Motorcycle dolly hitch assembly

• US 8,602,437 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward J. Morris
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Morris
• Inventors: Morris, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler, Anne Marie M
• Application Number:
  US13/649,216
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 280/402, 280/404, 280/490.1, 280/491.1, 280/491.2, 280/482, 414/462, 414/463
• US Class Current: 280/402
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/125 by supporting only part of the vehicle, e.g. front- or rear-axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles

Abstract

A motorcycle dolly hitch assembly couples to a vehicle to tow a motorcycle. The assembly includes a hitch arm having a first end configured for coupling to a vehicle. A support sleeve is coupled to a second end of the hitch arm. A support member has a first arm and a second arm. The second arm is slidably inserted into the support sleeve. A cradle, configured for supporting a wheel of a motorcycle, is coupled to the first arm of the support member. A locking mechanism is mechanically coupled to the second arm of the support member and the support sleeve wherein a position of the support member is lockable into a static position relative to the support sleeve.

Claims

1. A motorcycle dolly hitch assembly comprising;

a hitch arm having a first end configured for coupling to a vehicle;

a support sleeve coupled to a second end of said hitch arm;

a support member having a first arm and a second arm, said second arm being slidably inserted into said support sleeve;

a cradle configured for supporting a wheel of a motorcycle, said cradle being coupled to said first arm of said support member;

a locking mechanism mechanically coupled to said second arm of said support member and said support sleeve wherein a position of said support member is lockable into a static position relative to said support sleeve;

a tube coupled to and extending upwardly from said hitch arm, said tube abutting said support sleeve;

an aperture extending through said tube;

a slot extending through said tube, said slot being positioned opposite said aperture;

a projection coupled to and extending from said second arm of said support member, said projection extending out of a slit in said support sleeve and into said tube through said slot in said tube;

a worm gear positioned in said tube, said worm gear extending through said projection wherein rotation of said worm gear moves said projection in said slot wherein a position of said support member is adjusted relative to said hitch arm; and

a lock handle extending through said aperture, said lock handle frictionally engaging said projection when said lock handle is turned wherein said projection is securable in a static position relative to said tube when said projection is aligned with said aperture in said tube.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a bar coupled to a bottom of said cradle;

said first arm of said support member comprising a cradle sleeve selectively receiving said bar wherein said cradle is removably coupled to said support member; and

a cradle locking pin selectively insertable through said cradle sleeve and said bar wherein said cradle is secured in a static position relative to said support member.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking nut coupled to said lock handle, said locking nut selectively securing said lock handle in a tightened position.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a crank coupled to a top of said worm gear, said crank extending out of a top of said tube.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an upper bushing coupled to a top of said tube, said worm gear extending through said upper bushing.

6. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising a lower bushing positioned at a bottom of said tube, said worm gear having a lower end seated in said lower bushing.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a guide wheel coupled to said hitch arm under said second end of said hitch arm, said guide wheel abutting said second arm of said support member wherein said guide wheel facilitates sliding said second arm of said support member in said support sleeve.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising said cradle comprising a first portion including a main section and a ramp section, said cradle further comprising a second portion having a base section and an upwardly extending stop section, said main section of said first portion being coplanar with said base section of said second portion when said first portion is coupled to said second portion.

9. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising said first portion of said cradle being removably coupled to said second portion.

10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising said second arm of said support member being transverse to said first arm of said support member.

11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of side arms coupled to and extending from said tube; and

a pair of loops, each loop being coupled to a free end of an associated one of said side arms, each loop being configured for coupling to a strap coupled to the motorcycle wherein the motorcycle is secured on said cradle.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a pair of arm receivers, each arm receiver being coupled to and extending from said tube;

each side arm being removably received in an associated one of said arm receivers.

13. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a pair of arm locks, each arm lock being insertable through an associated one of said arm receivers into a hole in one of said side arms inserted into said associated arm receiver wherein said side arm is secured to said associated arm receiver.

14. A motorcycle dolly hitch assembly comprising;

a hitch arm having a first end configured for coupling to a vehicle;

a support sleeve coupled to a second end of said hitch arm;

a support member having a first arm and a second arm, said second arm of said support member being transverse to said first arm of said support member, said second arm being slidably inserted into said support sleeve;

a cradle configured for supporting a wheel of a motorcycle, said cradle being coupled to said first arm of said support member, said cradle comprising a first portion including a main section and a ramp section, said cradle further comprising a second portion having a base section and an upwardly extending stop section, said main section of said first portion being coplanar with said base section of said second portion when said first portion is coupled to said second portion, said first portion of said cradle being removably coupled to said second portion;

a bar coupled to a bottom of said cradle, said first arm of said support member comprising a cradle sleeve selectively receiving said bar wherein said cradle is removably coupled to said support member;

