The present invention relates generally to motorcycles and to motorcycle accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to a boot rest that is mounted to the engine guards of a motorcycle.
Motorcycles are typically configured such that the motorcycle engine is located toward the front of the motorcycle frame and behind the front wheel struts. Because the motorcycle engine is fairly exposed to either side of the motorcycle frame, some manufacturers provide a bar or other similar structure forward of, and to either side of, the engine. Indeed, such bars have long been known in the motorcycle industry, including the “motorcycle protecting guard” that is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,941,801 to Harley, and such are typically referred to simply as “engine guards.” It is also well known in the motorcycle industry that engine guards are used to support the operator's or rider's feet or legs.
In the view of this inventor, one problem with the use of engine guards as a foot or leg support is that the typically chromed surface of the engine guard is a poor one for retention of the operator's feet or legs atop the engine guards. Accordingly, what is needed is a boot rest that can be easily and quickly attached and secured to the engine guard such that the operator's foot or leg can be retained atop the engine guard, particularly for shorter operators. What is also needed is such a boot rest that, when attached and secured to the engine guard, protects the chrome finish of the engine guard. What is also needed is such a boot rest that urges the operator's legs or feet inwardly to assist in boot or leg positioning at highway speeds.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boot rest that can be securely attached to the engine guard of an existing motorcycle. It is also an object to provide such a boot rest that can be attached easily and quickly, that uses a minimal number of parts, steps and tools to do so and that protects the chrome finish of the engine guard once attached. It is a further object to provide such a boot rest that, once attached, assists the operator in supporting his or her feet or legs atop the engine guard and urges his or her feet or legs inwardly. It is yet another object to provide such a boot rest that is attractive in appearance and is aesthetically pleasing to the overall appearance of the motorcycle from an observer's or operator's perspective.
The boot rest of the present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a boot rest comprising a boot rest body that can be securely attached to an engine guard using a pair of clamp collars and a plurality of fasteners. The boot rest body has a top surface and a plurality of apertures defined within the top surface. Disposed below the top surface is a rubber support insert. The support insert is disposed between the engine guard and the boot rest body to protect the chrome finish of the engine guard once the boot rest has been attached. The insert has a plurality of upwardly projecting members. Each of the upwardly projecting members is positioned below a like configured aperture defined within the top surface of the boot rest body such that the projecting members extend through the boot rest body and provide a gripping surface for the operator. A lip is also provided in the outer-most upwardly projecting member so as to urge the operator's legs or boots inwardly of the motorcycle.
The foregoing and other features of the boot rest of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbered elements refer to like elements throughout,
The body member 20 of the boot rest 10 further comprises a top surface 22 having a plurality of apertures 21 defined in it. See also
Disposed immediately below the top surface 22 of the body member 20 of the boot rest 10 is the boot rest rubber support insert 30. See
The support insert 30 further comprises a flat outer surface 56 and a curved bottom surface 58, the flat outer surface 56 being disposed in proximity to the outer edge 26 of the body member and the curved bottom surface 58 having a curve profile that substantially matches that of the curved portion 6 of the engine guard 2. The circumferential profile of the curved portion 6 of the engine guard 2 likewise matches the circumferential profile of the bottom surface 58 of the spacer 50. Inner and outer support members 52, 54, respectively, are also provided, each having a curved bottom surface 53, 55. This provides the design with a unique clamping surface. That is, there is a flat section aligned with fastener holes and relief cut on both sides of the clamping surface. This allows for clamping on a curved surface and also allows for some tolerance of fastener misalignment while insuring adequate generation of clamping force.
Securement of the boot rest 10 to the engine guard 2 is completed by use of the pair of clamp collars 60. See
In this configuration, and when the elements 20, 30, 60, 70 are secured in position, rotation of the boot rest 10 about the engine guard 2 is effectively prevented. The geometry of the boot rest 10 positions the clamp collars 60 in two different planes around the curve of the engine guard 2. This feature creates clamping forces in two different planes and establishes both an alignment feature and an additional locking force, i.e., beyond the clamping force of the two clamp collars 60.
In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been provided a new, useful and non-obvious boot rest for use with the engine guards of a motorcycle. The boot rest can that can be securely attached to the engine guards of an existing motorcycle, and this can be accomplished easily and quickly and by using a minimal number of parts, steps and tools to do so. Once attached, the boot rest assists the operator in supporting his or her feet or legs atop the engine guards and the profile of the upwardly projecting members of the rubber member urge the operator's leg or boot inwardly of the engine guard. Once attached, the boot rest is attractive in appearance and is aesthetically pleasing to the overall appearance of the motorcycle.
This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/394,494 filed Oct. 19, 2010.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61394494 | Oct 2010 | US |