A PARKING STATION FOR MOTORCYCLES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to parking stations for motorcycles, but more particularly to such a parking station wherein utilitarian accessories are readily made available to a motorcycle rider and wherein a motorcycle on a parking location can be retained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apart from holding motorcycles in place, it is highly desirable for motorcycle parking stations to provide the riders with greater convenience. Such convenience may be drawn from, for example, having a secured locker for storing the luggage of motorcycle riders.

International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2012/057427 discloses a stationing unit for parking a motorcycle. The disclosed stationing unit includes, among others, a frame structure for anchorage of a motorcycle's wheel, a fixed base structure designed to be anchored to the ground in an area provided for parking, and a locker rigidly connected to the fixed base structure and having a door for access to a containing space which houses objects such as helmets, clothing, bags, and other personal belongings. Although the disclosed stationing unit does not explicitly mention any mechanism to prevent a motorcycle's wheel from moving, it discloses a cable which can be viewed as a restraining mechanism or, in other words, can be used to restrain the movement of the motorcycle's wheel. One end of the cable is permanently secured to a first loop of one of the branches of the frame structure, but said cable can even form an integral part of the stationing unit and be anchored to the frame structure in any suitable way. The cable is made to pass through the spokes of the motorcycle's wheel and through a second loop of the frame structure set on the opposite side of the wheel. The end of the cable opposite to the one anchored to the frame structure terminates with a bolt member constituted by an elongated plate, having one or two holes. The bolt member is inserted, with a door associated with the locker in a closed condition, through a slit in the door and then inside a seat provided in the locker. A problem with this particular arrangement is that the rider of the motorcycle is still required to manually install the cable in order to prevent the wheel from moving on its own, and then to manually remove the installed cable later on as needed. Although the installation of the cable addresses some security issues such as theft, the same is not efficient for restraining a motorcycle's wheel movement. A need therefore exists for a motorcycle parking station having a component that enables a rider to quickly lock and restrain the movement of the wheel of his motorcycle and to quickly retrieve his motorcycle from a restrained condition without having to carry out laborious and time- consuming installation and removal procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a parking station for motorcycles which comprises an accessory mounting assembly that is arranged to allow one or more accessories to be mounted thereto, and a wheel choke assembly that is arranged to be attachable to the accessory mounting assembly and to restrain a movement of at least one wheel of a motorcycle. The wheel choke assembly includes a pivotable channel holder and an auxiliary channel holder positioned proximate to the pivotable channel holder, wherein the pivotable channel holder and the auxiliary channel holder are arranged such that pushing a wheel in contact with the pivotable channel holder in the direction of the auxiliary channel holder causes forward rotation of the pivotable channel holder and such that the auxiliary channel holder causes the wheel in contact with the forwardly rotating pivotable channel holder to be choked.

Preferably, the accessory mounting assembly comprises a vertical mounting rail and a horizontal mounting rail intersecting the vertical mounting rail at one end thereof. It is likewise preferable that the accessories that can be mounted into the accessory mounting assembly include a utility cabinet, a base plate, a light holder, a tray, or any suitable combination thereof.

Preferably, the wheel choke assembly further comprises a parking mechanism and a pivot mechanism being operably configured with the parking mechanism, and wherein the pivotable channel holder is pivotally secured on the parking mechanism through the pivot mechanism for restraining the movement of the wheel of the motorcycle. Preferably, the pivotable channel holder includes a first channel holder member and a second channel holder member extending at an angle effective to prevent a wheel from slipping off the pivotable channel holder relative to an adjoining forward edge of the first channel holder member.

Preferably, each of the first and second channel holder members has adjoining an abbreviated bottom wall, opposed inclined sidewalls extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall, opposed vertical walls extending from the inclined sidewalls, and outwardly directed flanges extending from the vertical walls, and wherein the adjoining opposed inclined sidewalls are provided with opposed slots disposed along the adjoining forward edge of the first channel holder member. Preferably, the parking mechanism comprises a parking track, a supporting structure that is secured at a forward end portion of the parking track, a restraining structure that is provided adjacently to the supporting structure and oppositely spaced from the pivotable channel holder defining a retaining space therebetween. More preferably, the parking track includes a pair of spaced apart first and second track brackets each having adjoining horizontal and vertical members, a plurality of spaced apart transverse braces being provided between said first and second track brackets and an adjusting mechanism being provided on said first and second track brackets. Preferably, the pivot mechanism includes a pivot pin that is detachably secured between a pair of opposed spaced apart holes and that is provided correspondingly on the vertical members of the first and second track brackets and through the opposed slots disposed along the adjoining forward edge of the first channel holder member. For the better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be performed, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a parking station according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the parking station in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a wheel choke assembly of the parking station in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the wheel choke assembly in

Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the wheel choke assembly in Figure 3. Figures 6 and 7 are exploded views of the wheel choke assembly in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a side view of the wheel choke assembly in Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a side view showing how a motorcycle front wheel is retained on the wheel choke assembly as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 10 show how a channel holder of the wheel choke assembly as shown in Figure 3 can be adjusted.

Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 show different sizes of motorcycle front wheels being restrained on the wheel choke assembly in Figure 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there are shown respectively a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a parking station according to the present invention, and an exploded view of the same parking station. The parking station, generally designated as reference numeral 100 mainly comprises an accessory mounting assembly 101 and a wheel choke assembly 102. The accessory mounting assembly 101 serves as a support apparatus for adequately supporting one or more accessories. Such accessories may include, for example, a base plate "P," a utility cabinet "U," a utility tray "T," a light holder "L," each of which is configured to be removably attached to the accessory mounting assembly 101. The accessory mounting assembly 101 generally comprises a vertical mounting rail 103 and a horizontal mounting rail 104. The middle portion 105, between the opposed ends 106 and 107, of the horizontal mounting rail 104 is configured to be attachable to one end portion 108 of the vertical mounting rail 103. The opposed end portion 109 of the vertical mounting rail 103 is where the light holder "L" is made attachable. The horizontal mounting rail 104 is configured to be attachable to the base plate "P" while the lower portion of the vertical mounting rail 103 and the entire horizontal mounting rail 104 which intersects vertical mounting rail 103 are configured to be attachable to the utility cabinet "U." Finally, the middle portion 110 of the vertical mounting rail 103 is configured to be attachable to the utility tray "U." It is to be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the mounting of each of the accessories "L," "P," "U," and "T" onto the accessory mounting assembly 114 may be accomplished using any suitable means such as screws, rivets, bolts and nuts, mounting clamps, and sliding mounting latch. It is to be understood also that the base plate "P," the utility cabinet "U," the utility tray "T," the light holder "L," are merely examples of accessories that can be attached to the accessory mounting assembly 101. Other accessories such as chairs, cooling systems, water tanks and hoses for the purpose of washing motorcycles, and some forms of racks are also possible to be attached to the accessory mounting assembly 101 of the parking station 100 of the present invention. The wheel choke assembly 102, on the other hand, serves as a parking apparatus for motorcycles and is arranged to be attachable to the accessory mounting assembly. The wheel choke assembly 102 has a pivotable channel holder 113 and an auxiliary channel holder 129, and is further arranged to restrain a movement of a wheel of a motorcycle. In operation, pushing a wheel in contact with the pivotable channel holder 113 in the direction of the auxiliary channel holder 129 causes forward rotation of the pivotable channel holder 113. The auxiliary channel holder 129, which is positioned in close proximity with the pivotable channel holder 113, causes the wheel in contact with the forwardly rotating pivotable channel holder 113 to be choked. The contact points among the wheel of a motorcycle (as will be shown in the succeeding drawings), the pivotable channel holder 113, and auxiliary channel holder 129 form a tangential relationship.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, there are shown, respectively, a perspective view, a front perspective view, and a rear perspective view of the wheel choke assembly 102 of the parking station of the present invention. The wheel choke assembly 102 which, again, serves as a parking apparatus for motorcycles generally comprises a parking mechanism 111, a pivot mechanism 112 which is operably configured with the parking mechanism 111 and the pivotable channel holder 113 which is pivotally secured on the parking mechanism 111 through the pivot mechanism 112. When the front wheel "W" of a motorcycle "M" is passed through the parking mechanism 111, the pivotable channel holder 113 pivots towards the forward direction to restrain the front wheel "W" of a motorcycle "M" on the parking mechanism 111 as shown at least in Figure 9. Still in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the pivotable channel holder 113 according to the present invention, comprises of a first channel holder member 114 and a second channel holder member 115 extending at an obtuse angle with respect to the adjoining forward edge 116 of the first channel member 114. This obtuse angle is an angle effective to prevent a wheel from slipping off the pivotable channel holder 113 relative to the adjoining forward edge 116 of the first channel holder member 114. The first channel holder member 114 is formed by an abbreviated bottom wall 114a, a pair of opposed inclined sidewalls 114b extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall 114a, a pair of opposed vertical walls 114c extending from the inclined sidewalls 114b and outwardly directed flanges 114d extending from the vertical walls 114c. Similarly, the second channel holder member 115 is formed by an abbreviated bottom wall 115a, a pair of opposed inclined sidewalls 115b extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall 115a, a pair of opposed vertical walls 115c extending from the inclined sidewalls 115b and outwardly directed flanges 115d extending from the vertical walls 115c. Furthermore, the adjoining opposed inclined sidewalls 114b and 115b of the first and second channel holder members 114 and 115 are provided with opposed slots 117 disposed in direct communication along the adjoining forward edge 116 of the first channel holder member 114 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Still in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the parking mechanism 111 comprises of a parking track 118, a supporting structure 119 secured and disposed at the forward end portion of the parking track 118. To restrain the front wheel "W" of a motorcycle "M", a restraining structure 120 is provided adjacently to the supporting structure 119 and oppositely spaced from the pivotable channel holder 113 defining a retaining space 121 therebetween. The dimensions of the retaining space 121 are measured from the adjoining forward edge 116 of the first channel holder member 114 up to restraining structure 120 and the width of the parking track 118. The dimensions of the retaining space 121 are equal to the entire dimensions of the front wheel rim and tire of a motorcycle "M."

