Patent Publication Number: US-2019184947-A1

Title: Motorcycle cleaning towel

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates cleaning implements and, more specifically, to a towel configured to facilitate the cleaning of motorcycle fairings and windshields 
     As appreciated by motorcycle riders, bugs, dirt, and road grime that accumulate on motorcycle fairings and windshields during a ride can be extremely difficult to remove. While a variety of special cleaners are available to assist in the cleaning process, many of these cleaners are relatively harsh, and may discolor the windshield or damage the finish of the fairing when used repeatedly over time. These cleaners often also require vigorous scrubbing of the fairing and windshield with a towel or cloth to be effective, which can lead to unsightly scratching or swirl marks in the windshield or finish of the fairing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some aspects, a towel for washing a motorcycle is provided and is configured to at least partially cover forwardly facing surfaces of a motorcycle windshield and a motorcycle fairing. The towel includes an upper portion configured to overlie at least a portion of the motorcycle windshield. The upper portion defines an upper pocket configured to receive the motorcycle windshield. The towel also includes a lower portion configured to overlie at least a portion of the motorcycle fairing. The lower portion defines a left side pocket configured to receive a left side portion of the motorcycle fairing, and a right side pocket configured to receive a right side portion of the motorcycle fairing. The lower portion further defines a lower edge having a lower edge profile that substantially corresponds to a lower boundary of the motorcycle fairing when the upper pocket receives the motorcycle windshield, the left side pocket receives the left side portion of the motorcycle fairing, and the right side pocket receives the right side portion of the motorcycle fairing. 
     The upper pocket may define a pocket depth and a pocket width, and the pocket width may be at least three times greater than the pocket depth. The towel may define a height direction extending generally between the upper pocket and the lower edge. The left side pocket and the right side pocket may each define a side pocket upper edge, the upper pocket may define an upper pocket lower edge, and the upper pocket lower edge may be spaced in the height direction from the side pocket upper edges. The upper pocket may define an upper pocket depth, and the upper pocket lower edge may be spaced in the height direction from the side pocket upper edges by a distance that is at least two times the upper pocket depth. The upper portion may be formed separately from the lower portion. The towel may further include a seam extending generally between the left side pocket and the right side pocket and joining the upper portion to the lower portion. The upper portion may include an upper edge having a first end and a second end. The first end may be substantially adjacent to an inner upper corner of the left side pocket, and the second end may be substantially adjacent to an inner upper corner of the right side pocket. The lower edge profile may be substantially W-shaped. The lower portion may be defined by a lower panel. Each side pocket may include an upper pocket edge joined to the lower panel, an outer pocket edge joined to the lower panel, an inner pocket edge that is not joined to the lower panel, and a lower pocket edge that is not joined to the lower panel. Each side pocket may be closed in upward and outward directions and opened in inward and downward directions. 
     In other aspects, a method of washing a motorcycle is provided and includes providing a towel having an upper portion defining an upper pocket, and a lower portion defining a first side pocket and a second side pocket. The second side pocket is positioned substantially opposite the first side pocket. The towel is soaked in a cleaning solution and an upper portion of the motorcycle is inserted into the upper pocket. A first side portion of the motorcycle is inserted into the first side pocket, and a second side portion of the motorcycle that is positioned substantially opposite the first side portion is inserted into the second side pocket to thereby support the towel from the motorcycle with the towel positioned to contact forwardly facing surfaces of the motorcycle. 
     Time may be allowed to pass while the cleaning solution softens debris on the forwardly facing surfaces. The towel may be removed from the motorcycle, and the towel may be used to scrub the forwardly facing surfaces. The motorcycle may include a windshield, and inserting the upper portion of the motorcycle into the upper pocket may include inserting at least a portion of the windshield into the upper pocket. The motorcycle may include a fairing, and inserting the first side portion of the motorcycle into the first side pocket may include inserting a first side portion of the fairing into the first side pocket, and inserting the second side portion of the motorcycle into the second side pocket may include inserting a second side portion of the fairing into the second side pocket. The fairing may have a lower boundary and the lower portion may include a lower edge having a lower edge profile. The method may further include substantially aligning the lower edge profile to the lower boundary in response to inserting the upper portion of the motorcycle into the upper pocket, inserting the first side portion of the motorcycle into the first side pocket, and inserting the second side portion of the motorcycle into the second side pocket. 
     In other aspects, a towel for washing a motorcycle is provided and is configured to at least partially cover forwardly facing surfaces of a motorcycle windshield and a motorcycle fairing. The towel includes an upper portion configured to overlie at least a portion of the motorcycle windshield and including an upper edge having a first end and a second end. The upper portion defines an upper pocket configured to receive the motorcycle windshield. A lower portion of the towel is configured to overlie at least a portion of the motorcycle fairing. The lower portion defines a left side pocket configured to receive a left side portion of the motorcycle fairing, and a right side pocket configured to receive a right side portion of the motorcycle fairing. The first end of the upper edge is substantially adjacent to an inner upper corner of the left side pocket, and the second end of the upper edge is substantially adjacent to an inner upper corner of the right side pocket. 
