Patent Publication Number: US-2005114977-A1

Title: Thigh heat guard for motorcycle riders

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provision Patent Application No. 60/524,128 filed on Nov. 22, 2003. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARACH  
      Not Applicable  
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
      Not Applicable  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The Thigh Heat Guard provides protection for the human thigh from heat of a motorcycle engine. This invention relates to a light-weight, inexpensive thigh shield, for use by Motorcycle riders for touring, providing no loss of riding stability, and in particular a shield that allows for complete freedom of movement of the leg by providing no constraints within which the leg must remain positioned yet protecting the rider from the heat generated from the engine and road.  
      The Thigh Heat Guard consist of a flexible material in a predetermined shape: and provide a means for forming a protect shield that is wrapped around the thigh. The Thigh Heat Guard further includes straps to secure said invention to the human thigh.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The engine of a motorcycle generates an extreme about of heat. Combined with the heat that the black top of a highway absorbs from the sun, the amount of heat exposure a motorcyclist can experience while riding can be extreme. There is an on going need for bike riders to protect themselves from blisters caused by the heat their skin is exposed to. Since the body of the bike rider is leveraged over the engine, the need arises to protect the inner thigh of the riders from extreme heat. Motorcyclist use many items from chaps, long pants or vented clothing to combat the heat during long rides. These solutions will work for a short distance, but after a long period of time, the pant leg (cotton or fabric) begins to retain the heat and thus exasperates the problem. The Thigh Heat Guard is a lightweight and inexpensive way to protect bike riders. By wrapping the invention around the thigh of the motorcyclist and securing it with stretch VELCRO™, a protective shield is formed. This allows motorcycles to ride much longer without the risk of blisters on their legs.  
      The Thigh Heat Guard allows for complete freedom of movement and it can be easily adjusted or removed. It does not change the look of the motorcycle or modify the bike in anyway. Adjustable VELCRO™ straps allow the Thigh Heat Guard to be custom fit to the individual rider and it can easily be removed when it is not needed.  
     PRIOR ART  
      Other inventors have tried to solve the heat exposure problem by attaching a leg shield directly on to the motorcycle: for example patent #D474,431S Motorcycle Leg Shield. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,890 Combination Leg Shield and Crash Bar for Motorcycles.  
      These methods of protection suffers from a number of disadvantages: 
          A) Cost of mounting the apparatus on to the motorcycle     B) It alters the cosmetic look of the bike     C) It cannot be easily removed when not needed     D) It is not adjustable to accommodate riders of different sizes     E) It cannot be removed or adjusted while the motorcycle is in motion     F) It is more expensive     G) It is not easily transferred for riders with two or more motorcycles        

