GB2066867A - Motorbike cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A motorbike cover comprising a hood (2) with a frame (4) made up of a number of generally U-shaped ribs or stays (10, 12, 14, 16 and 18) pivoted at their ends to pivot plates (6 and 8) which are provided with inwardly facing cups (20 and 22). When the cover is to be used to cover a motorbike (23), the latter is propped up on its stand, and the ends of the generally U-shaped cover are pulled further apart against the resilience of the ribs or stays to allow the retaining cups (20 and 22) to be slipped on to the ends of the motorbike foot rests (24). The hood (2) is then unfolded to form a canopy over the bike. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motorbike cover The present invention relates to a motorbike cover.

One type of cover already available on the market is simply a tailored sheet which is draped over the vehicle. One problem with this sheet arises when the engine is still hot after a journey. If the sheet should come into contact with the engine or other parts of the motorbike which are still hot, it will be burned. If the sheet is made of plastic it may be holed, and burnt plastic may be left on the outer parts of the engine.

One attempt to avoid this problem which has so far been proposed comprises a free-standing frame which is erected around the motorbike, a tailored sheet being secured to the frame. Although the frame helps to keep the sheet away from the vehicle, the cover is clumsy. In blustery conditions, the wind may drive the sheet against the hot engine in spite of the frame.

An aim of the present invention is to enable a motorbike to be covered more securely with little risk of the wind blowing any part of the cover against the engine of the motorbike.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to a motorbike cover comprising a hood with a frame, and retaining means attached to the frame and adapted to be slipped on to a part or parts of the motorbike.

In one form of the invention, the frame comprises a number of generally U-shaped ribs or stays which have respective ends pivotally connected to one pivot member and their other ends pivotally connected to another pivot member so that the hood can be folded compactly into an overall U-shaped form, or unfolded into a generally semi-circular canopy. The retaining means may comprise two cups provided on the pivot members and facing inwardly towards one another. While the cover is stored away it would normally be in its folded state.

When it is to be used to cover a motorbike, the latter is propped up on its stand, and the ends of the generally U-shaped cover are pulled further apart slightly against the resilience of the ribs or stays to allow the retaining cups to be slipped on to the ends of the motorbike foot rests. The hood is then unfolded to form a canopy over the bike.

An example of a motorbike cover in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective rough sketch of a cover folded up into an overall U-shape for storage; Figure 2 is a perspective rough sketch of the cover unfolded to form a canopy over a motorbike, the material of the hood being shown as if it were transparent to show more clearly how the motorbike is covered; Figure 3 is a front view of the frame of the cover; Figure 4 is a front view, on a larger scale, of parts of the frame at one end of the overall U-shape; Figure 5 is a side view of a cup part shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a view from the opposite side of parts shown in Figure 4 with two of the parts in different positions; and Figure 7 is a perspective rough sketch of the cover being arranged to form a canopy over a motorbike.

The rough sketch of the cover in Figure 1 shows a hood 2 with a frame 4 folded up into an overall U-shape, the frame comprising aluminium alloy pivot plates 6 and 8 at respective ends of the U-shape, and five generally U-shaped ribs or stays 10,12, 14, 16 and 18 each having respective ends pivotally attached to the pivot plates 6 and 8. The stays are made of aluminium alloy tubing. Inwardly facing aluminium alloy cups 20 and 22 are attached to the pivot plates 6 and 8.

Figure 2 shows the cover unfolded to form a canopy over a motorbike 23 with the cups receiving the ends of the foot rests (only one of which indicated at 24 is shown in Figure 2) of the motorbike. The covering material 26 of the hood has been shown as transparent only for the purpose of showing more clearly how the canopy is arranged in relation to the motorbike. In fact the material may or may not be transparent, and may comprise PVC, nylon or any other suitable synthetic plastics material. Alternatively, canvas could be used. It may comprise four identically shaped segments one between each pair of adjacent stays (as shown) or it may comprise two side parts covering the arms of the U-shaped stays, and one top part extending between the side parts and covering the bases of the U-shaped stays. The segments or parts are welded or sewn together.At the outside stays 10 and 18, the material is folded back on itself, and sewn or welded so that the hems enclose the stays. Loops (not shown) of the material hold it in place on the inner stays 12,14 and 16.

Figure 3 shows the frame in greater detail. Only two of the stays 10 and 12 are visible in Figure 3, the others being arranged behind one or other of those shown. The distance between the arms of the U-shaped frame increases with distance from the free ends of the frame. The arms 28 and 30 and the base 32 of the frame are straight, there being two curved portions 34 and 36 between the base 32 and the two arms 28 and 30.

In Figures 4 to 6, the left end of the frame shown in Figure 3 has been drawn on a larger scale. The two stays 10 and 12 are pivotally attached to the pivot plate 8 by one and the same rivet 38, and the cup 22 is fixed to the pivot plate 8 by a further rivet 40 so that the plate can pivot about the centre of the cup.

