Patent Publication Number: US-2007120343-A1

Title: Lighted footrest for motorcycle

Description:
This application claims priority from under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/739,384, filed Nov. 25, 2005, entitled: “MOTORCYCLE FOOTPEG WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LED LIGHTS WITH ALTERNATE MOUNTING ADAPTOR,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      The present invention relates to lighted footrests and foot pegs for motorcycles.  
      Various lighted footrests and foot pegs with reflectors are available in the prior art. However, they shine light only in a single direction, such as only in a downward direction. It is desirable to provide a lighted footrest with additional lighting capability. It is also desirable to provide side-directed lighting on motorcycles, making the motorcycles more visible from a side and hence providing increased safety. Additionally, it is noted that the visual “signature” and appearance of a motorcycle is often very important to bike owners.  
      Thus, a system having the aforementioned advantages and solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      In one aspect of the present invention, an illuminated footrest for a motorcycle includes a base having an apertured flange on one end for connection to a mounting bracket, the base also including a cavity, at least one side opening and an end opening. A side lens and an end lens cover the at least one side opening and the end opening, respectively. An illumination source is positioned in the cavity and illuminates the side lens and the end lens.  
      In another aspect of the present invention, an illuminated footrest for a motorcycle includes a base having a configured aperture in one end, the base including a cavity and at least one opening extending from the cavity. A lens covers the at least one opening. An illumination source is positioned in the cavity for illuminating the lens. A pair of adapters is provided, each with a first portion shaped to matably engage the configured aperture and a second portion shaped to engage a different standard motorcycle footrest mount for mounting the footrest to a particular style motorcycle.  
      These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a footrest embodying the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the footrest in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 2A  is an exploded view of a modified footrest similar to  FIG. 2 .  
       FIGS. 2B and 2C  are exploded side views of a second modified footrest. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The present footrest  9  (also called “foot peg”) of the instant invention attaches with a standard mounting bracket to motorcycles, and is manufactured the same as standard footrests so the protruding end will fit a standard mounting bracket. The footrest  9  ( FIG. 1 ) includes a base  10  having crisscross grooves on its exterior for non-slip support to a user&#39;s boot. The illustrated footrest  9  has a cylindrical cross-sectional shape, but it is contemplated that the present inventive concepts will also work with other shaped footrests, such as foot rests having a rectangular or square cross section. A mounting bracket hole  12  is formed in a coaxially-extending mounting flange  12 A at one end for pivotal mounting to a motorcycle. The footrest  9  includes an end lens  24  at the other end and a side lens  34 , and includes internal LEDs to light up the lenses  24  and  34 , creating a distinctive and useful pattern of light around the motorcycle.  
      The base  10  includes a cavity  16  that allows a lighted circuit board  36  to be mounted inside with a ring-shaped spacer  32 , a screw  29  and a threaded hole  30 . The illustrated space  32  is made of metal and acts as an electrical ground. Cavity  16  provides an opening through an end of the base  10 , with the opening defining a first annular recess for receiving the round end lens  24  and a spiral retaining ring  26  (also called a snap ring). The end lens  24  is recessed into the end of the base  10  in a flush and partially protected position. The cavity  16  further provides an opening in a side of the base  10 , with the opening defining a pocket for lens  34 , and threaded holes  18  for attachment screws  17 . The lens  34  fits into the pocket so that it is substantially flush with (or slightly raised from) a continuing exterior surface of the base  10 . A hole  28  extends from cavity  16  to an area adjacent the base of flange  12 A for an electrical wire extending from the lighted circuit board  36  to a power source on the motorcycle. The illustrated circuit board  36  includes a plurality of LEDs  36 A for lighting the side lens  34 , and at least one LED  36 A facing toward an end of the footrest  9  for lighting the end lens  24 . It is noted that the end-facing LED can be mounted to a perpendicularly extending portion of the circuit board  36 , or that the end-facing LED can be mounted on a flat portion of the circuit board  36  but oriented to shine toward the end opening.  
      Notably, the base  10  can be modified (see  FIG. 2A ) to include additional or other attachment structure. For example, the base in  FIG. 2A  includes a pair of the threaded holes  18  for receiving a pair of attachment screws  17  and a pair of the spacers  32 . Also, it is noted that the spacer can be made of any suitable material, or can be formed as an integral protruding surface on the base  10  in the cavity  16 .  
      It is contemplated that the base can be further modified ( FIGS. 2B-2C ) by replacing the apertured integral flange on the end of the base  10  (which is adapted for a Harley Davidson motorcycle) with an adapter  50 . In  FIG. 2B , the end of the base  10 A is cut away to include a hole  45  with a first portion  46  of constant diameter size and a second frustoconically-shaped portion  47 . The adapter  50  includes a stem  51  that matably engages the portions  46  and  47 , and further includes a mounting flange  12 A with mounting bracket hole  12  and structure for mounting to a motorcycle. Notably, the flange  12 A can be replaced with any hole and structure required for mounting to different motorcycles. An end of the stem  51  includes a threaded hole  53 , and an axial screw (not shown) is threaded from the inside of the cavity  16  into the threaded hole  53  to secure the adapter  50  to the base  10 A. A set screw hole  54  is formed in the base  10 A for receiving a set screw to secure the axial screw in position, and to secure the adapter  50  stably and durably to the footrest. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the screw hole  54  can be positioned so that its screw (or a friction-retained stud) engages a recess in a side of the portion  46 , thus locking the adapter  50  in its installed position.  
      It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.