Abstract:
A second seat assembly for a motorcycle which is removably mounted over a rear fender located above the rear wheel of a motorcycle. The second seat assembly is attached by hook members which engage with recesses formed in fender struts that are mounted in conjunction with the fender. The second seat assembly is tightly secured to avoid vibration and noise in the mounting of the second seat assembly on the motorcycle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains to second seat assemblies which are to be removably mounted in conjunction with the rear fender of a motorcycle located behind the operator seat of the motorcycle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the past, many different types of motorcycle accessories can be attached and detached from a motorcycle for the purpose of changing the functionality of the motorcycle. Motorcycles are generally manufactured with a single operator seat. Such a motorcycle is not designed to carry a passenger. To overcome this deficiency, there have been designed operator seats which includes an aft extension on which a passenger may sit. 
     Owners of motorcycles are generally very concerned about the look of the motorcycle. A motorcycle that has a passenger seat has a somewhat different look than a motorcycle without a passenger seat. A motorcycle operator may only carry a passenger a small percentage of the time when the motorcycle is operated. Therefore, that operator will not normally want the motorcycle to have “the look” of including the second seat one hundred percent of the time when the motorcycle is only used to carry a passenger infrequently. 
     In the past, one way to compensate for this problem was to have a second seat for the motorcycle that could be attached and detached relative to the motorcycle. Traditionally, the most common ways to attach and detach a second seat to the motorcycle was to bolt, screw or otherwise permanently attach the second seat to attachment points on the motorcycle. Therefore, in order to mount the second seat on the motorcycle, the operator of the motorcycle would have to use a wrench, screwdriver or other similar tool to achieve the attachment and detachment of the second seat. One of the problems with this arrangement is that the necessary tools may not be readily available to the operator of the motorcycle, such as when he or she is touring on the open road. Additionally, the attachment and detachment can be particularly time consuming particularly if the attachment points for the second seat are located behind or underneath a fender strut or under a seat or at some other inaccessible location. Additionally, the mounting hardware for the second seat might possibly be easily lost or misplaced. 
     Further, the including of appropriate attachment points in conjunction with the motorcycle generally involves the producing of protruding bolts or the producing of screw holes. Both modifications to the motorcycle deter from the overall look of the motorcycle. Owners of the motorcycle find the producing of such modifications to be undesirable. The producing of a second seat that can be attached and detached to a motorcycle without the use of tools is a desirable feature. However, even more desirable is that when the second seat is removed from the motorcycle, the motorcycle can have precisely the same look as a motorcycle that has no provision for mounting a second seat. There are no protruding bolts or screw holes formed anywhere on the motorcycle that are readily observable. One of the primary objectives of the present invention is to produce a way for mounting of the second seat in conjunction with a motorcycle where the structure that is used for the mounting is not observable when the second seat is not used. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first basic embodiment of the present invention is directly related to a second seat for a motorcycle which is to be mounted in conjunction with the fender strut located alongside of a fender of a motorcycle. The fender strut includes a forward recess and an aft recess formed within an upper surface of the fender strut so each recess is not observable from a side location. A second seat has a pair of first hook members and a pair of second hook members. The first hook members are adjustable in position. A single second hook member is to engage with a single forward recess and a single first hook member is to engage with a single aft recess. The second seat is then locked to the fender strut by the engagement with the hook members. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the first hook members being adjustable longitudinally in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second seat. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the first hook members being spring biased constantly toward a locking position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by there being mounted a first locking pin in each aft recess with each first hook member to engage with a first locking pin when the second seat is mounted on the motorcycle. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the including within each forward recess a second locking pin and a binding pin. A second hook member is to be tightly captured between a second locking pin and a binding pin when the second seat is mounted on the motorcycle. This tightly capturing position eliminates vibrationally caused movement of the second seat and noise emitted therefrom. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the binding pin being constructed of a nylon material. 