The cup 22 is shown having a circular flat base 42 and a cylindrical portion 44 extending from the base 42. The pivot plate 8 is roughly triangular. The cup 22 is riveted to a bottom corner of the triangle, two of the stays 10 and 12 are riveted to the plate 8 at one of the upper corners, and two further stays 16 and 18 (only 16 of which is visible in Figure 6, the stay 18 being arranged directly behind the stay 16) being pivotally attached to the plate 8 at the third corner by means of one and the same rivet 46. Lastly, the stay 14 is attached to the plate 8 by a fourth rivet 48 at a position mid-way between rivets 38 and 46. In Figure 6, stays 10 and 12 are shown in the positions they occupy when the cover is unfolded, being roughly at 50 and 100"to the central stay 14.

Rachets (not shown) are fitted on to the pivot plates to act on the outermost stays 10 and 18 when the cover is unfolded, to hold down these stays when the cover forms a canopy over a motorbike.

As demonstrated by Figure 7, when a motorcyclist wishes to use the cover, he props his motorbike 23 up to its stand 50. He then arranges the cover around the motorbike with the cups adjacent to the foot rests of the motorbike (only the right foot rest 24 being shown in Figure 7). The cups are pushed further apart against the resilience of the tubular stays and slipped on to the ends of the foot rests.

The springiness of the stays ensures that the cover is held securely to the motorbike, and can only be removed by pushing the cups further apart again.

This prevents any wind from blowing the cover out of position as it is being unfolded, and in particular ensures that the covering material 26 will not be blown into contact with the hot engine of the motorbike. The uppermost stay 10 is now lifted up and over the motorbike, all the stays except the lowermost stay 18 pivoting about the two pivot plates, which in turn pivot about the cups. As the cover is brought into its unfolded state as shown in Figure 2, the rachets operate to resist pivoting movement of the outer stays in the folding sense.

Thus, when the cover forms a canopy over a motorbike as shown in Figure 2, the rachets resist any dendency of the wind to raise one or other of the outer stays 10 and 18 from the ground.

As is evident from Figure 2, since the pivoting axis of the stays is defined by the footrests of the motorbike, which are raised from the ground, gaps are present between the ground and the lowermost stays 10 and 18 of the unfolded cover. This allows for ventilation of its interior, the ventilation being helped by the stays which hold the covering material away from the motorbike.

With an odd number of stays, so that one of them is vertical when the coverforms a canopy, there is no dip in the covering material in which rain-water can collect.

The aluminium alloy of the frame may have its own self-colour or alternatively it may be anodised.

Steel could be used instead of aluminium alloy. The steel would be plated (e.g. chrome plated) or sprayed with a protective coating. A piastics frame would also be possible.

The interior of cups 20 and 22 may taper in the outward direction so that the cups will gain a firm hold on footrests of differing shape and size.

For ease of manufacture, each stay may comprise two straight relatively short root portions, which are pivotally rivetted to the pivot plates, and a main tubular U-shaped portion. Each U-shaped portion may be widened at its ends to receive end parts of the root portions. The main portions are then threaded on to the covering material and pushed onto their root portions.

Each cup 20 and 22 could be provided with attachment means for a chain which is arranged underneath the motorbike, between the two cups, to serve as an anti-theft device.

Claims (7)

1. A motorbike cover comprising a hood with a frame, and retaining means attached to the frame and adapted to be slipped on to a part or parts of the motorbike.

2. A motorbike cover according to claim 1, in which the frame comprises a number of generally U-shaped ribs or stays which have respective ends pivotally connected to one pivot member and their other ends pivotally connected to another pivot member so that the hood can be folded compactly into an overall U-shaped form, or unfolded into a generally semi-circular canopy.

3. A motorbike cover according to claim 2, in which the distance between the arms of the general- ly U-shaped ribs or stays decreases with increasing distance from the base of the U.

4. A motorbike cover according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the pivot members are plates, the ribs or stays are tubular, and the ribs or stays are pivoted to the pivot members by rivets or other fixing means.

5. A motorbike cover according to claim 4, in which at least one corner of each plate has two ribs or stays pivoted to it on respective opposite sides of the plate by means of one and the same rivet or other fixing means.

6. A motorbike cover according to any preceding claim, in which the retaining means are adapted to be slipped on to the foot rests of a motorbike.

7. A motorbike cover substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A motorbike cover according to claim 6 appended to claim 2 or 3, in which the retaining means are attached to the pivot members.

8. A motorbike cover according to claim 7 in which the retaining means comprise two cups respectively attached to the pivot members with the interiors of the cups facing inwardly towards one another, the generally U-shaped ribs or stays being resilient to allow the cups to be pulled further apart slightly and then slipped over the ends of the foot rests of a motorbike.

9. A motorbike cover substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings New claims or amendments to claims filed on 20/3/81 Superseded claims 1,6,7,8 and 9 New or amended claims:- 1,6 and 7

1. A motorbike cover comprising a hood with a frame, and two inwardly facing cup-shaped parts attached to the frame so that they can be slipped on to the foot rests of a motorbike.

6. A motorbike cover according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the cup-shaped parts are attached to the pivot members, the generally Ushaped ribs or stays being resilient to allowthe cup-shaped parts to be pulled further apart slightly and then slipped over the ends of the foot rests of a motorbike.