Electric motorcycle lift for motor homes

[0002] This invention relates to motorcycle lifts for use with motor homes. More particularly, it refers to a lift attachable to a trailer hitch mounted on the underside of a vehicle, the lift capable of electrically lifting a motorcycle for transport with the vehicle.

[0003] Lifting devices attachable to a motor vehicle for transporting motorcycles and other motor vehicles are generally known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,805,984; 5,011,361; 5,137,411; 5,456,564; 5,482,424; 5,816,763; 5,984,613 and 6,007,290. Such devices, although suitable for their indicated purposes, do not provide for a motorcycle lift that is used to easily mount a motorcycle, raise the motorcycle to a safe distance above the ground by use of an electric motor and stabilize the motorcycle during transport.

[0004] The present invention describes an easily mountable and demountable lifting device for motorcycles for use with truck chassis vehicles such as motor homes, SUVs and pickup trucks. A frame apparatus is engaged to a pair of hitch members permanently attached to the undercarriage structure of a vehicle such as a motor home. Brackets attach left and right upright movable rails to the frame. An electrically driven set of gears drive a threaded rod attached to a gear housing connected to the frame. A bottom of the threaded rod is attached to a transverse rod connecting the left and right movable rails. The threaded rod lifts or lowers the rails which in turn lift or lower a pair of support arms attached to a lower portion of the corresponding left and right rails. The pair of support arms are attached to a transverse track that retains the motorcycle.

[0005] The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art of motor cycle lifts by following the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the motor cycle lift of this invention hitched to a motor home in the loading position.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the motorcycle lift in the raised carrying position.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the gear housing exposing the gears and chain drive and a partial cut-away of the cover of the threaded rod.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a left hand side elevational view of the safety locking mechanism on the lift in the unlocked position.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a left hand side elevational view of the safety locking mechanism on the lift in the process of moving to the locked position.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the safety locking mechanism of the lift in the locked position.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the motorcycle lift with the lift frame expanded laterally.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the motorcycle lift of FIG. 7.

[0014] FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the motorcycle lift of FIG. 7.

[0015] FIG. 10 is a broken view of the lift track showing the manner of its bolting to the fold up arms.

[0016] FIG. 11 is a magnified view of the arm lifting mechanism.

[0017] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lift raised up for storage when not in use.

[0018] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative motor cycle lift.

[0019] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the alternative lift of FIG. 13 in the storage position.

[0020] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the alternative lift of FIG. 13 when dropped for access to the rear of the motor home.

[0021] Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. Referring first to FIG. 1, the motorcycle lift 10 is removably attached to a motor home 12 or other vehicle such as a pick up truck or SUV. A pair of hitches 14 and 16 are permanently attached to the underside of the motor home 12. Bottom legs 18 and 20 of a frame 22 are engaged within hitches 14 and 16 respectively.

[0022] Expandable connecting rod 24 joins the top portion of frame 22 upright members 26 and 28 respectively. A connecting sleeve 30 joins sections of connecting rod 24. A gear housing 32 on top of an enclosed threaded rod element 34 contains gears 38 (FIG. 3) which turn rod 34 so that bottom expandable lift rod 36 can move upwardly as shown in FIG. 2 or downwardly for loading as shown in FIG. 1. A connecting sleeve 40 joins sections in bottom expandable lift rod 36. Lift rod 36 is joined at each end to upright rails 42 and 44 respectively.

[0023] As seen in FIGS. 4-6 in a left hand side elevational view of a lower front portion of motorcycle lift 10, as viewed from the back of the motor home, a safety locking mechanism prevents movement downwardly of the motorcycle lift 10 when in a travel mode. As upright rail 42 moves upwardly, stop 46 contacts plate 48 until it moves past an end of plate 48 and as shown in FIG. 6. The FIG. 6 position prevents upright rail 42 from moving downwardly until plate 48 is moved towards the front of the lift 10.

[0024] When the motorcycle lift 10 is in the load mode as seen in FIG. 1, a track 50 has one end 52 level with the ground allowing a person to walk the motorcycle onto track 50. Pivotable arms 54 and 56 support track 50. The arms 54 and 56 are bolted with bolts 98 to track 50 as seen in FIG. 10. Pivotable arms 54 and 56 abut upright rails 42 and 44 respectively at ends 58 and 60 respectively. Lift arm 62 is attached by bracket 64 to pivotable arm 54. Lift arm 62 also is attached to upright rail 42 by bracket 66. Lift arm 68 is attached by bracket 70 to pivotable arm 56. Lift arm 68 also is attached to upright rail 44 by bracket 72.

[0025] Pivotable arm 54 has a sleeve member 74. The sleeve member 74 is welded to tie down support housings 76 and 78 and to L-shaped bracket 80. The tie down support housings 76 and 78 are each connected by a quick release pin 82 to tie down rods 84. In like manner, pivotable arm 56 has a sleeve member 86. The sleeve member 86 is welded to tie down support housings 88 and 90 and to L-shaped bracket 92. Sleeve members 74 and 86 also are welded to track support plates 94 and 96 respectively. Bolts 98 attach the track 50 to brackets 80 and 92 and to plates 94 and 96.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the gears 38 are turned by motor 100 which employs about 35 ohms from a battery mounted in the motor home 12. Wires 108 connect the battery in the motor home 12 to the motor 100. The male 102 and female 104 threads are turned by the gear controlled by chain belt 106. Movement of the threads 102 and 104 either lowers or raises the lift rod 36 which moves rails 42 and 44. Rollers 122 mounted within brackets 118 and 120 maintain a proper upright position for rails 42 and 44, respectively.

[0027] FIGS. 13-15 show an alternate embodiment which permits access to the rear portion of the motor home 12 without the need to remove the frame 12 from the hitches 14 and 16. In this embodiment an L-shaped arm 110 is attached to upright frame member 26. Upright frame member 26 pivots downwardly from L-shaped arm 110 at the juncture with bracket 112. At the same time, upright frame member 28 pivots downwardly from L-shaped arm 114 at the juncture with bracket 116. Removal of a quick release pin 82 from openings 124 and 126 in L-shaped arms 110 and 144, respectively allows the frame 22 to drop down as seen in FIG. 15.

[0028] The above description has described specific structural details of the motorcycle lift of this invention. However, it will be within the knowledge of one having ordinary skill in the art to make modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying invention's inventive concept. The inventive concept is not limited to the structure described, but includes such modifications as would be considered equivalent.