Patent Abstract:
A motorcycle footrest mount includes a support arm that is length adjustable and pivotally adjustable. The mount attaches to a motorcycle structure and includes a helical ramp. One end of the support arm is pivotably mounted to the helical ramp and is spring biased against the mount in a first, home position. The other end of the support arm is mounted to a footrest. The support arm is able to pivotally move downward along the helical ramp upon application of force by a motorcycle operator&#39;s legs and feet on the footrest, and to return to the home position when the operator removes his or her feet from the footrest by virtue of the spring biasing.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Motorcycle operators often seek to rest their feet on a footpeg or a floorboard mounted to the motorcycle when they are riding the motorcycle. For comfort, at times it is desirable for the operator to support his/her feet with the operator&#39;s legs extended. There continues to be a need for a footrest mount that is able to be adjusted for optimal operator comfort during operation of the motorcycle. 
    
    
     
       SUMMARY 
       Brief Description of the Drawings 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and together with the description serve to explain principles of embodiments. Other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of embodiments will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable motorcycle footrest mount of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the adjustable motorcycle footrest mount of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a hub of the adjustable motorcycle footrest mount of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the hub of  FIG. 3   
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of a portion of one embodiment of a support arm that is supported on the hub of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the support arm of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7 . is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable motorcycle footrest mount of  FIG. 1  taken along line  7 - 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments or variations may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken or construed in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims. The terms used in the claims are intended to have their plain, ordinary meaning and no disclosure or written description herein shall be construed to specially or uniquely define the claim terms unless it is explicitly stated herein that such term is being given a specific definition. 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable motorcycle footrest mount  10  that is mountable to a suitable structure on both sides of a motorcycle, e.g., a motorcycle frame member or a motorcycle roll bar. In one embodiment, each footrest mount  10  includes a clamp-style mount  12 , a support arm  14  connected at one end to mount  12 , and secured at the opposite end to a clevis-type connector  16 , and a footrest  18  pivotally connected to connector  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , motorcycle footrest mount  10  supports an operator&#39;s foot at a height defined by support arm  14 . As will be shown, mount  10  is configured to permit easy adjustment of the height of footrest  18  by allowing support arm  14  to pivot downward when an operator&#39;s foot applies force to the footrest, such as when the motorcycle is being driven on a highway. To provide greater clearance between the footrest mount  110  and the ground, such as when it is necessary for an operator to perform turn maneuvers by leaning the motorcycle, the support arm automatically returns to the original position when the feet of the operator are removed from the footrest  18 . 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the adjustable motorcycle footrest mount  10  of  FIG. 1  without footrest  18 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, mount  12  comprises a two-piece, clam-style clamp for securing mount  12  to a suitable structure near a front end of a motorcycle, such as a roll bar or motorcycle frame member. In one embodiment, mount  12  may include a radial face  20  and a central post  22  axially extending from the radial face and having an internally threaded bore  24 . In one embodiment, a plurality of teeth  26  are radially spaced around bore  24  against the radial face  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a hub  28  includes a cylindrical body  30  and a recessed cavity  32  on one end that faces mount  12 . The recessed cavity  32  is provided with a plurality of radially spaced teeth  34  on an inner cylindrical surface  36  of body  30 . The spacing of teeth  34  is sized to approximate the width of teeth  26  on mount  12  such that the spaces are able to mate with teeth  26  to prevent rotational movement of hub  28 . The hub  28  further includes a post  38  extending from the cylindrical body  30  and a bore  40  coaxially located within the post  38 . The end  39  is radially tapered on either side of a line defined by the diameter of the post. Bore  40  communicates with the recessed cavity  32 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , arranged around a base of the post  38  and against a radial face  42  of the cylindrical body  30  is a plurality of radially-spaced, ramped teeth  44 . Each ramped tooth  44  has a first edge  46  that extends axially from the face  42  of the cylindrical body  30 , and a second edge  48  that extends at an