VEHICLE FOOTREST CONTAINER

• US 20090243328A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delray Graves
• Original Assignee: Delray Graves
• Inventors: Graves, Delray
• Application Number:
  US12/060,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243328A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/06 of footrests
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 25/04 Floor-type foot rests
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/40 specially adapted for tools or spare parts

Abstract

A vehicle footrest, such as a floorboard or footpeg, comprising a container or compartment adapted for attaching to a vehicle, such as a motorcycle or other recreational vehicle, is disclosed. The footrest may be used to support a rider'"'"'s foot and ankle, while providing a rider with a convenient container for carrying items, such as tools or personal property. The footrest may include a first part and a second part. The first part may include a top surface that may support the rider'"'"'s foot. The first part may be attached to the second part, which may be substantially hollow, with a hinge to thereby form a container or compartment that can be opened and closed. The container or compartment may be attached to the vehicle with a mounting assembly that may accommodate numerous styles and makes of vehicles.

Claims

1. A vehicle footrest comprising:

a first part comprising a first surface configured and arranged for supporting a rider'"'"'s foot; and

a second part connectable to the first part and comprising a sidewall that defines a substantially hollow interior;

wherein a volume of the substantially hollow interior of the second part is about K(36 cubic inches to 225 cubic inches) and a surface area of the first surface of the first part is about K(36 square inches to 75 square inches);

wherein K is a constant between 0.8 and 1.2.

2. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the first part is pivotally connected to the second part by a hinge, such that the first part is movable with respect to the second part and may be positioned in a plurality of positions, including an open position and a closed position.

3. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the footrest comprises a closure for holding the first part and the second part together to form a substantially closed container.

4. The vehicle footrest of claim 3, wherein the closure comprises a protrusion located on an inner portion of the first part and a corresponding recess located on an outer portion of the second part, wherein the protrusion matingly engages the recess when the first part is in a closed position with respect to the second part.

5. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the first surface is a top surface configured and arranged for supporting a rider'"'"'s foot, wherein the top surface comprises a slip resistant mechanism, and wherein the second part comprises a sidewall that defines a well, thereby providing the substantially hollow interior of the second part of the footrest.

6. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the footrest comprises a driver'"'"'s footrest and a passenger'"'"'s footrest.

7. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part are made from aluminum or aluminum alloy.

8. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the footrest comprises a footrest for each side of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the second part comprises an insert sized and shaped to be secured within the substantially hollow interior of the second part, wherein the insert comprises a plurality of cutouts configured and adapted for holding standard or metric sized tools and for securing tools in place within the footrest.

10. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the footrest is a floorboard.

11. The vehicle footrest of claim 10, wherein the floorboard comprises a length dimension that is within a range of about eight inches to about sixteen inches, a width dimension that is within a range of about two inches to about seven inches, and a thickness dimension that is within a range of about three-quarters of an inch to about three inches.

12. The vehicle footrest of claim 1, wherein the footrest is a footpeg.

13. A vehicle footrest kit comprising:

a footrest comprising a first part having a first surface and a second part connectable to the first part and comprising a substantially hollow interior; and

a mounting structure for connecting the footrest to the vehicle;

wherein a volume of the substantially hollow interior of the second part is about K(36 cubic inches to 225 cubic inches) and a surface area of the first surface of the first part is about K(36 square inches to 75 square inches);

wherein K is a constant between 0.8 and 1.2.

14. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 13, wherein the first surface is a top surface configured and arranged for supporting a rider'"'"'s foot, wherein the top surface comprises a slip resistant mechanism, and the second part comprises a sidewall that defines a well, thereby providing the substantially hollow interior of the second part of the footrest.

15. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 13, wherein the first part is pivotally connected to the second part by a hinge, wherein the first part is movable with respect to the second part and may be positioned in a plurality of positions, including an open position and a closed position.

16. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 13, wherein the footrest comprises a driver'"'"'s footrest and a passenger'"'"'s footrest.

17. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 13, wherein the footrest comprises a closure for holding the first part and the second part together to form a substantially closed container.

18. The vehicle footrest of claim 17, wherein the closure comprises a protrusion located on an inner portion of the first part and a corresponding recess located on an outer portion of the second part, wherein the protrusion matingly engages the recess when the first part is in a closed position with respect to the second part.

19. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 13, wherein the first part and the second part of the footrest are made from aluminum or aluminum alloy.

20. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 13, wherein the kit comprises a footrest for each side of the vehicle.

21. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 13, wherein the second part comprises an insert sized and shaped to be secured within the substantially hollow interior of the second part, wherein the insert comprises a plurality of cutouts configured and adapted for holding standard or metric sized tools and for securing tools in place within the footrest.

22. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 13, wherein the footrest is a floorboard.

23. The vehicle footrest kit of claim 22, wherein the floorboard comprises a length dimension that is within a range of about eight inches to about sixteen inches, a width dimension that is within a range of about two inches to about seven inches, and a thickness dimension that is within a range of about three-quarters of an inch to about three inches.

24. The vehicle footrest of claim 13, wherein the footrest is a footpeg.

25. A method of using a vehicle footrest comprising the steps of:

(a) storing items in a vehicle footrest comprising a first part having a first surface configured and arranged for supporting a rider'"'"'s foot and a second part comprising a substantially hollow interior; and

(b) connecting the first part to the second part, such that the first part is movable with respect to the second part and may be positioned in a plurality of positions, including an open position and a closed position;

wherein a volume of the substantially hollow interior of the second part is about K(36 cubic inches to 225 cubic inches) and a surface area of the first surface of the first part is about K(36 square inches to 75 square inches);

wherein K is a constant between 0.8 and 1.2.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first part and the second part are made from aluminum or aluminum alloy.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the first surface is a top surface comprising a slip resistant mechanism, and the second part comprises a sidewall that defines a well, thereby providing the substantially hollow interior of the second part of the footrest.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the first part is pivotally connected to the second part by a hinge.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the footrest comprises a driver'"'"'s footrest and a passenger'"'"'s footrest.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the footrest comprises a closure for holding the first part and the second part together to form a substantially closed container.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the closure comprises a protrusion located on an inner portion of the first part and a corresponding recess located on an outer portion of the second part, wherein the protrusion matingly engages the recess when the first part is in a closed position with respect to the second part.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the footrest comprises a footrest for each side of the vehicle.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the method includes providing an insert sized and shaped to be secured within the substantially hollow interior of the second part, wherein the insert comprises a plurality of cutouts configured and adapted for holding standard or metric sized tools and for securing tools in place within the footrest.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the footrest is a floorboard.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the footrest is a footpeg.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of manufacturing a footrest comprises milling the footrest from a billet of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of manufacturing a footrest comprises die-casting a metallic material, wherein the metallic material is heated and punched to a specific shape and size thereby creating a work hardened surface with predetermined characteristics.