GB2116492A - Safety devices for two wheeled vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Guard members (10, 20, 26) are fitted to a two-wheeled vehicle in spaced relation to the rider alongside his elbows or preferably also his shoulders by means of brackets 14. The apparatus is desirably provided on both sides of the vehicle, and may be linked by a link member (23). A vehicle having the apparatus and also foot stirrups to keep the rider's feet within the protection afforded by the apparatus are also claimed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety devices for two-wheeled vehicles The invention relates to apparatus for attachment to two-wheeled vehicles and is particularly, though not exclusively applicable to safety apparatus for riders of motor cycles and mopeds.

It is common, when a rider of a cycle, motor cycle or moped is involved in an accident for the rider to be separated in impact from his vehicle and to suffer relatively serious injuries by contact with other vehicles, walls, pavements and other hard objects. It is believed that if a rider can remain with his vehicle during the impact of the accident then his vehicle will serve to protect him to some extent, especially in the more minor accidents. During such accidents the vehicle usually falls over on to its side and there is a danger that those portions of the rider's body between the vehicle and the road will be hurt. For this purpose leg guards were developed to take a major part of the damage and to support the vehicle in spaced relation from the ground so that the rider's legs are not crushed.Even with leg guards however, severe injuries can be sustained to the rider's arm and shoulder in such accidents.

However the present invention provides apparatus for attachment to a two-wheeled vehicle, said apparatus comprising at least one guard member and, at at least one location on the or each guard member means for attaching the or each guard member to a two wheeled vehicle, the or each guard member being adapted such that at least a part of the or each guard member is situated substantially adjacent to the location of a respective elbow of a rider of the vehicle.

Preferably a pair of guard members are provided, one for each elbow of the rider. The guard members may be joined by a link member, and the link member may be releasably attachable to the said guard members or integral therewith.

Desirably the or each guard member has a part situated in a region to be substantially alongside the rider's elbow and also extends to a height above and substantially adjacent to the rider's shoulder. The or each said part is preferably adapted to locate at the rear of the rider. The or each guard member may be bifurcated, and preferably the guard member is made from metal tube. The apparatus is preferably coated with a corrosion-resistant coating such as paint. The attachment means may comprise brackets adapted to be secured to the vehicle. At least one substantially horizontal bracket and at least one vertical bracket may be provided for each guard member to enable the guard member to be attached to an existing leg guard of the vehicle.

The or each part may be provided with one or more rolling elements. In addition, or alternatively, the or each part of the apparatus adjacent the rider's elbow or shoulder may be provided with a high-friction surface to reduce the amount of sliding of the vehicle in the event of an accident.

The high-friction surface may be provided by a rubber sleeve or sock received on the said part.

The invention also provides a two-wheeled vehicle including apparatus set out in any of the preceding paragraphs, means for gripping the foot of the rider of the vehicle and means for mounting the gripping means on the vehicle. The gripping means may comprise straps formed from resilient material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of apparatus according to the invention shown fitted to a motor cycle only part of which is shown; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shqwn in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an apparatus alternative to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show apparatus alternative to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively and like reference numbers have been used to indicate like parts; Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of a foot-rest device; and Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 7.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a guard member 10 having a part 13 which is situated substantially adjacent the location of a rider's elbow when fitted to a motor cycle 18, the guard member having at its lower end flanged brackets 14 by which it can be bolted to leg guard 1 6 of the motor cycle 1 8. The guard member is provided with a reinforcing strut 20 also provided with a bracket 14 at its lower end for fixing to an upper part of the leg guard 1 6. The reinforcing strut 20 is welded to guard member 10 at a point 22 between its ends to provide reinforcement for the guard member.

A further limb 23 shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 may be provided, connecting the end of the guard member 10 with a similar guard member on an opposite side of the motor cycle. The limb 23 may be connected to the guard member 10 by bolts or more preferably by being constructed integrally with the guard member 10 as shown in Fig. 1. A roller 26 is provided on parts 13 adjacent to the rider's elbow to reduce the likelihood of the part 13 breaking off by friction in the event of an accident.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 3 comprises a modified guard member 1 Oa fixed by a clamp 1 4a to the leg guard 1 6a of the motor cycle. Part 13, which is situation above and slightly behind the rider's elbow, is preferably made of steel, coated or painted with corrosion-resistant material.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is closely similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that the part 13 is replaced by a longer part 12 which has an end portion arranged adjacent the shoulder of the rider, with the lower portion adjacent the rider's elbow. This will, in the event of an accident, help to minimise damage to the rider's shoulder and arm.

The motor cycle 1 8 is further provided with a foot-rest safety device (Figs. 7 and 8) comprising a slightly resilient rubber strap 50 secured at each end to an end plate 52, the latter having an arcuate cut away portion 54. Respective lower limbs of each end plate 52 are connected by rigid plates 56 a pair of arcuate brackets 58 are provided with flanges 60 and these are used to clamp the end plates 52 securely to a cylindrical motor cycle foot rest 62 by means of locking nuts and bolts 61 which penetrate the flanges 60 and end portions of the plates 56. The shape of the cut-away portions 54 and brackets 58 may be chosen to suit the cross-sectional shape of the foot-rests of a given motor cycle. The may be provided integral with a foot rest for fitting to the frame of a motor cycle in the manner of known footrests.The strap 50 may be made of plastics or other synthetic material instead of rubber. Further each of the straps 50 may be attached to the end plates 52 by an arrangement which allows limited pivotal movement of the strap relative to the end plates 52. A rider's feet will be held so that his legs remain within the protection afforded by the vehicle's guard members as hereinbefore described.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example instead of a roller, the safety part may be covered with a coating of high friction material so that the amount of sliding of the vehicle is reduced. The coating may be provided by a moulded rubber sleeve or sock received on the or each said part.

Various parts of the apparatus may be made from any suitable material, typically tubular metal using bolted or welded construction. Alternatively solid metal members may be used.

Claims (17)

1. Apparatus for attachment to a two-wheeled vehicle, said apparatus comprising at least one guard member and at at least one locatiqn on the or each guard member means for attaching the or each guard member to a two-wheeled vehicle, the or each guard member being adapted such that at least a part of the or each guard member is situated substantially adjacent to the location of a respective elbow of a rider of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a pair of guard members are provided, one for each elbow of the rider.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the guard members are joined by a link member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the link member is releasably attachable to said guard members.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the link member is integral with said guard members.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each guard member has a part situated in a region to be substantially alongside the rider's elbow and extend to a height above and substantially adjacent to the rider's shoulder.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each part is adapted to locate at the rear of the rider.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each guard member is bifurcated.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each guard member is made from metal tube.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the apparatus is coated with a corrosion-resistant coating.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the attachment means comprises products adapted to be secured to the vehicle.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which at least one substantially horizontal bracket and at least one vertical bracket are provided for each guard member to enable the guard member to be attached to an existing leg guard of the vehicle.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each part is provided with or more rolling elements.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1-12, in which the or each part of the apparatus adjacent the rider's elbow or shoulder is provided with a high friction surface to reduce the amount of sliding of the vehicle in the event of an accident.

1 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the frictionable surface is provided by the surface of a rubber sleeve or sock received on said part.

1 6. A two-wheeled vehicle including apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, means for gripping the foot of the rider to the vehicle, and means mounting the gripping means on the vehicle.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16. whc,ein the gripping means comprises a stirrup formed of a resilient material.

1 8. Apparatus for attachment to a two wheeled vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 9. A two-wheeled vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.