GB2311975A - Parking trolley for motorcycles - Google Patents

Abstract

A convenient means of parking a motorcycle for storage or maintenance is provided by a trolley which comprises a generally horizontal frame comprising a front transverse member (4) and a rear transverse member (5), right and left longitudinal side members (6, 7), continuous with or fastened to said transverse front and rear member (8, 9), a pair of longitudinal central members, parallel to one another and connected to said transverse front and rear members, at least one transverse reinforcing member (10, 12, 13), one or more decking units (14) supported on said longitudinal and transverse members and providing a trough (15) between said longitudinal central members and extending between said transverse front and rear members, a pair of upright members (16, 17) extending upwards from said frame, each upright member being adjustable in height and provided with a clamping member (18), adapted to engage and hold a portion of a motorcycle, said frame being supported on a plurality of lockable castors (20).

Description

PARKING TROLLEY FOR MOTORCYCLES This invention relates to a trolley for parking motorcycles. More specifically this invention relates to a trolley by means of which a motorcycle can be held in an upright position for storage, maintenance, etc.

Although all motorcycles have certain essential characteristics (e.g. wheels, handlebars and a saddle), there is a considerable variation in dimensions and configuration, form and function of different motorcycles being dictated by their user profile.

With the exception of lightweight and moped type machines, used almost exclusively for utilitarian purposes, the users of motorcycles generally have, until recently, been predominantly young men, with a smaller proportion of older enthusiasts. However, the last ten years have seen a new category of user, the middle aged, middle incomed, 'lifestyle' user, for whom a motorcycle is a hobby, bordering on a status symbol.

For the former group, the younger men, racing motorcycles have shaped their machines. Their quest for ever-increasing speed is satisfied by larger, and therefore often heavier engines, and their quest for better cornering is satisfied by raising the location of the engine in the frame, to facilitate higher peripheral ground clearance. This results in a higher centre of gravity. To aid increased top speed, the machines are fitted with slimline fairings to reduce wind resistance necessitating reduced handlebar widths, which have the effect of reducing the turning circle and making the machine more difficult to handle at low speed.

The latter group, the 'lifestyle' user, often a rider of minimal sxperience, chooses either the above type of machine, or the extra heeigteit touring machines, which, due to the large low-stressed engine, caRaclous seating, and every conceivable extra, whilst offering a more upright riding position with better handlebar leverage, suffer problems in parking due to their sheer bulk and weight.

Thus for both user groups, whilst their chosen machines satisfy their on road requirements, they both suffer from parking and manoeuvring problems, problems which did not exist on older styles of motorcycles due to their more user friendly configuration. With both types of the modern machine costing from 5-15,000, dropping one while manoeuvring it could cost the user 1,000 or a broken leg. As neither group of user is willing to compromise on its chosen machine, there exists a requirement for a suitable device to enable them to 'garage it' safely.

Such a device should enable them to ride their machine to its garage/parking position, alight from it safely and without undue effort, store/position the machine in a restricted space, clean or carry out routine maintenance, and when required, enable them to remount and ride the machine straight from the device. Devices for holding a motorcycle in an upright position are known, but these are generally of a semi-permanent type, for locating a motorcycle in a single location, for instance, in a showroom. One known type, for instance, provides a means for holding the front wheel of a motorcycle in an upright position, while supporting it from front and rear.

According to the present invention, there is provided a trolley for parking a motorcycle which comprises a generally horizontal frame comprising a front transverse member and a rear transverse member, right and left longitudinal side members, continuous with or fastened to said transverse front and rear member, a pair of longitudinal central members, parallel to one another and connected to said transverse front and rear members, at least one transverse reinforcing member, one or more decking units supported on said longitudinal and transverse members and providing a trough between said longitudinal central members and extending between said transverse front and rear members, a pair of upright members extending upwards from said frame, each upright member being adjustable in height and provided with a clamping member, adapted to engage and hold a portion of a motorcycle, said frame being supported on a plurality of lockable castors.

In a preferred embodiment, said upright members each comprise a lower portion and an upper portion being slidably movable lengthways and rotatably with respect to one another, said upper portion being adjustable at its upper end to a clamping member adapted to engage and hold an end of a motorcycle handlebar. Preferably, each of the said clamping members comprises a channel member having a cross section in the form of an inverted U, and said channel member and said upper portion of the respective upright member one being linked by connection means adaptable to vary the angle between their respective longitudinal axes.

Preferably, the longitudinal and transverse members are formed from metal tubing. In this way, the front and rear transverse members and the right and left longitudinal side members can be made substantially continuous. The various transverse members can be joined as appropriate to the longitudinal members as by welding.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying Drawings, of which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a rider with a motorcycle held on a trolley Fig 2 is a plan view of the frame of a trolley Fig 3 is an end view of the frame of a trolley Fig 4 is an elevation of a preferred method of clamping a motorcycle by its handlebars, and Fig 5 is an end view of a clamping member for use with the upright member shown in Fig 4.

Referring now to the Drawings, Fig 1 is a view of a rider (1) completing clamping his motorcycle (3) to a trolley (2) according to the invention. The trolley (2) comprises a frame, as will be described in more detail below, on which is a decking unit, or units (14) providing a trough (15) of suitable width to accommodate the wheels of a motorcycle. A pair of upright members (16, 17) are provided at their upper ends with clamping members (18, 19) to engage the handlebars of the motorcycle.

