Starting gate for motorcycles and the like

Abstract

A starting gate for bikes including a support structure and a gate member movably mounted to the support structure for movement between raised and lowered positions. The starting gate includes a retaining member configured to selectively retain the gate member in the raised position. A pedal is operably coupled to the gate member such that depression of the pedal raises the gate member to the raised position. The starting gate further includes a timer configured to shift the retaining member to release the gate member such that the gate member moves to the lowered position after a predetermined period of time after depression of the pedal.

1 . A starting gate for bikes, comprising: 
 a support structure;    a gate member movably mounted to the support structure for movement between raised and lowered positions;    a retaining member configured to selectively retain the gate member in the raised position;    a pedal operably coupled to the gate member such that depression of the pedal raises the gate member to the raised position; and    a timer configured to shift the retaining member to release the gate member such that the gate member moves to the lowered position after a predetermined period of time after depression of the pedal.    
   
   
       2 . The starting gate of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the gate member comprises a U-shaped member having opposite ends pivotably connected to the support structure; and    the retaining member is pivotably mounted to the support structure and engages the gate adjacent at least a selected one of the ends to retain the gate member in the raised position.    
   
   
       3 . The starting gate of  claim 1 , including: 
 an indicator coupled to the timer and providing an indication relating to the amount of time left before the gate member moves to the lowered position.    
   
   
       4 . The starting gate of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the indicator comprises a movable indicator member movably connected to the base structure with at least a portion thereof configured to be visible to a user; and including:    a linearly movable member that is movable between first and second positions relative to the base structure and biased into the first position, the pedal coupled to the linearly movable member to shift the linearly movable member to the second position when the pedal is depressed;    a cam connected to the linearly movable member; and    a follower connected to the indicator member and engaging the cam such that the indicator member moves as the linearly movable member moves from the second position to the first position.    
   
   
       5 . The starting gate of  claim 4 , including: 
 a hook member movably mounted to the support structure for rotation between a locking position and a release position;    a linkage assembly including a first link rotatably mounted to the base, the first link operably coupled to the pedal member such that movement of the pedal member shifts the first link from a first position to a second position, the first link including an engagement surface configured to engage the retaining member to move the gate member from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein:    the hook member engages the first link when in the locking position to retain the first link in the second position.    
   
   
       6 . The starting gate of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the hook member is biased into the locking position and includes a slide surface;    the first link having a contact surface that engages the slide surface as the first link is moved to the second position, thereby shifting the hook out of the locking position, the first link having a latch that is engaged by the hook member when in the locking position to retain the first link in the second position.    
   
   
       7 . The starting gate of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the cam comprises a first cam, and including:    a second cam connected to the linearly movable member, the second cam engaging the hook member to move the hook member out of the locking position.    
   
   
       8 . The starting gate of  claim 7 , including: 
 a first cable interconnecting the pedal and the linearly movable member;    a second cable interconnecting the pedal and the first link.    
   
   
       9 . The starting gate of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the hook member is rotatably mounted to the support structure; and including:    a spring biasing the hook member into the locking position.    
   
   
       10 . A starting gate comprising: 
 a support structure;    a gate member movably mounted to the support structure for movement between raised and lowered positions;    a pedal operably connected to the gate member to raise the gate member when the pedal is depressed;    a retaining member configured to releasably retain the gate member in the raised position;    a timer coupled to the retaining member, the timer including a resiliently biased member movable between first and second positions, the resiliently biased member coupled to the pedal such that depression of the pedal shifts the resiliently biased member against the bias from first position to the second position, the resiliently biased member releasing the retaining member upon movement of the resiliently biased member due to the bias.    
   
   
       11 . The starting gate of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the timer includes a damper controlling movement of the resiliently biased member.    
   
   
       12 . The starting gate of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the gate member comprises a U-shaped member having opposite ends pivotably connected to the support structure; and    the retaining member is pivotably mounted to the support structure and engages the gate adjacent at least a selected one of the ends to retain the gate member in the raised position.    
   
   
       13 . The starting gate of  claim 10 , including: 
 an indicator coupled to the timer and providing an indication relating to the amount of time remaining before the gate member moves to the lowered position.    
   
   
       14 . The starting gate of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the resiliently biased member comprises a gas cylinder.    
   
   
       15 . The starting gate of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the timer includes a hook member that is engaged by the resiliently biased member and moves between a locking position and a release position; and including:    a link member operably coupled to the pedal such that the link member shifts from a first position to a second position upon depression of the pedal and engages the retaining member such that the retaining member lifts the gate member, the hook member shifting to the locking position upon shifting of the link member to the second position to retain the link member in the second position.    
   
   
       16 . The starting gate of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the hook is biased into the locking position.    
   
   
       17 . The starting gate of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the gate member comprises first and second U-shaped members pivotably mounted to the support structure to simultaneously provide for the side-by-side riders.    
   
   
       18 . A starting gate comprising: 
 a support structure;    a gate member movably mounted to the support structure for movement between raised and lowered positions;    a biasing member having an output member movable between first and second positions, the output member being biased into the first position;    a manually movable user input member operably coupled to the biasing member and shifting the output member to the second position when the user input member is moved; and    a retaining member operably coupled to the output member and selectively retaining the gate member in the raised position when the output member is in the second position and releasing gate member as the output member moves to the first position.    
   
   
       19 . The starting gate of  claim 18 , including: 
 a cam connected to the output member, the cam being operably coupled to the retaining member to release the gate member upon movement of the output member.    
   
   
       20 . The starting gate of  claim 19 , including: 
 an indicating member operably coupled to the output member and providing a visual indication of the position of the output member.