Adjustable kickstand

Abstract

An adjustable kickstand, such as a motorcycle kickstand, includes a generally-tubular outer member defining a longitudinal bore by which a second member slides into. The first member or outer member maintains a set bolt by which to slide into pre-set bores within the inner member to adjust the height or angle of the motorcycle. The support member further includes a tension spring urging the members to a retracted position relative to the motorcycle and at least one gravity-responsive locking element carried within respective members. By pushing both members the attitude of the two members moves between an operative orientation and a stowage orientation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to support devices for motorized vehicles that are often used to support or level the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Two-wheeled vehicles, such as bicycles or motorcycles, tend to be unstable when they are not in motion. Without some additional support means, such as a kick stand, gravity causes a stationary two-wheeled vehicle to fall over.

People who own, transport or service a two-wheeled vehicle often have a need to maintain the vehicle in a substantially vertical position. While a kickstand generally suffices to support the vehicle at rest, the use of a kickstand alone is often inadequate where the vehicle is subject to other forces. For example, a motorcycle being transported within another vehicle may be subjected to inertial forces, tilting and rocking motions, vibrations and the like which can cause the motorcycle to topple over. A stationary two-wheeled vehicle on solid ground may even be subjected to external forces by gusting winds or flowing water, for example.

The servicing of a vehicle is another situation which may cause external forces to be applied to the vehicle. A person working on the vehicle will likely introduce forces or shift the vehicle's center of gravity by, for example, applying torque to fasteners, hammering, prying, and attaching and removing parts of the vehicle. To prevent property damage and personal injury, it is particularly important that the vehicle remain stable and not fall over while the person is engaged in servicing the vehicle.

Furthermore, to facilitate working upon the vehicle, it is desirable in some instances that the vehicle be supported in a special position, such as with one wheel off the ground, to allow easier access to some parts.

Most kickstands which are designed to be permanently attached to a vehicle are disadvantageous for concentrating into a small area the force needed to hold the vehicle upright. If a kickstand is deployed on a surface that is not hard or sturdy enough, the kickstand will depress into the surface and eventually allow the vehicle to fall over, possibly causing damage or personal injury.

The prior art teaches a myriad of extendable support members or legs for a variety of objects and devices, by which each are provided a limited ability to accommodate an uneven or inclined supporting surface. Often, the object or device is a portable device that preferably accommodates a wide variety of such supporting surfaces through use of one or more such extendable support members. Generally, known extendable support members include a pair of coaxial, telescoped members, wherein one member is selectively translated relative to the other in order to achieve an extended condition providing the support with a desired overall length, perhaps with the aid of a screw drive or a ratchet-tensioned pulley system. The support is thereafter maintained in an extended condition with a locking mechanism that may include a transverse locking pin, a rotatable chuck or locking collar, or a ratchet mechanism. Upon release of the locking mechanism, the one member may be moved in the opposite direction, perhaps with the aid of a return spring, to thereby return the support to a retracted condition.

For purposes of illustration, in the context of an adjustable-length kickstand for a motorcycle, the relative translation of the one member relative to the other member is often achieved with the aid of gravity, with the one member sliding relative to the other member once both an associated stowage lock has been released and the kickstand has been pivoted from a generally horizontal stowage position to a generally vertical position, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,562. Alternatively, the one member is manually extended relative to the other member, either by hand or using the operator's foot, perhaps as further resisted by a return spring.

Once adjusted to the desired overall length, the members of the kickstand are locked relative to one another, for example, by insertion of a locking pin through a pair of aligned holes formed in the members as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,848, or by tightening an encompassing collar so as to generate an interference between the two members as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,687, or by tightening a set screw as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,557. Another approach is to employ a ratchet mechanism as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,562. Yet another approach is to include a cooperating pin and slot mechanism as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,804, in which the extended member is rotated about its longitudinal axis such that a projecting pin on the extended member is urged into one of several longitudinally-spaced canted slots.

When the kickstand is to be longitudinally collapsed, the locking mechanism is manually deactivated or decoupled, as by removing the locking pin, or turning the chuck or collar, or tensioning a release cable for the ratchet mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,562, or counter-rotating the one member to disengage the cooperating pin and slot mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,804, whereupon the one member may be moved back to a retracted position relative to the other member. Unfortunately, such manual deactivation or decoupling of the locking mechanism and, particularly, those requiring the relative rotation of a locking mechanism or one of the members themselves, can be difficult because the motorcycle operator must simultaneously balance the weight of the motorcycle.

Accordingly, what is needed is an adjustable telescoping support member that is simply and readily extended with pre-adjusted points of leverage. With simple pin placement within the support arm or kickstand, the stand can be extended or retrated to a predetermined length and securely held into place with a locking key or bolt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under the invention, an extendable support member includes a first elongate member defining a longitudinal bore along a longitudinal axis, wherein holes are bored through the member. A second elongate member adapted to be received in the longitudinal bore of the first member, wherein an outer surface of the second member includes a set screw to slide through the second member into one of many holes in the first member holding it securely into place.

The support member further includes at least one gravity-responsive locking element, preferably carried within a respective recess of one of the inner and outer members, wherein the locking element is movable within the members. In a preferred embodiment, the locking element includes an element, such a hardened steel pin that connects the first and second members. The locking element can be moved from one position into another lowering are increasing the angle of support and operative orientation.

Other advantages, features, and benefits of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the front view of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an outside view of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the invention switch

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the spring pin of the invention

FIG. 6 illustrates the top main body view of the invention

FIG. 7 illustrates the main body side view of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ENABLING AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims, as those skilled in the art will make modifications to the invention for particular uses.

Claims

1. A extendable support member comprising: an extendable support member includes a first elongate member defining a longitudinal bore along a longitudinal axis, wherein holes are bored through the member. A second elongate member adapted to be received in the longitudinal bore of the first member, wherein an outer surface of the second member includes a set screw to slide through the second member into one of many holes in the first member holding it securely into place.

2. The adjustable support member of claim 1, wherein the locking element includes an element that slides within the recess of the second member.

3. The adjustable support member of claim 2, wherein the sliding element is spherical.

4. The adjustable support member of claim 2, wherein the locking element further includes a screw or bolts that is urged toward the first position for locking purposes.

5. The adjustable support member of claim 1, wherein the locking element includes a bolt, and wherein the first position is characterized by a projection of a first end of the member into the recess of the first member.