Footboard arrangement for a motorcycle

Abstract

Running board arrangement (11) for arranging laterally on a vehicle (10), in particular a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, comprising a protective bar (15) for laterally protecting a vehicle engine (12), and a running board (16) for supporting a user's foot, wherein the running board (16) is designed to be foldable about a rotation axis (17) at least between an initial position (A) and at least one folded position (B), wherein an underside (19) of the running board (16) rests detachably on the protective bar (15) in the initial position (A), characterized in that the protective bar (15) comprises a bent tube with a first end (15a) and a second end (15b), wherein the first end (15a) and the second end (15b) are designed to be connected to the vehicle engine (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a running board arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 7.

[0002] On motorcycles or motorcycle-like vehicles, footboards are used to provide the rider and / or passenger with a comfortable place to rest their feet while riding. Typically, one footboard is positioned on each side of the vehicle, extending laterally away from the vehicle.

[0003] This can lead to the inside footboard coming into contact with the road surface if the vehicle is tilted, for example when driving through a curve, and can cause the driver to fall.

[0004] While some running boards are known to be foldable, allowing the rider to move out of the way in case of contact with the road, this does create a greater maximum tilt angle for the vehicle. However, there is a risk that the rider's foot will become trapped between the folded-up running board and the engine if it is not removed in time. Furthermore, the running board remains folded down even in the event of an actual fall, so the space available for the rider's foot under the overturned vehicle can become extremely small. In any case, foot injuries are to be expected.

[0005] A running board for a motorcycle is known, for example, from WO 99 / 37 527 A1.

[0006] Furthermore, running boards must be extremely robustly dimensioned to withstand the forces exerted on them by the driver. This increases the overall mass of the vehicle and, due to the lateral extension, also affects driving stability.

[0007] US 4 802 684 A concerns a footboard arrangement which is attached to side brackets mounted on a motorcycle.

[0008] The JP H11 - 255 167 A relates to a footboard arrangement for lateral mounting on a motorcycle, which is rotatably attached to a side protective bar of the motorcycle.

[0009] One object of the invention is therefore to provide a footboard which, on the one hand, enables comfortable placement of the foot during the ride, and on the other hand, at least reduces the risk of injury in the event of a fall, while still being designed to be as weight- and material-saving as possible.

[0010] This problem is solved with a running board arrangement having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle according to claim 6.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments result from the respective dependent patent claims.

[0012] Accordingly, a footboard arrangement for lateral mounting on a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, is provided, comprising a protective bar for lateral protection of a vehicle engine, and a footboard for placing a user's foot, i.e., a driver and / or a passenger, wherein the footboard is designed to be foldable about a pivot axis at least between a starting position and at least one folded position, wherein an underside of the footboard rests detachably on the protective bar in the starting position.

[0013] The running board assembly includes the running board itself, which can be folded up when needed. Normally, the running board is in its initial position, with its underside resting on the crash bar. This means the crash bar serves a dual purpose. Firstly, in accordance with its usual protective function, it acts as a lateral guard for the vehicle's engine, preventing it from colliding with the ground in the event of a fall or overturning, and thus avoiding more serious damage.

[0014] In addition to the footboard design described above, the protective bar also serves as support for the footboard when it is in its starting position and resting on the bar. This arrangement allows the load exerted by the rider's foot to be absorbed not only by the footboard itself, as is usually the case, but also, and to a large extent, by the protective bar. Since the protective bar is already designed to be particularly robust to protect the vehicle's engine and, in an emergency, to stabilize the vehicle, it can perform this additional function without further reinforcement. Consequently, the footboard can be lighter and less bulky than it would be without the support provided by the protective bar.In this way, not only is the absolute total weight of the vehicle reduced, but also the laterally protruding mass of the running board, so that driving stability can be positively influenced.

[0015] The combination of a folding running board and a protective bar significantly reduces the risk of injury to the user. While the folding running board increases the maximum tilt angle of the vehicle compared to a fixed running board by allowing it to fold away in the event of contact with the road or ground, the protective bar, due to its proximity to the running board, prevents the user's foot from being trapped between the vehicle engine and the folding running board, or between the vehicle engine and the ground. Furthermore, the protective bar ensures a defined safety zone between the vehicle engine and the ground, even if the vehicle is completely on its side.

[0016] When installed on the vehicle, the pivot axis of the running board is preferably oriented longitudinally (identical to the main direction of travel) or at least substantially parallel to the corresponding side of the vehicle. This ensures that the running board rests on the protective bar in its initial position and folds laterally against the vehicle when the desired tilt angle is reached, thus preventing the vehicle from tilting sideways. The folding mechanism of the running board therefore prevents contact or collision with the ground when the maximum tilt angle is reached, which would otherwise cause the vehicle to become unstable.A folded position is understood to mean at least one defined end position and / or a number of additional intermediate positions between the starting position and the end position, whereby the intermediate positions are continuously variable without defined detents or the like.

