GB2277722A - Motorcycle stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A vertical lift and lock motorcycle wheel stand, with front or rear wheel options, capable of raising a motorcycle at a point close to, or directly beneath, one of its wheels in a vertical plane comprises adjustable telescopic legs 5 with locating mountings 6 which are tailored to suit individual machines. The stand can be locked in the raised position by overcentring of the lower cranks 3 of a parallelogram linkage for wheel removal, maintenance, parking or transportation. When the stand is in its locked position the detachable lifting handle 11 may be removed if required. <IMAGE>

Description

VERTICAL LIFT & LOCK MOTORCYCLE WHEEL STAND This invention relates to a vertical lift & lock motorcycle wheel stand.

Solo motorcycles, being single track vehicles, have no stability when stationary, they are difficult to park or maintain without stands.

Bost non competition machines are fitted with a "Centre stand" or "Side stand" or a combination of both.

The "Side stand" causes the machine to lean to one side, is unstable and does not permit the removal of either wheel. It is used for basic parking.

The "Centre stand" holds the machine upright. It enables the rear wheel to be removed and some maintenance work to be done.

Neither "Side Stand" nor "Centre stand" permit the easy removal of the front wheel. Neither stand is ideal for transporting the motorcycle in a van or other vehicle.

Competition motorcycles do not normally have any form of fitted stand and need independent stands for maintenance and wheel changes.

In most workshops the motorcycle is placed on a raised platform for ease of access. In this position it is difficult to place onto conventional stands.

The design of many rear wheel stands also makes it difficult to fit a front wheel stand, in particular when the motorcycle is on a raised platform.

According to the present invention there is provided a vertical lift & lock motorcycle wheel stand comprising an open - ended base which can be positioned each side of a motorcycle wheel, a detachable lifting handle attached to a pair of upper cranks which are connected to a pair of lower cranks by means of parallelogram linkages. The lower cranks being further connected by rods to locating mountings on top of adjustable vertical telescopic legs. The lower cranks being positioned in such a way that operating the lifting handle causes the telescopic legs to extend, lifting the motorcycle wheel vertically off the ground and causing the lower cranks to pass overcentre and lock the stand in the raised position for wheel removal, maintenance, parking or transportation. The lifting handle may be removed when the stand is in this locked position.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 shows in perspective, the stand from the rear, with its lifting handle in the upright position.

Figure 2 shows in perspective, the stand from the front, with its lifting handle in the upright position.

Figure 3 shows the stand having been pushed each side of the motorcycle wheel, in this case a front wheel, and with its locating mountings directly beneath the fork leg.

Figure 4 shows the stand with the lifting handle having been pushed partly downwards, the telescopic legs partly extended and the locating mountings in contact with the fork legs.

Figure 5 shows the stand with the lifting handle almost horizontal, the telescopic legs fully extended and the motorcycle wheel clear of the ground.

Figure 6 shows the stand with the lifting handle at its maximum travel, the lower crank overcentre and resting in its locked position against the long vertical leg.

Referring to the drawings the stand comprises an open - ended base 1 designed to pass each side of a motorcycle wheel, to this base are fitted a pair of long vertical legs 2. Fitted inside these legs are a pair of adjustable telescopic legs 5 which have at their highest points locating mountings 6 that fit beneath the front fork legs of the motorcycle in front wheel applications, or beneath dowels fitted to the rear swinging fork of the motorcycle in rear wheel applications.

Close to each long vertical leg is mounted a lower crank 3, the bottom end of these cranks being attached to the base by a pivot while the upper end is attached by another pivot to the lower end of three connecting rods, these being ; a centre connecting rod 4, an outer connecting rod 8, and an inner connecting rod 9.

The top of each centre connecting rod 4 is attached to an adjustable pivot on the telescopic legs 5 beneath the locating mountings 6.

Attached to the base behind each long vertical leg 2 is a short vertical mounting 10.

Pivoting from the top of each of the short vertical mountings are identical upper cranks 7. These cranks are connected to each other by a detachable lifting handle 11 which is in the form of a loop.

To these upper cranks 7 are attached, by a second pivot, the upper ends of the outer connecting rods 8 and the upper ends of the inner connecting rods 9.

The outer and inner connecting rods pass either side of each of the long vertical legs 2 and form a parallelogram linkage between the upper cranks 7 and the lower cranks 3.

The telescopic legs 5 can be adjusted individually for height to suit the various motorcycle models, some of which have unequal length fork castings below the wheel spindles. Both sides of the stand are symetrical.

Stands for front wheel use and stands for rear wheel use follow the same design with actual dimensions and locating mountings 6 made to suit individual motorcycles.

To operate the stand, in this case a front stand, the lifting handle 11 is raised to its highest position which moves the locating mountings 6 to their lowest position as illustrated in Fig 3. The stand can now be pushed into place with the locating mountings 6 passing directly beneath the motorcycle fork legs.

The lifting handle 11 can now be pushed downwards causing the telescopic legs 5 to extend and bringing the locating mountings 6 into contact with the fork as illustrated in Fig 4. Continuing to push downwards on the lifting handle llwill further extend the telescopic legs 5 and lift the motorcycle wheel vertically off the ground as illustrated in Fig 5.

Continuing to push the lifting handle 11 to its lowest position will cause the lower crank 3 to pass overcentre and lock the centre connecting rod 4 against the vertical leg 2 as illustrated in Fig 6.

In this locked position the lifting handle 11 can be removed, if required, to give more room, in particular when the motorcycle is mounted on a raised workshop bench, or whilst it is being transported in a vehicle.

Rear wheel versions are operated in the same way but the locating mountings 6 engage beneath dowels attached to the rear swinging fork of the motorcycle.

To lower either stand the lifting handle 11 is raised to its highest position and the stand withdrawn.

As the stand lifts the motorcycle vertically it can operate on a confined base and both front and rear stands can be operated together without loss of stability.

Claims (2)

CLAINS

1 A vertical lift & lock motorcycle wheel stand comprising an open - ended base which can be positioned each side of a motorcycle wheel, a detachable lifting handle attached to a pair of upper cranks which are connected to a pair of lower cranks by means of parallelogram linkages.

The lower cranks being further connected by rods to locating mountings on top of adjustable vertical telescopic legs. The lower cranks being positioned in such a way that operating the lifting handle causes the telescopic legs to extend, lifting the motorcycle wheel vertically off the ground and causing the lower cranks to pass overcentre and lock the stand in the raised position for wheel removal, maintenance, parking or transportation. The lifting handle may be removed when the stand is in this locked position.

2 A vertical lift & lock motorcycle wheel stand sustantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 6 of the accompanying drawings.