Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2001-10-23
Boehler, Anne Marie (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S292000, C280S491500, C280S495000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305702
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an attachment device for use on motorcycles, and more particularly, to an attachment device having a receiver assembly mountable beneath the rear fender of a motorcycle so as to be invisible to the ordinary observer standing behind the motorcycle, the device being attachable by a quick-release connector to a visible load-supporting apparatus such as a trailer hitch, insulated cooler carrier, golf club carrier or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
The design and use of motorcycle hitches is well known in the art. In a conventional motorcycle hitch assembly, the frame of the assembly is typically exteriorly attached to the frame of the motorcycle. A hitch ball is usually attached to the frame of the motorcycle hitch assembly by means of a threaded bolt and nut on the bottom of the ball. Conventional motorcycle trailer hitch devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,426; 4,471,973; D273,486; D294,341; D298,022; D308,353 and D334,163. Trailer hitches particularly designed for several brands and models of motorcycles are disclosed, for example, at the internet website
www.hitchdoc.com
of The Hitch Doc, Rt. 1, Box 204, Round Lake, Minn. 56167.
More recently, receiver hitches have been used with some vehicles as a means for quickly attaching and removing the hitch ball or for attaching other devices. U.S. Des. No. 409,557, for example, depicts a motorcycle apparently having a trailer hitch with a conventional ball but also discloses a golf club rack attached to the motorcycle using a visible square tubing receiver disposed below the ball. A disadvantage of prior art devices for attaching trailers or other load-carrying apparatus to the rear of motorcycles is that they are visible and unsightly, detracting from the overall appearance of the motorcycle, especially when not in use. An attachment device for motorcycles is therefore needed that is not visible to observers when not in use but that is quickly connectable to a trailer hitch or other load-carrying apparatus when desired. A device is disclosed herein which overcomes the deficiencies of prior art motorcycle hitch assemblies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A quick-release attachment device is disclosed herein that has a receiver assembly mountable in a concealed position under the rear fender of a motorcycle for use in quickly connecting and disconnecting other load-supporting apparatus such as, for example, a trailer hitch, cooler carrier, golf club carrier, or similar auxiliary apparatus. The release assembly desirably embodies two laterally spaced, longitudinal support members attachable to the motorcycle frame from a position located under the rear fender, a transverse support member interconnecting the longitudinal support members, and a downwardly inclined receiver member depending from the transverse support member to receive an upwardly inclined, projecting portion of a load-supporting apparatus that is insertable into the receiver member.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 273486 (1984-04-01), O'Rourke
patent: D. 294341 (1988-02-01), Van Komen
patent: D. 298022 (1988-10-01), O'Rourke
patent: D. 308353 (1990-06-01), Allen
patent: D. 334163 (1993-03-01), McVey
patent: D. 409557 (1999-05-01), Armour
patent: 2978260 (1961-04-01), Hebeisen
patent: 3598426 (1971-08-01), Spiese
patent: 3734536 (1973-05-01), Dever et al.
patent: 3937489 (1976-02-01), Hawes et al.
patent: 4283072 (1981-08-01), Deloach, Jr.
patent: 4471973 (1984-09-01), Beckmann
patent: 4511155 (1985-04-01), Galloway
patent: 4536001 (1985-08-01), Wagner
patent: 4685691 (1987-08-01), Tremblay
patent: 5277448 (1994-01-01), Colibert
patent: 6039227 (2000-03-01), Stark
patent: 6095387 (2000-08-01), Lipscomb
Hitch Doc Trailer Hitches for Motorcycles advertisement, printed from Internet web site http://www.hitchdoc.com on Sep. 22, 1999.
Boehler Anne Marie
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
Ross Monty L.
Winner Tony
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