Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-01-09
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S297000, C280S301000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170846
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to support systems for vehicles such as motorcycles and, more particularly, to a motorcycle equipped with an outwardly pivotable kickstand configured for supporting the motorcycle at various angles relative to the ground.
2. Description of Related Art
To stand upright, most two-wheeled conveyances such as bicycles or motorcycles require some type of support system. Most bicycles and motorcycles are equipped with a support system commonly referred to as a “kickstand” which, when extended, supports the bicycle or motorcycle in an upright position. A relatively simple device, the design of the kickstand has changed little over the years. Typically, the kickstand is comprised of a support leg configured to pivot between a first, retracted, position and a second, extended, position in which the kickstand supports the bicycle or motorcycle in the upright position. Most commercially available kickstands pivot in a plane generally parallel to the bicycle, motorcycle or other two wheeled vehicle.
While most kickstands pivot in a plane generally parallel to the bicycle, motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle, a limited number of kickstands pivot in a plane generally orthogonal to the two-wheeled vehicle. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 88,198 to Paine, U.S. Pat. No. 497,549 to Rider, U.S. Pat. No. 514,044 to Sherwood and U.S. Pat. No. 537,265 to Bell, all of which disclose bicycles equipped with kickstands which pivot in a plane generally orthogonal thereto. Like bicycles, motorcycles and other motorized two-wheeled vehicles commonly include a kickstand which pivots in a plane generally parallel to the vehicle. However, U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,574 to Bonora et al. discloses a combination kickstand and footrest in which, in the retracted position, the kickstand forms part of the footrest. The kickstand may also be pivoted outwardly to support the motorcycle in an upright position.
Like many such devices, the kickstands disclosed in the aforementioned patents are pivotable between an initial position and a final position where the kickstand engages the ground to support the bicycle in an upright position. Some kickstands, however, are pivotable between an initial position and plural extended positions. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 518,698 to Pipes et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 530,725 to Scott et al. In each of these patents, however, the disclosed support system includes a base member having plural slots formed therein. Forming a portion of the kickstand is a spring-biased projecting member which would extend into a slot to lock the kickstand into a selected position. Disengagement of the kickstand, however, required the operator to physical retract the kickstand, an inconvenient task at best.
Thus, there remains a need for a vehicle support system which includes a support leg which may be locked into or unlocked from a variety of positions with ease. It is, therefore, the object of the invention to provide such a vehicle support system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention is of a vehicle support system which maintains the vehicle in an upright position. The support system includes a base structure attached to a side surface of the vehicle, a support leg pivotably mounted to the base structure and a ratchet coupled to the base structure and the support leg. The ratchet allows the support leg to pivot, from an initial position in a first direction along a plane generally orthogonal to the side surface of the vehicle while preventing the support leg from pivoting in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the plane. In further aspects thereof, the vehicle support system may further included a release coupled to the base structure, either alone or in combination with a return spring coupled between the base structure and the support leg. The release selectively allows the support leg to pivot in the second direction along the plane while the return spring causes the support leg to return to the initial position. In still another aspect thereof, the ratchet prevents the support leg from pivoting, in the second direction, through a first one of a plurality of stops through which the support leg is pivotable in the first direction.
In a further aspect of this embodiment of the invention, the support leg, when in the initial position, is generally orthogonal to a surface on which the vehicle rests on when in the upright position. In another, the support leg supports the vehicle at a plurality of angles relative to the surface on which the vehicle rests when in the upright position. Each of these angles corresponds to one of the plurality of stops through which the support leg may pivot. In still another, the ratchet includes a ratchet gear and a plunger which rides along an exterior side surface thereof.
In accordance with still another aspect thereof, the base structure is comprised of a base plate attached to the side surface of the vehicle and a mounting block attached to the base plate. The plunger of the ratchet is slidingly received within a slot formed in the mounting block. Positioned between an interior side surface of the slot and an upper side surface of the plunger is a biasing spring for downwardly biasing the plunger such that the lower side surface thereof rides along the exterior side surface of the ratchet gear. A retractable cable for lifting the plunger out of engagement with the exterior side surface of the ratchet gear may also be provided as part of the release.
In another embodiment, the present invention is of a vehicle support system which maintains the vehicle in an upright position. The support system includes a base plate attached to a side surface and first and second mounting blocks attached to the base plate at a first, generally orthogonal, angle. Pivotably mounted between the first and second mounting blocks is a shaft to which a support leg and ratchet gear are fixedly mounted. A slot is formed in an upper body portion of the second mounting block which laterally extends over the ratchet gear. Mounted in the slot is a plunger and a biasing spring which downwardly biases the plunger such that a lower side surface thereof rides along an exterior side surface of the ratchet gear to allow the support leg to pivot, from an initial position, in a first direction along a first plane generally orthogonal to the side surface of the vehicle.
Outwardly projecting tooth faces formed along the exterior side surface of the ratchet gear engage the plunger to prevent the support leg from pivoting in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the plane. Retraction of a cable, coupled to the plunger, lifts the plunger, against the downward bias of the biasing spring, out of engagement with the ratchet gear such that a spring force produced by a return spring coupled between the second mounting block and the shaft causes the support leg to pivot in the second direction until returning to the initial position.
In one aspect of this embodiment of the invention, each one of the tooth faces forms a corresponding one of a plurality of stops for the ratchet gear. In another, the support leg is generally orthogonal to a surface on which the vehicle rests and, in a still further aspect thereof, for each one of the plurality of stops, the support leg supports the vehicle in the upright position at a respective angle relative to the surface.
In still another embodiment, the present invention is of a motorcycle having a frame to which a support system base is attached. Mounted to the base is a support leg pivotable, from an initial position, along a plane generally orthogonal to the frame of the vehicle. A ratchet coupled to the base and the support leg allows the support leg to pivot, from the initial position, in a first direction along the plane while preventing the support leg from pivoting in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the plane. A release system coupled to the frame and the ratchet selectively allows the supp
Haynes and Boone LLP
Johnson Brian L.
Yeagley Daniel
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