WO2005118383A1

WO2005118383A1 - Footpeg for motorcycles

Info

Publication number: WO2005118383A1
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Papalia
Original assignee: Gualdi S.R.L.
Priority date: 2004-06-01
Filing date: 2005-05-25
Publication date: 2005-12-15
Also published as: ITBS20040070A1

Abstract

A footpeg for motorcycles, in particular for offroad motorcycles, includes a support portion (2) equipped with a bearing surface (3) for the foot of a motorcyclist; a connecting portion (4) constrained to the support portion (2) and which can be engaged to a motorcycle; positioning and blocking means (7) for varying the position of the support portion (2) with respect to the connecting portion (4) and blocking said support portion (2) upon said connecting portion (4).

Description

FOOTPEG FOR MOTORCYCLES * * * * * DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a footpeg for motorcycles, in particular for offroad motorcycles. Preferably, but not exclusively, the present invention is advantageously applied on motorcycles intended for offroad routes, such as cross-, enduro- or trial motorcycles, but it can however be adopted on motorcycles of different kinds such as, for example, the big enduro road-motorcycles mostly used for tourism. As it is known, the footpegs mounted on the offroad motorcycles include a bearing portion for the foot of the motorcyclist defined by a substantially plane ^'surface equipped with small teeth, for ensuring the anchor of the foot and preventing the support loss. A bracket, integral with the bearing surface and hinged with the motorcycle frame, allows the rotation of the footpeg towards the frame. The footpeg is therefore movable between an operating position, wherein it laterally protrudes from the motorcycle in order to allow the support of the motorcyclist, and a security retracted position, wherein it lies along the motorcycle. The pin joint prevents that, in case of frequent impacts which can occur driving through offroad routes, an impact can bend or break the footpeg by making impossible to continue the route. When the footpeg of the known art is in the operating configuration, its position with respect to the frame is fixed. Therefore, it is not possible to adapt the geometry of the known footpegs to the stature of the motorcyclist, which in the offroad routes usually drives in the standing position, or to his personal tastes .

On the sport road-motorcycles and/or intended to the agonistic use in tracks, it is known to use footpegs which are constrained to adjustable footpegs, disad- vantageously very cumbersome and expensive. In fact, the adjusting is obtained by firmly fixing the footpeg on a first plate which, in turn, is mounted on a second plate bolted or welded to the frame and equipped with a plurality of holes for the engagement with the first one. The first plate is therefore fixed to the second one by using the holes which allow to obtain the desired position and inclination of the footpeg. Because of the high cost and the remarkable encumbrance, such solution can not be proposed in the offroad field where impacts and fallings are very frequent . The object of the present invention is to solve the problems found in the known art by proposing a footpeg for motorcycles without the described drawbacks. In particular, an object of the present invention is to carry out a footpeg for motorcycles which allows to adjust the position of the bearing surface with respect to the motorcycle without using accessory parts. Another object of the present invention is to propose an adjustable footpeg for motorcycles, which is at the same time structurally simple, inexpensive and not very cumbersome.

These and other objects, which better result from the following description, are substantially attained by a footpeg for motorcycles according one or more of the appended claims. Further features and advantages will result to a greater extent from the detailed description of a preferred, but not limited, embodiment of- a footpeg for motorcycles, according to the present invention. Such description will be explained hereinafter with reference to the enclosed figures, which are given by way of example only but not limitation, wherein:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of the footpeg according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows an exploded view of the footpeg of figure 1 ;

- figure 3 shows a view according to the B arrow of figure 2 of a first detail of the footpeg of the invention;

- figure 4 shows a view according to the A arrow of figure 2 of a second detail of the footpeg of the invention;

- figure 5 shows a view according to the B arrow of figure 2 of a third detail of the footpeg of the invention;

- figures 6a, βb and 6c show diagrammatic views according to the A arrow of figure 1 of the footpeg according to the invention, in respective operating configurations of translation and with some cut-away elements for better pointing out others; and

- figures 7a, 7b and 7c show other diagrammatic views according to the A arrow of figure 1 of the footpeg according to the invention, in respective operating configurations of rotation and with some cut-away elements for better pointing out others.

Referring to the enclosed figures, by 1 a footpeg for motorcycles is designated, according to the present invention.

