Patent Publication Number: US-2023146559-A1

Title: Motorcycle loader

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/043231 filed on Jul. 26, 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/059,645 filed Jul. 31, 2020, titled “MOTORCYCLE LOADER,” which national phase application and provisional patent application in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to devices and methods for loading motorcycles onto a transport vehicle or other elevated location. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Motorcyclists find it challenging and stressful to load their motorcycles onto to a transport vehicle, such as a truck, van trailer, and the like, without causing damage to the motorcycle or causing injury to themselves, especially after a hard day of riding. Generally, due to the weight of the motorcycle, multiple people are required to push the motorcycle up a ramp. Most motorcyclists, however, would rather not have assistance from others because others may either push too much or not enough, which could create danger to any one of those pushing on the motorcycle. In addition, others do not care as much for the motorcycle as the owner, and therefore, others may not be paying as close attention to what they are pushing on. If they push on a fragile component on the motorcycle, the motorcycle can be damaged. At times, there may not be anybody else around to help. In some instances, as in the pandemic of 2020-2021, social distancing rules may prevent others from helping. 
     Alternative methods of loading a motorcycle onto a transport vehicle, such as backing the transport vehicle to a slope that would reduce the ramp angle, elaborate rigs with ATV winches, and elaborate winch systems that use a trolley with a very heavy ramp, or riding the motorcycle up the ramp are dangerous or end up being more work and requiring planning. 
     For the foregoing reasons there is a need for an easy to use device that can quickly, efficiently, and safely load a motorcycle onto a transport vehicle or some other elevated surface without requiring elaborate winch systems, lifts, or pre-planning. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a motorcycle loader to facilitate the safe, efficient, and easy loading of a motorcycle onto an elevated surface, such as a transport vehicle, trailer, elevated ground, and the like, by a single person using the components of the motorcycle and the leverage of the rear wheel. The motorcycle loader of the present invention can be used with existing loading accessories, such as standard ramps. This motorcycle loader is designed to provide the additional push needed to get the motorcycle up the ramp. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows an embodiment of the present invention being used to load a motorcycle onto a transport vehicle; 
         FIG.  2    shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention installed on a motorcycle; and 
         FIG.  4    shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention installed on a motorcycle. 
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Directional terms, such as above, below, front, back, and the like are used to describe position of components of the invention when the invention is properly installed on a motorcycle, with the front direction being towards the front wheel of the motorcycle and the back direction being towards the back wheel of the motorcycle. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 - 2   , the invention of the present application is a device for loading motorcycles  10  onto an elevated surface  12 , such as a transport vehicle  14 , utilizing a friction wheel  102  to drive one of the tires  16  of a motorcycle  10  to facilitate movement of the motorcycle  10  while the user guides the motorcycle  10  up a ramp  18  onto the elevated surface. A friction wheel  102  can be any type of circular, cylindrical, spherical, or otherwise rotating device or mechanism, a conveyor system, and the like, in which the rotational movement of the friction wheel  102  is transferred to the motorcycle tire  16  using frictional forces. For example, the friction wheel  102  can be a rubberized wheel, a concave shaped wheel, a track, a belt (such as a conveyor belt), and the like. As such, the user does not have to exert significant energy pushing a motorcycle  10  weighing hundreds of pounds up a ramp  18 , or even attempting to ride the motorcycle up the ramp  18 , both of which would pose significant danger to the user and risk damage to the motorcycle. 
     The motorcycle loader  100  can further comprise a motor  103  operatively connected to the friction wheel  102  to drive the friction wheel  102 . The motor  103  can be an electric motor, such as a 12 volt variable speed electric motor. The motor  103  can have motor wires  105  extending therefrom to connect to a power source  20 , such as a battery, directly or via a controller  104 . In the preferred embodiment, the friction wheel motor  103  is connected to the controller  104 , and the controller  104  can be connected to the power source  20  via controller wires  106 . The power source  20  can be the battery of the motorcycle  10 . As such, the motorcycle loader  100  does not need its own power source. By way of example only, the motorcycle  10  may be equipped with a battery tender lead  22 , such as a 2-pin SAE connector cable attached to the battery of the motorcycle  10  as shown in  FIG.  3   . The controller wires  106  can be configured to connect with the battery tender lead  22 . 
     In some embodiments, the power source  20  can be a separate battery that can be mounted on the motorcycle loader  100  as shown in  FIG.  4   . In some embodiments, the controller wires  106  can be configured to connect to an AC outlet. 
