Motorcycle brake assist system

• US 8,794,369 B1
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ride-Able Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ride-Able Incorporated
• Inventors: Cruit, Tyler D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scharich, Marc A
• Application Number:
  US14/070,612
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 180/219, 180/220, 180/227, 180/230, 180/231, 188/24.11, 188/24.14, 188/344, 280/288.4, 303/9.64, 303/9.66, 303/137
• US Class Current: 180/219
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/00 Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/08 foot actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/00 Brake-actuating mechanisms for back-pedalling brakes B62L5/00; Arrangements thereof

Abstract

A standard foot-operated rear brake system on a motorcycle is converted to a hand-operated brake assist system by mounting a pneumatic cylinder in close proximity to the rear brake foot pedal such that, when pressurized, the piston of the pneumatic cylinder extends to depress the rear brake foot pedal. The pneumatic cylinder is controlled by a switch on the handlebar.

Claims

1. A method for converting a standard foot-operated rear brake system of a motorcycle with an engine and a handlebar to a hand-operated rear-brake assist system, the method comprising:

(a) mounting an air compressor on the motorcycle to produce compressed air;

(b) mounting an air tank on the motorcycle for receiving and storing the compressed air from the air compressor;

(c) mounting a pneumatic cylinder on the motorcycle in communication with the air tank, the pneumatic cylinder being mounted on a frame of the motorcycle in close proximity to a rear brake foot pedal of the motorcycle such that when pressurized, a piston of the pneumatic cylinder extends to depress the rear brake foot pedal and thereby apply a rear brake, and when depressurized, the piston retracts to allow the rear brake foot pedal to move upward to release the rear brake;

(d) mounting a valve means on the motorcycle for controlling air flow between the air tank and the pneumatic cylinder; and

(e) mounting a control means on the motorcycle for controlling the valve means, the control means including a switch mounted on the handlebar;

wherein activating the switch on the handlebar causes the valve means to open, the pneumatic cylinder to be pressurized, the piston to extend, the rear brake foot pedal to be depressed, and the rear brake to be applied.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein an air line is installed between the air tank and the pneumatic cylinder and wherein the air line contains a three-way solenoid valve.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein two parallel air lines are installed in a section of the air line between the air tank and the pneumatic cylinder, each parallel air line having a two-way solenoid valve controlled by the handlebar-mounted switch.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each of the two parallel air lines contains a pressure regulator, and wherein the pressure regulators are set at different pressures.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the pneumatic cylinder is mounted substantially vertically.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the pneumatic cylinder is mounted substantially horizontally.