Such footpeg 1 can be mounted on any motorcyle and preferably on motorcycles intended for an offroad use. By the term footpeg is understood to mean, hereinafter, the element having a prevalent development along a predetermined dimension which, mounted on a motorcycle, laterally protrudes in order to provide support to a motorcyclist's foot. The footpeg does not include all those accessory parts particularly defined by plates, welded or bolted with the motorcycle frame, which develop themselves parallel to the center plane of the motorcycle itself at which the footpeg itself is hooked.

According to an already known pattern, the footpeg 1 includes a support portion 2, equipped with a bearing surface 3 suitable for supporting the motorcyclist's foot, and a connecting portion 4 constrained to the support portion 2 and which can be engaged to the motorcycle .

Preferably, the bearing surface 3 of the footpegs used on the offroad motorcycles is provided with small teeth 3a which engage themselves with the sole of the motorcyclist's boot and avoid the slipping of the same. The connecting portion 4 is usually defined by a bracket 5 equipped with at least a hole 6 within which a small shaft, which can be constrained to the motorcycle, is inserted. In particular, according to a constructive solution known in itself and therefore not shown, the shaft is substantially parallel to the center plane of the motorcycle and is inserted in proper seats obtained in the frame for acting as a hinge. In this way, the footpeg 1 is rotatably constrained to the motorcycle around a first X" rotation axis (figures 1 and 2) , possibly with the use of a spring suitable for maintaining it in the operating position, in order to prevent any breaking in case of accidental impacts. In the shown embodiment, the bracket 5 includes a pair of parallel elements 5a, 5b equipped with respective holes 6 apt for being engaged from the hinge shaft.

Advantageously and differently from the footpegs of the known art, the footpeg 1 according to the invention further includes positioning and blocking means 7 interposed between the support portion 2 and the connecting portion 4. Said means 7 are able to change the position of the support portion 2 with respect to the connecting portion 4 and to block such portions one with regard to the other in the selected position, depending on the driver requirements.

Preferably, the positioning and blocking means 7 include angular positioning means 8 of the support portion 2 with respect to the connecting portion 4 and linear positioning means 9 of the support portion 2 with respect to the connecting portion 4. The angular positioning means 8 allow the rotation of the two portions 2, 4 one with regard to the other around a second "Y" rotation axis oriented along the longitudinal development of the footpeg 1 and their blocking in the selected position, preferably between a plurality of discrete positions. The linear positioning means 9 allow to translate the two portions 2, 4 one with regard to the other in an orthogonal plane to the second "Y" axis and to block them in the selected position, preferably between a plurality of discrete positions.