[0017] Motorcycle-like vehicles include, for example, single-track or two-track vehicles, especially those with a saddle-like driver's seat, and vehicles that allow for a leaning position, such as scooters, two-wheeled, three-wheeled or four-wheeled motor scooters.

[0018] Furthermore, the protective bar can comprise a curved tube with a first end and a second end, the first and second ends being designed for connection to the vehicle, in particular to a vehicle frame or the vehicle engine. This means that the protective bar can be connected to the vehicle at least in the region of its two ends. The protective bar has, for example, a curved shape so that both ends point in the same direction, namely, in the installed state, towards the vehicle. An intermediate section of the curved tube arranged between the two ends can be correspondingly curved, so that the protective bar has, for example, a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped form. The running board rests on at least a portion of this intermediate section or on the entire intermediate section.In other words, the footboard can rest on the entire space between the footboards, or only partially, so that the space between the footboards protrudes.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, the running board can be hingedly connected to the guardrail, in particular to the first and / or second end of the guardrail, in the area of ​​the pivot axis. The running board and guardrail can thus be directly connected to each other to form a single module, with the running board nevertheless being hinged relative to the guardrail to allow for easy joint installation and attachment to the vehicle.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the running board extends beyond the guardrail with at least one edge section or is flush with it. In the case of an overhang, this means that the running board does not rest on the guardrail in the corresponding edge area. Depending on the size of the overhang, the underside of the running board is therefore exposed in this edge area, so that the underside can come into contact with the ground when the vehicle is tilted. This generally allows the running board to fold up upon ground contact even before the guardrail touches the ground.

[0021] Furthermore, the running board assembly can include a return spring designed to return the running board from its at least one folded position to its initial position. The return spring provides the necessary restoring torque and ensures that the running board, after being folded up into its at least one folded position, folds back into its initial position when the vehicle is righted.

[0022] Furthermore, the running board can have a pin-shaped extension on its underside, extending away from the underside. Preferably, the pin-shaped extension is located in an area of ​​the underside that, due to its geometric arrangement, first comes into contact with the ground when the vehicle tilts, such as in the area of ​​any overhang of the running board beyond the protective bar and its intermediate section.

[0023] In this case, the pin-shaped extension makes contact with the ground first, causing the footboard to fold up from its starting position. This prevents the underside of the footboard from contacting the ground and thus avoids any damage to the footboard. Instead, the pin-shaped extension is "sacrificed" and can preferably be easily replaced and attached to the footboard, for example by means of a screw.

[0024] Furthermore, a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or motorcycle-like vehicle, will be provided, with at least one running board arrangement designed according to this description.

[0025] The footboard can be positioned on the side of the crash bar facing the user and feature a footplate facing the user. By adjusting the angle of the crash bar and thus the footboard, a suitable configuration can be achieved to meet both the protective function of the crash bar and the user's comfort requirements, allowing them to comfortably rest their feet while riding. Preferably, the orientation is chosen to provide an ergonomically sound angle for the user's legs, ensuring a comfortable experience even on longer journeys.

[0026] As already described, depending on the vehicle design, a running board arrangement can be arranged on the left and / or right side of the vehicle in the area of ​​the vehicle engine for lateral protection of the vehicle engine.

[0027] In summary, the provided running board arrangement offers a particularly advantageous combination of several properties and functions of the components involved compared to conventional running boards. In addition to its safety functions regarding engine and foot protection, the crash bar also provides an additional comfort function, allowing the crash bar and the enclosed space to be used in multiple ways. Furthermore, with the described running board arrangement, the running board does not restrict the maximum lean angle of the vehicle, which is a particular disadvantage with previously fixed running boards. Instead, together with the crash bar, it provides a safe space for the rider's feet in the event of a fall, unlike previously used rotating running boards.

[0028] Thus, the described running board arrangement is part of a passive safety concept for the vehicle, which consists of several warning stages: before reaching the limit of the lean angle, the running board is folded up first, and only if the vehicle leans further does the roll bar touch the ground. The rider is therefore forewarned and can take countermeasures. Optionally, footrests can be arranged on the vehicle in such a way that, after the running board is folded up, they also come into contact with the ground as an additional, intermediate warning stage and fold up before the roll bar touches the ground.

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1. A perspective partial view of a motorcycle with a crash bar as described above. Fig. 2 a perspective partial view of the motorcycle from Fig. 1 with a footboard in starting position, Fig. 3 a perspective partial view of the motorcycle from Fig. 2 with the footboard folded up, Fig. 4 Another partial view of the motorcycle in the longitudinal direction with the footboard folded up, and Fig. 5 A perspective under-view of the motorcycle with the footboard in its starting position.

[0030] In Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective partial view of a motorcycle 10, which includes two footboard arrangements as described, wherein a first footboard arrangement 11 is located on the left side shown and a second, mirror-symmetrical footboard arrangement (not shown) is located on the right side of the vehicle (not shown) in the area of ​​a vehicle engine 12 for its lateral protection. An associated footboard 16 is shown in Fig. 1 hidden for better understanding and only in the Fig. Figures 2 to 5 are shown. For the sake of clarity, the motorcycle 10 is only partially shown, with the positions of a front wheel 13 and a seat 14 for a user, in particular a driver and / or passenger, only schematically indicated for better orientation, but not shown in detail.

