Running board assembly for a tricycle and a method of attaching the same

[0002] The present invention relates to a running board assembly for a tricycle and a method of attaching the same to a tricycle.

[0003] Running boards are commonly installed on vehicles, such as cars and trucks, by attaching support brackets to the frame of the vehicle. Running boards are not in common usage on motorcycles or tricycles. If one were to endeavour to attach running boards to a tricycle, one would find that the attachment brackets used for other vehicles are not suited for use on tricycles.

[0004] What is required is a running board assembly for a tricycle and a method of attaching the same to a tricycle.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a running board assembly for a tricycle which includes a pair of running boards. Each of the running boards has a front end and a rear end. Means is provided for mounting the rear end of each of the running boards to a fender. A cross brace is provided which is adapted to underlie and be secured to a frame of a tricycle. The cross brace has opposed ends. Means is provided for securing one of the pair of running boards to each of the opposed ends of the cross brace.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching the above described running boards to a tricycle. A first step involves providing a tricycle having a frame with opposed sides, a superstructure and rear fenders. A second step involves providing a running board assembly for a tricycle as described above. A third step involves securing the cross brace in a position underlying the tricycle frame with the opposed ends of the cross brace in running board supporting position protruding past the opposed sides of the tricycle frame. A fourth step involves securing the running boards to the cross brace toward the front end of the running boards. A fifth step involves securing the rear end of each of the running boards to one of the rear fenders of the tricycle on each of the opposed sides of the tricycle frame.

[0007] When the running board assembly and method of installing the same, described above, enable tricycles to be equipped with running boards. As will hereinafter be further described, there are further features or enhancements that can be added to the running board assembly and method of attachment.

[0008] Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the running board assembly and method of installing the same, described above, the running boards will function better if additional support is added to the front end of the running boards. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when the front end of the running boards is further supported with front braces that attach to the tricycle frame. Alternatively, or in addition, even more beneficial results may be obtained when the front end of the running boards is further supported by securing the front end of the running boards to the tricycle superstructure.

[0009] Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the running board assembly and method of attaching the same, described above, a tricycle has foot rests that the running board assembly will cover. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when foot rest mounting brackets are secured to the cross brace.

[0010] Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the running board assembly and method of attaching the same, described above, it has been found that attachment to the cross brace is simplified and when each of the running boards having a front section and a rear section which are detachably secured to each other and to the cross brace.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a tricycle and running board combination. The tricycle has a frame with opposed sides, a superstructure and rear fenders. A pair of running boards are provided having a front end and a rear end. The rear end of each of the running boards is secured to one of the rear fenders on each of the opposed sides of the frame. A cross brace having opposed ends underlies the tricycle frame with the opposed ends of the cross brace in a supporting position protruding past the opposed sides of the tricycle frame. The running boards are secured to the cross brace toward the front end of the running boards.

[0012] These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a running board assembly for a tricycle fabricated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the running board assembly illustrated in FIG. 1, mounted on a tricycle.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded side elevation view, in section of the tricycle with running boards illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded rear elevation view, in section of the tricycle with running boards illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view, in section, of the tricycle with running boards illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the running board assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0019] The preferred embodiment, a running board assembly generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 6.

[0020] Structure and Relationship of Parts:

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, there is provided a running board assembly 10 for a tricycle 12 that includes a pair of running boards 14. Referring to FIG. 1, each of the running boards 14 has a front section 16 and a rear section 18 which are detachably secured together. Front section 16 has a first end 20 and a second end 22. Rear section 18 has a first end 24 and a second end 26. Second end 22 of front section 16 and first end 24 of rear section 18 have fastener receiving openings 28, whereby front section 16 and rear section 18 are secured together by fasteners 30. Referring to FIG. 2, second end 26 of rear section 18 of each of running boards 14 also has fastener receiving openings 32, whereby second end 26 of rear section 18 is secured to a fender 36. Referring to FIG. 2, front end 20 of front section 16 has fastener receiving openings 38 whereby front end 20 of front section 16 can be secured to tricycle 12.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, a cross brace 40 is provided that is adapted to underlie and be secured to a frame 42 of tricycle 12. Cross brace 40 has opposed ends 44 with fastener receiving openings 46, whereby fasteners 30 that secure front section 16 and rear section 18 together also secure running boards 14 to cross brace 40.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of front braces 48 are provided. Each of front braces 48 have a first end So and a second end 52 with fastener receiving openings 54, whereby fasteners 56 extend through fastener receiving openings 54 at first end 50 to secure front section 16 of running boards 14 to front braces 48. Fasteners 30 extend through fastener receiving openings 54 at second end 52 to secure second end 52 of front section 16 to one of opposed ends 44 of cross brace 40.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 5, a front mounting bracket 58 is adapted to secure first end 50 of each front brace 48 to frame 42 of tricycle 12. Front mounting bracket 58 is secured to frame 42 by means of a fastener 60 inserted through a spacer sleeve 62 that is interposed between frame 42 and front mounting bracket 58. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, foot rest mounting brackets 64 with a c-shaped member 66 are secured to cross brace 40 by fasteners 68. C-shaped member 66 is secured to foot rest mounting bracket 64 by means of a fastener 70.

[0025] Operation:

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 though 6, there is illustrated a method of attaching running boards 14 to tricycle 12. Referring to FIG. 2, a first step involves providing tricycle 12 that has frame 42 with opposed sides 72, a superstructure 74 and rear fenders 36. Referring to FIG. 1, a second step involves providing running board assembly 10 for tricycle 12 as described above. Referring to FIG. 4, a third step involves securing cross brace 40 in a position underlying frame 42 of tricycle 12 with opposed ends 44 of cross brace 40 in running board supporting position protruding past opposed sides 72 of frame 42 of tricycle 12. Referring to FIG. 6, a fourth step involves securing front braces 48 to frame 42 of tricycle 12 and securing front end 20 of front section 16 of running boards 14 to front braces 48. Running boards 14 are secured to cross brace 40 in an intermediate position between front end 20 and rear end 26 of running boards 14. Referring to FIG. 2, a fifth step involves securing second end 26 of rear section 18 of each of running boards 14 to one of rear fenders 36 of tricycle 12 on each of opposed sides 72 of frame 42 of tricycle 12. Front end 20 of running boards 14 is secured to tricycle superstructure 74.

[0027] In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0028] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims.