Abstract:
A quick-release attachment device having a receiver assembly mountable in a concealed position under the rear fender of a motorcycle, the device being useful for quickly connecting and disconnecting load-supporting apparatus such as, for example, a trailer hitch, carrier platform, golf club carrier, or the like. The concealed receiver assembly desirably embodies two laterally spaced, longitudinal support members attachable to the motorcycle frame in a position that is hidden by the rear fender, a transverse support member interconnecting the longitudinal support members, and a downwardly inclined receiver member depending from the transverse support member to receive an upwardly inclined, projecting portion of a load-supporting apparatus that is insertable into the receiver member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an attachment device for use on motorcycles, and more particularly, to an attachment device having a receiver assembly mountable beneath the rear fender of a motorcycle so as to be invisible to the ordinary observer standing behind the motorcycle, the device being attachable by a quick-release connector to a visible load-supporting apparatus such as a trailer hitch, insulated cooler carrier, golf club carrier or the like. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The design and use of motorcycle hitches is well known in the art. In a conventional motorcycle hitch assembly, the frame of the assembly is typically exteriorly attached to the frame of the motorcycle. A hitch ball is usually attached to the frame of the motorcycle hitch assembly by means of a threaded bolt and nut on the bottom of the ball. Conventional motorcycle trailer hitch devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,426; 4,471,973; D273,486; D294,341; D298,022; D308,353 and D334,163. Trailer hitches particularly designed for several brands and models of motorcycles are disclosed, for example, at the internet website  www.hitchdoc.com  of The Hitch Doc, Rt. 1, Box 204, Round Lake, Minn. 56167. 
     More recently, receiver hitches have been used with some vehicles as a means for quickly attaching and removing the hitch ball or for attaching other devices. U.S. Des. No. 409,557, for example, depicts a motorcycle apparently having a trailer hitch with a conventional ball but also discloses a golf club rack attached to the motorcycle using a visible square tubing receiver disposed below the ball. A disadvantage of prior art devices for attaching trailers or other load-carrying apparatus to the rear of motorcycles is that they are visible and unsightly, detracting from the overall appearance of the motorcycle, especially when not in use. An attachment device for motorcycles is therefore needed that is not visible to observers when not in use but that is quickly connectable to a trailer hitch or other load-carrying apparatus when desired. A device is disclosed herein which overcomes the deficiencies of prior art motorcycle hitch assemblies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A quick-release attachment device is disclosed herein that has a receiver assembly mountable in a concealed position under the rear fender of a motorcycle for use in quickly connecting and disconnecting other load-supporting apparatus such as, for example, a trailer hitch, cooler carrier, golf club carrier, or similar auxiliary apparatus. The release assembly desirably embodies two laterally spaced, longitudinal support members attachable to the motorcycle frame from a position located under the rear fender, a transverse support member interconnecting the longitudinal support members, and a downwardly inclined receiver member depending from the transverse support member to receive an upwardly inclined, projecting portion of a load-supporting apparatus that is insertable into the receiver member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The apparatus of the invention is further described and explained in relation to the following figures of the drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in section, depicting the concealed attachment device of the invention with the receiver assembly installed under the rear fender (shown in phantom outline) of a motorcycle; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view depicting the concealed attachment device of the invention installed as in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the concealable receiver assembly of the invention, depicting the receiver member aligned with an upwardly inclined, projecting portion of a load supporting member (not shown) so as to enable the projecting portion to slidably engage the receiver member; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the receiver assembly of the invention, as seen from the rear when the receiver assembly is in essentially the same position as if installed under the rear fender of a motorcycle; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the attachment device of the invention, with a trailer hitch mount depicted as the load supporting apparatus being utilized in combination with the concealable receiver assembly of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view, partially in section, depicting an alternate embodiment of the concealed receiver assembly of the invention as installed under the rear fender (shown in phantom outline) of a motorcycle; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view depicting the concealable receiver assembly of FIG. 6, but not installed under a motorcycle fender as in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the concealable receiver assembly of FIG. 6, as seen from the rear when the receiver assembly is in essentially the same position as if installed under the rear fender of a motorcycle; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the concealable receiver assembly of FIG. 6, as viewed when not secured to a motorcycle; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cooler carrier apparatus positioned for attachment to the concealable receiver assembly of the invention, partially broken away, where the motorcycle is not visible; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the cooler carrier apparatus of FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a golf club carrier apparatus attachable to the concealed receiver assembly of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-5, attachment device  10  of the invention preferably comprises receiver assembly  12  mounted in a hidden or concealed position beneath the rear fender  24  of a motorcycle (not shown) in combination with a load supporting member  14 . A principal feature of the subject invention is a receiver assembly  12  that can be mounted beneath the rear fender  24  of a motorcycle so that receiver assembly  12  is not visible to an ordinary observer positioned either behind or to the side of the motorcycle, and therefore, does not in any way detract from the normal appearance features of the motorcycle. Receiver assembly  12  preferably comprises at least two laterally spaced, longitudinally extending support members  30 ,  32  that are interconnected by a rigid transverse support member  35 . Receiver member  28  is connected, preferably by welding, to lateral support member  35  and is downwardly inclined to facilitate connection to load supporting apparatus  14 . The configuration and placement of lateral support member  35  and receiver member  28  is preferably such that both fit within the space between rear fender  24  and the rear tire (not shown) without impeding tire rotation. Brake-light connector mounting bracket  16  is preferably attached or connected, such as by welding, to receiver member  28  to facilitate the attachment of an electrical connector for one or more tail lights or brake lights that are part of load supporting apparatus  14  or, for example, a trailer connected thereto. 
