Patent Publication Number: US-2007120344-A1

Title: Motorcycle support stand system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      Not applicable to this application.  
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not applicable to this application.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to motorcycle support stands and more specifically it relates to a motorcycle support stand system for efficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.  
      Motorcycle support stands have been in use for years. Some motorcycle support stands completely lift the motorcycle for extended storage and the like to remove relieve compression of the suspension. Other motorcycle support stands are comprised of a kickstand structure that extends to the side of the motorcycle to support the motorcycle in a leaning manner.  
      While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for efficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position. In these respects, the motorcycle support stand system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of efficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of motorcycle support stands now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new motorcycle support stand system construction wherein the same can be utilized for efficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position.  
      The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new motorcycle support stand system that has many of the advantages of the motorcycle support stands mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new motorcycle support stand system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art motorcycle support stands, either alone or in any combination thereof.  
      To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a base member adapted to be attached to a motorcycle, an upper support member pivotally attached to the base member in a biased manner, a lower support member pivotally attached to the upper support member in a biased manner, and a lever attached to the lower support member.  
      There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
      In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
      A primary object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.  
      A second object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system for efficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position.  
      Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that may be utilized upon various types of motorcycles.  
      Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system for displaying, parking, storing, cleaning, hauling, repairing and maintaining a motorcycle.  
      Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that is stable.  
      Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that is simple to install.  
      Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that does not detract from the appearance of a motorcycle when attached.  
      An additional object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that allows a user to easily set a motorcycle into an upright position without significant physical effort.  
      Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that does not interfere with the operation of the motorcycle.  
      Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.  
      To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of the present invention attached to the frame of a motorcycle.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded side view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention with respect to a motorcycle frame.  
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the present invention attached to a motorcycle and in the raised position.  
       FIG. 7  is side view of the present invention attached to a motorcycle and partially extended downwardly.  
       FIG. 8  is side view of the present invention attached to a motorcycle and partially extended downwardly with the lower portion extended into a substantially parallel position with the upper portion.  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the present invention in the lowered position supporting the motorcycle.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      A. Overview  
      Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 through 9  illustrate a motorcycle support stand system  10 , which comprises a base member  20  adapted to be attached to a motorcycle, an upper support member  30  pivotally attached to the base member  20  in a biased manner, a lower support member  40  pivotally attached to the upper support member  30  in a biased manner, and a lever  50  attached to the lower support member  40 .  
      B. Base Member  
      The base member  20  is adapted to be attached to a frame  12  of a motorcycle as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9  of the drawings. The base member  20  preferably is comprised of a relatively flat structure and has four raised corner portions that engage the bottom surface of the motorcycle frame  12  when attached to the frame  12 .  
      The base member  20  preferably includes a pair of raised portions  22  that have apertures within for receiving fastener bolts as best illustrated in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. The fastener bolts extend upwardly and threadably engage threaded apertures within a nut plate  60  that is positioned on an opposite side of the cross brace  14  of the motorcycle frame  12  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings.  
      The nut plate  60  may be comprised of any structure that fits onto a cross brace  14  and wherein the threaded apertures within the nut plate  60  are aligned with the apertures within the cross brace  14 . The nut plate  60  preferably includes a pair of first portions  62  and a pair of opposing second portions  64  that have different thicknesses and to match different cross brackets utilized upon different models of motorcycle frames  12  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5  of the drawings.  
      C. Upper Support Member  
      The upper support member  30  is pivotally attached to the base member  20  by a first hinge  32  or similar hinge structure. The upper support member  30  preferably is biased into a raised position by at least one first spring  34 , wherein the first spring  34  engages the upper support member  30  and the base member  20 . The first spring  34  maintains the upper support member  30  in a substantially horizontal position when in the raised position as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 6  of the drawings. The first spring  34  is preferably comprised of a torsion spring, however other biasing devices may be utilized to bias the upper support member  30 .  
      As best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings, the upper support member  30  is preferably comprised of a U-shaped structure having opposing side members and a cross member. Various other structures may be utilized to construct the upper support member  30  other than illustrated in the figures.  
      D. Lower Support Member  
      The lower support member  40  pivotally attached to the upper support member  30  by a second hinge  42  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9  of the drawings. The lower support member  40  is preferably biased by at least one second spring  43  engaging the lower support member  40  and the upper support member  30 . The biasing force applied by the second spring  43  maintains the lower support member  40  in a substantially upwardly angled position when the present invention is in the raised position as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 6  of the drawings. The second spring  43  is preferably comprised of a torsion spring, however other biasing devices may be utilized to bias the upper support member  30 .  
