A PROTECTION DEVICE FOR AN ELBOW OR KNEE APPLICABLE TO A MOTORCYCLE SUIT

Technical field

The present invention relates to a protection device for an elbow or knee applicable to a motorcycle suit.

Prior art

Riders driving a motorcycle, especially in motorcycle races, often encounter fast turns and are forced to bow their vehicles in an inclined position to safely face the turn at the highest possible speed. The recently adopted driving style leads to very steep bowing angles, with the consequence that the driver's elbow or knee comes into contact with the asphalt surface during the turn.

Protection devices are known, commonly called "sliders", which consist of a deformable protuberance, fastened to the motorcycle suit in the area of the driver's elbow or knee, which generates sliding friction when it comes into contact with the ground.

Disadvantageously, such devices are subject to rapid wear since they are based on the principle of sliding friction. Furthermore, they are so-called "disposable", i.e., once worn they must necessarily be disposed of.

Document US2020/0281285 shows the use of ball bearings instead of the classic sliders. These small balls are made in a single piece and integrated into the protuberance.

Disadvantageously, damaging one of the balls requires replacing the entire device.

Object of the invention

In this context, the technical task underpinning the present invention is that of proposing a protection device for an elbow or knee applicable to a motorcycle suit, which obviates the drawbacks of the prior art cited above. In particular, the object of the present invention is to propose a protection device for an elbow or knee applicable to a motorcycle suit, which wears out less quickly and which can be used longer than the known solutions.

The technical task stated and the objects specified are substantially achieved by a protection device for an elbow or knee applicable to a motorcycle suit, comprising:

- at least one support portion destined to face the asphalt surface;

- fastening means of the support portion to the suit;

- at least one anti-friction element rotatably pivoted in a removable way in the support portion so as to protrude from the support portion.

In accordance with an embodiment, the anti-friction element is a ball roller. Preferably, the ball roller comprises a threaded body. The support portion has a threaded seat in which the threaded body is engageable by screwing.

Preferably, the ball roller is mounted in the support portion by means of a Velcro-type closure or by means of a fastening clip or by means of a magnetic connection.

In accordance with an embodiment, the anti-friction element is a cylindrical roller.

Preferably, the support portion has a seat in which the cylindrical roller is mounted by means of at least one fastening pin.

Preferably, the cylindrical roller has a through hole along a crossing direction of the cylindrical roller. The protection device comprises two fastening pins mounted at two ends of the through hole and an elastic element interposed therebetween.

In accordance with an embodiment, the protection device comprises a plurality of anti-friction elements rotatably pivoted in a removable way in the support portion.

Brief description of the drawings Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative and thus non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a protection device for an elbow or knee applicable to a motorcycle suit, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a protection device for an elbow or knee, according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows the protection device of figure 1 , in which a ball roller is shown in an insertion condition;

- figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the protection device for an elbow or knee, according to the present invention;

- figure 4 shows a sectional view of the protection device of figure 3;

- figure 5 shows a motorcycle suit, according to the present invention, on which at least one protection device of figure 1 and one protection device of figure 3 are applied.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the figures, the number 1 indicates a protection device for an elbow or knee applicable to a motorcycle suit.

The protection device 1 comprises at least one support portion 2 destined to face the asphalt surface. Usually, such a support portion 2 has a uniform thickness. Preferably, the support portion 2 comprises a sliding surface 3 which, when driving on the road, faces the road surface.

The support portion 2 is usually made of deformable material so as to substantially define a protrusion of the suit, when the protection device 1 is applied thereto. Preferably, the support portion 2 is padded. Alternatively, the support portion 2 is made of polyethylene or Teflon material.

The protection device 1 comprises fastening means 4 for fastening to a motorcycle suit 100. The fastening means 4 are of the known type and will not be described further. The use of fastening techniques already widely used in this sector is envisaged. Usually, a fastener is used by means of a releasable closure of the type known under the registered trademark "Velcro".

Originally, the support portion 2 comprises at least one anti-friction element 10; 20 rotatably pivoted in a removable way so as to protrude from the support portion 2. Thereby, once worn, the anti-friction element 10; 20 can be replaced.

In the embodiment described and illustrated herein, the support portion 2 comprises a plurality of anti-friction elements 10; 20.

Suitably, a special seat 6 is obtained in the support portion 2 in which the anti-friction element 10; 20 is housed in a removable way.

In accordance with an embodiment, shown in figures 1 -2, the anti-friction element is a ball roller 10. Preferably, the ball roller 10 is made of steel and is rubberised. The ball roller 10 comprises a body 11 or support on which an anti-friction ball 12 is mounted. Usually, the body 11 is cylindrical. Preferably, the ball roller 10 is mounted in its seat 6 by means of a threaded connection. In particular, a male thread 13 is made on the ball roller 10 and engages in a corresponding female thread 14 obtained in the seat 6. In particular, the support or body 11 is threaded.

Alternatively or in addition, the ball roller 10 is mounted in its seat 6 by means of a Velcro fastening.

Alternatively or in addition, the ball roller 10 is mounted in its seat 6 by means of a fastening clip.

Alternatively or in addition, the ball roller 10 is mounted in its seat 6 by means of a magnetic connection.

In accordance with another embodiment, shown in figures 3-4, the antifriction element 10; 20 is a cylindrical roller 20. In this case, the seat for a cylindrical roller 20 substantially has the shape of a parallelepiped portion or a cylinder portion.

Preferably, the cylindrical roller 20 is made of hard rubber or steel covered with anti-abrasive rubber. The cylindrical roller 20 is mounted in its seat 6 by means of at least one fastening pin 21 . For example, the fastening pin 21 is a piston.

The fastening pin 21 is partially housed in a hole 22 obtained in the cylindrical roller 20 so as to protrude from one end of the roller itself. Preferably, at least one roller bearing 25 is included at the hole 22.

Preferably, the protruding end of the fastening pin 21 , indicated by the number 21 a, engages in a corresponding recess 23 obtained in the support portion 2.

Preferably, the protection device 1 comprises two fastening pins 21 protruding from opposite sides of the cylindrical roller 20.

In the embodiment described here and shown in figure 4, a through hole 22 is obtained through the cylindrical roller 20. In particular, the through hole 22 extends according to a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical roller 20.

An elastic element 24 is interposed between the two fastening pins 21 inside the through hole 22. Preferably, the elastic element 24 is a spring.

The fastening pins 21 , the through hole 22 and the elastic element 24 extend along a common axis X. The axis X is substantially a longitudinal extension axis of the cylindrical roller 20.

Preferably, the through hole 22 is substantially cylindrical.

The features of the protection device for an elbow or knee applicable to a motorcycle suit, according to the present invention, are clear, as are the advantages.

In particular, the provision of anti-friction elements allow contact with the asphalt which generates rolling friction, unlike the sliding friction produced in the known solutions. This allows less wear of the product with the same use and above all offers less slowing down to the motorcyclist with respect to the known solutions. Consequently, the motorcyclist obtains a smoother ride and better lap times, both in the professional and amateur field.

A fundamental feature is the removability of the anti-friction elements, as once worn they can be replaced quickly, allowing the reuse of the protection device which would otherwise have to be disposed of (the known type of sliders are in fact so-called "disposable").

Furthermore, the production of the protection device described here can easily be implemented in existing lines since a modification of existing stations is not required, but the simple addition of new stations.