Two-wheel vehicle with auxiliary support system
OwnerMasami Sakitainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An auxiliary side wheel assembly for use with a two wheel vehicle, such as a motorcycle, is shown which includes right and left arms at opposite sides of the vehicle which arms are attached to a connecting shaft extending transversely of the vehicle. The arms extend downwardly and rearwardly from the connecting shaft and are provided with left and right ground engaging auxiliary wheels at the lower ends thereof. A releasable lock engagable with the auxiliary wheel assembly releasably locks the same against upward pivotal rotation about the connecting shaft. In the locked condition, the vehicle is stabilized to prevent tipping onto its side, which stability is of particular benefit during low speed operation and when the vehicle is stopped.
Claims26
In a vehicle having frame means supported on a pair of main ground engaging wheels in line with one another, an auxiliary wheel assembly comprising,
- a connecting shaft journaled for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle,
- right and left arms attached to said connecting shaft adjacent opposite ends thereof and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom at opposite sides of the vehicle,
- right and left auxiliary ground engaging wheels rotatably supported by said right and left arms, respectively, and
- releasable locking means engagable with the auxiliary wheel assembly and operable between locking and unlocked conditions, in said locking condition said auxiliary wheel assembly being locked against upward pivotal movement about the connecting shaft axis to provide stable support for the vehicle in an upright position, in said unlocked condition said auxiliary wheel assembly being free for up and down pivotal movement about the connecting shaft axis whereby at least one of said auxiliary wheels remains in ground contact at substantially all times including banked turn operation of the vehicle.
In a vehicle having frame means supported on a pair of main ground engaging wheels in line with one another, an auxiliary wheel assembly comprising,
- a connecting shaft journaled for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle,
- right and left arms attached to said connecting shaft adjacent opposite ends thereof and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom at opposite sides of the vehicle,
- right and left auxiliary ground engaging wheels rotatably supported by said right and left arms, respectively, said auxiliary wheel assembly being free for pivotal movement about the connecting shaft axis under operation of gravity for engagement of at least one of said auxiliary wheels with the ground,
- releasable locking means engagable with the auxiliary wheel assembly for releasably locking the same against upward pivotal movement about the connecting shaft axis to provide stable support for the vehicle in an upright position when the auxiliary wheel assembly is locked against upward pivotal movement by said releasable locking means,
- said releasable locking means including a generally circular sector on one of said right and left arms adjacent said connecting shaft, and
- means releasably engagable with said circular sector for releasably locking said one arm against pivotal movement, said means releasably engagable with said circular sector including a pivotal lever and said circular sector including radially extending teeth engagable by said pivotal lever for preventing pivotal movement of the one arm.
In a vehicle having frame means supported on a pair of main ground engaging wheels in line with one another, an auxiliary wheel assembly comprising,
- a connecting shaft journaled for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle,
- right and left arms attached to said connecting shaft adjacent opposite ends thereof and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom at opposite sides of the vehicle,
- right and left auxiliary ground engaging wheels rotatably supported by said right and left arms, respectively, said auxiliary wheel assembly being free for pivotal movement about the connecting shaft axis under operation of gravity for engagement of at least one of said auxiliary wheels with the ground,
- releasable locking means engagable with the auxiliary wheel assembly for releasably locking the same against upward pivotal movement about the connecting shaft axis to provide stable support for the vehicle in an upright position when the auxiliary wheel assembly is locked against upward pivotal movement by said releasable locking means,
- said releasable locking means including a pair of opposing friction pads at opposite sides of one of said right and left arms which are simultaneously movable into engagement with said arm for locking the same against pivotal movement and are movable to a disengaged condition out of engagement with said arm wherein said arm is free for pivotal movement.
In a vehicle having frame means supported on a pair of main ground engaging wheels in line with one another, an auxiliary wheel assembly comprising,
- a connecting shaft journaled for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the vehicle,
- right and left arms attached to said connecting shaft adjacent opposite ends thereof and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom at opposite sides of the vehicle,
- right and left auxiliary ground engaging wheels rotatably supported by said right and left arms, respectively, said auxiliary wheel assembly being free for pivotal movement about the connecting shaft axis under operation of gravity for engagement of at least one of said auxiliary wheels with the ground,
- releasable locking means engagable with the auxiliary wheel assembly for releasably locking the same against upward pivotal movement about the connecting shaft axis to provide stable support for the vehicle in an upright position when the auxiliary wheel assembly is locked against upward pivotal movement by said releasable locking means,
- said releasable locking means including a ratchet wheel rotatably connected to one of said right and left arms at said connecting shaft,
- means for rotating the ratchet wheel upon rotation of the main ground engaging wheels and for preventing rotation thereof when the vehicle is stopped, and
- a pawl pivotally attached to said one arm and engagable with said ratchet wheel, engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel when rotation of the ratchet wheel is stopped preventing upward pivotal movement of the auxiliary wheel assembly.
In a vehicle having frame means supported on a pair of main ground engaging wheels in line with one another, an auxiliary wheel assembly comprising,
- right and left arms at opposite sides of the vehicle,
- a connecting shaft extending transversely of the vehicle to which said right and left arms are fixedly attached,
- means for journaling said connecting shaft for pivotal movement about the shaft axis, said right and left arms and connecting shaft being pivotally movable as a unit,
- right and left auxiliary ground engaging wheels rotatably supported by said right and left arms, respectively, at least one of said auxiliary wheels engaging the ground at substantially all times during vehicle operation including banked turn operation thereof, and
- means movable into and out of engagement with at least one of said left and right arms and connecting shaft for releasably locking the same against pivotal movement in the engaged locking condition thereof, the auxiliary wheels providing stable support for the vehicle in an upright position in the locking condition of the releasable locking means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.