     The lower portion may define a lower edge having a lower edge profile that substantially corresponds to a lower boundary of the motorcycle fairing when the upper pocket receives the motorcycle windshield, the left side pocket receives the left side portion of the motorcycle fairing, and the right side pocket receives the right side portion of the motorcycle fairing. The upper pocket may define a pocket depth and a pocket width, and the pocket width may be at least three times greater than the pocket depth. The lower portion may be defined by a lower panel, and each side pocket may include an upper pocket edge joined to the lower panel, an outer pocket edge joined to the lower panel, an inner pocket edge that is not joined to the lower panel, and a lower pocket edge that is not joined to the lower panel. Each side pocket may be closed in upward and outward directions and opened in inward and downward directions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is front perspective view of a portion of a motorcycle with an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning towel draped over the motorcycle windshield and fairing. 
         FIG. 2  is rear perspective view of the fairing and handlebar area of the motorcycle illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the cleaning towel draped over the motorcycle windshield and fairing. 
         FIG. 3  is side perspective view of the fairing and handlebar area of the motorcycle illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the cleaning towel draped over the motorcycle windshield and fairing. 
         FIG. 4  is a back view of the cleaning towel illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a cleaning towel  10  for a motorcycle. In  FIGS. 1-3 , the cleaning towel  10  is draped over and covering forwardly facing surfaces of a combination fairing  14  and windshield  18  of a motorcycle. In the illustrated example, the cleaning towel  10  is configured, in the manner described further below, to fit over the fairing  14  and windshield  18  of a Harley-Davidson® brand motorcycle having what is often referred as a “Batwing” style fairing  14 . It should be appreciated, however, the that teachings and insights provided herein may also be applied by those skilled in the art to design, develop, and use alternative embodiments of cleaning towels  10  for use with other brands of motorcycle and other styles of fairings, including sportbike fairings, enduro fairings, café fairings, and the like. Moreover, while the illustrated towel  10  is configured to cover substantially all of the forwardly facing surfaces of the fairing  14  and windshield  18 , alternative designs may not necessarily cover all such forwardly facing surfaces and in that regard may only partially cover such forwardly facing surfaces. 
     The illustrated towel  10  includes an upper portion  22  configured to overlie at least a portion of the motorcycle windshield  18 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper portion  22  defines an upper pocket  26  that is configured to receive the upper-most portion of the motorcycle windshield  18 . The upper portion  22  is defined by an upper panel  30  of material. The upper pocket  26  in the illustrated example is formed by folding the upper panel  30  in a rearward direction (with respect to the orientation of the towel  10  when positioned on a motorcycle) to define a folded portion  34  ( FIGS. 2-3 ) and an unfolded portion  38  ( FIG. 1 ) of the upper panel  30 , and then stitching or otherwise securing the folded portion  34  to the unfolded portion  38  to define the upper pocket  26 . In the illustrated configuration, a centrally located dart  42  is provided to help contour the upper pocket  26  shape to the curved upper edge of the windshield  18 . 
     The illustrated towel  10  also includes a lower portion  46  configured to overlie at least a portion of the motorcycle fairing  14 . The lower portion has a lower edge  48  defining a lower edge profile that substantially corresponds to a lower boundary of the motorcycle fairing  14  when the towel  10  is draped over the windshield  18  and fairing. Although the illustrated configuration does not extend to cover the motorcycle headlight (see  FIG. 1 ), other embodiments may be provided with a lower edge profile and/or an additional panel of material to cover the motorcycle headlight to facilitate cleaning thereof in the manner described below with respect to the fairing  14  and windshield. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the lower portion  46  defines a first/left side pocket  50  that is configured to receive a first/left side portion  54  of the motorcycle fairing  14 , and a second/right side pocket  58  substantially opposite the left side pocket  50  and configured to receive a second/right side portion  62  of the motorcycle fairing  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lower portion  46  is formed separately from the upper portion  22  and is defined by a lower panel  66  of material that may or may not be the same as the material used in the upper panel  30 . As shown, the upper portion  22  and the lower portion  46  may be joined to one another by a seam  70  that extends generally between the left side pocket  50  and the right side pocket  58 . The material used in one or both of the upper portion  22  and the lower portion  46  may be or include terry-cloth, chamois, micro-fiber, or any other fabric suitable for use in the cleaning of automotive-grade finishes. 
