Motor vehicles – Special wheel base – With means for changing number of supporting wheels – or for...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-23
2001-04-10
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Motor vehicles
Special wheel base
With means for changing number of supporting wheels, or for...
C073S494000, C180S021000, C180S219000, C280S297000, C280S301000, C280S303000, C280S755000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213237
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to side wheels for motorcycles, and in particular to a side wheels which can stay in a locked down position while the motorcycle goes from standing up to speeds of 15 miles per hour, and includes a safety overide feature for preventing the wheels from being permanently locked down. This invention is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,894 to Willman, the inventor of the subject invention, which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Large touring motorcycles such as the Harley Davidson FLH TC 1340 cc which weigh over 800 pounds can be difficult to both balance when the bike is standing still, moving forward or backward and especially through turns. Many attempts have been made over the years that try to hold a motorcycle upright and allow the pleasure of balancing the bike during a ride.
The inventor of the subject invention created “retractable motorcycle stop-support wheels” which limited operation of motorcycle side wheels to be either an up mode or a down mode. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,894 to Willman, which is incorporated by reference. The up mode has the side wheels in a permanent lock up position raised above ground level. The down mode has the side wheels in a permanent lock down position with both wheels abuting against the ground. This system was beneficial for allowing the cyclist to have upright stability of the motorcycle in stop-and-start traffic, for parking and for handling the motorcycle when it was not being ridden. However, each of the side wheels in the Willman '894 patent were not intended to be flexible to bend upward to follow the uneven road surface contours while the motorcycle is travelling. Furthermore, the Willman device was not meant to be used in a down position mode when the motorcycle was travelling during turns when the motorcycle is typically tilted and the downward positioned sidewheels would be flexible to follow the contours of the road.
Other lockup and lockdown stabilizer wheels have been proposed but also fail to be useful for allowing the side wheels to be used when the motorcycle is travelling and especially being used over rough uneven road contours nor being useful during turns when the motorcycle is traditionally tilted. See U.S. Pat. No.: 3,397,898 to Denney; U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,009 to Ashworth; U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,756 to Kitner; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,194 to Sakita These prior art devices would also be hazardous when used in a lock down fixed position during traveling and/or going through turns since the cyclist could lose control causing injury and damage to both the cyclist and the motorcycle. Still furthermore, many of these prior art devices are expensive to attach, unsightly to be seen and unreliable during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first objective of the present invention is to provide attractive, reliable low cost and convenient ground engaging side wheels for large motorcycles that can be used while the bike is touring .
The second object of this invention is to provide ground engaging side wheels for motorcycles that follow the uneven road surface contours while the motorcycle is moving.
The third object of this invention is to provide adjustable ground engaging side wheels for motorcycles that can be used when a motorcycle is being tilted during turns.
The fourth object of this invention is to provide a ground engaging side wheels system for motorcycles that prevents both side wheels from being locked in a fixed down position while the motorcycle is travelling at speeds greater than approximately 15 miles per hour.
A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a toggle control switch mounted on one of the handlebars of the motorcycle having two positions for use after side wheels are engaging the ground, or after side wheels have been lowered as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,894, which has been incorporated by reference. The handlebar mounted switch controls hydraulic valves having an open unlocked position and a closed locked position for sidewheel mounted swing arms which support the side wheels. In an unlocked position, each of the side wheels can move upward depending upon the contour of the ground and when the motorcycle is being tilted at all times regardless of speed.
The closed lock position of the switch causes the hydraulic valves on both sides of the motorcycle to close hydraulic cylinders and pistons extending from hydraulic cylinders to stay rigid against downwardly positioned swing arms connected to the two side wheels. The two side wheels stay locked in a ground engaging down position while the motorcycle is at a full stop and through speeds of up to approximately 10 to 15 miles per hour(mph) allowing the motorcycle to be ridden like a tricycle. Above approximately 15 mph, the lockup valves controlling the hydraulic cylinders are open, allowing oil to flow into a motorcycle frame supported compensator tank. When the motorcycle is tilting to the left or to the right up to approximately 55 degrees from the vertical, the corresponding downwardly positioned side wheel can rise upward while following the tilting bike. Also, each of the side wheels can move upward and downward while following the uneven ground contours during speeds in excess of approximately 15 mph. Threshold speed of approximately 15 mph can be adjusted up or down.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4811807 (1989-03-01), Schier
patent: 5511435 (1996-04-01), Kitamura et al.
patent: 6022037 (2000-02-01), Code
patent: 282333 (1988-09-01), None
Culbreth Eric
Law Offices of Brian S. Steinberger
Steinberger Brian S.
LandOfFree
Motorcycle stop support wheels does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Motorcycle stop support wheels, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Motorcycle stop support wheels will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2553363