Abstract:
A fork tube extension for motorcycles includes a cylindrical body having a reduced outer diameter at a first end forming a shoulder. A pair of the extensions is fitted between upper triple tree and lower triple tree portions of the motorcycle fork assembly. The fork tubes are fit up into the tube extensions in bored center cavities. Set screws provided in the cylindrical body are used to removably affix the fork tubes within the extensions. The depth of the center cavities determines the length of extension added to the fork tubes.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/926,615, filed Jan. 13, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a fork tube extension configured for installation on a motorcycle to extend the overall length of the motorcycle fork assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Countless Americans enjoy riding motorcycles. The feeling of freedom and pure exhilaration while cruising the countryside with the wind in your hair is a passion enjoyed by many. And, as with most passions humans have, they are constantly looking for ways to improve upon them. To this end, many people customize their motorcycles by adding accessories or painting them, but these options quickly fade into a sea of others doing the same thing. Also, there are many who are looking to customize their motorcycle, but do not want to impact the re-sale value when the time comes to sell it. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a motorcycle can be modified or customized in an eye-catching manner, but also in a manner which is easy and reversible as well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a fork tube extension device for a motorcycle fork assembly. Each individual extension device comprises a cylindrical body having a proximate and a distal end. The cylindrical body includes a reduced diameter insert portion at the proximate end and a coaxial center cavity having a predetermined depth formed in the distal end. The insert portion is adapted to be received by and retained within an upper triple tree assembly of a motorcycle and the center cavity is adapted to receive and retain a fork tube of the motorcycle. The predetermined depth of the center cavity establishes the length to which the fork tube is extended. The use of the present invention allows motorcycle owners the ability to customize their motorcycle, in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fork extension for a motorcycle  10  depicting a matching pair thereof, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the fork extension  10  depicting installation upon a motorcycle  100 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the fork extension  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 2 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  fork extension 
               20  body 
               22  insert portion 
               23  shoulder 
               24  center cavity 
               26  retainer 
               28   a  set screw 
               28   b  set screw aperture 
               30  cushion 
               100  motorcycle 
               101  fork tube 
               102  upper triple tree clamp 
               103  lower triple tree clamp 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a fork extension configured for installation on a motorcycle (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means to attach onto and extend the motorcycle fork tubes  101  of an existing motorcycle  100  to provide an altered appearance. The device  10  provides removable attachment to the motorcycle  100 , allowing the motorcycle  100  to return to a stock configuration when desired. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , perspective and sectional views of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  is envisioned to be introduced for sale in pairs to provide extension of a fixed portion of a fork tube  101  on each side of a front fork assembly portion of the motorcycle  100 . Each device  10  is to be geometrically identical and is preferably machined from a solid piece of aluminum, or ferrous metal to obtain maximum strength. The device  10  is envisioned to provide a surface finish which matches that of the existing fork tubes  101  such as chrome plating, flat black paint, powder coating, and the like. 
     The device  10  includes a cylindrical body portion  20 , an insert portion  22  defining a shoulder  23 , and a center cavity or bore  24 . The body  20  is constructed to have an outside diameter envisioned to be similar to that of an upper fixed portion of the fork tube  101  so as to provide a continuous cylindrical profile and a nearly undetected presence when installed. The insert section  22  is located at an upper or proximate end portion of the body  20  and is formed having a diameter lesser than that of the body  20 . The transition from the diameter of the body  20  to that of the insert portion  22  is set at right angles to produce the shoulder portion  23 , which acts as a mechanical stop for the body  20  when installed in the fork tube  101 . More particularly, during installation, the insert section  22  is inserted into the clamp portion  102  of the upper triple tree of the motorcycle  100  where the end of the existing fork tube  101  normally would rest. The device  10  is pressed into upper the triple tree until the shoulder  23  makes contact with the clamp  102 . The upper triple tree clamp  102  is envisioned to provide conventional mechanical clamping to secure the insert  22  within. At the bottom, or distal end of the body  20  a cylindrical cavity  24  is formed that is coaxial to the axis of the body  20 . The center cavity  24  extends into the body  20  and has as inner diameter to slidingly receive a top end portion of the fork tube  101 . 