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, a Thigh Heat Guard having the above characteristics is provided, comprising a predetermined material, such as leather of predetermined shape and size attached to the thigh of the motorcycle rider to block the heat generated from the motorcycle engine and the pavement from the rider&#39;s inner thigh. It is therefore among the objectives of the invention to provide a new lightweight and inexpensive, way to protect motorcyclist. This invention is easily put on and removed, flexible and allows for freedom of movement to the rider during touring.  
      Another object of the present invention is protect the rider without any modification to the motorcycle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The attached drawings help to explain the construction of the Thigh Heat Guard. The Thigh Heat Guard includes a plain, flat and unornamented backside, which is not shown. Said item is thin and flat therefore only a front and rearview are shown in the attached drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is the Thigh Heat Guard laid out flat  
       FIG. 2  shows the form of the Thigh Heat Guard as it would be on a human thigh  
       FIG. 3-5  shows various aspects of the closure mechanism for the Thigh Heat Guard  
       FIG. 6-7  Show views of the Thigh Heat Guard as it appears when worn 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The Thigh Heat Guard consists of flexible, heavy-duty fabric or leather or other materials of a predetermined size in the shape of a trapezoid: that is a quadrilateral that has two parallel sides of unequal length and two non-parallel sides that are the same length. One of the parallel sides is about {fraction (1/16)} th  shorter than the other parallel side. Two straps sewn to the short of the parallel sides of the trapezoid and two additional straps are sewn to the longer, parallel side of the trapezoid.  
      More specifically the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid, hereto referred to as sides A and B are of equal length. The other two sides hereto referred to as sides C and D run parallel to each other, but are not the same size. Side C is about {fraction (1/16)} th  smaller then side D, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  
      Two straps are attached to side C as shown in  FIG. 3 . These two straps are the same predetermined length, made of elastic and have D-rings attached at one end. The first strap attached to side C, hereto referred to, as strap E is sewn about ¼ inch in from the edge of side A and a predetermined distance in from the edge of side C. When said strap is sewn on to the trapezoid, it runs parallel to side A. The elastic is sewn on to the right side of the trapezoid so that a predetermined length of the strap overhangs the trapezoid and a D-ring is attached to the overhanging strap by looping the strap through the D-ring and stitching the strap down at the base of the D-ring. Said D-ring is part the closing mechanism of this invention as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      A second strap attached to side C, hereto referred to as strap F is sewn about ¼ inch in from the edge of side B and a predetermined distance in from the edge of side C.  
      When said strap is sewn it runs parallel to side B, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The elastic is sewn on to the right side of the trapezoid so that a predetermined length of the strap overhangs the trapezoid and a D-ring is attached to that overhanging strap by looping the strap through the D-Ring and stitching the strap down around the base of the D-ring. Said D-ring is part the closing mechanism of this invention as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , two additional straps are attached face up to side D. The first strap attached to side D, hereto referred to as strap G, is a predetermined length and made of elasticized VELCRO™. About ¾ of this strap is made up of a male strip of VELCRO™ and about ¼ is the female strip of VELCRO™. One end of the male strip of elasticized VELCRO™ and one of end of the female strip of elasticized VELCRO™ are overlapped a predetermined length and are sewn together right side up, so that they form a long, continuous strap. Strap G is sewn right side up to the right side of the trapezoid. It is attached to side D about ¼ of an inch in from side A and a predetermined length in from the edge of side D. Strap G runs parallel to side A. The tip of strap G may be tapered for style value.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second strap is attached to side D, hereto referred to has strap H is about ⅓ longer than strap G and is made of elasticized VELCRO™. About ¾ of this strap is made up of a male strip of VELCRO™ and about ¼ is a female strip of VELCRO™. One end of the male strip of elasticized VELCRO™ and one of end of the female strip of elasticized VELCRO™ are overlapped a predetermined length and are sewn together right side up, so that they form a long, continuous strap. Strap H is sewn right side up to the right side of the trapezoid. Strap H is sewn about ¼ inch in from the edge of side B and a predetermined distance in from the edge of side D. When said strap is sewn on to the trapezoid, it runs parallel to side B. The tip of strap H may be tapered for style value.  
      The results claimed hereto in this Specification are accomplished by placing the edge of side C on the top of the front of the rider&#39;s thigh. If placed correctly, side C should run parallel with the leg itself. Sides A and B should wrap around the inner thigh. If sides C, A and B are positioned correctly, side D should be positioned at the middle of the back of the thigh and run parallel with the leg. When correctly fitted to the riders, sides C and D lay parallel with the leg itself. Sides A and B run parallel to the ground. This invention is secured to the leg by wrapping strap G around the back of the thigh and sliding the tip into the D-ring of strap E. Then tug slightly on strap G and lay the strap back over itself. Secured by pressing down to “lock” the male and female Velcro™ together. This is repeated with strap H and D-ring F. This forms a protective shield around the rider&#39;s inner thigh as shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . To adjust the fit, simply lift the VELCRO™ strap, pull the strap away from the base and refit.  
     OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES  
      Accordingly, the objectives and advantages of the Thigh Heat Guard are: 
          a) provides protection for the motorcyclist&#39;s inner thigh from exposure to the heat of the engine     b) provides protection without modifying the look of the bike     c) easily adjust to any body type     d) requires no mounting of any kind to the motorcycle     e) lightweight     f) easily adjusts while riding and easily removable     g) inexpensive