     Depending on the specific configuration, the left side pocket  50  and the right side pocket  58  may be formed, for example, by cutting the lower panel  66  to create a desired shape of side pocket panels  74  and then folding the side pocket panels  74  to form the left and right side pockets  50 ,  58 . Alternatively, the left and right side pockets  50 ,  58  may be formed by individually cutting out separate side pocket panels  74  and sewing or otherwise securing the side pocket panels  74  to the lower panel  66  to define the left and right side pockets  50 ,  58 . 
     In the illustrated example, each side pocket  50 ,  58  is formed to include an upper pocket edge  78  that is joined to the lower panel  66  and an outer pocket edge  82  that is joined to the lower panel  66 . Each side pocket  50 ,  58  is also formed to include an inner pocket edge  86  that is not joined to the lower panel  66 , and a lower pocket edge  90  that is also not joined to the lower panel  66 . In alternative embodiments, one or both of the side pockets  50 ,  58  may be provided with a single inner-lower edge  94  (see dashed line in  FIG. 4 ) that extends generally diagonally between the upper pocket edge  78  and the outer pocket edge  82 . In either case (separate inner pocket edge  86  and lower pocket edge  90  or single inner-lower edge  94 ), each side pocket  50 ,  58  is configured such that it is closed in the upward and outward directions and opened in the inward and downward directions. In the illustrated embodiments this is achieved by having the side pocket panel  74  attached to the lower panel  66  at the upward and outward extremities of the side pocket panel  74 , and not attached to the lower panel  66  at the inward and downward extremities of the side pocket panel  74 . Having the pockets  50 ,  58  configured in this manner may facilitate inserting the left side portion  54  of the motorcycle fairing  14  into the left side pocket  50  and inserting the right side portion  62  of the motorcycle fairing  14  into the right side pocket  58 , as discussed further below. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize the side pockets  50 ,  58  can be formed in many ways. For example, the upper pocket edge  78 , the outer pocket edge  82 , or both may be formed by appropriate cutting, folding, and/or stitching of the lower panel  66  and/or the side pocket panel. The upper pocket edge  78 , outer pocket edge  82 , inner pocket edge  86 , lower pocket edge  90 , and/or the single inner-lower edge  94  may be straight, curved, or combinations of straight and curved sections. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , which shows the towel  10  positioned on a substantially flat surface, the towel  10  defines a height direction H extending generally between the upper pocket  26  and the lower edge  48  of the lower portion  46 . The upper pocket  26  defines an upper pocket lower edge  102 , and the upper pocket lower edge  102  is spaced in the height direction from the upper pocket edges  78 . In alternative embodiments, the spacing in the height direction of the upper pocket lower edge  102  and the upper pocket edges  78  may be adjusted to accommodate windshields  18  of varying heights. For example, the windshields  18  of the illustrated Batwing style motorcycle fairing  14  are known to come in  3  heights. The embodiment shown in solid lines in  FIG. 4  is configured for the tallest of these windshields while the dashed line  22   a  in  FIG. 4  depicts the general outline of the upper portion  22  for the shortest of these windshields  18 . The medium height windshield will be accommodated by upper portion  22  having an upper pocket  26  located generally between the solid line and dashed line depictions shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring again to the illustrated embodiment, the upper pocket  26  defines an upper pocket depth D 1  and an upper pocket width W 1 , and the pocket width W 1  is at least about three times greater than the pocket depth D 1 . This configuration has been found to provide suitable support in the vertical direction for the towel  10  when the towel  10  is draped over the fairing  14  and windshield  18 , without leaving an excessive amount of material positioned behind the windshield, where cleaning solution soaked into the material might otherwise drip onto the gauges and electronics. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper pocket  26  configuration results in the upper pocket lower edge  102  being spaced in the height direction from the upper pocket edges  78  by a distance that is at least two times the pocket depth D 1 . 
     The upper portion  22  includes an upper portion upper edge  106  having a first end  110  and a second end  114 . The upper portion  22  is configured and arranged such that the first end  110  is substantially adjacent to the inner upper corner of the left side pocket  50 , and such that the second end  114  is substantially adjacent to an inner upper corner of the right side pocket  58 . As is apparent from the dashed line  22   a  in  FIG. 4 , this characteristic may be shared by different embodiments of the towel  10  that may be configured for use with different types, styles, or sizes of fairings  14  and/or different types, styles, or sizes of windshield  18 . 
       FIG. 4  also shows the lower edge profile defined by the lower edge  48 , which in the illustrated embodiment is substantially W-shaped. As mentioned above and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the lower edge profile is configured to substantially correspond to a lower boundary of the motorcycle fairing when the towel  10  is draped over the fairing  14  and windshield  18 , including when the upper pocket  26  receives the top of the motorcycle windshield  18 , when the left side pocket  50  receives the left side portion  54  of the motorcycle fairing  14 , and when the right side pocket  58  receives the right side portion  62  of the motorcycle fairing  14 . 