More particularly, referring to the enclosed figures, the support portion 2 shows a support plate 10. From a first face 11 of such plate 10, an U-shaped lug 12 is transversally extending with the U ends engaged with the support plate 10 itself. The lug 12 has a thickness 13 decreasing from the support plate 10 towards the curved end 14 of the U and has a plurality of small teeth 3a. The ends of the small teeth 3a lie on a common plane which defines the support surface 3 with a development orthogonal to the support plate 10. However, the construction of the support surface 3 can take different shapes according to the requirements. As it can be seen in figure 3, the support plate 10 is preferably square-shaped and within it an opening 15 is obtained, which preferably takes the form of a button hole and which, according to what is shown, mainly extends along a "Z" direction orthogonal to the support surface 3. At an end of the button hole 15, which coincides with a side 16 of the support plate 10 close and parallel to the support surface 3, a catch 17 is positioned, defined by a step which develops orthogonal ■ to a second face 18 of the support plate 10 opposite to the first one 11 (figures 1 and 2) . The connecting portion 4 includes a circular plate 19 on a first face 20 of which the bracket 5 is engaged as a connection to the motorcycle (figures 2 and 5) . A pin 21 is extending orthogonal and coaxial to the circular plate 19 from a second face 22 of the circular plate 19 opposite to the first one 20. The pin 21 is sized in order to engage itself in the button hole 15 of the support portion 2, so as to slide only along the "Z" direction orthogonal to the support surface 3. A blocking element 23, preferably defined by a nut coupled with the threaded pin 21, allows to fix the pin 21 itself in the button hole 15 of the support^' plate 10 and making integral the connecting portion 4 and the support portion 2. The shape of the button hole 1, as above-described and shown, allows the relative displacement between the connecting portion 4 and the support portion 2 perpendicular to the bearing surface 3. Such direction, that referring to the motorcycle supported at the ground is vertical, allows to adapt the footpeg to the motorcyl- cist's requirements without modifying the longitudinal position of the center of gravity of the motorcycle. In fact, the longitudinal position of the center of gravity, particularly in the offroad motorcycles, is a critical parameter which greatly affects the motorcycle behaviour. However, different forms of the button hole, selected with respect to the required translations, lie within the scope of the present invention. Advantageously, between the support plate 10 and the circular plate 19 is interposed a guide plate 24 equipped with an eccentric guide hole 25 countershaped to the pin 21 and crossed by the pin 21 (figures 2 and 4). The guide plate 24 shows a polygonal shape and is equipped with a number of sides proportional to the number of the discrete translation positions which the connecting portion 4 can takes with respect to the support portion 2. For this purpose, the eccentricity of the hole 25 upon the guide plate 24 permits to obtain different distances between the center of such hole 25 and each side of the polygonal plate 24. In the preferred embodiment, the guide plate 24 shows a square shape and the center 26 of the eccentric guide hole 25 lies on a symmetry axis 27 of the guide plate 24, preferably on a symmetry axis which intersects one of the sides of the plate 24 itself, as it is shown in the enclosed figures. It follows that the guide plate 25 exhibits two first opposite sides 28 spaced from the center 26 of the guide hole 25 at a first common distance "di", and a second and a third side 29, 30 spaced with a second "d₂" and a third "d₃" distance, respectively (figure 4).

The guide plate 24 is connected with the second face 18 of the support plate 10, with one of its own sides 28, 29, 30 abutted on the catch 17 and the guide hole 25 superimposed to the button hole 15. The position of the guide hole 25 along the extrusion of the button hole 15, and therefore the position of the pin 21 of the connecting portion 4 along the extrusion of the button hole 15, depend on which of the sides 28, 29, 30 of the guide plate 24 is placed into contact with the catch 17.

In the configuration of figure 6a, one of the first sides 28 is stopping against the catch 17 and the pin 21 is centered in the groove 15. In figure 6b, the second side 29 is stopping against the catch 17, the pin 21 is displaced towards the catch 17 itself and the support surface 3 is lower with respect to the configuration of figure βa. In figure βc, the third side 30 is stopping against the catch 17, the pin 21 is displaced towards the end of the button hole 15 opposite to the catch 17 itself and the support surface 3 is higher with respect to the configuration of figure βa.

The shown guide plate 24 allows to find three discrete linear positions between the support portion 2 and the connecting one 4 (figures 6a, 6b and 6c) and to support the vertical loads on the bearing surface 3 which are discharged, through the catch 17 and the guide plate 24 itself, upon the pin 21.

Therefore, the threaded pin 21 engaged in the button hole 15, the nut 23 and the guide plate 24 with the eccentric guide hole 25 interposed between the support portion 2 and the connecting portion 4 belong to the positioning and blocking means 7 and, particularly, define the linear positioning means 9 of the support portion 2 relative to the connecting portion 4. The pin 21, fixed on the circular plate 19, and the nut 23, further allow to mutually rotate the two portions 2, 4 and to fix them in the desired angular position and then they also define the angular position- ing means 8 above-mentioned.

Advantageously, for the purpose of allowing the blocking of the bearing surface 3 in discrete angular positions, the footpeg 1 further includes means 31 for locating the angular position of the connecting portion 2 relative to the support portion 4.

For this purpose, the circular plate 19 is equipped with a plurality of holes 32 placed around the pin 21 and equidistant from the same pin 21. The holes 32 lie on a same circumference coaxial to the pin 21 and the guide hole 25 of the guide plate 24.

The guide plate 24 also shows a plurality of holes 33 equidistant from the center 26 of the guide hole 25 and arranged on the same circumference on which lie the holes 32 of the circular plate 19.

