Two-wheel vehicle stand

Abstract

A two-wheel vehicle stand for quickly, easily and safely securing two-wheel vehicles in an upright position, by clamping the front or rear wheel. The stand includes a clamping mechanism connected to a switching mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes two opposing supports that clamp the front or rear wheel of the two-wheel vehicle to secure the vehicle in an upright position. The switching mechanism is used to actuate the clamping mechanism and is actuatable by a user while the user is on the two-wheel vehicle.

1 . A stand for securing a two-wheel vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the stand comprising: 
 a base;    a clamping mechanism secured to the base and having first and second opposing supports, wherein the opposing supports are configured to be actuated so as to clamp the front or rear wheel of the two-wheel vehicle therebetween to retain the vehicle in an upright position; and    a switching mechanism connected to the clamping mechanism, wherein the switching mechanism actuates the clamping mechanism, and the switching mechanism includes an actuating handle that extends along a portion of the vehicle a sufficient extent to allow the actuating handle to be actuated while a user is on the vehicle.    
   
   
       2 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the first opposing support is fixed to the base and the second opposing support is mounted so as to be moveable toward and away from the first opposing support between an unclamped position and a clamped position.  
   
   
       3 . The stand of  claim 2 , further comprising wheels attached to the second opposing support, the wheels being in rolling engagement with the base.  
   
   
       4 . The stand of  claim 2 , wherein the switching mechanism includes a mechanism for adjusting the distance that the second opposing support can move toward and away from the first opposing support.  
   
   
       5 . The stand of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating handle is moveable between a first, unclamped position and a second, clamped position, at the unclamped position of the handle the second opposing support is at the unclamped position and at the clamped position of the handle the second opposing support is at the clamped position.  
   
   
       6 . The stand of  claim 5 , further comprising means for retaining the handle and the second opposing support at their respective clamped positions.  
   
   
       7 . The stand of  claim 2 , further comprising means for biasing the second opposing support toward the unclamped position.  
   
   
       8 . The stand of  claim 1 , further comprising tie down rings secured to the base.  
   
   
       9 . A stand for securing a motorcycle in an upright position, the motorcycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the stand comprising: 
 a base;    a clamping mechanism secured to the base and having first and second supports, wherein the first support is fixed to the base and the second support is supported on the base so as to be moveable toward and away from the first support between an unclamped position where the front or rear wheel of the motorcycle is not clamped between the first and second supports and a clamped position where the front or rear wheel of the motorcycle is clamped between the first and second supports to retain the vehicle in an upright position; and    a switching mechanism mounted to the base and connected to the clamping mechanism so as to actuate the second support, and the switching mechanism includes an actuating handle that extends along a portion of the length of the motorcycle a sufficient extent to allow the actuating handle to be actuated while a user is on the motorcycle.    
   
   
       10 . The stand of  claim 9 , further comprising wheels attached to the second support, the wheels being in rolling engagement with the base.  
   
   
       11 . The stand of  claim 9 , wherein the switching mechanism includes a mechanism for adjusting the distance that the second support can move toward and away from the first support.  
   
   
       12 . The stand of  claim 9 , wherein the actuating handle is moveable between a first, unclamped position and a second, clamped position, at the unclamped position of the handle the second support is at the unclamped position and at the clamped position of the handle the second support is at the clamped position.  
   
   
       13 . The stand of  claim 12 , further comprising means for retaining the handle and the second support at their respective clamped positions.  
   
   
       14 . The stand of  claim 9 , further comprising means for biasing the second support toward the unclamped position.  
   
   
       15 . The stand of  claim 9 , further comprising tie down rings secured to the base.  
   
   
       16 . The stand of  claim 9 , wherein the motorcycle includes a seat, and the handle extends along the length of the motorcycle a sufficient distance to enable a user to actuate the handle while the user is seated on the seat or straddling the seat.  
   
   
       17 . A method of securing a motorcycle in an upright position, the motorcycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the method comprising: 
 moving the front or rear wheel of the motorcycle between two opposing supports of a clamping mechanism; and    manually actuating a switching mechanism connected to the clamping mechanism to force the two opposing supports closer together in order to clamp the front or rear wheel of the motorcycle between the supports to retain the motorcycle in an upright position, where the switching mechanism is manually actuated while a user is on the motorcycle.