right portal 14, defined by the right frame member 6, and within the interior of the right frame member 6. 
     A pair of nuts 15a and 15b are threadably connected to an upper end of studs 12a and 12b, respectively, to secure the studs 12a and 12b within the telescopic frame 4. Washers 16a and 16b receive studs 12a and 12b, respectively, and are secured thereto by nuts 15a and 15b. The washers 16a and 16b each define a convex lower surface 17a and 17b, respectively, which accommodates planar abutment of the washers 16a and 16b with an interior surface 18 of the telescopic frame 4. The nuts 15a and 15b may be selectively rotated to urge studs 12a and 12b within the telescopic frame 4 to thereby urge the second fittings 11a and 11b against the first fittings 10a and 10b respectively. 
     A tubular left receptacle 19 is connected to the second tubular fitting 11a in perpendicular relation thereto for rotational movement about a rotational axis 20 extending perpendicular to the left frame member 5. A tubular right receptacle 21 is connected to the second fitting 11b in perpendicular relation thereto for rotational movement about a rotational axis 22 extending perpendicular to the right frame member 6. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, one or more left locking holes 23 are defined by the left frame member 5 in longitudinal displacement thereon. One or more right locking holes 24 are defined by the right frame member 6 in longitudinal displacement thereon. A lockpin 25 is received within a selected one of the left locking holes 23 and a selected one of the right lock holes 24 to secure the telescopic frame 4 at a selected longitudinal extension. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, diametric and longitudinal displacement of the locking holes 23 and 24 is contemplated by an alternative embodiment of the present invention. It is contemplated by this invention that any number of locking devices may be used to secure the telescopic frame 4 at a selected longitudinal extension. FIG. 7, shows the use of a padlock 26 received within the diametrically opposed pairs of left and right locking holes 23 and 24. 
     The present invention is used by disengaging the lockpin 25 or padlock 26, depending on the embodiment, from the left and right lock holes 23 and 24 to permit sliding movement of the left and right frame members 5 and 6 to a longitudinal extension which, in combination with the rotation of the left and right receptacles 19 and 21, will facilitate coaxial alignment of the left and right receptacles 19 and 21 with the hand grips 2. The left and right receptacles 19 and 21 are then moved, in conjunction with the sliding inward movement of the left and right frame members 5 and 6, to receive the hand grips 2 within the left and right receptacles 19 and 21. When the hand grips 2 are received within the receptacles 19 and 21, the lockpin 25 or padlock 26, depending on the embodiment, is received within selected ones of the left and right locking holes 23 and 24 to secure the telescopic frame 4 at a longitudinal extension thereby securing the present invention in substantially fixed relation to the hand grips 2. The nuts 15a and 15b may be rotated to urge the second fittings 11a and 11b in tightened abutment with the first fittings 10a and 10b to secure the receptacles 19 and 21 in fixed relation to the telescopic frame 4, thereby better securing the present invention to the hand grips 2 in fixed relation thereto. The tie-straps 28 are passed through the strap holes 7 and knotted or otherwise secured to the telescopic frame 4 using hooks, clips or other connectors (not shown), to secure the motorcycle 1 in an upright position on the transportation vehicle 3. 
     It should be noted that when the present invention is affixed to the hand grips 4 as previously described, access is denied to the hand grips 2 which are commonly used as a throttle control. If the padlock 26 or similar locking device is used to secure the telescopic frame 4, as is shown in FIG. 7, the present invention will act as a significant deterrent to a potential theft of the motorcycle 1 as the motorcycle 1 cannot be accelerated with the present invention attached thereto. 
     While I have shown my invention in two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.