Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Bicycle or motorcycle
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-28
2004-07-20
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Bicycle or motorcycle
C473S549000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06764206
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to motorcycle accessories and, more specifically, to a Single-bolt Auxiliary Light Bracket
2. Description of Related Art
Motorcycle accessory products have been, and continue to be, a large commercial market. It is rare for a motorcycle owner to simply purchase a motorcycle , and then leave it as-is without any change or improvement. This is particularly true in regards to the high-end, large street “cruiser” motorcycles. These street cruiser motorcycles tend to be very dressed up, and to display expansive amounts of chrome. It has become the source of great ownership pride to accessorize one's cruiser motorcycle with high quality accessory devices such as auxiliary lights. Auxiliary lights can be purchased in a wide variety of styles and for a wide variety of purposes on the motorcycle. Of particular popularity are the auxiliary headlights; these lights are typically mounted on either side of the main motorcycle headlight—here they provide additional beauty and safety. Before discussing how these auxiliary headlights have been attached in the past, we will first orient ourselves by discussing the main components of the fork area of a conventional street cruiser motorcycle.
FIG. 1
is a partial perspective view of a conventional motorcycle fork assembly
10
. The conventional motorcycle has a left fork tube
12
and right fork tube
14
extending between the motorcycle frame (not shown) and the shock absorbers (which support the front wheel). Although not depicted, there is a steering stem that attaches the fork assembly
10
to the frame of the motorcycle. The steering stem is centered on the frame (and between the fork tubes
12
and
14
), and enables the fork assembly to rotate back and forth to provide vehicle steering.
The fork tubes
12
and
14
and steering stem (not shown) on a street cruiser motorcycle are typically clamped together by an upper “triple clamp”
18
and a lower triple clamp
20
. Typically also, the lower triple clamp
20
provides support for the main headlight assembly
22
. The main headlight assembly
22
is attached to the lower triple clamp
20
by the main headlight mounting bolt
23
affixed therethrough. Now turning to
FIG. 2
, we can examine one example of a prior device and method for mounting auxiliary headlights to a motorcycle.
FIG. 2
is a partial perspective view of a prior accessory mounting bracket assembly
29
for motorcycle. The assembly
29
consists of a center mounting bracket
30
and a mounting bar
31
extending out and up from the center mounting bracket
30
. The center mounting bracket
30
is attached to the top surface
22
of the lower triple clamp
20
by the main headlight mounting bolt
23
; the mounting bracket
30
is “sandwiched” between the main headlight assembly
22
and the lower triple clamp
20
. A first auxiliary headlight
32
A and second auxiliary headlight
32
B are attached to, and extend from the opposing distal ends of the mounting bar
31
.
There are at least two problems with this prior assembly
22
: (1) since it only has a single anchoring point to the lower triple clamp
20
, it is not particularly rigid (and is therefore unstable); and (2) although not depicted here, the auxiliary headlights
32
require electrical wiring in order that they function—this assembly
29
leaves those wires out in the open and unprotected as they run between the auxiliary headlights
32
and the main headlight
22
(which is where they receive their power). Also, the prior assembly
22
is not particularly aesthetically pleasing. If we now turn to
FIG. 3
, we can examine yet another prior design.
FIG. 3
is an exploded perspective view of another prior accessory mounting bracket
40
. In this simple design, the bracket
40
is designed to be attached directly to one of the fork tubes (see FIG.
1
). The bracket
40
consists of a first bracket-half
42
A and a second bracket-half
42
B which are tightened together to clamp onto the fork tube (not shown). The bracket
40
has a mounting aperture
46
penetrating therethrough to accept the threaded mounting stud
30
that extends from the typical auxiliary headlight assembly
32
. The assembly
32
then attaches to the bracket
40
by a mounting nut
38
and washer
39
engaging the stud
30
. This prior design suffers from the same problems as the assembly described in
FIG. 2
, and has an even poorer aesthetic appearance.
What is needed is a method and device for attaching auxiliary headlights to motorcycles that is structurally dependable, aesthetically pleasing in its shape, as well as in providing a storage location for the power supply wiring leading to the auxiliary headlights.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Single-bolt Auxiliary Light Bracket and the method for installing the Bracket. The device should provide a clean, sleek mounting apparatus for motorcycle auxiliary light fixtures. The device should be provided in a variety of configurations to accomodate a variety of handlebar designs; in all embodiments, the bracket should attach with a single bolt to the existing motorcycle structure. The device should further be provided with recessed grooves formed in its surface for retaining headlamp wiring and other non-aesthetically-pleasing appurtances therewithin.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3099400 (1963-07-01), Holmes
patent: 3948475 (1976-04-01), Jones
patent: 4320906 (1982-03-01), Saunders, IV
patent: 4495553 (1985-01-01), Haynes
patent: 4565384 (1986-01-01), Dehnisch
patent: 4687072 (1987-08-01), Komuro
patent: 5418696 (1995-05-01), Izzo, Sr.
patent: 5595441 (1997-01-01), McGee
patent: 5727864 (1998-03-01), Stelling et al.
patent: 6036339 (2000-03-01), Idoeta
patent: 6158279 (2000-12-01), Saiki
patent: 6176339 (2001-01-01), Reichardt
Cariaso Alan
Choi Jacob Y.
Steins & Associates, P.C.
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