Abstract:
A motorcycle transmission shifter assembly that uses the bottom toe portion of the foot to shift a motorcycle into a lower or higher gear using a combination of two shift levers located at the front of the foot. This assembly is linked to the transmission by a long shift rod.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to motorcycles in general, but is aimed particularly to motorcycles having the shift controls in the forward position.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Forward controls are common on motorcycles coming from the factory and also as an aftermarket application.  
         [0003]     They will typically be mounted on the side of the motorcycle, usually the left side, and mounted directly to the frame or possibly the engine assembly.  
         [0004]     The prior art assembly basically consists of a protruding footrest, commonly referred to as a footpeg. The driver&#39;s foot rests on the footpeg when in the riding position and also while shifting gears. Forward and slightly above the footpeg, there is a shift lever. The shift lever is used to shift the transmission into a lower or higher gear as necessary. The shift lever is connected to the transmission by a long rod, to be referred to as a shift rod, which moves forward or aft when the shift lever is activated. When the shift lever is depressed, it pulls the shift rod forward, actuating a mechanism in the transmission to change to a different gear, usually a lower gear, as when coming to a stop, commonly referred to as downshifting. When it is desirable to shift to a higher gear, commonly referred to as upshifting, the toe of the foot must be placed under the shift lever and pulled up, moving the shift rod rearward, activating the transmission to switch to a higher gear. This upward movement of the shift lever is repeated until desired gear is reached. The continued pulling up movement, over the course of a ride, can result in muscle fatigue, which can cause discomfort and possibly shortening said ride prematurely. Also with the prior art assembly, the repeated pulling up movement can eventually cause a wear mark to appear on top of the shoe or boot, thus ruining them.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides an improved shift lever assembly where downward force of the bottom toe portion of the foot is not only used to shift the transmission into a lower gear, as when downshifting, but also to shift the transmission into a higher gear. More specifically, the invention provides a motorcycle shift lever assembly including a mounting plate, for attaching said invention to motorcycle, an outward protruding footpeg, two shift levers mounted in front and/or above said footpeg to be operated by the bottom toe portion of the foot, a pivot plate that moves forward and backwards when said shift levers are pushed, and a shift rod that, on one end attaches to said pivot plate and the other end to said transmission.  
         [0006]     A further object to the present invention is to provide the said shift lever assembly with the option of attaching said shift rod to the lower or upper portion of said pivot plate which reverses the downshifting or upshifting role of said shift levers, as desired by the motorcycle driver.  
         [0007]     A yet further object to the present invention is to provide an improved motorcycle shift lever assembly that can be installed on the bike at the motorcycle factory, either as standard equipment, or as an option.  
         [0008]     A still further object to the present invention would be to have the said invention available as an aftermarket item to be installed at a later date. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a left side view of a motorcycle having the present invention installed.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a left side close-up view of a prior art motorcycle shift lever assembly.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a left side close-up view of the present motorcycle shift lever invention in a neutral position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of said present invention with the lower shift rod in the forward (downshift) position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of said present invention with the upper shift rod in the forward (upshift) position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a left side elevational view of said present invention installed independent of footrest. 
     
    
       [0015]     Let it be understood that the details and illustrations have been described for the competence of disclosure, without intending to limit the scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a Motorcycle  10  embodying the present invention. The Motorcycle  10  generally consists of a Frame  14 , a Seat  18 , a Fuel Tank  22 , a Front Wheel  26 , and a Rear Wheel  30 . Mounted within the frame would be an Engine  34 , and a Transmission  38 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a side view close-up of Motorcycle  10 , but with a conventional Shift Lever Assembly  42 . The conventional Shift Lever Assembly  42  generally consists of a Footpeg  46 , to rest the foot on, a Mounting Plate  50 , bolted or clamped to the Frame  14 , and a Shift Lever  54  which is depressed by the foot or pulled up by the foot for shifting the gears lower or higher. The Shift Lever  54  is connected to the Transmission  38  with a Shift Rod  58  which moves forward or rearward when the Shift Lever  54  is depressed or pulled up. This motion by the Shift Rod  58  is what activates the Transmission  38  to shift to another gear.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  depicts a side view close-up of Motorcycle  10  with the present Invention  62  attached. The present invention consists of a Footpeg  66 , a mounting plate  70  which is clamped or bolted to Frame  14 , a Pivot Plate  74  mounted behind Mounting Plate  70  by a Pivot Bolt Assembly  78 . The Pivot Bolt Assembly would generally be a typical nut and bolt assembly, or similar, which attaches the Pivot Plate  74  to the Mounting Plate  70  but allows Pivot Plate  74  to pivot freely. Attached to Pivot Plate  74  is an Upper Shift Rod  82  and a Lower Shift Rod  86 . These shift rods could be of equal or different lengths and can also be formed in a variety of shapes or bends as necessary. Also attached to the Pivot Plate would be a Shift Rod  90  similar in appearance and function to Shift Rod  58  in prior art  FIG. 2 . Shift Rod  90  is depicted in all present invention views as being attached to the lower end of Pivot Plate  74  but in actuality, could be attached at the upper end of Pivot Plate  74 , which would reverse the effects Shift Rods  82  and  86  have on said Transmission  38 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , we have a perspective view of the present Invention  62  with Lower Shift Rod pushed forward, in direction of Arrow  98 . This forward pushing on Lower Shift Rod  86  pulls Shift Rod  90  forward, in direction of Arrow  102 , actuating the Transmission  38 , to shift gears.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  depicts said perspective view of present Invention  62  but with the Upper Shift Rod  82  pushed forward in direction of Arrow  106 , which pushes Shift Rod  90  rearward, in direction of Arrow  110 , actuating Transmission  38  to change gears.  
         [0020]     The perspective views of  FIGS. 4 and 5  also illustrate the pivoting movement of Pivot Plate  74 . These said views also depict a Slot  94  cut into Mounting Plate  70  to allow Lower Shift Rod  86  to protrude through from Pivot Plate  74  and move freely. Upper Shift Rod  82  requires no slotting of Mounting Plate  70 , as it resides higher and out of the way of Mounting Plate  70 .  
         [0021]     However, if one were to desire a slot for Upper Shift Rod  82  to protrude through Mounting Plate  70  as a design option, this could be solved by having Mounting Plate  70  long enough to require a slot for Upper Shift Rod  82 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  depicts said perspective view of present Invention  62  mounted to frame  14  of motorcycle  10  but having footpeg  46  mounted to frame  14  separate.  
         [0023]     In general, the present invention eliminates the need to pull upward with the foot for any part of the gear shifting operation and also keeps the shift assembly forward of the rider&#39;s foot, at the toes, for safety, convenience, and comfort.  
         [0024]     Let it be understood that although specific embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of illustration, various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.