The means 31 for locating the angular position of the connecting plate 2 with respect to the support portion 4 finally include a plug 34, or a screw, whose function is to couple one of the holes 32 of the circular plate 19 with one of the holes 33 obtained in the guide plate 24, according to the selected discrete angular position of the connecting portions 4 with respect to the support portion 2. If a screw 23 is chosen, the holes 32 on the circular plate 19 are threaded and the holes 33 of the guide plate 24 are equipped with proper flarings, for housing the head of the screws. The flarings, not shown, are faced towards the second face 18 of the support plate 10. In the shown embodiment, the support portion 2 is rotatable in three discrete positions (figures 7a, 7b and 7c) . The circular plate 19 shows a first 32a, a second 32b and a third hole 32c angularly and successively arranged (figure 5) . The second hole 32b of the circular plate 19 is angularly staggered with respect to the first one 32a of a first angle α_x of 85° and the third hole 32c is angularly staggered from the second hole 32b of a second angle ₂ of 100°. The two elements 5a, 5b of the bracket 5 are symmetrically positioned at the sides of a "W" symmetry axis shown by the connecting portion 4, and the center of the second hole 32b obtained in the circular plate 19 lies on such "W" symmetry axis.

The guide plate 24 has four holes 33 angularly equidistant which define the vertex of a square having sides parallel to the sides of said guide plate 24 (figure 4) .

In figures βa, 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b and 7c, the footpeg 1 is diagrammatically represented with the symmetry axis "W" inclined of 45° with respect to the "V" vertical, just as it is usually mounted on the motorcycles. A first mutual position between the support portion 2 and the connecting portion 4 corresponds to the engagement of the plug 34 in the second hole 32b of the circular plate 19 and within one of the holes 33 of the guide plate 24 (figure 7a) . A second position corresponds to the engagement of the plug 34 in the third hole 32c of the circular plate 19 and within one of the holes 33 of the guide plate 24 (figure 7b) . Finally, a third position corresponds to the engagement of the plug 34 in the first hole 32a of the circular plate 19 and in one of the holes 33 of the guide plate 24 (figure 7c) . With the positioning of the holes 32 on the circular plate 19 as above described and shown, the rotation of the support portion 2 with respect to the connecting portion 4, both in the passage from the first to the second position and in the passage from the second to the third position, is of 5°. Each of such angular positions (figures 7a, 7b, 7c) can also be obtained whatever the mutual vertical position of the two portions 2,4 might be (figures βa, 6b, βc) .

The footpeg 1 according to the invention may be limited to the only presence of the linear positioning means which permit the mere translation of the two portions 2, 4. Alternatively, the footpeg 1 according to the invention can be limited to the presence of the angular positioning means only, which allow the mere mutual rotation of the two portions 2, 4. The present invention attains the intended objects and achieves considerable advantages.

First of all, the footpeg according to the present invention allows to adjust the position of the bearing surface of the foot, in order to adapt the geometry of the motorcycle to the driver requirements . Furthermore, the adjustment is¹ of a discrete type and therefore it is possible to instantly adjust both the footpegs in the same way and restore the identical adjustment after their dismounting in order to carry out maintenance or replacement operations.

The present footpeg includes the adjusting means and for this purpose does not need further devices, such as additional plates to be hooked to the motorcycle frame. For this reason, the footpeg of the invention is much more compact and lightweight than the known adjusting devices, and can be easily adapted to any model of motorcycle.

Finally, the construction of the present footpeg is very simple and the symmetry of the parts allows to use the same pieces both for the right footpeg and the left one, with remarkable production advantages. The only difference is given by the position of the holes in the circular plate.

Claims

1. Footpeg for motorcycles, in particular for offroad motorcycles, including: a support portion (2) equipped with a bearing surface (3) for the foot of a motorcyclist; a connecting portion (4) constrained to the support portion (2) and which can be engaged to a motorcycle; characterized in that it includes: positioning and blocking means (7) for varying the position of the support portion (2) with respect to the connecting portion (4) and blocking said support portion (2) upon said connecting portion (4) .

2. Footpeg according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning and blocking means (7) include angular positioning means (8) of the support portion (2) with respect to the connecting portion (4) .

3. Footpeg according to claim 1, characterized in that the variation and blocking means (7) include linear positioning means (9) of the support portion (2) with respect to the connecting portion (4) .

4. Footpeg according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the support portion (2) and the connecting portion (4) can be blocked in a plurality of discrete positions.