In accordance with the present invention, the parking track 118 includes a pair of spaced apart first track bracket 122 having adjoining horizontal member 122a and vertical member 122b, and a second track bracket 123 having adjoining horizontal member 123a and vertical member 123b. A plurality of spaced apart transverse braces 124 is provided between the first track brackets 122 and second track bracket 123, and an adjusting mechanism 125 provided on the first track bracket 122 and second track bracket 123 for adjusting the position of the pivotable channel holder 113 relative to the length of the parking track 118 and to its distance from the auxiliary channel holder 129. As shown in Figure 8, the adjusting mechanism 125 is preferably a plurality of spaced apart holes 126 which is provided correspondingly on the vertical members 122b and 123b of the first and second track brackets 122 and 123. In accordance with the present invention, and as further shown in

Figures 3, 4, and 5, supporting structure 119 includes a supporting bracket 127 transversely secured at the forward end of the parking track 118. The supporting bracket 127 is formed by a horizontal member 127a and vertical member 127b. The supporting bracket 127 is provided with an attaching mechanism which is preferably pair of hooks 128 disposed at the opposed end portions thereof. The hooks 128 are adapted to secure the choke assembly 101 on the parking ground "G" of any desired parking location.

Still, in accordance with the present invention, and as further shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the restraining structure 120 includes an upright auxiliary channel holder 129 having an abbreviated upright bottom wall 129a, a pair of opposed inclined sidewalls 129b extending upwardly and outwardly from the upright bottom wall 129a, a pair of opposed vertical walls 129c extending from the inclined sidewalls 129b and outwardly directed flanges 129d extending from the vertical walls 129c. Each of the opposed inclined sidewalls 129b are provided with spaced apart holes 130 on the surface thereof.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, there are shown exploded views of the wheel choke assembly 101 as shown in Figure 3. To allow the channel holder member 113 to pivot with respect to the parking track 118, a pivot mechanism 131 is provided between the channel holder member 113 and the parking track 118. More particularly, the pivot mechanism 131 includes a pivot pin 132 detachably secured between a pair of opposed spaced apart holes 126 provided correspondingly on the vertical members 122b, 123b of the first track bracket 122 and second track bracket 123 and through the opposed slots 117 which are disposed along the adjoining forward edge 116 of the first channel holder member 114.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, there are shown, respectively, a side view of the wheel choke assembly 102 in operation and a side view showing how a motorcycle front wheel is retained on the wheel choke assembly 102 as shown in Figure 5. Due to the angular configuration between the first channel holder member 114 and second channel holder member 115, (which are interconnected at an obtuse angle), the pivotable channel holder 113 is allowed to instantaneously pivot from an initial position "A" to a parking position "B" when the front wheel "W" of a motorcycle "M" is allowed to pass thereon. The resulting configuration immediately restrains the front wheel "W" of a motorcycle "M" between the upright auxiliary channel holder 129 and the first channel holder member 114 of the pivotable channel holder 113. Furthermore, the new position of the first channel holder member 114, more particularly restraining position "C" as shown in Figure 8, effectively restrains the front wheel "W" on the parking track 118.

