Motorcycle tie-down apparatus

摘要

A motorcycle tie-down apparatus for securing a motorcycle for transport. The apparatus includes a base secured to a transport vehicle and a clamp that is clamped to lower frame members of the motorcycle. The clamp includes a telescoping tubular structure and extends outwardly beyond sides of the motorcycle. The base includes a pair of latches with slots that translationally receive respective end portions of the clamp. The slots extend downward to compress the suspension of the motorcycle during engagement of the clamp with the base. Latch plates pivot to capture the clamp in the slots and locking levers and release levers selectively restrict pivoting of the latch plate and thus withdrawal of the clamp from the slot. The locking levers and release levers employ a dual-motion action from a user to release the clamp from the latch plate.

主权项

1. A tie-down apparatus for transporting a vehicle having a pair of frame members extending along the length of the vehicle and exposed near a bottom surface of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a clamp that is engageable with the frame members and that includes an elongate end that extends laterally away from the frame members; and a latch assembly configured to capture the end of the clamp, the latch assembly including
a slot plate including a slot extending into a body of the slot plate from a first edge thereof, anda latch plate, a release lever, and a locking lever that are each pivotably coupled to the slot plate the latch assembly being moveable between a locked orientation, an unlocked orientation, and a released orientation,
in the locked orientation the latch plate extending across the slot to capture the end of the clamp between a closed end of the slot and the latch plate, the release lever abutting the latch plate and preventing pivotal movement of the latch plate, and the locking lever obstructing pivotal movement of the release lever,in the unlocked orientation, the locking lever being pivoted and enabling pivotal movement of the release lever and the release lever being pivoted away from abutment with the latch plate and enabling pivotable movement of the latch plate, andin the released orientation the latch plate being pivoted away from obstruction of the slot and enabling removal of the end of the clamp from the slot.