     The motorcycle loader  100  can further comprise a switch  108  operatively connect to the friction wheel motor  103 . The switch  108  can comprise one or more actuators to turn the friction wheel motor  103  on, turn the friction wheel motor  103  off, change or set the direction of rotation of the friction wheel  102  (e.g., run the friction wheel  102  in the forward direction or the reverse direction), and/or change the speed of rotation the friction wheel  102 . As such, the switch  108  can control the direction of movement of the motorcycle  10  as well as the speed of movement of the motorcycle  10 . The switch  108  can be connected to the friction wheel motor  103  via the controller  104  via wires or the switch  108  can be wirelessly connected to the controller  104 . In the preferred embodiment, the switch  108  can be a momentary switch; however, other types of switches  108  are suitable, such as toggles, sliders, push-buttons, and the like. The switch  108  can be connected to a holder  109 . The holder  109  can be used to hold the switch in the user&#39;s hand or to mount the switch  108  onto the motorcycle  10 . For example, the holder  109  can be a clip, a band, a strap, a ring, a hook, and the like. Preferably, the holder  109  mounts the switch  108  to the handles of the motorcycle  10 . Mounting the switch  108  on the handles of the motorcycle  10  allows the user to guide the motorcycle  10  while actuating the friction wheel  102 . 
     The motorcycle loader  100  can further comprise a frame  110  to connect the friction wheel  102  to the motorcycle  10 . As such, the friction wheel  102  can be mounted on the frame  110 , and the frame  110  mounted on the motorcycle  10 . The friction wheel  102  can be mounted on the front tire  16   a  or the rear tire  16   b  of the motorcycle  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the friction wheel  102  is mounted on the rear tire  16   b  of the motorcycle  10 . 
     The frame  110  is configured to press the friction wheel  102  against the tire  16  of the motorcycle  10  with sufficient force that the friction between the friction wheel  102  and the motorcycle tire  16  is sufficiently high enough that rotation of the friction wheel  102  causes rotation of the motorcycle tire  16  when the motorcycle  10  is off or in neutral. 
     As best seen if  FIGS.  2  and  4   , in the preferred embodiment, the frame  110  is a U-shaped bar having a proximal end  112  and a distal end  114  opposite the proximal end  112 . The U-shaped bar comprises a base bar  116  at the proximal end, the base bar  116  defining a first end  118  and a second end  120  opposite the first end  118 . A first arm  122  can extend from the first end  118  towards the distal end  114 . A second arm  124  can extend from the second end  120  towards the distal end  114 . The friction wheel  102  can be mounted to the frame  110  at the proximal end  112 . With this arrangement, the frame  110  can be mounted on sturdy components of the motorcycle  10  with the friction wheel  102  mounted on the tire  16  of the motorcycle  10  with sufficient pressure between the friction wheel  102  and the tire  16  of the motorcycle  10  such that rotation of the friction wheel  102  causes rotation of the tire  16  of the motorcycle  10 . 
     Although the friction wheel  102  can make contact with any exposed portion of the tire  16  of the motorcycle  10 , in the preferred embodiment, the friction wheel  102  is mounted on the upper half of the tire  16  of the motorcycle  10  to facilitate installation of the motorcycle loader  100  on the motorcycle  10 . 
     To hold the friction wheel  102  in place on the motorcycle tire  16 , the frame  110  preferably has four mounting points to connect to the motorcycle  10 . Although four mounts are preferred, the frame  110  can have two mounts, three mounts, or more than four mounts. The mounts are strategically placed to hold the friction wheel  102  in a fixed position relative to the motorcycle tire  16  so that when the friction wheel  102  is activated, the friction wheel  102  does not travel along the motorcycle tire  16 , but rather, maintains a fixed translational position, thereby causing rotation of the motorcycle tire  16  to which the friction wheel  102  is mounted. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the first arm  122  comprises a first front mount  126 , and a first back mount  128  in between the first front mount  126  and the proximal end  112 . The second arm  124  comprises a second front mount  130 , and a second back mount  132  in between the second front mount  130  and the proximal end  112 . In the preferred embodiment, the first front mount  126  and the second front mount  130  can be configured to connect to the foot pegs  24  (also known as footrests) of the motorcycle  10 . The first back mount  128  and the second back mount  132  are configured to connect to the motorcycle adjacent to the rear tire  16   b  of the motorcycle  10 . For example, many motorcycles  10  are equipped with swingarms that are configured to receive and hold spools  26  (also known as swingarm spools when associated with swingarms). As such, the first back mount  128  and the second back mount  132  can be configured to mount to the rear spools  26  located adjacent to the rear tire  16   b . In some embodiments, the spools  26  can be connected to other sturdy components of the motorcycle  10 . Alternatively, the first back mount  128  and the second back mount  132  can be configured to connect to the wheel axle  28  (i.e. the nut or bolt fastening the axle to the wheel, or any accessory attached thereto). 