In operation, to attain the parking position "B" as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the front wheel "W" of a motorcycle "M" is engaged on the choke assembly 101 by first allowing it to pass through the pivotable channel holder 113. When the front wheel "W" of the motorcycle "M" comes into contact with the surface of the first holder member 114, the second channel holder member 115 instantaneously pivots to the forward direction towards the restraining structure 120, more specifically the upright auxiliary channel holder 129, into the horizontal parking position "B" with respect to the retaining space 121 formed on the parking track 118. And simultaneously, the first channel holder member 114 pivots to an upwardly and outwardly inclined (at an obtuse angle with respect to the second channel holder member 115) restraining position "C" with respect to the second channel holder member 115 to hold the rearward and forward portions of the front wheel "W" of a motorcycle "M" together with the upright auxiliary channel holder 129 within the retaining space 121 of the parking track 118 as shown in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. To disengage and release the front wheel "W" from the retaining space 121 of the choke assembly 110, the motorcycle "M" is simply pulled in a direction away from the restraining structure 120, more specifically the upright auxiliary channel holder 129. With this movement, the first channel holder member 114 instantaneously pivots rearwardly to its original position as indicated by position "A" of Figure 8. Still, in accordance with the present invention, the specific identical configurations of the first channel holder member 114, the second channel holder 115 and the upright auxiliary channel holder 129 as has been previously described, provides an efficient anti-skid effect on the surface of the front and rear portions of the front wheel "W" when it is restrained within the retaining space 121 of the parking track 118, and, at the same time, it easily facilitates the parking of a motorcycle since the pivotable channel holder 113 is instantaneously pivotable by gravity to quickly lock and restrain the motion of the wheel or release the front wheel "W" of a motorcycle "M" from the parking track 118. Moreover, the entire wheel choke assembly 101 of the present invention is transportable and can be secured to any desired parking location.

Still, in accordance with the present invention, the pivotable channel holder 113 can also be adjusted in different positions as shown by pivotable channel holder 113' along the parking track 118 by means of adjusting mechanism 125 to accommodate different sizes of motorcycle front wheels on the parking track 118. More particularly, adjusting mechanism 125 comprises of the plurality of spaced apart holes 126 being provided correspondingly on the vertical members 122b, 123b of the first and second track brackets 122 and 123.

Figure 11, in particular, shows a large front wheel "Wl" that is restrained on the parking track 118 between the pivotable channel holder 113 and the auxiliary upright channel holder 129. The channel holder 130 is positioned at a great distance from the auxiliary upright channel holder 129 to define a larger restraining space and accommodate front wheel "Wl". The pivotable channel holder 113 is pivotally secured between the first and second track brackets 122 and 123 of the parking track 118 by means of pivot pin 132 passing through the corresponding holes 126a and the opposed slots 117 of the pivotable channel holder 113. Figure 12 shows a front wheel "W2" of a different size that is restrained on the parking track 118 between the pivotable channel holder 113 and the auxiliary upright channel holder 129. The channel holder 130 is positioned at a distance from the auxiliary upright channel holder 129 to define a restraining space and accommodate front wheel "W2". The pivotable channel holder 113 is pivotally secured between the first and second track brackets 122 and 123 of the parking track 118 by means of pivot pin 132 passing through the corresponding holes 126b and the opposed slots 117 of the pivotable channel holder 113. Figure 13 shows a front wheel "W3" of a different size that is restrained on the parking track 118 between the pivotable channel holder 113 and the auxiliary upright channel holder 129. The channel holder 130 is positioned at a distance from the auxiliary upright channel holder 129 to define a restraining space and accommodate front wheel "W3". The pivotable channel holder 113 is pivotally secured between the first and second track brackets 122 and 123 of the parking track 118 by means of pivot pin 132 passing through the corresponding holes 126c and the opposed slots 117 of the pivotable channel holder 113.

Figure 14 shows a front wheel "W4" of a different size that is restrained on the parking track 118 between the pivotable channel holder 113 and the auxiliary upright channel holder 129. The channel holder 130 is positioned at a distance from the auxiliary upright channel holder 129 to define a restraining space and accommodate front wheel "W4". The pivotable channel holder 113 is pivotally secured between the first and second track brackets 122 and 123 of the parking track 118 by means of pivot pin 132 passing through the corresponding holes 126d and the opposed slots 117 of the pivotable channel holder 113.

Figure 15 shows a front wheel "W5" of a different size that is restrained on the parking track 118 between the pivotable channel holder 113 and the auxiliary upright channel holder 129. The channel holder 130 is positioned at a distance from the auxiliary upright channel holder 129 to define a restraining space and accommodate front wheel "W5". The pivotable channel holder 113 is pivotally secured between the first and second track brackets 122 and 123 of the parking track 118 by means of pivot pin 132 passing through the corresponding holes 126e and the opposed slots 117 of the pivotable channel holder 113.

Figure 16 shows a front wheel "W6" of a different size that is restrained on the parking track 118 between the pivotable channel holder 113 and the auxiliary upright channel holder 129. The channel holder 130 is positioned at a distance from the auxiliary upright channel holder 129 to define a restraining space and accommodate front wheel "W6". The pivotable channel holder 113 is pivotally secured between the first and second track brackets 122 and 123 of the parking track 118 by means of pivot pin 132 passing through the corresponding holes 126f and the opposed slots 117 of the pivotable channel holder 113.