     A second basic embodiment of the present invention comprises a second seat assembly for a motorcycle where the motorcycle has a fender strut which is located on each side of a fender. Each fender strut is defined as having a forward recess and an aft recess formed within an upper surface of the fender strut. Each aft recess includes a first locking pin. Each forward recess includes a second locking pin and a binding pin. There are hook members that are mounted on the second seat which are to engage respectively with each recess and with the locking pins. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by there being a second hook member for each aft recess. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the rear portion of a motorcycle upon which has been mounted the second seat of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the disconnection and/or connection of the second seat in conjunction with the fender struts of the motorcycle; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partly in cross-section, of the fender and fender struts of the motorcycle showing the mounting arrangement for the second seat in conjunction with the fender struts f the motorcycle; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through one of the aft recesses included within one of the fender struts taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3 clearly showing the adjustable hook member that is used in conjunction with the locking pin that is mounted in conjunction the aft recess; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4 showing in more detail the adjustable hook member utilized in conjunction with the aft recess of a fender strut; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 3 showing in more detail the hook member arrangement utilized in conjunction with the forward recess of a fender strut. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a motorcycle rear wheel  10  which includes a tire  12 . Mounted on the frame, which is not shown, of the motorcycle is an operator&#39;s seat frame  14 . The operator&#39;s seat frame  14  has mounted thereon an operator seat  16 . Fixedly mounted onto the operator&#39;s seat frame  14  are a pair of fender struts  18  and  20 . Mounted between the fender struts  18  and  20  is a fender  22 . The fender  22  is located in a spaced relation over the tire  12 . The mounting of the struts  18  and  20  to the operator&#39;s seat frame  14  is by means of conventional bolt fasteners  24 . 
     Fender strut  18  is located on the left side of the rear wheel  10  with fender strut  20  being located on the right side of the rear wheel  10 . The fender struts  18  and  20  are basically similar in shape except that fender strut  18  is a mirror image of fender strut  20 . Both of the fender struts  18  and  20  have a basically arcuate smoothly contoured configuration which includes a top surface  26 . The thickness of each fender strut  18  and  20  will normally be about one inch to one inch and a quarter. 
     Formed within the top surface of each fender strut  18  and  20  are an aft recess  28  and a forward recess  30 . The aft recesses  28  and the forward recesses  30  are in alignment with each other, and if a line were drawn between the aft recesses  28  it would be parallel to a similar such line between the forward recesses  30  with both of these lines parallel to the rotational axis  32  of the motorcycle rear wheel  10 . Generally, both of the recesses  28  and  30  are no more than an inch and one half to two inches in length and generally about one-half to three-quarters of an inch deep. 
     Fixedly mounted within each strut  18  and  20  and located crosswise within the aft recess  28  is first locking pin  34 . The mounting of the first locking pin  34  within the recess  28  is such that there is always a certain amount of space located about the locking pin  34 . In a similar manner within each forward recess  30 , there is mounted a second locking pin  36 . Again, there is a certain amount of space located about the second locking pin  36 . Also mounted parallel to the second locking pin  36  within the forward recess  30  is a binding pin  38 . The binding pin  38  is located spaced from the second locking pin  36  and is located in a rearward direction from the second locking pin  36 . The rearward direction would be toward the free outer end of the struts  18  and  20 . The binding pin will normally be constructed of a rigid yet not hard material. One particular desirable material would be a nylon. However, it is to be considered within the scope of this invention that the binding pin  38  could be constructed of other material, such as a plastic, possibly even rubber or a soft metal. The binding pin  38  is mounted against the aft face  40  of each recess  30 . 
     Second seat  42  has an exterior surface which includes a soft pad  44 . The second seat  42  includes a second seat frame  46 . Integrally mounted to the second seat frame  46  are a pair of forward hook members  48 . These hook members  48  are in alignment with each other along a line which is again parallel to the rotational axis  32 . Each forward hook member  48  includes a hook cavity  50 . The open end of the hook cavity  50  faces opposite the aft face  40 , in other words, toward the front of the motorcycle. 