     To mount the friction wheel  102  on the upper half of the motorcycle tire, the proximal end  112  of the frame  110  can be positioned above at least the first and second back mounts  128 ,  132  when the motorcycle loader  100  is properly installed on the motorcycle. Preferably, the friction wheel  102  is positioned above the first and second front mounts  126 ,  130  as well when properly installed on the motorcycle  10 . For example, the first and second arms  122 ,  124  can bend upwardly moving from the distal end  114  to the proximal end  112  as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . With the friction wheel  102  mounted on the proximal end  112 , the friction wheel  102  is above the mounts  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3   , the mounts  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  can be placed on extension bars  134 ,  136 . For example, the first front mount  126  can be connected to the first arm  122  by a first front extension bar  134 . The first back mount  128  can be connected to the first arm  122  by a first back extension bar  136 . The second front mount  130  can be connected to the second arm  124  by a second front extension bar (not shown but essentially the same as extension bar  134 ). The second back mount  132  can be connected to the second arm  124  by a second back extension bar (not shown but essentially the same as extension bar  136 ). The extension bars  134 ,  136  can project downwardly from their respective arms  122 ,  124 . As such, when mounted on the motorcycle, the extension bars  134 ,  136  essentially elevate the arms  122 ,  124  and the friction wheel  102  above the mounting point. 
     The mounts  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  can be any configuration that restricts movement of the arms  122 ,  124  in one or more directions. By way of example only, the mounts  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  can be at type of slot, such as a fork, a hook, a dropout, a ring, a clamp, and the like, that can slide onto a sturdy projection from the motorcycle  10 . The mounts  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  can also be a type of projection, such as pegs, studs, rivets, dowels, and the like, that can be inserted into a hole in one of the components of the motorcycle  10 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the first front mount  126  and the second front mount  130  can be a clamp configured to be secured on to the foortrest  24  of the motorcycle  10 . The clamp can have a liner  142  to protect the foot peg  24  from scratches, dents, dings, or other form of damage from the clamping action. For example the liner  142  can be fabric, rubber, plastic, cork, and the like. In the preferred embodiment, the liner  142  is UHMW plastic. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , to facilitate installation, the motorcycle loader  100  can have a handle  150  connected to the frame  110 . Preferably, the handle  150  is connected to the frame  110  at the proximal end  112  as the proximal end  112  is where the friction wheel  102  is mounted and is therefore, the heaviest portion of the motorcycle loader  100 . The handle  150  can be a crossbar  152  connecting the first arm  122  and the second arm  124 . Alternatively, the handle  150  can be mounted on the crossbar  152 . 
     To function properly, the friction wheel  102  must apply enough force on the motorcycle tire  16  such that rotation of the friction wheel  102  causes rotation of the motorcycle tire  16 . In the preferred embodiment, to facilitate proper contact between the friction wheel  102  and the motorcycle tire  16 , the motorcycle loader  100  can have a clamp  160  operatively connected to the friction wheel  102 . The clamp  160  can be configured to cause the friction wheel  102  to engage the motorcycle tire  16  to cause the motorcycle tire  16  to move with the friction wheel  102 , or disengage the motorcycle tire  24  such that activation of the friction wheel  102  does not cause any movement of the motorcycle tire  16 . As such, the clamp  160  can have an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position, the friction wheel  102  is moved in a forward position towards the distal end  114  of the frame  110 , and in the disengaged position, the friction wheel  102  is moved in a rearward position towards the proximal end  112  of the frame  110 . As such, when the frame  110  is mounted on the motorcycle  10 , the friction wheel  102  can have no contact or loose contact with the tire  16  of the motorcycle. When the clamp  160  is engaged, then the friction wheel  102  can have a tight contact with the motorcycle tire  16  to cause the motorcycle tire  16  to rotate when the friction wheel  102  rotates. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp  160  is a toggle clamp; however, other types of clamps can be used such as screwing clamps, spring-loaded clamps, sliding clamps, and the like. 
