Motorcycle with wind deflectors mounted on the outboard sides of the motorcycle fork assembly for deflecting oncoming wind

• US 8,424,949 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ralph Alexander Ransone
• Original Assignee: Ralph Alexander Ransone
• Inventors: Ransone, Ralph Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROMAIN, PINEL E
• Application Number:
  US13/328,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20120267911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 296/78.1, 296/180.1, 296/91, 296/95.1, 296/96.11, 296/84.1, 280/288.2
• US Class Current: 296/78.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/02 shielding only the rider's front
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/10 Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/30 Crash bars; Crash bungs

Abstract

A motorcycle having a fork assembly, left and right forks and an upper fairing is provided with left and right wind deflectors mounted adjacent to the outboard sides of the left and right forks. The wind deflectors project downwardly from a lower edge of the upper fairing. This strategic placement of the left and right wind deflectors prevents oncoming wind from passing immediately adjacent the outboard sides of the left and right forks and passing underneath the lower edge of the upper fairing and hitting the motorcycle rider especially in the chest and helmet areas.

Claims

1. A motorcycle comprising:

a. a fork assembly including right and left forks with the right fork including a right slide cover and the left fork including a left slide cover;

b. handlebars moveable between two extreme positions and operatively connected to the fork assembly such that the fork assembly turns as the handlebars are turned;

c. an upper fairing mounted to an upper front portion of the motorcycle and rotatable with the handlebars and fork assembly, the upper fairing extending downwardly substantially below the handlebars;

d. a lower fairing or crash bar disposed on each side of a lower front portion of the motorcycle;

e. right and left wind deflectors mounted to the fork assembly for deflecting wind, each wind deflector comprising a single panel and projecting downwardly and forwardly relative to a front portion of the motorcycle and each wind deflector being generally aligned with the fork assembly;

f. the right wind deflector extending downward from a lower edge of the upper fairing and closely adjacent an upper outboard side of the right fork such that the right wind deflector generally closes an area bounded by a portion of the lower edge of the upper fairing and an upper portion of an outboard side of the right fork;

g. wherein the right wind deflector extends downwardly from the lower edge of the upper fairing to a point past at least one of the upper portion of the lower fairing and crash bar;

h. the left wind deflector extending downward from a lower edge of the upper fairing and closely adjacent an upper outboard side of the left fork such that the left wind deflector generally closes an area bounded by a portion of the lower edge of the upper fairing and an upper portion of an outboard side of the left fork;

i. wherein the left wind deflector extends downwardly from the lower edge of the upper fairing to a point past at least one of the upper portion of the lower fairing and crash bar; and

j. each wind deflector including an outer terminal edge that is shaped relative to the lower fairing or crash bar such that when the handlebars are turned to either of the two extreme positions, the left or right wind deflector moves rearwardly past at least a portion of the adjacent lower fairing or crash bar.

2. The motorcycle of claim 1 wherein each wind deflector includes a main body that deflects wind and a mounting flange turned at an angle with respect to the main body;

and wherein the mounting flange of each wind deflector is secured to the fork assembly.

3. The motorcycle of claim 2 including a cutout formed in the main body and the mounting flange through which extends a light support structure that supports at least one light.

4. The motorcycle of claim 1 wherein the outer terminal edge of each wind deflector includes a segment contoured to clear the crash bar of the motorcycle and a segment contoured to clear the lower fairing of the motorcycle.

5. The motorcycle of claim 3 wherein the mounting flange includes at least one fastener opening and wherein the mounting flange of each wind deflector is sandwiched between a side cover of the fork assembly and a bracket wherein at least one fastener extends through the bracket, through the mounting flange of the wind deflector and through the side cover.

6. The motorcycle of claim 1 wherein both the right and left wind deflectors are secured to both the fork assembly and the upper fairing.

7. The motorcycle of claim 2 wherein the mounting flange of each wind deflector includes at least two openings permitting a fastener to pass there through each and wherein each wind deflector further includes a third opening formed in an upper portion thereof for enabling a fastener to extend there through and connect to the upper fairing such that each wind deflector is connected by at least three fasteners including two fasteners that connect each wind deflector to the fork assembly and one fastener for connecting the wind deflector to the upper fairing.

13. The motorcycle of claim 1 wherein each wind deflector includes a main body that deflects wind and a mounting flange turned at an angle with respect to the main body and wherein the mounting flange includes at least one fastener opening and wherein the mounting flange of each wind deflector is sandwiched between a side cover of the fork assembly and a bracket wherein at least one fastener extends through the bracket, through the mounting flange of the wind deflector, and through the side cover;

and wherein the upper portion of each wind deflector at least slightly overlaps the lower portion of the upper fairing and wherein there is provided a fastener for connecting the upper portion of each wind deflector to the upper fairing such that each wind deflector is connected to both the upper fairing and the fork assembly.

8. A motorcycle comprising:

a. a fork assembly including laterally spaced apart left and right forks;

b. an upper fairing mounted to an upper front portion of the motorcycle,

c. a left wind deflector mounted adjacent an outboard side of the left fork of the fork assembly and projecting outwardly from the left fork and downwardly adjacent an outboard side of the left fork so as to occupy an area immediately underneath the upper fairing and immediately adjacent the outboard side of the left fork;

d. the left wind deflector projecting downwardly and forwardly relative to the motorcycle and extending in general parallel relationship with the fork assembly;

e. a right wind deflector mounted adjacent an outboard side of the right fork and projecting outward from the right fork and downwardly adjacent the outboard side of the right fork so as to occupy an area immediately underneath the upper fairing and immediately adjacent the outboard side of the right fork;

f. the right wind deflector projecting downwardly and forwardly relative to the motorcycle and extending in general parallel relationship with the fork assembly;

g. wherein the left and right wind deflectors are configured and positioned on the motorcycle to reduce the amount of oncoming air from passing outwardly of the outboard sides of the left and right forks, underneath a lower edge of the upper fairing and impacting a rider on the motorcycle;

h. each wind deflector comprising a main body and a mounting flange turned at an angle with respect to the main body; and

i. wherein the mounting flange includes at least one fastener opening and wherein the mounting flange of each wind deflector is sandwiched between the fork assembly and a bracket and wherein at least one fastener extending through the bracket and through the mounting flange and into the fork assembly.

9. The motorcycle of claim 8 including:

handlebars operative to turn the fork assembly between two extreme positions; and

wherein each wind deflector includes an outer edge contoured to clear a lower fairing or crash bar forming a part of the motorcycle when the fork assembly assumes an extreme position.

10. The motorcycle of claim 8 wherein the main body of each wind deflector is at least slightly curve shaped.

11. The motorcycle of claim 8 wherein each wind deflector is also secured to the upper fairing.

12. The motorcycle of claim 8 wherein there is provided two fasteners for securing each wind deflector to the fork assembly of the motorcycle and wherein there is a third fastener that extends through each wind deflector and into the upper fairing such that each wind deflector is secured in place by three fasteners, two of which extend into the fork assembly and one of which extends into the upper fairing.