Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-23
2001-01-23
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S276000, C280S277000, C280S279000, C180S219000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176503
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to motorcycles, and more particularly to a structural riser system for translating steering forces directly to the front wheel-carrying fork assembly of a motorcycle.
BACKGROUND
The configuration of a motorcycle steering column is critical to the safety and maneuverability of the motorcycle. Many motorcycles use what is known as a “triple-tree” structure to couple the front wheel to the main frame of the motorcycle for turning and swinging. Conventionally, a handlebar is attached to the top of the triple-tree structure so that, effectively, a steering force, which “lies” between the front wheel and the rider, communicates with the front wheel through the triple-tree structure.
Typically, the handlebar is attached to the triple-tree structure through a pair of risers which extend generally upward from the triple-tree structure to the handle bar. In addition to providing a physical coupling between the handlebar and triple-tree structure, the risers also function to raise and establish the base height of the handlebar relative to the triple-tree structure. Thus, motorcycle riders may select and install risers of varying lengths to adjust the desired useable height of handlebar.
My discovery, which, forms the underpinary basis of the present invention is that, in subtle but quite important ways, prior art triple-tree/riser systems do not provide optimal steering performance. They exhibit this failure because they rely on an indirect translation of steering forces from the handlebar to the front wheel. In addition, prior-art triple-tree/riser systems do not permit selected equipment to be mounted readily and easily below the handlebar.
SUMMARY
The present invention addresses this prior-art shortcoming by providing a structural riser system and organization for use in, and adjacent the front of, a motorcycle, to communicate a steering force, which is applied to a handlebar structure, more directly to the front fork assembly of the motorcycle than is done in conventional structures. With the proposed system installed for use, two, conventional, axially-telescopic fork legs are anchored to a triple-tree structure. Two elongate risers are anchored with a special new disposition to the top of the triple-tree structure, from which they extend generally upwardly to receive a motorcycle handlebar. The system is configured, in relation to the special disposition just mentioned, so that the long axis of each riser is substantially coincident with the long axis of a different one of the fork legs. This axial coincidence and alignment, inter alia, in what is newly contributed by the present invention, and is what principally accounts for a noticeable improvement in steering management and control. The invented organization also provides a unique equipment-mounting region sized to receive selected equipment. The equipment mounting region is bounded laterally by the risers, and vertically by the handlebar and triple-tree structure. The system of the present invention is fittable, and retrofittable, in just about any conventional motorcycle.
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Dickson Paul N.
Draper Deanna
Kolisch Hartwell Dickinson & McCormack & Heuser
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