     Integrally mounted onto the second seat frame  46  is a mounting bracket  52 . It is to be understood that there are two in number of the mounting brackets  52 , one on one side of the second seat  42  and the other one on the opposite side of the second seat  42 . Again, a line interconnecting the mounting brackets  52  will be located parallel to the rotational axis  32 . Each mounting bracket  52  includes a forward slot  54  and an aft slot  56 . A pin  58  is mounted within the forward slot  54 . A similar pin  60  is mounted within the aft slot  56 . Pins  58  and  60  are basically of the same diameter, approximately one-quarter of an inch, and are of the same length. Each of the pins  58  and  60  are integrally mounted onto a hook body  62  of an aft hook member. The hook body  62  includes a hook cavity  64 . The hook cavity  64  has an open end that faces directly toward aft face  66  of the aft recess  28 . The width of the cavity  64  is just slightly greater than the diameter of the first locking pin  34 . In a similar manner, the width of the hook cavity  60  is just slightly greater than the diameter of the second locking pin  36 . Fixedly mounted to the free end of the pins  58  and  60  is a handle  68 . It is to be understood that there is to be a separate handle  68  for each hook body  62 . 
     A coil spring  70  is to be connected between rivet  72  mounted on the second seat frame  46  and a rivet  74  that is mounted on the hook body  62 . The coil spring  70  exerts a continuous bias on the hook body  62  tending to locate such in a locking position, which is clearly shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. However, application of a manual force against each handle  68 , as there is a separate handle  68  for each hook body  62 , will result in each hook body  62  being moved in a forward direction to an unlocking position. This type of movement is what to occur by the operator in order to disengage each of the first locking pins  34  from their respective hook cavity  64  and permit the second seat  42  to be pivoted from the installed position, shown in FIG. 1, to a substantially vertical partially extracted position, shown in dotted lines in FIG.  2 . 
     It is to be noted that in order to remove the second seat  42  that the second seat  42  must be pivoted to the vertical position, shown in dotted lines in FIG.  2 . It is only when in this position that the second locking pins  36  can be disengaged each from their respective hook cavity  50  which will permit vertical upward movement of the second seat  42  which will disengage each of the forward hook members  48  from their respective forward recess  30 . The fact that the second seat  42  can only be disengaged from the struts  18  and  20  when the second seat  42  is vertical, constitutes a safety feature that prevents unauthorized detachment. In other words, the only time the second seat  42  could be disengaged is when no person is occupying the second seat  42 . Accidental disengagement is absolutely prevented. After the second seat  42  has been so disengaged, the operator will be able to place a small cap plug, which is not shown, within each of the recesses  28  and  30  which will cover each of the now open recesses  28  and  30  and provide a smooth solid looking appearance providing a smooth upper surface for the top surface  26  hiding of the recesses  28  and  30 . Therefore, when the second seat  42  is not being used, there is no shown structure that is used to mount the second seat  42 . 
     It is to be understood that when it is desired to reconnect the second seat  42  to the fender struts  18  and  20  that these cap plugs, that are not shown, will be removed thereby exposing each of the recesses  28  and  30 . The operator then places the forward hook members  48  within each of their respective recesses  30  while the second seat  42  is in the dotted line position, shown in FIG.  2 . The operator will then pivot the second seat  42  approximately ninety degrees which will cause the forward hook members  48  to be tightly bound between each of the second locking pins  36  and their respective directly adjacent binding pin  38 . This will create essentially a vibration and noise free interconnection. As the operator moves the second seat  42  to a substantially horizontal position, the cam surface  76  of each hook body  62  will be pressed against their respective first locking pin  34 . As the second seat  42  is moved in a downward direction, the cam surface  76  will ride over its respective first locking pin  34  which will result in the hook body  62  being moved from a locking position to an unlocking position. Once the first locking pin  34  connects with its respective hook cavity  64 , the bias of the spring  70  will automatically cause the hook body  62  to be moved from the unlocking position to the locking position with the pin  58  slidingly moving within the forward slot  54  and the pin  60  being slidingly movable within the aft slot  56 . This will result in each first locking pin  34  being tightly seated within its respective hook cavity  64  and will remain in that position establishing again a vibration and noise free relationship between each first locking pin  34  and each hook body  62 . The second seat  42  is now completely installed in position for usage with the operator of the motorcycle seating on operator seat  16  and the passenger being seated on pad  44 .