angle, from the first edge  46  at an apex  50  of the tooth  44 , to the adjacent tooth  44  at the lowest end of its first edge  46 . The second edge  48  extends in a slightly convex curve from the apex  50  to the adjacent tooth  44 . Collectively, the ramped teeth  44  function as a helical ramp as will be described further below. In one embodiment, hub  28  is provided with eight radially spaced teeth  44 . In an alternative embodiment, hub  28  may be provided with two or more radially-spaced ramped surfaces, or one contiguous helical ramp. Although hub  28  is shown as a separate component, in an alternative embodiment, hub  28  can be integral with or connected to mount  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment support arm  14  is comprised of a first arm portion  52  and a second arm portion  54 . The first arm portion  52  has an elongate body  56  and a cylindrical head  58 . The cylindrical head  58  is configured to mate to the hub  28  in a manner that will be described in more detail below. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the cylindrical head  58  is also configured with an internal cavity  60  that extends within the head  58  to a radial floor  62 . The cavity  60  serves to house a portion of a cylindrical body  64  with a central bore, a spring  66 , and a pair of bushings  68 , all of which are secured within cavity  60  by a washer and a connector  69  (e.g., a bolt) that connects to the internally threaded bore  24  of mount  12 . In one embodiment, bushing  68   a  is made from brass, and bushing  68   b  is made from steel. The elongate body  52  of the first arm portion is configured on one side with a channel  70  that is shaped to mate with an elongate body  72  of the second arm portion. Body  52  is configured with a pair of holes  74  that can align with a pair of holes from a plurality of holes  76  formed in body  72 . As such, an overall length of support arm  14  can be varied according to a desired location of body  72  within channel  70 . The first and second arm portions  52 ,  54  are thereafter secured together by a pair of connectors  78 , which comprise bolts and nuts (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, an end of the second arm portion  54  is provided with a splined connecting surface having a central internally threaded post for connecting the clevis-type connector  16  at any desired radial position. 
       FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the first arm portion  52 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the head  58  of the first arm portion is configured with a cavity  80  and a radial shoulder  82  that extends around the inner surface of cavity  80 . Immediately adjacent to the radial shoulder is a plurality of radially-spaced, ramped teeth  84  that are formed to mate with the ramped teeth  44  when the face  42  of the hub  28  is in contact with the radial shoulder  82 . As such, each ramped portion of teeth  84  is slightly concave. The number, spacing and angle of each ramped portion may be varied as previously described relative to the ramped surfaces associated with hub  28 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable motorcycle footrest mount  10  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the footrest mount  10  is assembled, the hub  28  positioned next to the mount  12 , and the head  58  of the first arm portion  52  is positioned over the hub  28  with the respective ramped teeth of the head  58  and hub  28  fully engaging one another. The cylindrical body  64  is positioned within cavity  60  of head  58  with the inner end  90  of cylindrical body  64  spaced from the radial floor  62  of head  58 . The cylindrical body  64  is maintained in this spaced position by a connecting bolt that connects to mount  12 . As further shown in  FIG. 7 , the cylindrical body includes a cylindrical recess  92  which captures part of the spring  66 . With the cylindrical body positioned as shown in  FIG. 7 , the spring  66  is under compression with one end of spring  66  contacting the radial floor  62  of head  58 , and the other end of spring  66  contacting the base of the recess  92 . The spring force of spring  66  thus maintains the teeth  84  of head  58  in full engagement with the teeth  44  of hub  28 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , when a downward force is applied to arm  14 , the ramped portion of teeth  84  of head  58  slide up the respective ramped portion of teeth  44  thereby allowing arm  14  to rotate downward until the radial floor  62  engages the inner end  90  of the cylindrical body  64 . Through this movement of radial floor  62  towards the inner end  90  of cylindrical body  64 , spring  66  is further compressed. The downward rotation of support arm  14  increases the distance of the footrest thereby giving a motorcycle operator a more comfortable location for resting the operator&#39;s feet, such as on long motorcycle trips. When the operator removes his or her feet from the footrest, the spring force is able to return the support arm  14  to its original home position ( FIGS. 2 and 7 ). The adjustable motorcycle footrest mount  10  as disclosed affords a footrest mount with support arm length adjustment and a footrest height adjustment that lowers the position of the footrest by application of force from a motorcycle operator&#39;s feet, and automatically returns to a higher, home position when the operator&#39;s force is removed. 
     It is to be understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1