     The installation of the device  10  is envisioned to result in positioning the existing fork tube  101  approximately three inches (3 in.) below its original position. However, it is understood that the length of the device  10  may be introduced in various lengths based upon a particular application as well as a user&#39;s preference, which results in a corresponding extended position of the fork tube  101 . More specifically, the predetermined depth of the center cavity  24  within the body  20  defines the length of extension provided to the fork tube  101  by the device  10 . 
     At least one retainer  26  is employed to secure the fork tube  101  within the body  20  of the device  10 . The fork tube  101  is to be mechanically retained within the center cavity  24  of the device  10  via engagement of at least one, but preferably, three (3) retainers that are comprised of equally-spaced set screws  28   a  threadingly engaged in set screw apertures  28   b . The set screw apertures  28   b  are machined through the body  20  into the center cavity  24 . The use of the set screws  28   a  to retain the fork tubes  101 , in conjunction with the profile matching of the device  10  to the fork tubes  101  and the triple tree components are intended to minimally detract from, if not enhance, the aesthetics of the motorcycle  100 . 
     The device  10  also includes a cushion  30  which is to be located within the center cavity  24 . The cushion  30  protects an upper end portion of the existing fork tube  101  from any possible mechanical damage resulting from contact with a bottom surface portion of the center cavity  24 . The cushion  30  is envisioned to comprise a disc-shaped protective layer made using a resilient material such as rubber, plastic, dense foam, or similar material. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an environmental view of the device  10  depicting installation upon a motorcycle  100 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  is envisioned to be used in matching pairs with one (1) unit of the device  10  used on each side of the front fork assembly of the motorcycle  100 . Each device  10  is sized to allow both the proximal and distal end of the device  10  to engage within existing factory motorcycle connections via a slip-fit. The device  10  is shown here being utilized upon a HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER®-style motorcycle  100  for illustration purposes; however, it is envisioned that the portions of the body  20  could be modified for use on various styles, makes, and models of motorcycles  100  without deviating from the teachings of the invention, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor. In the event that the device  10  is no longer needed to extend the forks  101 , the device  10  is simply removed allowing the motorcycle to return to a stock factory configuration. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a matching pair of the devices  10  having a desired finish and being particularly sized for application upon a desired existing motorcycle  100 ; elevating and supporting the existing motorcycle  100  upon a lift or stand such that the wheel portions are above a ground surface; freeing the forks  101  by loosening the existing triple tree clamping portions  102 ,  103 ; lowering both forks  101  a sufficient distance in a downward direction to allow insertion of the devices  10  between the upper triple tree clamp  102  and insert section  22  portions; inserting an upper end portion of the existing forks  101  into respective center cavity portions  24  of the devices  10  until contacting the respective cushions  30 ; sliding the forks  101  upwardly within the lower triple tree clamp  103  until the insert section  22  of the devices  10  are fully engaged into the upper triple tree clamp  103  and contacting the shoulder portion  23 ; tightening the upper  102  and lower  103  triple tree clamping portions around the insert section  22  and existing fork tube  101  portions, respectively; installing the set screws  25   a  into respective set screw apertures  25   b , if not previously installed; applying a torque upon the set screws  25   a  until contacting and sufficiently impinging upon outer surfaces of the existing forks  101  using a common hand tool; removing the motorcycle  100  from the lift; utilizing the motorcycle  100  for riding in a normal manner; and, benefiting from an altered appearance of a motorcycle  100  having extended fork portions  101  afforded a user of the present invention  10 . The devices  10  may be removed and the motorcycle  100  returned to a factory stock configuration by performing the steps listed above in a reversed order. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.