5. Footpeg according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning and blocking means (7) include a pin (21) integral with the connecting portion (4) and engaged in an opening (15) obtained within the support portion (2); and a blocking element (23) of said pin (21) in said opening (15) .

6. Footpeg according to claim 5, characterized in that the pin (21) is threaded and the blocking element (23) is a nut coupled with said threaded pin (21) .

7. Footpeg according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the opening (15) is defined by an opening hole.

8. Footpeg according to claim 7, characterized in that the opening hole (15) mainly develops itself along a direction (Z) orthogonal to the bearing surface (3) .

9. Footpeg according to claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the positioning and blocking means (7) further include a guide plate (24) equipped with an eccentric guide hole (25) for the passage of the pin (21) ; the guide plate (24) being interposed between the support portion (2) and the connecting portion (4).

10. Footpeg according to claim 9, characterized in that the guide plate (24) shows a polygonal shape.

11. Footpeg according to claim 9, characterized in that the guide plate (24) shows a square shape.

12. Footpeg according to claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the center (26) of the eccentric guide hole (25) lies on a symmetry ^'axis (27) of the guide plate (24) .

13. Footpeg according to one of the claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the support portion (2) shows a catch (17) for the support of one of the sides (28, 29, 30) of the guide plate (24) ; the position of the guide hole (25) along the extrusion of the button hole (15) and the position of the pin (21) of the connecting portion (4) along the extrusion of the button hole (15) depend on the side (28;^' 29; 30) of the guide plate (24) placed into contact with said catch (17) .

14. Footpeg according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further includes locating means (31) of the angular position of the connecting portion (4) with respect to the support portion (2) .

15. Footpeg according to claim 14 when it depends on claim 9, characterized in that the locating means (31) of the angular position of the connecting portion (4) with respect to the support portion (2) include a circular plate (19) belonging to the connecting portion (4) integral with the pin (21) and equipped with a plurality of holes (32) placed around the pin (21) and equidistant from said pin (21) ; and a plug (34) for coupling one of the holes (32) of the circular plate (19) with one of the holes belonging to a plurality of holes (33) obtained in the guide plate (24) and equidistant from the center (26) of the guide hole (25), depending on the angular position of the connecting portion (4) relative to the support portion (2) .

16. Footpeg according to claim 15, characterized in that the circular plate (19) shows a first (32a), a second (32b) and a third hole (32c) placed angularly and in succession.

17. Footpeg according to claim 16, characterized in that the second hole (32b) of the circular plate (19) is angularly staggered from the first one (32a) of 85° and the third hole (32c) is angularly staggered from the second one (32b) of 100°.

18. Footpeg according to claim 16, characterized in that the guide plate (24) shows four holes (33) angularly equidistant one with regard to each other.

19. Footpeg according to claim 18, characterized in that the guide plate (24) shows a square shape and the four holes (33) define the vertexes of a square having sides parallel to the sides of said guide plate (24).

20. Footpeg according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting portion (4) includes a bracket (5) equipped with at least a hole (6) suitable for being engaged by a hinge shaft which can be constrained to the motorcycle and substantially parallel to the center plane of said motorcycle, in order to rotatably connect the footpeg (1) to the motorcycle and to avoid the breaking of said footpeg (1) in case of accidental impacts .

21. Footpeg according to claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the connecting portion (4) includes a pair of parallel elements (5a, 5b) transversally extending from the circular plate (19) from the opposite side to the pin (21) and equipped with holes (β) suitable for being engaged by a hinge shaft which can be constrained to the motorcycle and substantially parallel to the center plane of said motorcycle, in order to rotatably connect the footpeg (1) to the motorcycle and to avoid the breaking of said footpeg (1) in case of accidental impacts.

22. Footpeg according to claim 21, characterized in that the two parallel elements (5a, 5b) of the connecting portion (4) are symmetrically positioned at the sides of a symmetry axis (W) and that the center of the second hole (32b) in the circular plate (19) lies on said symmetry axis (W) .

23. Motorcycle characterized in that it includes at least a footpeg (1) according to claims 1 to 22.

24. Motorcycle according to claim 23, characterized in that it is an offroad motorcycle.