The present invention generally relates to assemblies and/or systems for mounting accessories to vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to assemblies and/or systems for mounting accessories to typically straddle-type vehicles (e.g. all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”), snowmobiles, motorcycles, etc.).
Nowadays, there are an ever-increasing number of people which enjoy riding all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and other similar off-road vehicles, either in trails specifically designed for this activity or even on totally uncharted terrain.
Such vehicles are often used to perform different kinds of works and/or used in different environments. It is thus generally desirable to be able to easily install and remove accessories to such vehicles. However, most accessories often have to be installed using special mounting kits or assemblies.
There is thus a need for a mounting system which allows the installation and removal of an accessory to a vehicle.
A mounting system in accordance with the principles of the present invention generally comprises a receiving hub configured to be mounted to a vehicle, typically the handlebar thereof, and a mounting element mounted to, or integral with, the accessory, and configured to be releasably received in the receiving hub.
The receiving hub (“the hub” or “the receiving hub”) generally comprises two main portions, a vehicle attachment portion and a hub portion extending therefrom. Understandably, the vehicle attachment portion is configured to secure the hub to the vehicle, typically but not exclusively to the handlebar thereof.
For its part, the hub portion, which extends from the vehicle attachment portion, generally comprises a housing comprising a front opening and an internal cavity which are configured to releasably receive the substantially complementary male portion of the mounting element.
The mounting element generally comprises a support portion and the male portion already introduced, the male portion extending from the support portion. The support portion is adapted to support, or is integrated with, the accessory destined to be mounted to the vehicle. Understandably, different accessories may warrant different configurations of support portions.
In typical yet non-limitative embodiments, the mounting element comprises a locking mechanism configured to releasably engage a locking region on the hub portion of the hub.
In typical yet non-limitative embodiments, the internal cavity of the hub portion comprises several grooves configured to receive resilient protrusions outwardly extending from the male portion of the mounting element. The resilient protrusions are generally configured to reduce the amount of vibration between the male portion and the hub portion when the male portion is received into the internal cavity.
In use, the hub is typically already mounted to the vehicle, typically to the handlebar thereof, and the mounting element typically already supports the accessory to be mounted to the vehicle.
To mount the accessory to the vehicle, the male portion of the mounting element is inserted into the cavity of the hub portion. In typical embodiments, once the male portion is properly received, the locking mechanism of the mounting element engages the locking region of the hub portion.
To remove the accessory, the locking mechanism is actuated such as to disengage the locking region of the hub portion and the mounting element is withdrawn from the hub portion, generally by pulling on the mounting element and/or on the accessory.
Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
A novel system for mounting an accessory to a vehicle and a method of using the same will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.
Referring first to
Though the vehicle 10 shown in
Also, though the accessory 30 shown in the figures is a windshield, the support portion 250 of the mounting element 200, described in more details below, could understandably support other accessories (e.g. lights, hand guards, etc.).
Referring now to
Referring now to
The hub 100 generally comprises a hub portion 110 and an attachment portion 150. In the present embodiment, the hub portion 110 is secured to the attachment portion 150 via a series of bolts 190 (see
The hub portion 110 is configured to receive the male portion 210 of the mounting element 200 (see
As best shown in
Understandably, in other embodiments, the shape of the opening 112 and the cavity 114 could be other than polygonal. For example, the opening 112 and the cavity 114 could be oval.
As illustrated in
Though not shown in the present embodiment, the cavity 114 could comprise an electrical connector connected, or connectable, to a source of electrical power (e.g. the vehicle battery) such as to be able to provide electrical power to an electrical accessory (e.g. a light). In such embodiment, the male portion 210 of the mounting element 200 would comprise a complementary electrical connector that would connect to the electrical connector of the cavity 114 upon being received into the cavity 114.
In the present embodiment, the hub portion 110 also comprises mounting lugs 120 extending on each side as best shown in
As indicated above, the hub portion 110 is secured to the attachment portion 150 which is configured to be mounted to the vehicle 10.
In the present embodiment, the attachment portion 150 is configured to be mounted to the handlebar 12 of the vehicle 10. In that sense, the attachment portion 150 comprises a support block 160 which is configured to be mounted to the upper clamping member 17 of the clamping assembly 15 of the vehicle. The support block 160 provides attachment locations 162 for the hub portion 110 and also raises the overall height of the hub assembly 100. In that sense, different support blocks 160 having different heights could be used to provide the properly raise the hub portion 110.
Understandably, in other embodiments, the support block 160 could be integral with the hub portion 110 such that the hub portion 110 would be directly mounted to the upper clamp member 16. In still other embodiments, the support block 160 could be absent altogether. In such embodiments, the hub portion 110 would be mounted directly to the handlebar 12, typically to the clamping assembly 15 thereof
Referring now to
The mounting element 200 generally comprises the male portion 210 and a support portion 250 from which extends the male portion 210.
As indicated above, the male portion 210 is configured to be received into the internal cavity 114 of the hub portion 110. In that sense, the male portion 210 is shaped to be substantially complementary with the shape of the opening 112 and of the internal cavity 114.
The free end 212 of the male portion 210 is typically tapered to ease the insertion of the male portion 210 into the cavity 114.
As best shown in
Though not shown in the figures, the male portion 210 could comprise the electrical connector introduced above if the accessory to be mounted to the vehicle 10 needs an electrical source.
Referring now to
As best shown in
To further reduce the level of vibration, the shoulder 214 between the male portion 210 and the support portion 250 may also comprise similar resilient protrusions or members 218. As shown in
Referring back to
In other embodiments, the support portion 250 could be made integral with the accessory 30.
In the present embodiment, the support portion 250 further comprises a locking member 260 pivotally mounted thereto at 254. The locking member 260 comprises a locking portion 262 and a handle portion 264. The locking portion 262 is terminated by a locking hook 266 configured to engage the locking region 126 located adjacent the opening 118 of the hub portion 110 (see
As best shown in
In use, the hub 100 would typically already be installed to the vehicle 10, typically to the handlebar 12 thereof. Similarly, the mounting element 200 would already support the accessory 30 destined to be mounted to the vehicle 10.
Referring to
Still referring to
While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.
The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/827,327, entitled “Mounting System for a Vehicle and Method of Using the Same”, and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 24, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61827327 | May 2013 | US |