Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-16
2004-02-10
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C180S219000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06688629
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of motorcycle parts and components, and more particularly to devices that provide durable, lightweight motorcycle footrests having adjustable footrest positions.
Motorcycles are generally delivered from a manufacturer to a purchaser with footrests having fixed positions with respect to the motorcycle frame. One footrest is located on one side of the motorcycle for convenience of shifting gears with one foot of the operator. Another footrest is located on another side of the motorcycle for convenience of operating brakes with the other foot of the operator. There are several reasons for desiring to adjust the position of the footrest locations that are different from the fixed stock positions provided by a manufacturer. The stock positions may be undesirable due to the physical stature of the motorcycle operator. Because of the operator's physical stature, the stock positions may be either too high or too low, and either too far forward or too far rearward. When racing motorcycles, it is often desirable to move the footrests higher and rearward due to the extreme lean angles achieved on closed course racetracks. There is a direct relationship between the lean angle of a motorcycle and its achievable speed when traveling through a given arc when encountering a turn. Higher speeds require greater lean angles. If footrests are positioned too low, they may strike the ground at extreme lean angles, creating a hazard for the motorcycle operator and a potential for crashing. This possibility limits the maximum motorcycle speed when encountering a turn or corner. By adjusting the footrests to a higher position, a motorcycle operator can carry more speed through corners and turns due to greater achievable lean angles. However, when footrests are raised to accommodate extreme lean angles, they must also be adjusted rearward in order to bring the operators' knees down and align the operators' feet in such a way to provide easy actuation of the gearshift and brake foot controls of the motorcycle.
Each motorcycle operator will have a unique opinion about how far up and how far back the footrests should be placed to achieve a comfortable and functional positioning of the footrest on the motorcycle. When riding on public streets at speeds where the clearance between the motorcycle footrests and the ground is not an issue, the motorcycle operator may wish to place the footrests in a lower and further forward position to achieve a more comfortable arrangement. When considering these issues and the variables involved, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to be able to position the footrests in infinitely adjustable horizontal and vertical increments to meet the specific requirements of the motorcycle operator. A further advantage would be providing a method for locking the adjusted position of each footrest with a single tightening means. Furthermore, the footrests should have sufficient strength, durability and ease of adjustment to withstand the environments encountered in motorcycle operation, including closed course racetracks. Existing footrests suffer from a restricted range of adjustment.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention includes an apparatus and method for providing motorcycle footrests that have continuous and infinite adjustability over a wide range to accommodate the needs of motorcycle operators of various physical statures. The invention provides both horizontal and vertical adjustability with respect to a frame of a motorcycle. The invention is also capable of satisfying the needs of motorcycle operators whether riding on a racetrack or on public streets and highways. The invention provides footrests that are constructed of materials and in such a fashion to be strong, lightweight, durable and easily adjustable. Embodiments of the invention are capable of being locked into position by tightening a single screw on each footrest.
The invention provides durable, lightweight motorcycle footrests having two overlapping eccentric axis of rotation for adjusting footrest position. The footrest position of the present invention provides infinite and continuous adjustability in a vertical and horizontal position with respect to a motorcycle frame within the limits defined by two concentric circles offset from centers of rotation.
An embodiment of the present invention is a method of a dual eccentric adjustable motorcycle footrest that comprises the steps of fastening a bracket having a circular bracket aperture to a motorcycle frame, rotationally adjusting an angular position of a circular collet placed within the circular bracket aperture, the circular collet having an eccentrically offset collet aperture with respect to a circular collet rotational axis, rotationally adjusting an angular position of a foot peg with respect to a foot peg pivot placed within the offset collet aperture, the foot peg having an eccentrically offset positional relationship with respect to a foot peg pivot rotational axis, and fixing an adjusted position of the foot peg by securing the angular position of the collet in the bracket aperture and the angular position of the foot peg pivot in the collet aperture. The step of fixing an adjusted position may comprise providing a slot in the bracket for enabling a friction fit between the bracket aperture and the collet by reducing a diameter of the bracket aperture, providing a slot in the collet for enabling a friction fit between the collet aperture and the foot peg pivot by reducing a diameter of the collet aperture, and tightening a single securing screw through the bracket slot for creating a friction fit between the bracket aperture and the collet by reducing the diameter of the bracket aperture, and for creating a friction fit between the collet aperture and the foot peg pivot by reducing the diameter of the collet aperture. The step of fixing an adjusted position may comprise providing a slot in the collet for enabling a friction fit between the collet and bracket aperture by increasing a diameter of the collet, creating a counter bored hole along the foot peg pivot axis, the counter bored hole having a slot machined in a side wall parallel to the foot peg pivot axis for increasing a diameter of the foot peg pivot, and inserting a single threaded fastener into the counter bored hole and threading the threaded fastener into a tapered nut, causing the slotted counter bored hole in the foot peg pivot to expand for securing the angular position of the foot peg pivot in the collet aperture and securing the angular position of the collet in the bracket aperture. The method may further comprise providing a slot in the bracket for enabling a friction fit between the bracket aperture and the collet by reducing a diameter of the bracket aperture, and tightening a securing screw through the bracket slot for creating a friction fit between the bracket aperture and the collet by reducing the diameter of the bracket aperture. The step of fixing an adjusted position may comprise providing a slot in the bracket for enabling a friction fit between the bracket aperture and the collet by reducing a diameter of the bracket aperture, providing a slot in the collet for enabling a clamping fit between the collet aperture and the foot peg pivot by reducing a diameter of the collet aperture, machining a spline in the collet aperture and a matching spline on the foot peg pivot, and tightening a single securing screw through the bracket slot for creating a friction fit between the bracket aperture and the collet by reducing the diameter of the bracket aperture, and for creating a clamping fit between the collet aperture and the foot peg pivot by reducing the diameter of the collet aperture. The method may further comprise tapping a threaded hole in the foot peg pivot, and tightening a threaded fastener through the collet aperture into the foot peg pivot tapped hole for creating a clamping fit between the collet and the foot peg pivot. The method may further comprise fastening a right ha
DePumpo Daniel G.
Taylor Russell & Russell P.C.
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