Motorcycle transport rack

Abstract

A motorcycle transport rack includes a pivotable crescent shaped channel cradling the front wheel of a motorcycle. The motorcycle front wheel is rolled into the channel causing the channel to pivot forward, lock in place and rise rearwardly preventing rearward exiting of the motorcycle while in place. The crescent shaped cradle holds the motorcycle in place without the need for raising the front or rear wheels of the motorcycle over an impediment blocking its removal. An optional guide base member is provided. The motorcycle transport rack can be used to tow disabled motorcycles or transport motorcycles in use.

1 . A removable and portable motorcycle transport rack comprising: 
 a channel member forming an arc of a circle along a length thereof and being crescent in cross-section, said channel member being adapted to a cradle a front wheel of said motorcycle;    a pivot tube mounted on an outside of said channel member at right angles to the length of said channel member;    attaching means for removably attaching said pivot tube to a platform, said channel member being pivoted between a first position wherein a proximal end of said channel member is flush with an upper surface of said platform allowing the front wheel of said motorcycle to roll onto said channel member and a second position wherein said proximal end of said channel member is raised thereby fixing said front wheel against movement; and    locking means for locking said channel member in its second position with said motorcycle front wheel cradled in said channel member.    
   
   
       2 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 1  in which said channel member is fabricated from a plurality of flat bent-up members and wings forming sides of said channel member.  
   
   
       3 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 1  in which said platform is a boom extension attached to a tow truck.  
   
   
       4 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 1  in which said channel member has a roll-on/off ramp for said front wheel.  
   
   
       5 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 1  in which said attaching means for removably attaching said pivot tube to said platform comprises brackets on said platform and a pin passing through said pivot tube and engaging said brackets.  
   
   
       6 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 5  in which said locking means for locking said channel member in its second position comprises a bracket mounted on a boom connecting said boom extension to a vehicle, a lock loop mounted on a distal end of said channel member, and a lock pin for engaging said lock loop with said bracket on said boom.  
   
   
       7 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 1  having an extension for supporting a rear wheel of said motorcycle.  
   
   
       8 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 1  having an auxiliary strap to stabilize said motorcycle.  
   
   
       9 . A removable and portable motorcycle transport rack comprising: 
 a channel member made up of straight sections at an obtuse angle to each other, said sections having wing members on sides of said straight sections, said channel member being adapted to cradle a front wheel of said motorcycle;    mounting means on said channel member adapted to be removably attached to an upper surface of a platform for pivoting said channel member, said mounting means being located where said straight sections come together, permitting said channel member to be pivoted between a first position where a free end of a straight section is adjacent to said upper surface allowing the front wheel of said motorcycle to be rolled onto said channel member and a second position raising said free end of the straight section thereby immobilizing said motorcycle; and    locking means for locking said channel member in its second position with said motorcycle front wheel cradled in said channel member.    
   
   
       10 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 9  having a ramp between said free end of said straight section and said upper surface.  
   
   
       11 . A motorcycle transport rack comprising: 
 a channel member forming an arc of a circle along a length thereof and being crescent in cross-section, said channel member being adapted to a cradle a front wheel of said motorcycle;    a pivot mounted on an outside of said channel member;    attachment means for attaching said pivot to a platform, said channel member being pivoted between a first position wherein a proximal end of said channel member is flush with an upper surface of said platform allowing the front wheel of said motorcycle to roll onto said channel member and a second position wherein said proximal end of said channel member is raised thereby fixing said front wheel against movement; and    locking means for locking said channel member in its second position with said motorcycle front wheel cradled in said channel member.    
   
   
       12 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 11  in which said channel member is fabricated from a plurality of flat bent-up members and wings forming sides of said channel member.  
   
   
       13 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 11  in which said platform is a boom extension attached to a tow truck.  
   
   
       14 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 11  in which said channel member has a roll-on/off ramp for said front wheel.  
   
   
       15 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 11  in which said attaching means for removably attaching said pivot tube to said platform comprises brackets on said platform and a pin passing through said pivot tube and engaging said brackets.  
   
   
       16 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 15  in which said locking means for locking said channel member in its second position comprises a bracket mounted on a boom connecting said boom extension to a vehicle, a lock loop mounted on a distal end of said channel member, and a lock pin for engaging said lock loop with said bracket on said boom.  
   
   
       17 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 11  having an extension for supporting a rear wheel of said motorcycle.  
   
   
       18 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 11  having an auxiliary strap to stabilize said motorcycle.  
   
   
       19 . A motorcycle transport rack comprising: 
 a channel member made up of straight sections at an obtuse angle to each other, said sections having wing members on sides of said straight sections, said channel member being adapted to cradle a front wheel of said motorcycle;    a pivot on said channel member attached to an upper surface of a platform for pivoting said channel member, said pivot permitting said channel member to be pivoted between a first position where a free end of a straight section is adjacent to said upper surface allowing the front wheel of said motorcycle to be rolled onto said channel member and a second position raising said free end of the straight section thereby immobilizing said motorcycle; and    locking means for locking said channel member in its second position with said motorcycle front wheel cradled in said channel member.    
   
   
       20 . The motorcycle transport rack of  claim 19  having a ramp between said free end of said straight section and said upper surface.