A preferred form of the frame according to the invention is shown in plan view in Fig 2 of the Drawings, and in end view in Fig 3 of the Drawings. The frame comprises front and rear transverse members (4, 5) and right and left longitudinal members (6, 7). A pair of central longitudinal members (8, 9) extend from the front to the rear transverse members and are of a suitable width to support the decking unit, providing a trough of suitable width.

Transverse strengthening unit members (10 and 13) are provided near the front and rear transverse members (4, 5) and are provided with mountings for castors (20). Decking member (14) can be fastened to the various transverse members, for instance, by means of rivets, bolts or screws engaging in holes (23) shown in the various transverse members.

As will be seen more clearly from Figs 3 and 4 of the Drawings, upright members (16 and 17) can conveniently be formed integrally with a pair of transverse units (11a, 1lb) fastened at their ends to the longitudinal central members (8, 9) extending horizontally around the right and left longitudinal members (6 and 7) and then upwards to form the lower portions (21) of the respective upright members. They can be held to the right and left longitudinal members (6, 7) by means of brackets or other convenient means.

The upper portion (22) of the upright members are conveniently fit over the lower member (21) in a manner which allows both rotational and axial movement. At the top of the upper portion (22) there is a clamping member (18) shown in more detail in Fig 4 and in end view in Fig 5. As will be seen in Fig 4, the clamping members (18) have an inverted U-shaped cross section, conveniently with a central partition (24) and a series of parallel holes drilled in order that the member (18) can be mounted at various angles, and in such a manner as to allow the clamping member (18) to abut closely the ends of the handlebars of a particular motorcycle. It will be appreciated that the handlebars of motorcycles come in a variety of heights and may variously be swept up, down, backwards or forwards. The adjustable fitting shown provides a simple way of accommodating a variety of motorcycles with different heights of handlebars and different orientations of handlebar.

The overall dimensions of the trolley may be varied, within the overall limits necessary to provide sufficient strength to support the weight of a motorcycle, and to be of sufficient dimensions to accommodate a motorcycle, while not occupying too much space. It has been found that a convenient length is around 2 metres and a convenient width around 1 metre. The ground clearance below the channel section most conveniently about 50mm will, by means of removable ramps, enable ride-on ride-off positioning. When the motorcycle is ridden into the channel section, it is secured in its upright position by means of clamping members easily operated by the rider whilst still in the normal riding position. Either side of this central channel is provided with full length platforms just under footrest height, which facilitate temporary support until clamping members are engaged, enabling the trolley to be of universal use. With the motorcycle locked in the upright position, the rider can dismount via the platforms, remove the ramps, and by means of the omnidirectional castors mounted at each end corner of the trolley, position the trolley with clamped motorcycle to its chosen place. The castors, of sufficient diameter to allow easy travel over moderately uneven ground, being mounted under the trolley, conveniently at approximately 750mm centres, allow the assembly to be moved in any direction, with a much reduced risk of the motorcycle being dropped onto its side. The longitudinal castor centres, by exceeding the wheelbase of the motorcycle, offer complete safety.

With the motorcycle being supported in its parked state by castors mounted at 750mm lateral centres, as opposed to its standard fit centre or side stands offering support at approximately 250mm lateral centres, the castors offering also omnidirectional movement, thereby providing ease of parking is achieved.

Although it has been found that the handlebar clamping system mentioned above provides the most convenient and adaptable means of clamping the motorcycle to the trolley, other means can be provided. For instance, it is possible to clamp the rear wheel of a motorcycle by means of channel liners which clamp onto the rear wheel under the influence of levers. The clamps are provided with liners which can be separately adjusted for wheels of different diameter and width. Alternatively, means could be provided to engage a portion of the frame of the motorcycle but frame design and dimensions vary to such an extent that this is less convenient.

Claims (5)

1. A trolley for parking a motorcycle which comprises a generally horizontal frame comprising a front transverse member and a rear transverse member, right and left longitudinal side members, continuous with or fastened to said transverse front and rear member, a pair of longitudinal central members, parallel to one another and connected to said transverse front and rear members, at least one transverse reinforcing member, one or more decking units supported on said longitudinal and transverse members and providing a trough between said longitudinal central members and extending between said transverse front and rear members, a pair of upright members extending upwards from said frame, each upright member being adjustable in height and provided with a clamping member, adapted to engage and hold a portion of a motorcycle, said frame being supported on a plurality of lockable castors.

2. A trolley according to Claim 1 wherein said upright members each comprise a lower portion and an upper portion being slidably movable lengthways and rotatably with respect to one another, said upper portion being adjustable at its upper end to a clamping member adapted to engage and hold an end of a motorcycle handlebar.

3. A trolley according to Claim 2 wherein each of said clamping members comprises a channel member having a cross section in the form of an inverted U, and said channel member and said upper portion of the respective upright member one being linked by connection means adaptable to vary the angle between their respective longitudinal axes.

4. A trolley according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said longitudinal and transverse members are formed from metal tubing.

5. A trolley according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.