Knee-Mounted Air Deflector For Motorcyclist

Abstract

An air deflector is mounted to the area of the knee of a motorcyclist to prevent a stream of air from striking the motorcyclist's face. A mounting plate is used to attach the deflector to the motorcyclist's knee. The deflector comprises a deflector plate, which is pivotably connected to the mounting plate by a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism allows the deflector plate to pivot from a closed position, wherein it is substantially parallel to the mounting plate, to a ready position, wherein it is free to move to an open position. When the motorcycle is in motion, the air flow impacts the deflector plate, forcing the deflector to extend upward from the ready position to the open position. In one embodiment the deflector plate is perforated by a series of louvered openings, which reduce the force of the air against the deflector plate and provide a supply of fresh air to the front of the motorcyclist's torso.

1 . An air deflector for attachment to a knee of a motorcyclist, the air deflector comprising a mounting plate, a deflector plate and a fastening member for attaching the mounting plate to the knee of a motorcyclist, the deflector plate being connected to the mounting plate by a pivot mechanism, the pivot mechanism being structured so as to allow the deflector plate to pivot with respect to the mounting plate between a closed position, a ready position and an open position, a main axis of the mounting plate and a main axis of the deflector plate forming an angle α in the closed position, an angle β in the ready position and an angle γ in the open position, wherein α<β<γ and wherein the deflector plate is releasably held in the closed position and the deflector plate is inhibited from returning to the closed position but is free to pivot to the open position when the deflector plate is in the ready position. 
     
     
         2 . The air deflector of  claim 1  wherein the angle α is in the range of zero to 5 degrees, the angle β is in the range of 55 to 75 degrees, and the angle γ is in the range of 115 to 135 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The air deflector of  claim 1  wherein the pivot mechanism comprises a cam and a cam surface, at least one of the cam and cam surface being made of a resilient material that deforms on contact with the other of the cam and cam surface. 
     
     
         4 . The air deflector of  claim 1  wherein the pivot mechanism is structured so as to allow the deflector plate to be released from the closed position when the deflector plate is transposed in a direction parallel to the mounting plate. 
     
     
         5 . The air deflector of  claim 1  wherein the pivot mechanism is structured so as to allow the deflector plate to be released from the closed position when a rotational force is applied to the deflector plate. 
     
     
         6 . The air deflector of  claim 1  wherein the fastening member comprises a strap. 
     
     
         7 . The air detector of  claim 6  wherein the strap is threaded through slots in the mounting plate. 
     
     
         8 . The air deflector of  claim 1  wherein the deflector plate comprises a plurality of louvered openings. 
     
     
         9 . The air deflector of  claim 8  wherein the louvered openings have canted edges, the canted edges being oriented so as to direct a flow of air towards the abdomen and lower chest of a motorcyclist when the mounting plate is attached to the knee of the motorcyclist and the deflector plate is in the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The air deflector of  claim 8  wherein the louvered openings have canted edges, the canted edges being oriented at an angle δ in the range of 80 to 100 degrees with a main axis of the mourning plate when the deflector plate is in the open position. 
     
     
         11 . An air deflector for attachment to a knee of a motorcyclist, the air deflector comprising a mounting plate, a deflector plate and a fastening member for attaching the mounting plate to the knee of a motorcyclist, the deflector plate comprising a plurality of louvered openings. 
     
     
         12 . The air deflector of  claim 11  wherein the louvered openings have canted edges, the canted edges being oriented so as to direct a flow of air towards the abdomen and lower chest of a motorcyclist when the mounting plate is attached to the knee of the motorcyclist and the deflector plate is in the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The air deflector of  claim 11  wherein the louvered openings have canted edges, the canted edges being oriented at an angle δ in the range of 80 to 100 degrees with a main axis of the mourning plate when the deflector plate is in the open position. 
     
     
         14 . An air deflector mounted to the knee of a motorcyclist, the motorcyclist being seated in a riding position on a motorcycle, the air deflector comprising a deflector plate, the deflector plate extending forward from the knee of the motorcyclist and being positioned so as to protrude into and deflect an air stream flowing up the front side of the torso of the motorcyclist, the deflector plate comprising a plurality of louvered openings, the louvered openings having canted edges, the canted edges being oriented so as to direct a portion of the air stream towards the abdomen and lower chest of a motorcyclist. 
     
     
         15 . An air deflector mounted to the knee of a motorcyclist, the motorcyclist being seated in a riding position on a motorcycle, the air deflector comprising a deflector plate and a mounting plate, the mounting plate being held against the knee of the motorcyclist, the deflector plate extending forward from the knee of the motorcyclist and being positioned so as to protrude into and deflect an air stream flowing up the front side of the torso of the motorcyclist towards the face of the motorcyclist, the deflector plate comprising a plurality of louvered openings, the louvered openings having canted edges, the canted edges being oriented at an angle δ in the range of 80 to 100 degrees with a main axis of the mounting plate when the deflector plate is in the open position. 
     
     
         16 . An air deflector mounted to the knee of a motorcyclist, the air deflector comprising a deflector plate, a mounting plate, the mounting plate being held against the knee of the motorcyclist and pivotably connected to the deflector plate, the deflector plate being held by gravity in a ready position and being freely movable to an open position, a main axis of the mounting plate and main axis of the deflector plate forming an angle β in the range of 55 to 75 degrees when the deflector plate is in the ready position and an angle γ in the range of 115 to 135 degrees when the deflector plate is in the open position. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preventing an air stream from striking the thee of a motorcyclist, the motorcyclist being mounted in a riding position on a motorcycle, the air stream flowing up the front side of the torso of the motorcyclist towards the face of the motorcyclist, the method comprising mounting an air deflector to the knee of the motorcyclist, the air deflector comprising a deflector plate, the deflector plate extending forward from the knee of the motorcyclist and protruding into and deflecting the air stream so as to prevent the air stream from striking the lace of the motorcyclist, the deflector plate comprising a plurality of louvered openings, the louvered openings having canted edges, the canted edges being oriented so as to direct a portion of the air stream towards the abdomen and lower chest of a motorcyclist. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the canted edges are oriented at an angle δ in the range of 80 to 100 degrees with a main axis of the mounting plate.