Running boards for three wheel motorcycles

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/634,770 filed Dec. 9, 2004, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to running boards and in particular to running boards for three wheel motorcycles. Running boards for three wheel motorcycles are known in the art, for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,705 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. However, prior art devices possess certain disadvantages which are overcome by the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the running board assembly 1 of the present invention. This embodiment of running board assembly 1 will comprise a running board 2 positioned on a support frame member 20. This embodiment also illustrates a running board 2 which is formed of a front running board section 3 and a rear running board section 4. However, it will be understood that alternate embodiments could comprise a running board 2 formed of one section or possibly more than two sections.

[0010] The rear running board section 4 seen in the embodiment of FIG. 1 may include a fender lip 15 and a shoulder 16. When running board 2 is positioned on a three wheel motorcycle, fender lip 15 will be positioned against the front inside surface of the three wheel motorcycle's fender and the lower edge of the fender will rest upon shoulder 16. In certain embodiments, fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws, snaps, etc.) could connect the motorcycle's fender and the fender lip 15 or another type of connection be made between the fender and fender lip 15. In other embodiments, the motorcycle's fender will not be fixed to fender lip 15. In either of the above two alternatives, a section of rubber or polymer material (e.g., weather stripping) may be positioned between the inside surface of the three wheel motorcycle's fender and fender lip 15.

[0011] Running board 2 will include a floor 7. The front of running board 2 will further include a front wall 8 extending upwardly from floor 7. In one embodiment, front wall 8 will include a vent aperture 9 formed therein. In a still more preferred embodiment, vent aperture 9 will be selectively openable and closeable. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, vent vanes 10 may be operated to open or close vent aperture 9.

[0012] Support frame member 20 is best seen in FIG. 2. It will be understood that when installed on a three wheel motorcycle, there will generally be a right support frame member 20A and a left support frame member 20B which are mirror images of one another and support a running board 2 on each side of the three wheel motorcycle. A reference in this description to support frame member 20 without the “A” or “B” designation will apply equally to support frame members 20A and 20B.

[0013] The illustrated embodiment of support frame member 20 comprises a generally U-shaped configuration formed of rear lateral section 21, longitudinal section 22, and front lateral section 23. Section 22 is “longitudinal” in the sense that it will generally extend in a front to rear direction along the side of the three wheel motorcycle (see FIG. 3), while sections 21 and 23 are lateral in the sense that they generally extend in a side to center direction beneath the three-wheel motorcycle. Additionally, it can be seen in FIG. 2 that “U-shaped” only generally describes support frame member 20 since in the illustrated embodiment, front lateral section 23 curves inwardly (toward the center of the three wheel motorcycle—see FIG. 3) from longitudinal section 22 while rear lateral section 21 extends inwardly at a right angle to longitudinal section 22. For purposes of the present invention, support frame member 20 is considered U-shaped whenever it is formed of a longitudinal section 22 generally extending in the front to rear direction and two lateral sections 21 and 23 generally extending in a side to center direction from longitudinal section 22. In one preferred embodiment, support frame member 20 is constructed of one inch steel diameter tubing, but other embodiments could be constructed of any material of any cross-sectional shape having suitable strength.

[0014] It can be seen in FIG. 2 that support frame member 20 may have multiple connection points and brackets formed thereon. For example in the illustrated embodiment, front lateral section 23 will have a engine block connector 25 which is formed of an upstanding metal tab 34 welded to front lateral section 23 and a bolt aperture formed though upstanding tab 34. As used herein, the term “bolt” is intended to include conventional bolts along with screws, pins, rivets, and the like. Naturally, other embodiments could include other method of fixing connector 25 to the engine block (e.g., welding). Front lateral section 23 will also have welded to it a front running board bracket 27 (extending in a longitudinal direction) with a bolt aperture formed therethrough. Likewise, longitudinal section 22 has a rear running board bracket 26 (extending in a lateral direction) which is welded to longitudinal section 22 and has bolt apertures on each side of longitudinal section 22. Near the junction of longitudinal section 22 and rear lateral section 21, there is an upwardly extending support plate connector 28 having an aperture therethrough. Support plate connector 28 will be bolted to a downwardly extending connector (hidden from view in FIG. 2) on support plate 29 as seen on support frame member 20B. In FIG. 2, support frame member 20A is shown without support plate 29 to more clearly illustrate support plate connector 28. However, it will be understood that both support frame members 20A and 20B will have support plates 29 when assembled with running boards 2 as suggested by FIG. 3.

[0015] The end of rear lateral section 21 not connected to longitudinal section 22 will have a centerstand connector 24. Centerstand connector 24 will include two upwardly extending tabs 35 welded to rear lateral section 21 with apertures formed through the tabs 35. The outer tab 35 will have triangular reinforcing section 36 welded to it and rear lateral section 21.

[0016] FIG. 3 suggests how running board assemblies 1 will be mounted on a three wheel motor cycle. Motor cycle body 40 shows conceptually several basic elements of the motorcycle, including an engine block 41 and conventional centerstand mount 44. Typically, the center stand mount will include a pair of centerstand lugs to which the centerstand is rotatively mounted by a bolts passing through the lugs and centerstand. With the removal of the centerstand, the centerstand connector 24 on each support frame member 20 may be bolted to one of the centerstand lugs, thereby securing rear lateral sections 21 to the motorcycle body. FIG. 5 illustrates the center stand connector 24 on support frame members 20A and 20B engaging center stand lugs 44. On the lower front end of engine block 41, there will typically be a series of bolts engaging the engine block for various purposes. One of these bolts (indicated at 42 on FIGS. 3 and 6) will be removed on each side of engine block 41. Then engine block connector 25 on each support frame member 20 will be aligned with the bolt hole and the bolt once again threaded into the engine block, thereby securing the front lateral section 23 to the engine block.

[0017] With support frame members 20 secured to the three wheel motorcycle, running boards 2 are mounted to support frame members 20. FIG. 1 illustrates how in one embodiment, rear running board section 4 includes a tongue 6 resting on floor 7 of front running board section 3. Bolts may extend through holes drilled in tongue 6 and floor 7 and into bolt apertures formed in lateral running board bracket 26, thereby securing front section 3 and rear section 4 together on support frame member 20. It can also be seen how support plate 29 rests under and supports rear section 4, while longitudinal running board bracket 27 may be bolted to and support front section 3.

[0018] An alternate embodiment of frame support members 20 is seen in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates a closed loop configuration of the support frame member. Closed loop support frame member 50 will include a rear lateral section 21, a pair of longitudinal sections 22, and a front lateral section 23. Frame support member 50 is a closed loop configuration in that the left and right support frame member 20A and 20B seen in FIGS. 1-3 are in effect joined by bridging sections 51A and 51B in order to form a continuous ring or loop. Frame support member 50 is otherwise substantially similar to earlier frame support members 20 in that it includes centerstand connectors 24, engine block connectors 25, lateral and longitudinal running board brackets 26 and 27, and support plates 29.

[0019] Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will see many obvious modifications and variations. All such modifications and variations are intended to come within the scope of the following claims.