Foot-operated control assemblies and control methods for motorcycles

摘要

Foot-operated assemblies and methods of using the foot-operated assemblies to control a motorcycle. A foot-operated assembly includes a shaft that defines a pivot axis, a device for mounting the shaft to the motorcycle, a rocker arm coupled to the shaft so that the rocker arm is rotatable about the pivot axis, a second arm interconnected with the rocker arm so that rotation of the rocker arm causes the second arm to rotate about the pivot axis, a feature for coupling the second arm to a gear shifter linkage or a brake cylinder rod of the motorcycle, and a foot board attached to the rocker arm so that rotation of the foot board causes the rocker arm and the second arm to rotate about the pivot axis.

主权项

1. A foot-operated assembly for a motorcycle having a front and rear, the assembly comprising:
a shaft defining a pivot axis; means for mounting the shaft to the motorcycle; a rocker arm coupled the shaft so that the rocker arm is rotatable about the pivot axis; a second arm interconnected with the rocker arm so that rotation of the rocker arm in a direction causes the second arm to rotate as a unit in the same direction about the pivot axis thereof; means on the second arm for coupling the second arm to a member chosen from the group consisting of a gear shifter linkage and a brake cylinder rod of the motorcycle; and a foot board attached to the rocker arm so that the foot board and the rocker arm rotate together and motion of the foot board causes the foot board, the rocker arm and the second arm to rotate in the same direction about the pivot axis; wherein the foot board has a portion thereof offset from the pivot axis and motion of the foot board relative to the pivot axis is not strictly or just a pivot action but instead is a swinging motion beneath the pivot axis, the swinging motion of the foot board causes rotation of the rocker arm and the second arm in the same direction about the pivot axis, the swinging motion of the foot board in a forward direction towards the front of the motorcycle causes the member to move in a rearward direction towards the rear of the motorcycle, and the swinging motion of the foot board in the rearward direction towards the rear of the motorcycle causes the member to move in the forward direction towards the front of the motorcycle.