[0031] The in Fig. The running board assembly 11, shown in Figure 1 and arranged laterally on the vehicle 10, comprises a protective bar 15, which is provided for the lateral protection of the vehicle engine 12. Additionally, the running board assembly 11 comprises the running board 16 for placing a foot of the user, wherein the running board 16 is pivoted about an axis 17 at least between a Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 shown starting position A and at least one folded position B (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) is designed to be foldable. The footboard 16 is arranged on the side of the guardrail 15 facing the user and has a tread surface 18 facing the user. In the starting position A, an underside 19 of the footboard 16 rests detachably on the guardrail 15, so that a stepping force acting on the footboard 16 is transferred to the guardrail 15. Thanks to this support, the footboard 16 has to absorb a significantly less force than would be the case without the supporting guardrail 15. This is achieved, due to the advantageous arrangement, without any additional cost- or weight-increasing modifications to the guardrail 15.

[0032] The protective bar 15 is designed as a curved tube and comprises a first end 15a and a second end 15b, wherein the first end 15a and the second end 15b are connected to the motorcycle 10, to its vehicle frame or - as in Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows the footboard 16 being connected to the vehicle engine 12 or its housing by means of screws. Additionally, the footboard 16 is hingedly connected to the guardrail 15 in the area of ​​the pivot axis 17 at the first 15a and second end 15b of the guardrail 15. Furthermore, an intermediate section 15c is arranged between the two ends 15a and 15b, which is curved accordingly so that the guardrail 15 (as shown) has a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped form. In the initial position A, the footboard 16 rests on the entire intermediate section 15c.

[0033] As particularly evident in the partial and perspective bottom view in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, in its initial position A, the running board 16 extends beyond the protective bar 15 with an edge section 20 facing away from the vehicle 10. On the underside 19 of the projecting edge section 20, the running board 16 has a pin-shaped extension 21 that extends from the underside 19 towards the ground on which the vehicle 10 stands. Thus, if the vehicle 10 reaches a critical tilt, the pin-shaped extension 21 initially touches the ground, so that as the tilt increases further, the running board 16 is folded upwards towards the driver about the pivot axis 17 (arrow K in Figure 5). Fig. 4).

[0034] The rider is warned in this way without the footboard 16 itself being damaged. If the lean of the motorcycle 10 increases further and a fall occurs, the crash bar 15 touches the ground and protects the vehicle's engine 12 from a collision and damage. As can be seen in particular from Fig.As can be seen from 4, this arrangement also creates a space 22 in the area of ​​the running board 16, which prevents a foot located there from being trapped between the ground and the vehicle engine 12 or vehicle 10, thereby significantly reducing the risk of injury.

[0035] In addition, the footboard arrangement includes 11 return springs 23, which are designed to return the footboard 16 from the at least one folded position B to the starting position A as soon as ground contact is lost and the motorcycle 10 leaves the tilted position in order to right itself.

[0036] Both the protective bar 15 and the footboard 16 resting on it are angled α relative to the longitudinal direction L of the vehicle or the main direction of travel, and thus tilted towards the user positioned on the seat 14. This promotes an ergonomic posture during travel and significantly increases riding comfort.

Claims

[1] Footboard arrangement (11) for laterally mounting on a vehicle (10), in particular a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, comprising a protective bar (15) for laterally protecting a vehicle engine (12), and a footboard (16) for placing a user's foot, wherein the footboard (16) is foldable about a pivot axis (17) at least between an initial position (A) and at least one folded position (B), wherein an underside (19) of the footboard (16) rests detachably on the protective bar (15) in the initial position (A), characterized by , that the protective bracket (15) comprises a curved tube with a first end (15a) and a second end (15b), wherein the first end (15a) and the second end (15b) are designed to connect to the vehicle engine (12). [2] Footboard arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by, that the footboard (16) is hinged to the guard bar (15) in the area of ​​the pivot axis (17), in particular the first (15a) and / or the second end (15b) of the guard bar (15). [3] Footboard arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by that the footboard (16) extends beyond the protective bar (15) with at least one edge section (20) or is flush with it. [4] Footboard arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the footboard arrangement (11) includes at least one return spring (23) designed to return the footboard (16) from the at least one folded position (B) to the starting position (A). [5] Footboard arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the footboard (16) has a pin-shaped extension (21) on the underside (19) which extends away from the underside (19). [6] Vehicle (10), in particular a motorcycle or motorcycle-like vehicle, with at least one footboard arrangement (11), characterized by , that the running board arrangement (11) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 5. [7] Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized by , that the footboard (16) is arranged on a side of the guardrail (15) facing the user and has a tread surface (18) facing the user. [8] Vehicle according to at least one of claims 6 or 7, characterized by , that a running board arrangement (11) is arranged on a left and / or right side of the vehicle in the area of ​​the vehicle engine (12) for lateral protection of the vehicle engine (12).

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