      The lower support member  40  is preferably comprised of a pair of support units pivotally extending from the upper support member  30 . The pair of support units are preferably connected to one another in a non-rotational manner by a cross support  44  or related structure to ensure that they are both lowered and raised simultaneously. The pair of support units also preferably extend outwardly with respect to the upper support member  30  to provide a broader base support when engaging a ground surface.  
      The pair of support units are each preferably comprised of a receiver tube  46  and a leg  48  adjustably positioned within the receiver tube  46  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. A compression spring  47  is preferably positioned within the receiver tube  46  and abutted against an inner end of the leg  48  to applying an outwardly biasing force to each leg  48 , wherein the leg  48  is slidably positioned within the receiver tube  46  for adjustment.  
      A plurality of apertures preferably extend through the leg  48  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. Another aperture extends through the receiver tube  46  for receiving a fastener that extends through the apertures within the receiver tube  46  and through a desired aperture within the leg  48  for securing the leg  48  in a desired extended position. The adjustability of the legs  48  with respect to the receiver tubes  46  allows the user to both level the motorcycle and also ensure that the appropriate upward force is applied to the motorcycle frame  12  when the present invention is in the lowered position.  
      As best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 4  of the drawings, a pad  49  is attached to a distal portion of each leg  48 . The pad  49  is comprised of a relatively broad structure to disperse the weight of the motorcycle for supporting the same on various ground surfaces. The pad  49  preferably has an angled front edge and an angled rear edge, wherein the angle of the front end is more than the angle of the rear edge as best illustrated in  FIG. 5  of the drawings.  
      E. Lever  
      The lever  50  attached to the lower support member  40  as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 9  of the drawings. The lever  50  is attached to a receiver tube  46  (or a leg  48 ) as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. The lever  50  is preferably angled outwardly from the lower support member  40  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. The lever  50  preferably has an inner segment and an outer segment, wherein the outer segment is angled outwardly more from the inner segment as further shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. The outer end of the lever  50  is preferably comprised of a relatively flat structure.  
      F. Operation of Invention  
      In use, the base member  20  is attached to the frame  12  of the motorcycle as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. The motorcycle may be operated as normal without interference of operation by the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. If the user desires to park the motorcycle, the user lifts upwardly and rearwardly upon the distal portion of the lever  50  thereby pivoting both the upper support member  30  and the lower support member  40  in a clockwise manner (when facing the left-side of the motorcycle) as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. When the pad  49  of the lower support member  40  first engages the ground surface, the lower support member  40  is generally at an angle with respect to the upper support member  30  and the lever  50  is slightly past ninety-degrees as further shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. The user then continues the rotation of the lever  50  in a clockwise manner by pressing rearwardly and downwardly upon the distal portion of the lever  50 , wherein the pad  49  substantially remains positioned upon the ground surface and the lower support member  40  is aligned substantially parallel to the upper support member  30  as shown in  FIG. 8  of the drawings. The user continues to rotate the lever  50  in the clockwise direction thereby causing the motorcycle to be lifted upward and rearward until the upper support member  30  engages a rear edge of the base member  20  thereby preventing further clockwise rotation of the upper support member  30  as shown in  FIG. 9  of the drawings. When the present invention is in the fully lowered position as shown in  FIG. 9  of the drawings, the upper support member  30  and the lower support member  40  are maintained in an aligned position because of the over centering downward force of the motorcycle. It is preferable that the lower support member  40  is adjusted so that both tires of the motorcycle remain upon the ground surface with only a portion of the weight of the motorcycle transferred to the present invention thereby increasing the stability of the motorcycle in the parked position. When the user desires to operate the motorcycle again, the user simply pushes the motorcycle forward to move past the over centering of the present invention thereby allowing the upper support member  30  to rotate counterclockwise until it is back into the horizontal storage position as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. The lower support member  40  is allowed to pivot upwardly with respect to the upper support member  30  also thereby elevating the distal portions of the lower support member  40  above the ground surface further to reduce the likelihood of engagement of the road surface during turning and also increasing the visual appearance of the motorcycle.  
      What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the following claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.