     With these basic principles, many variations have also been contemplated and fall under the scope of this invention. For example, as motorcycles  10  come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the frame  110  can be tailored for specific motorcycles  10 . Alternatively, the frame  110  can be made adjustable to accommodate the different shapes and sizes of motorcycles  10 . For example, the first arm  122  and second arm  124  can be telescoping arms that can lock in place at various lengths. Similarly, the base bar  116  can be made telescoping that can lock in place at various widths. In some embodiments, the mounts  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  can be made moveable along their respective arms  122 ,  124  and locked into place to fit foot pegs  24 , spools  26 , and axles  28  at different positions. 
     In some embodiments, the frame  110  can utilize three mounts. For example, the first arm  122  can be connected adjacent to the rear wheel  16   b  of the motorcycle  10  on one side, and the second arm  124  can be connected adjacent to the rear wheel  16   b  of the motorcycle  10  on the opposite side. A third arm can project from the proximal end  112  of the frame  110  towards the distal end  114  in between the first arm  122  and the second arm  124 , such that the third arm can connect to the seat or other centrally located, sturdy component of the motorcycle  10 . 
     In some instances, the top half of the motorcycle tire  16  can be covered by a fender making it inconvenient to mount the friction wheel  102  on the upper half of the motorcycle tire  16 . As such, the frame  110  of the motorcycle loader  100  can be configured to mount the friction wheel  102  on the lower half of the motorcycle tire  16 . In some embodiments, the proximal end  112  of the frame  110  can be made adjustable so that the friction wheel  102  can be raised or lowered as necessary. For example, the proximal end  112  may be connected to the first arm  122  and second arm  124  by a joint. 
     The preferred embodiment of the motorcycle loader  100  can be used by connecting the first back mount  128  to the motorcycle  10  adjacent to a rear wheel  16   b  of the motorcycle  10  on a first side, connecting the second back mount  132  to the motorcycle  10  adjacent to the rear wheel  16   b  of the motorcycle  10  on a second side, connecting the first front mount  126  to the motorcycle  10  on the first side, connecting the second front mount  130  to the motorcycle  10  on the second side, clamping the friction wheel  102  against the rear tire  16   b  of the motorcycle  10  using a first clamp  160 , connecting the controller wire  106  to a power source  20 , actuating the motor  103  of the motorcycle loader  100  with the switch  108  to drive the friction wheel  102  to drive the rear wheel  16   b  of the motorcycle  10 , and guiding the motorcycle  10  up a ramp  18  connected to the elevated surface  12 , whereby the motorcycle  10  is loaded onto the elevated surface  12 . Prior to actuating the switch  108 , the user can set the desired direction and speed of the friction wheel. 
     Preferably, the controller wire  106  is connected to the battery of the motorcycle  10  as the power source  20 . This eliminates the need to carry an external battery power source  20 . In some embodiments, however, an external power source  20 , such as a battery, can be mounted on the frame  110  to power the motorcycle loader  10 . 
     Preferably, first front mount  126  is connected to a first foot peg  24  on the first side of the motorcycle  10 ; and the second front mount  130  is connected to a second foot peg  24  on the second side of the motorcycle  10 . 
     Preferably, the first back mount  128  is connected to a first rear spool  26  on the first side of the motorcycle  10 , and the second back mount  132  is connected to a second rear spool  26  on the second side of the motorcycle  10 . 
     In further embodiments, the first arm  122  and second arm  124 , the mounts  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 , and/or the proximal end  112  of the frame  110  can be adjusted to properly fit the motorcycle. 
     The installation steps are not limiting, as any of a variety of steps described above can be performed in any sequence. Due to the weight being on the proximal end  112  of the frame  110 , it is likely easiest to mount the back mounts  128 ,  132  first. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto. As such, figures showing specific embodiments does not mean the invention is limited to the exact embodiment shown. Figures show examples of how different features of the invention can be combined, but the features can be combined in other ways that may not necessarily be shown in the figures. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     This invention may be industrially applied to the development, manufacture, and use of a motorcycle loader  100  that attaches to a motorcycle  10  and uses a friction wheel  102  to drive the motorcycle wheel  16  to facilitate movement of the motorcycle  10 , particularly, up a ramp  18  to an elevated surface  12 . The motorcycle loader  100  attaches to the motorcycle  10  with a frame  110  that connects to sturdy components of the motorcycle  10 , such as the foot peg  24 , spool  26 , or axle  28 . The motorcycle loader  100  has a motor  103  operatively connected to the friction wheel  102 , and a controller  104  operatively connected to the motor  103 , wherein the controller  104  is configured to connect to the battery of the motorcycle  10  to power the motor  103  of the motorcycle loader  100 .