Abstract: A retractable windshield and flare panel assembly for a motorcycle includes a vertically moveable windshield and a pair of oppositely-moving, horizontally-retractable flare panels. A motor-driven drive screw drives a vertically moving threaded drive block. The drive block engages the windshield to move the windshield vertically. A pair of flare panel sliders are also mounted to the drive block and engage elongated slots in the flare panels. The elongated slots extend in both horizontal and vertical directions so that the flare panel sliders function as cams to move the flare panels horizontally. The drive screw is turned by a reversible motor to move the threaded drive block up and down. This vertically positions the windshield and by cam action horizontally positions the flare panel slides on each side of the windshield module.

Abstract: A disk on a motorcycle fork blocks the flow of air and water upwardly along the fork and is rotatable in a frame mounted carrier located inside a motorcycle fairing mounted on the motorcycle frame. The disc also functions as an engine noise barrier. A pair of crash bars, one on either side of the motorcycle, have forward ends secured to the fairing mounting plates above the front wheel. The crash bars extend downwardly and rearwardly and diverge outwardly from the motorcycle. The intermediate portions of the crash bars are secured to the motorcycle frame and the rear portions rest on the engine.

Abstract: A saddle bag for use on motorcycles is provided with a recessed handle on the top surface thereof. The bag is shaped to have a wider bottom and an angled side wall upon which is mounted a bottom-hinged door. The bag is balanced in such a way that when lifted by the handle, it will pivot about the handle such that the angled side wall and door fall in a substantially vertical plane. A person carrying the bag with the door next to the leg will have the door parallel to the leg and not in a position to bump or tangle said leg. A part of the bottom wall of the bag is angled such that with the bag in position on a motorcycle, the bag is not likely to drag on the ground as the cycle goes around corners or as the cycle lays over.

Abstract: A cover for a hot tub has wooden or other rigid ribs secured to a flexible, resilient foamed plastic sheet. One rib is secured at an edge of the tub to anchor the cover. The cover can be rolled between an extended position overlying the tub and a rolled retracted position adjacent the tub. A pair of brackets secured to the tub each have a depression in the top surface in which the retracted rolled cover rests.

Abstract: A windshield is either pivotally mounted or breakaway mounted along its bottom edge to a motorcycle fairing and releasably held in an upright position by means along sides of the windshield which allow the windshield to separate therefrom and either pivot forward or fly away from the rider upon the rider striking the windshield. In one embodiment, the windshield is held by bendable U-shaped clips, and the release of the windshield is achieved partly through flexing of the windshield and partly through the bending of the clips. In another embodiment, a resilient windshield is held between a pair of rigid U-shaped brackets in a flexed state, and release of the windshield upon impact is achieved solely through the flexing of the windshield.

Abstract: A motorcycle sidecar frame composed of five elongate struts secured together at their respective ends into a shape substantially conforming to that of a tetrahedron. In one embodiment, a portion of an elongate frame member found on a motorcycle comprises the sixth edge of the tetrahedron. Two of the vertices of the tetrahedral frame are respectively located at two spaced points of the frame member. The remaining two vertices of the tetrahedron are respectively secured to a sidecar suspension system. One of the vertices is secured to the top of a shock absorber, which extends downwardly to the axle of the sidecar wheel, and the other vertex is pivotally secured to the end of an arm, the other end of which is secured to the sidecar wheel axle. In an alternative embodiment of the basic tetrahedral frame, the function of the five elongate struts of the first embodiment and the sixth strut is provided by the edges or corners of a tetrahedron formed by suitable sheets of metal.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a part of a shock absorbing wheel suspension system of a motorcycle sidecar which is adjustable for securing the sidecar wheel at both different toe-in positions and offset positions. The suspension system includes an elongate swing arm that is pivotally secured to the sidecar frame at one end and carries the wheel assembly at its other end. In one embodiment, the swing arm comprises two elongate members that may be secured together at different relative angular positions corresponding to different sidecar wheel toe-in positions. Means are also provided so that the wheel-carrying one of the two members may be secured at different locations along the length of the other elongate member corresponding to different wheel offset positions. The means provided for securing the members together at different angular positions also functions to secure them together at different relative longitudinal positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a sidecar to a motorcycle having a vertically disposed trapezoid-shaped frame section comprised of elongate struts interconnected at their ends defining a first vertex adjacent the motorcycle seat cushion and second and third vertices substantially below and in front of the first vertex includes three mounting bracket plates that are secured to the frame adjacent the three vertices, respectively. In one embodiment, three mounting brackets overlie two struts of the frame adjacent the vertex and are respectively clamped thereto by U-bolts. In another embodiment, a front engine mount of the motorcycle adjacent the third vertex is replaced by a mounting bracket plate which is secured to both the engine block and a frame member. Each mounting bracket plate carries the male portion of a clevispin connector for releasably attaching the sidecar to the mounting bracket plates.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a sidecar to a motorcycle adapted for adjustment by the motorcycle rider during transit to alter the orientation of the motorcycle relative to vertical to match the needs dictated by varying road conditions by providing pivotal connectors located along an axis substantially parallel to the direction of travel for relative pivotal motion between the sidecar and the motorcycle and by providing all other connectors spaced from said axis with means for adjusting their effective length.