a locking mechanism mechanically coupled to said second arm of said support member and said support sleeve wherein a position of said support member is lockable into a static position relative to said support sleeve;

a cradle locking pin selectively insertable through said cradle sleeve and said bar wherein said cradle is secured in a static position relative to said support member;

a tube coupled to and extending upwardly from said hitch arm, said tube abutting said support sleeve;

an aperture extending through said tube;

a slot extending through said tube, said slot being positioned opposite said aperture;

a projection coupled to and extending from said second arm of said support member, said projection extending out of a slit in said support sleeve and into said tube through said slot in said tube;

a worm gear positioned in said tube, said worm gear extending through said projection wherein rotation of said worm gear moves said projection in said slot wherein a position of said support member is adjusted relative to said hitch arm;

a lock handle extending through said aperture, said lock handle frictionally engaging said projection when said lock handle is turned wherein said projection is securable in a static position relative to said tube when said projection is aligned with said aperture in said tube;

a locking nut coupled to said lock handle, said locking nut selectively securing said lock handle in a tightened position;

a crank coupled to a top of said worm gear, said crank extending out of a top of said tube;

an upper bushing coupled to a top of said tube, said worm gear extending through said upper bushing;

a lower bushing positioned at a bottom of said tube, said worm gear having a lower end seated in said lower bushing;

a guide wheel coupled to said hitch arm under said second end of said hitch arm, said guide wheel abutting said second arm of said support member wherein said guide wheel facilitates sliding said second arm of said support member in said support sleeve;

a pair of side arms coupled to and extending from said tube;

a pair of loops, each loop being coupled to a free end of an associated one of said side arms, each loop being configured for coupling to a strap coupled to the motorcycle wherein the motorcycle is secured on said cradle;

a pair of arm receivers, each arm receiver being coupled to and extending from said tube, each side arm being removably received in an associated one of said arm receivers; and

a pair of arm locks, each arm lock being insertable through an associated one of said arm receivers into a hole in one of said side arms inserted into said associated arm receiver wherein said side arm is secured to said associated arm receiver.

15. A motorcycle dolly hitch assembly comprising;

a hitch arm having a first end configured for coupling to a vehicle;

a support sleeve coupled to a second end of said hitch arm;

a support member having a first arm and a second arm, said second arm being slidably inserted into said support sleeve;

a cradle configured for supporting a wheel of a motorcycle, said cradle being coupled to said first arm of said support member;

a locking mechanism mechanically coupled to said second arm of said support member and said support sleeve wherein a position of said support member is lockable into a static position relative to said support sleeve; and

said cradle comprising a first portion including a main section and a ramp section, said cradle further comprising a second portion having a base section and an upwardly extending stop section, said main section of said first portion being coplanar with said base section of said second portion when said first portion is coupled to said second portion.

16. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a bar coupled to a bottom of said cradle;

said first arm of said support member comprising a cradle sleeve selectively receiving said bar wherein said cradle is removably coupled to said support member; and

a cradle locking pin selectively insertable through said cradle sleeve and said bar wherein said cradle is secured in a static position relative to said support member.

17. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a guide wheel coupled to said hitch arm under said second end of said hitch arm, said guide wheel abutting said second arm of said support member wherein said guide wheel facilitates sliding said second arm of said support member in said support sleeve.

18. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising said first portion of said cradle being removably coupled to said second portion.

19. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising said second arm of said support member being transverse to said first arm of said support member.

20. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a tube coupled to and extending upwardly from said hitch arm, said tube abutting said support sleeve;

an aperture extending through said tube;

a slot extending through said tube, said slot being positioned opposite said aperture;

a projection coupled to and extending from said second arm of said support member, said projection extending out of a slit in said support sleeve and into said tube through said slot in said tube;

a worm gear positioned in said tube, said worm gear extending through said projection wherein rotation of said worm gear moves said projection in said slot wherein a position of said support member is adjusted relative to said hitch arm;

a lock handle extending through said aperture, said lock handle frictionally engaging said projection when said lock handle is turned wherein said projection is securable in a static position relative to said tube when said projection is aligned with said aperture in said tube;

a pair of side arms coupled to and extending from said tube;

a pair of loops, each loop being coupled to a free end of an associated one of said side arms, each loop being configured for coupling to a strap coupled to the motorcycle wherein the motorcycle is secured on said cradle;

a pair of arm receivers, each arm receiver being coupled to and extending from said tube;

each side arm being removably received in an associated one of said arm receivers; and

a pair of arm locks, each arm lock being insertable through an associated one of said arm receivers into a hole in one of said side arms inserted into said associated arm receiver wherein said side arm is secured to said associated arm receiver.