Motorcycle controlling sidecar for handicapped persons
OwnerJohn C. Mitchell, Thomas N. Terninginventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motorcycle sidecar securely accommodates a handicapped driver seated in a wheelchair. Handlebars are mounted directly in front of the driver for steering the motorcycle. Other controls, including a throttle, a front brake lever, and a clutch lever are mounted on the handle bars. A rear brake lever and a gear shifting control are conveniently located in the sidecar for manipulation by the handicapped driver. A retractable ramp is provided for permitting the driver to roll his wheelchair into the sidecar. Brackets are provided for securely attaching the sidecar to a conventional motorcycle.
Claims8
A sidecar for attachment to a motorcycle including a frame, a motor supported by the frame for powering the rear wheel of the motorcycle, a front fork assembly connected to the frame, a foot-actuatable gear shifting lever, and a foot-actuatable brake lever, said motorcycle and sidecar being easily drivable by a driver seated in a wheelchair, said sidecar comprising in combination:
- (a) a support frame;
- (b) means for attaching said support frame to the frame of the motorcycle;
- (c) a wheel and a suspension system for connecting said wheel to said support frame;
- (d) a substantially horizontal support plate attached to said support frame for supporting a wheelchair in which the driver is seated, said support plate and said support frame forming a protected compartment within which the wheelchair and the driver seated in the wheelchair are disposed while the driver operates the motorcycle, said support plate being disposed sufficiently close to a road surface supporting the motorcycle and the sidecar to permit easy entry of the wheelchair into said compartment by the driver;
- (e) steering means connected to said support frame directly in front of the driver for enabling the driver to easily steer the motorcycle while seated in the wheelchair in said compartment;
- (f) means for connecting said steering means to the front fork assembly of the motorcycle for translating turning movement applied to said steering means by the driver to produce a corresponding turning of said fork front assembly of the motorcycle;
- and
- (g) shifting means attached to said sidecar and coupled to said gear shifting lever for enabling the driver to shift gears by means of an arm motion, said shifting means including a hook-shaped end element for engagement by an arm of the driver and a rod-like member attached to said hook-shaped end element, permitting the driver to shift gears of the motorcycle by imparting a longitudinal movement to said rod-like member by engaging said hook-shaped end element with his forearm while grasping said steering means with the hand of that arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.