Footrest Arrangement for a Motorcycle

Abstract

A footrest arrangement is for a motorcycle, wherein the footrest arrangement comprises at least two or more individually pivotable footrest devices with footrest surfaces placed with an internal spacing between them so a motorcycle rider can choose whether to rest his foot on one or more of the footrest surfaces simultaneously.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A footrest arrangement for a motorcycle, wherein the footrest arrangement comprises at least two or more individually pivotable footrest devices with footrest surfaces placed relative to each other and with an internal spacing between them in such a way that a motorcycle rider is enabled to stand with his foot on the footrest surfaces simultaneously.

10. The footrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the footrest surfaces are placed substantially in-plane.

11. The footrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein at least some of the footrest devices are connected to a footrest device bracket via bolts that define slanted pivot axis that allow the footrest devices to fold.

12. The footrest arrangement according to claim 11, wherein respective footrest devices next to the footrest device closest to the front wheel are arranged to stay in a folded away position when placed in this position by the rider.

13. The footrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the additional footrest devices are connected to a footrest bracket that is arranged to be retrofitted to motorcycles originally equipped with only one foldable footrest device intended for the rider on each side by using the original footrest pivot axis bracket as the main interface point between the additional footrest bracket and a motorcycle frame structure.

14. The footrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the additional footrest devices are connected to brackets that are integrated in the motorcycle frame structure.

15. The footrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the additional footrest devices with respect to the footrest device closest to the front wheel are height-adjustable.

16. The footrest arrangement for a motorcycle according to claim 9, wherein a bracket for the motorcycle sidestand support is connected to the additional footrest bracket on either the right or the left side of the motorcycle or integrated in one of the additional footrest brackets.

17. The footrest arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the distance between the footrest surface center is between 60 and 250 mm.

18. The footrest arrangement according to claim 10, wherein at least some of the footrest devices are connected to a footrest device bracket via bolts that define slanted pivot axis that allow the footrest devices to fold.

Description

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] In the following is described an example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a footrest arrangement in accordance with the invention;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the footrest arrangement of FIG. 1 with one footrest device folded away;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the footrest arrangement of FIG. 1 with the other footrest device being folded;

[0033] FIGS. 4 and 5 show part of a footrest arrangement as known from the prior art, and

[0034] FIGS. 6 and 7 shows further aspect of the footrest arrangement of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a footrest arrangement 14 with one added foldable footrest device 1 in addition to the footrest device 2, where footrest device 2 is closest to the front wheel of the motorcycle. Both foldable footrest devices 1 and 2 are shown in the regular riding position. The original foldable footrest device 2 has usually spring return to riding position. The additional footrest device 1 is fastened to the motorcycle frame 3 via a bolt 4 and an additional footrest device bracket 5. The bolt 4 defines the pivot axis for the footrest device 1. The additional footrest device bracket 5 is connected to the original footrest device bracket 6 via a bolt 7. This bolt 7 and the top of the original footrest device bracket 6 are transferring the load and torque from the additional footrest device bracket 5 to the motorcycle frame 3. The bolt 7 also defines the pivot axis for footrest device 2. To prevent the additional footrest device bracket from rotating around the bolt 7, two bolts 8 and 9 are added. Bolts 8 and 9 are pretensioned against the motorcycle frame structure.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the additional footrest device 1 in a folded away position, rotated around the pivot axis defined by the bolt 4. The additional footrest device 1 may also have spring return, as this is the common solution for regular footrest devices. But it may also stay fixed in the folded position when put there by the rider, either by spring induced friction, or by a spring-loaded detent mechanism. This functionality is important on motorcycles equipped with kick-start pedal. Some riders may also prefer the traditional arrangement with only one footrest device on each side of the motorcycle, when using trials riding techniques in extreme terrain.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows that the functionality with foldable footrest devices is maintained for the original footrest device 2 pivoting around a pivot axis defined by the bolt 7 even with the additional footrest device bracket 5 installed. The additional footrest device 1 in FIG. 3 is shown in regular riding position.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows prior art, the generic structure solution of all off-road motorcycles, with a footrest device bracket 6 with a slanted pivot axis 10 connected to the motorcycle frame 3. The hole in the motorcycle frame 11 is the hole for the swingarm axle that is connecting the swingarm to the motorcycle frame. This information is only given to describe the approximate generic placement of the footrest device, with respect to the motorcycle frame structure.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows prior art, the generic assembly of the footrest device arrangement used on all off-road motorcycles, with a footrest device 2 assembled to the footrest device bracket 6 with a footrest device axle 12 which defines a slanted pivot axis for the footrest device 2, where the footrest device bracket is either welded or bolted to the motorcycle frame structure 3.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows that the additional footrest device bracket 5 is made with a wider gap than the height of the additional footrest device 1 along the pivot axis defined by bolt 4, thus allowing a distance A available for adjusting the height of additional footrest device 1 with respect to the footrest device 2 by adding shim washers between the footrest device 1 and the footrest device bracket 5, according to each individual rider's preferences.

[0041] FIG. 7 shows a bracket for the sidestand support of the motorcycle 13, connected to the additional footrest device bracket 5.

[0042] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb comprise and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article a or an preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these cannot be used to advantage.