     Depending on the configuration of the fairing  14 , windshield  18 , and towel  10 , the lower portion  46  may cover some or all of the windshield  18 , and the upper portion  22  may cover some or all of the fairing  14 . In some configurations, there may not be distinct upper and lower portions  22 ,  46  of the towel  10 , for example because the upper portion  22  and the lower portion  46  are formed from the same piece of material. Moreover, the size, shape, and relative locations of the upper pocket  26  and the left and ride side pockets  50 ,  58  may also vary considerably, as may the specific shape of the lower edge profile defined by the lower edge  48 , all of which may be configured by those skilled in the art to correspond to a particular style of fairing and/or windshield. 
     The towel  10  and alternative embodiments thereof are configured for use in connection with a method of washing a motorcycle, and more specifically a method of washing the motorcycle fairing  14  and windshield  18 . To wash the motorcycle fairing  14  and windshield  18  using the towel  10 , the towel  10  may initially be soaked in a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may be or include any suitable liquid cleaning solution including plain water, water and soap, or the like. When the towel  10  is wet, an upper portion of the motorcycle, such as the upper portion of the windshield  18 , is inserted into the upper pocket  26  such that the upper portion  22  and lower portion  46  of the towel  10  fall generally over the forwardly-facing surfaces of the windshield  18  and fairing  14 . A first side portion of the motorcycle, such as the left side portion  54  of the fairing  14 , may then be inserted into a first side pocket, such as the left side pocket  50 , of the towel  10 . This may be accomplished by inserting the left side portion  54  of the fairing  14  through the opening defined by the inner pocket edge  86  and lower pocket edge  90  (or by the single inner-lower edge  94 , if the left side pocket  50  is so-configured) of the left side pocket  50 . A second side portion of the motorcycle, such as the right side portion  62  of the fairing  14 , may then be inserted into a second side pocket, such as the right side pocket  58 , of the towel. This may be accomplished by inserting the right side portion  62  of the fairing  14  through the opening defined by the inner pocket edge  86  and lower pocket edge  90  (or by the single inner-lower edge  94 , if the right side pocket  58  is so-configured) of the right side pocket  58 . It should be appreciated that the order of inserting portions of the motorcycle into pockets of the towel  10  may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, although in many instances it may be beneficial to begin by inserting the windshield  18  into the upper pocket  26 . 
     With the motorcycle portions inserted into their respective pockets, the upper and lower portions  22 ,  46  may be adjusted as necessary with respect to the windshield  18  and fairing  14  such that the upper and lower portions  22 ,  46  are in substantially continuous contact with the forwardly facing surfaces of the windshield  18  and fairing  14 . Although some smoothing of the towel  10  may be required, and although some overhang (up to several inches) is possible and may even be preferred to ensure full coverage of the fairing  14 , when the upper portion (e.g., the windshield  18 ) of the motorcycle is inserted into the upper pocket  26 , the left side portion  54  is inserted into the left side pocket  50 , and the right side portion  62  is inserted into the right side pocket  58 , the configuration of the towel  10  is such that the lower edge profile defined by the lower edge  48  of the towel  10  is substantially corresponds with the lower boundary of the motorcycle fairing  14  (see  FIG. 1 ). If the lower edge profile is carefully formed to minimize overhang, the lower edge profile of the lower edge  48  may also become substantially aligned with the lower boundary of the motorcycle fairing  14  when the upper portion (e.g., the windshield  18 ) of the motorcycle is inserted into the upper pocket  26 , the left side portion  54  is inserted into the left side pocket  50 , and the right side portion  62  is inserted into the right side pocket  58   
     When positioned on the windshield  14  and fairing  18  as described above, the weight and configuration of the towel  10  bring the towel material and the cleaning solution it carries into direct contact with debris (bugs, dirt, grime, and the like) present on the forwardly facing surfaces of the windshield  14  and fairing  18 . Because of its configuration, the towel  10  can remain supported by the windshield  14  and fairing  18  without any intervention required by a user. The user may therefore leave the towel to soak on the windshield  14  and fairing  18  unattended, allowing time to pass while the cleaning solution works to soften the debris. The specific amount of time required depends upon a variety of factors such as the cleaning solution used and how soiled the windshield  14  and fairing  18  are to begin with, but 15-30 minutes are typically sufficient. When sufficient time has passed, the towel  10  can be removed, may optionally be rinsed and soaked once again in cleaning fluid, and then used to wipe the forwardly facing surfaces of the fairing  14  and windshield  18 . Because the cleaning solution has had sufficient time to soften the debris on these surfaces, it is relatively easy to remove the debris using the cleaning-solution-containing towel  10  without the use of vigorous scrubbing that might otherwise damage the windshield  18  or the cosmetic finish on the fairing  14 . Once the softened debris has been removed the towel may be hand or machine washed and dried, after which it will be ready for reuse. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.