     Because receiver assembly  12  will provide the structural connection between a load supporting apparatus  14  and the motorcycle, it is important that receiver assembly be securely attached, either permanently or releasably, to the motorcycle frame. Receiver assembly  12  is preferably made of steel, and is desirably configured so as to be attachable to the motorcycle frame through bolt holes  38 ,  40  using a plurality of fasteners such as bolts  34  and locknuts  36 . Bolt holes  38 ,  40  are preferably alignable with bolt holes through rear fender  24  so as to be attachable to the motorcycle frame members (not shown) using the same bolt holes normally used for attaching rear fender  24  to the motorcycle. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that receiver assembly  12  can be welded or otherwise releasably attached to a motorcycle frame in such position that it will be concealed beneath the rear fender without using the same bolt holes as are used for attachment of rear fender  24  to the motorcycle. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-5, load supporting apparatus  14  of attachment device  10  is a trailer hitch mount comprising ball  18  having a downwardly extending post secured to support plate  20  using a conventional threaded nut  22 . Attachment member  26  is desirably rigidly connected to support plate  20  by welding or other similarly effective means and is upwardly inclined so as to be releasably connectable to receiver member  28  of receiver assembly  12 . According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, attachment member  26  and receiver member  28  are axially alignable, and each is fabricated from square tubing, preferably made of steel, with dimensions such that attachment member  26  is insertable into sliding engagement with receiver member  28 . Referring to FIG. 5, unlike with conventional receiver hitches, the angular position of receiver member  28  is such that its open end  45  faces downwardly rather than horizontally, and an attachment member  26  that is inclined relative to support plate  20  is needed in order to facilitate sliding engagement with receiver member  28 . Cooperative means such as transverse bores  42 ,  44  are desirably provided in attachment member  26  and receiver member  28 , respectively, which are alignable to permit insertion of connector pin  46 . Connector pin  46  preferably further comprises a transverse bore  48  or other means facilitating attachment of a retainer clip (not shown) to secure connector pin  46  in transverse bores  42 ,  44 . 
     Another receiver assembly  50 , with differently configured longitudinal support members  52 ,  53 , having differently positioned bolt holes  60 ,  64 , to accommodate a differently configured rear fender  66  (FIG. 6) for a different motorcycle is described in relation to FIGS. 6-9. Here again, however, receiver assembly  50  is hidden from the ordinary observer when installed beneath fender  66  as shown in FIG.  6 . In this embodiment of the invention, longitudinal support members  52 ,  53  are rigidly interconnected by transverse support member  54 , which is preferably welded between them. Receiving member  56  depends from transverse support member  54  at a downwardly inclined angle and light connector mounting bracket  58  is attached to receiving member  56 . Aperture  68  is provided to receive a connector pin as previously described in relation to FIG. 5 during the attachment of a load-supporting apparatus. As will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, other configurations can likewise be used within the scope of the invention for making receiver assembly  10  provided that the assembly is mountable in a concealed position between the rear fender of a motorcycle and the adjacent tire. Thus, for example, receiver assemblies having a different number and arrangement of structural elements or a embodying a different connector system for attaching the receiver assembly to a load-supporting apparatus can also be used within the scope of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 disclose another preferred load-supporting apparatus, cooler carrier  70 , of the type that can be used in combination with a receiver assembly in attachment device  10  of the invention. The lower portion of receiver assembly  12 , as previously described in relation to FIGS. 1-5, is shown in FIG. 10 in alignment with attachment member  74  of cooler carrier  70  prior to slidably engaging and connecting the two using connector pin  46 . The overhanging motorcycle fender under which receiver assembly  12  is concealed during use is not shown in FIG. 10 for ease of illustration. Cooler carrier  70  preferably comprises support plate  72 , a perimeter fence around support plate  72  comprising horizontal members  82  supported by vertical members  80 , upwardly inclined attachment member  74  with transverse aperture  76 , and light connector  78  attached by electrical wire  88  to tail lights  84 . It will be apparent upon reading this disclosure that a load supporting apparatus having the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 10-11 can also be used to transport objects other than, for example, an insulated cooler. If desired, elastic cords can be attached by hooks to horizontal supports  82  to secure such loads to carrier  70 . 
     Other special purpose load-supporting apparatus can likewise be used in combination with receiver assembly  12  as part of attachment device  10  of the invention. FIG. 12 discloses one such device, a golf bag carrier  90 , preferably comprising inclined support member  92 , horizontal support member  94 , upwardly inclined attachment member  96  with transverse aperture  116 , support platform  100  braced to inclined support member  92  by brace  102 , and vertically spaced, arcuate, transverse bag supports  104 ,  106 , against which a golf bag (not shown) is secured using web straps  108 ,  110  and buckles  112 , 114 , respectively. 
     Load-supporting apparatus of the type disclosed herein should be utilized only when the combined weight of the apparatus and the supported load do not exceed the maximum safe load that can be placed rearwardly of the rear axle of a particular motorcycle without rendering the motorcycle unstable during operation. 
     Other alterations and modifications of the subject invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled.