Hidden mount apparatus for motorcycle gas tank

[0002] 1. Filed of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to motorcycle gas tanks, and more particularly, to motorcycle gas tank mounting elements.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Motorcycle gas tanks are typically secured to the backbone of a motorcycle frame. A strap is typically welded to the backbone and the gas tank includes fittings which secure the tank to the strap. The gas tank includes a tunnel, and the tunnel divides the tank into two halves. The mounting fittings are secured on either side of the tunnel to the two halves of the tank. The mounting fittings of the prior art are flush with the bottom of the tank halves, and are in plain sight on the bottom of the tank.

[0006] The mounting apparatus of the present invention are recessed into the bottom of the two tank halves and are thus hidden from sight, providing a smooth bottom surface for the tank.

[0007] The apparatus of the present invention comprises mounting apparatus for a motorcycle gas tank in which mounting elements are recessed into the bottom of a gas tank on opposite sides of a tank tunnel. The recessed elements receive a strap which is secured to the backbone of the motorcycle and the tank and the strap and backbone are secured together by bolts. A cover plate is then bolted or screwed to the strap to cover the elements, thus “hiding” the mounting elements.

[0008] Among the objects of the present invention are the following:

[0009] To provide new and useful gas tank apparatus for a motorcycle;

[0010] To provide new and useful mounting apparatus for mounting a gas tank to a motorcycle;

[0011] To provide new and useful hidden elements for securing a gas tank to a motorcycle;

[0012] To provide new and useful mounting elements for a motorcycle gas tank;

[0013] To provide new and useful recessed mounting elements for a motorcycle gas tank; and

[0014] To provide new and useful motorcycle gas tank elements for securing the tank to the backbone of a motorcycle.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a motorcycle gas tank with a portion of the apparatus of the present invention exploded away from the tank.

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of the present invention, taken generally along line 3—3 of FIG. 2.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention, taken generally along line 4—4 of FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention in its use environment.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a motorcycle gas tank 2. The tank 2 includes a tunnel 4 which divides the gas tank into two halves. For mounting the tank 2 to a motorcycle chassis, the tunnel 4 receives the backbone of the chassis (not shown), as is well known and understood in the motorcycle art.

[0021] Typically, the gas tank is secured to the backbone at two locations, a front location and a rear location. In FIG. 1, a rear mounting unit 20 is shown secured to the tank 2 and a front mounting unit or assembly 30 is shown spaced apart from a pair of cut out portions 6 and 8. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting assembly 30. FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of the mounting assembly 30. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the gas tank 2 illustrating the relationship between the apparatus of the present invention and the gas tank 2 and a tubular backbone 10 of a motorcycle chassis. For the following discussion, reference will generally be made to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5.

[0022] The mounting assembly 30 includes two mounting brackets 32 and 52. The brackets 32 and 52 are welded into the cutout portions 6 and 8, respectfully. The brackets 32 and 52 are thus recessed into the tank 2 from the bottom of the tank.

[0023] The bracket 32 includes a u-shaped element 34 and a bottom plate 36. A boss 38 extends outwardly from the bottom plate 36. A threaded bore 40 extends through the plate 36 and into the boss 38. The threaded bore 40 receives a bolt or screw 84, as will be discussed below.

[0024] The mounting bracket 52 is substantially identical to the bracket 32. The bracket 52 includes a u-shaped element 54 which is welded into the recess 8. The u-shaped element 54 includes a bottom plate 56 and a boss 58. The boss 58 extends outwardly from the plate 56. A threaded bore 60 extends into the boss from the plate 56, and receives a screw or bolt 94, as will be discussed below.

[0025] A strap 70 includes two apertures 72 and 74. The strap 70 includes rounded ends which extend into the mounting brackets 32 and 52. The strap 70 is dimensioned to extend into the brackets 32 and 52 and rest on the bottom plates 36 and 56.

[0026] The strap 70 may be welded directly onto the backbone 10 of a motorcycle chassis, as shown in FIG. 5, or the strap may be cut into two lengths and welded to the sides of the backbone, depending on the particular design of the motorcycle chassis and the gas tank. In any event, the strap 70, as welded to the backbone, is dimensioned to extend into the brackets 32 and 52 and to be disposed against the bottom plates 36 and 56. The strap 70 is thus a mounting plate secured to the motorcycle chassis for mounting the tank 2 to the motorcycle chassis.

[0027] The apertures 72 and 74 receive bushings for absorbing or dampening vibrations from the motorcycle chassis. A pair of bushings 80 and 90 are shown in FIG. 2 spaced apart from the apertures 72 and 74, respectfully. The bushings are typically rubber, but may be made of any appropriate material. Center bores extend through the bushings and receive inserts 82 and 92, respectively. Screws or bolts 84 and 94 then extend through the inserts and the bushings and into the threaded bores 40 and 60, respectively. The screws or bolts 84 and 94 thus secure the tank 2 to the motorcycle chassis (not shown). The bushings 80 and 90 through which the screws or bolts 84 and 94 extend allow only a minimum amount of vibration to be transmitted to the gas tank from the chassis.

[0028] The mounting brackets 32 and 52 include recessed rims or shoulders 42 and 62, respectively. The recessed rims or shoulders 42 and 62 include threaded holes 44 and 64, respectively, which extend downwardly into the u-shaped elements 34 and 54 from the respective recessed rims. The recessed rims are dimensioned to receive a cover plate 100. The cover plate 100 includes holes 102 which are aligned with the threaded holes 44 and 64 in the recessed rims.

[0029] Screws or bolts 104 then extend through the holes 102 and into the threaded holes 44 and 64 to secure the cover plate to the mounting brackets 32 and 52. The thickness of the cover plate 100 is dimensioned to fit onto the mounting brackets 32 and 52 and be disposed on the recessed rims 42 and 52 to provide a flush fit with the bottom of the tank 2, thus hiding the mounting apparatus for securing the tank 2 to a motorcycle chassis.

[0030] The cover plate 100 shows three holes 102 at each end of the plate. The holes 102 correspond to the threaded holes 44 and 64 in the recessed rims 42 and 62 of the brackets 32 and 52, respectively.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the cover plate 100 showing a recess 106 for a screw head. The cover plate 100 includes two such recesses 106, one for the head of the screw or bolt 84 and one for the head of the screw or bolt 94. The recesses 106 are on the bottom of the plate. The recesses 106 thus allow the cover plate 100 to be flush on the rims 42 and 62 of the brackets 32 and 52, respectively, thus hiding the mounting elements for the tank 2.

[0032] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, without departing from those principles there may occur to those skilled in the art modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.