Patent Application
20110253274
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to devices for protecting motorcycles from physical damage, particularly while being towed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Motorcycles are often towed behind other vehicles. While being towed, the motorcycle is generally subject to the same inclement conditions as the vehicle towing it such as flying road debris (e.g. rocks and sand) and weather conditions (e.g. hail and rain). Additionally, the motorcycle can become soiled or damaged by constant exposure to vehicle emissions, such as soot from gasoline and diesel engines. Many surfaces of motorcycles are painted and/or plated with expensive finishes such as chrome. These surfaces are susceptible to damage from road debris and other inclement conditions. Covers for motorcycles are known in the art; however, existing covers tend to be cumbersome to install, store and maintain, and many are not designed to be used during high speed transportation. What is needed then, is a cover which is simple and quick to install, lightweight and easy to store, effective at protecting the motorcycle from damage during towing, and conducive to high-speed transportation.
An aspect of the present invention involves a cover that protects a motorcycle. In particular, the cover may be used with a variety of vehicles which have varying geometries.
An embodiment is a cover for a motorcycle. The cover includes an exterior surface, an interior surface, a front attachment pocket sized and shaped so as to receive a first portion of a motorcycle, and a rear attachment pocket sized and shaped so as to receive a second portion of the motorcycle.
Another embodiment is a cover for a motorcycle. The cover includes a front surface comprising a stretchable material, a rear surface comprising a stretchable material, an interior surface comprising a stretchable material, a front attachment pocket, a rear attachment pocket, and one or more attachment straps.
A further embodiment is a cover for a motorcycle. The cover includes a stretchable front pocket sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of a fender of the motorcycle and a stretchable rear pocket sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of a handlebar of the motorcycle.
The systems and methods of the invention have several aspects and features, no single one of which is solely responsible for all of its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the invention as expressed by the claims, its more prominent aspects have been discussed briefly above. Further aspects and features will also be understood from the description below. Additionally, various aspects and features of the system can be practiced apart from each other.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be described in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, in reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. The following are brief descriptions of the drawings.
The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments. However, the teachings herein can be applied in a multitude of different ways. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout.
The motorcycle 100 includes handlebars and their associated hardware 105, rear view mirrors 110, front-facing portions of the tank 115, windscreen 120, headlight(s) 125, signal lights, front fork 130, front fender 135, saddlebags 145, and travel pack. The motorcycle 100 further includes a seat 140 and instrument bezel 150. One or more of these components or areas of the motorcycle 100 may be damaged from adverse conditions during towing operations. Of course the invention is not limited to protecting only the listed portions and may include other unlisted portions of the motorcycle known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Generally, any front-facing portion of the motorcycle 100 will be susceptible to road debris such as rocks, sand, vehicle emissions, and other trash found along road ways. Because the rate of speed of the towing vehicle may be high, debris coming in contact with a towed motorcycle may damage that motorcycle. Further, because some debris can become lodged in the towing vehicle's tires and then be ejected at even higher speeds, there is a need for a covering device which can protect the high-risk-for-damage portions of the motorcycle 100 during towing. These high-risk-for-damage portions generally include the aforementioned portions of the motorcycle 100 which may be susceptible to inclement weather and other conditions.
Another advantage of a stretchable material is that it tends to be more resistant to impact damage because a stretchable material will often stretch rather than tear when impacted. Additionally, when the cover 200 is stretchably fit over the motorcycle 100, much of the cover is not in direct contact with the motorcycle 100 and creates a trampoline effect. This reduces damage to the motorcycle 100 because the cover will absorb the impact of debris in these areas without the force of the impact ever coming into contact with the motorcycle 100. Even where the cover is tightly stretched over a portion of the motorcycle 100 without a space between the cover and that portion of the motorcycle, the cover itself will still absorb at least some of the force of impacts.
The cover 200 includes at least one attachment structure, such as an attachment strap 210, shape of the cover, pocket, or the like. The attachment strap 210 is preferably integral with the cover 200 and in this embodiment passes between the front of the motorcycle frame 145 and the front fork 140 when installed on the motorcycle 100. Of course the attachment strap 210 and the cover 200 could be separate structures which are releasably securable together before or at the time the cover 200 is installed on the motorcycle 100. The attachment structure can be elastic or inelastic straps, rope, twine, or other material. For example, the attachment structure can be a single piece elastic strap which is stretched around a portion of the motorcycle to thereby secure the cover 200.
The attachment structure may be a single piece or multiple pieces which are releasably securable together. For example, a first attachment structure can be releasably secured to a second attachment structure via a buckle, adhesive, hook and loop fasteners, catch, zipper, or other structure.
In some embodiments the attachment strap 210 is configured both as a means for securing the cover 200 to the motorcycle 100 and as a lockable means to prevent theft of the cover 200 while installed on the motorcycle 100.
The attachment structure can be in the form, size, and/or shape of the cover 200. For example, the cover 200 can form one or more pockets or receptacles which fit over one or more portions of the motorcycle 100. Exemplary portions include the wind screen 120, seat, and handlebars. When secured over one or more portions of the motorcycle, the pocket inhibits movement of the cover 200 in at least one direction relative to the motorcycle 100 as will be further described with reference to
The pocket may have a concave shape to receive a portion of the motorcycle. The pocket need not have a sealed or continuous seam to form the pocket. For example, the pocket may have one or more openings to facilitate access into the pocket or to the motorcycle when the cover is secured to the motorcycle.
Further, an advantage of this embodiment is that it significantly unifies the front facing surface of the motorcycle, which reduces aerodynamic drag forces generated by the motorcycle 100 during towing operations. The reduced drag with little extra weight associated with the cover 200 beneficially increases the efficiency of the towing operation.
The rear surface 250 and the front surface 245 of the cover 200 collectively make up the exterior surface 260 of this embodiment. The front attachment pocket 220 is preferably integral to the cover 200. The front attachment pocket 220 may be formed by sewing a pocket or receptacle at the front of the cover 200 on the interior surface 255. The front attachment pocket 220 receives at least a portion of the front fender 135 of the motorcycle 100.
The front attachment pocket 220 and rear attachment pocket 225 are primary means of attaching the cover 200 to the motorcycle 100. The attachment strap 210 is an additional or secondary means of attachment designed to increase reliability of the attachment at high speeds and optionally to provide for a way to secure the cover 200 against theft when installed on the motorcycle 100. In some embodiments the interior surface 255 is comprised of the same material as the front surface 245 and rear surface 250 of the cover 200. In other embodiments, the interior surface 255 comprises another layer of material such as, for example, microfiber, which is specifically designed not to scratch delicate surfaces such as painted or chromed surfaces.
Because the cover 200 is stretched tight across some surfaces and will tend to move relative to those surfaces due to vibration, wind forces, and other conditions during towing, or even while being installed, it is preferred that any material touching surfaces of the motorcycle will not scratch, mar, or otherwise damage those surfaces. However, softer anti-scratch materials may not be the most rugged material for preventing penetration of flying debris and may not be as resistant to natural conditions such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Thus, in some embodiments the cover 200 comprises more than one material. For example, the cover 200 can include a different material for the exposed exterior surface 260 of the cover 200 than what is used for the inner surfaces of the cover 200. In such embodiments, a more rugged material, such as stretchable Nylon, may be used for the exterior surface 260 without fear of that material damaging delicate finishes on the motorcycle 100. Additionally, a third protective layer may be placed in between the interior surface 255 and exterior surface 260 of the cover 200 to provide enhanced protection against penetration of the cover or impact damage. Such a material may be a stretchable rubber or plastic material designed to be lightweight and impact resistant.
The cover 800 is additionally secured by an attachment strap 810, which is an additional or secondary means of attachment designed to increase reliability of the attachment at high speeds and optionally to provide for a way to secure the cover 800 against theft when installed on the motorcycle 100. In some embodiments the interior surface 825 is comprised of the same material as the exterior surface 820 of the cover 800. In other embodiments, the interior surface 825 comprises another layer of material such as, for example, microfiber, which is specifically designed not to scratch delicate surfaces such as painted or chromed surfaces. In this embodiment, the exterior surface 820 and the interior surface 825 are made of a stretchable material to achieve a tight fit.
The various embodiments of the cover and techniques described above in accordance with present invention thus provide a tight-gripping and protective way to cover a motorcycle. In addition, the techniques for the described covers can be used with any of a wide variety of vehicles.
Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize the interchangeability of different embodiments. For example, various attachment straps, materials, and latching mechanisms disclosed herein, as well as other known equivalents for each such feature, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in this art to construct cover systems in accordance with principles of the present invention.
Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it therefore will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.
