Motorcycle safety-release back rest

Abstract

Ordinarily uncovered vehicles on which the driver is at least substantially exposed and unenclosed, such as motorcycles and their likes and equivalents, are provided with a safety-release back rest rig that is comprised of and contains a vest-like garment for the driver to wear, which body-retaining garment is strapped ahead of the driver in sling-like fashion to the vehicle structure so as to provide secure and comfortable, lean-back support for the drive during running of the vehicle while at the same time being automatically disengageable from the vehicle structure when the driver dismounts and/or has at least a portion of his or her weight removed or uplifted from and/or off the seat for mounting the driver on the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A safety-release back rest rig assembly for a motorcycle having forward or stem and rearward or stern terminations and like or equivalent vehicle(s) comprising, in cooperative inter-related associated and combination: (a) a basic vehicle body structure;   (b) means on said vehicle body strucure (a) for seating a driver of said vehicle in appropriately mounted driving disposition on and for said vehicle;   (c) vest-like and equivalent garment apparel means for wearing by said driver of (b), said vest-like means being adapted to well receive and encasingly hold said driver;   (d) at least a single safety strap means attachable and securable at or about its rearwardly-extending end in sling-like, forwardly-disposable fashion to the frontal part of said vest-like garment means (c) for wearing by said driver;   (e) a safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component unit secured fixedly on said body structure of the motorcycle forward of said seating means (b) for said driver, which component upon and by electrical energization is adapted to   (f) receive, anchor and lockingly-engage the forwardly-disposable portion at or near its forward end of each of said therein plugged-in safety strap(s) means (d) when said component (e) is in a "locking" and safety strap-retaining position; and   (g) release and freely disconnect, disanchor and disengage said forwardly-disposable end of each of said safety strap(s) means (d) when said component (e) is in an "open" and safety strap-releasing position;   (h) an electrical switch and circuitry switching unit associated with said seating means (b) responsive for "on" and "off" setting purposes to applied driver weight when one is sitting thereupon and electrically connected with said component unit (e) which is adapted to pass adequate electrical energy by means of interconnecting electrical circuitry;   (i) to cause said component unit in said cooperative rig combination assembly to firmly and strongly anchor, engage and lock to close and secure any portion of said forwardly-disposable end(s) of any and all of said safety strap(s) means (d) therein plugged when at least a predetermined portion, if not all, of the total supported weight of said driver in (b) and (c) is mounted and disposed and resting upon said seating means (b); and, conversely   (j) to cause said component unit (e) to quickly, freely and easily disanchor, disengage and open to free and unsecured liberated disposition any portion of said forwardly-disposable end(s) of any and all of said safety strap(s) means (d) therein plugged when more than said predetermined portion, if not all, of the total supported weight of said driver in (b) and (c) is dismounted and neither disposed nor resting upon said seating means (b).   
     
     
       2. A motorcycle and equivalent vehicle safety-release back rest rig assembly combination in accordance with the combination of claim 1, wherein (k) said seating means (b) for driver mounting is in the nature of a typical motorcycle seat and the like.   
     
     
       3. A motorcycle and equivalent vehicle safety-release back rest rig assembly combination in accordance with the combination of claim 1, wherein said vest-like apparel means (c) has, in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (l) a thereto-attached reinforcing support cincture element affixed integrally on its backside in generally lateral disposition thereabout.     
     
     
       4. A motorcycle and equivalent vehicle safety-release back rest rig assembly combination in accordance with the combination of claim 1, wherein said vest-like apparel means (c) has, in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (m) an attached pair of freely-depending belt length sections, having each respectively adapted to intermediately dangle from about each side of and each having its unaffixed end free of said vest-like apparel means (c);     said belt sections (m) being adapted to be securely connected with said rearwardly-extending safety strap(s) means (d) at about the rearward extremity of the latter.   
     
     
       5. A motorcycle and equivalent vehicle safety-to-release back rest rig assembly combination in accordance with the combination of claim 1, wherein said vest-like apparel means 8(c) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (l) a thereto-attached reinforcing support cincture element affixed integrally on its backside in generally lateral dispositon thereabout;   (m) an attached pair of freely-depending belt length sections each of which respectively extends from and is integrally connected with respective ends of said cincture support element (l) and each of which is respectively adapted to intermediately dangle from about each side of and having its unaffixed end free of said vest-like apparel means (c); with   (n) a holding ring or equivalent member at about the freely depending end of each of said belt length sections (m) which ring members are adapted to be engaged in secure connection with said rearwardly-extending safety strap(s) means (d) at about the rearward extremity of the latter.     
     
     
       6. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 1, wherein there is only a single safety strap means (d) therein included. 
     
     
       7. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 2, wherein there is only a single safety strap means (d) therein included. 
     
     
       8. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 4, wherein there is only a single safety strap means (d) therein included. 
     
     
       9. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 5, wherein there is only a single safety strap means (d) therein included. 
     
     
       10. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to any one of the combinations of claims 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9, inclusive, wherein said safety strap(s) means (d) is of leather. 
     
     
       11. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 10, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (o) a recoil unit means therewith for winding up and storing said safety strap(s) means (d) when not in lengthwise extended disposition.   
     
     
       12. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 11, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       13. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 10, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (q) an engagable holding means at its forward end for reception by and locking into said safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component (e) when the latter is in its said closed strap-locking and anchoring causation disposition (i).   
     
     
       14. The engagable holding means (q) in the combination of claim 13 whern it is in the form of a centrally open, ring-like catch holder. 
     
     
       15. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 13, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       16. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 14, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       17. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to any one of the combinations of claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9, inclusive, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (o) a recoil unit means therewith for winding up and storing said safety strap(s) means (d) when not in lengthwise extended disposition.   
     
     
       18. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 17, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (p) a quick-opening, snap-clasp type of fastener at its rearwardly-extending end for attaching and securing same to the frontal part of said vest-like garment means (c).   
     
     
       19. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 18, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accommodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       20. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 17, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (q) an engageable holding means at its forward end for reception by and locking into said safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component (e) when the latter is in its said closed strap-locking and anchoring causation disposition (i).   
     
     
       21. The engagable holding means (q) in the combination of claim 20 when it is in the form of a centrally open, ring-like catch holder. 
     
     
       22. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 20, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       23. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 21, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       24. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to any one of the combinations of claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 9 inclusive, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (p) a quick-opening, snap-clasp type of fastener at its rearwardly-extending end for attaching and securing same to the frontal part of said vest-like garment means (c).   
     
     
       25. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 24, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (p) a quick-opening, snap-clasp type of fastener at its rearwardly-extending end for attaching and securing same to the frontal part of said vest-like garment means (c).   
     
     
       26. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 25, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       27. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 24, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (q) an engagable holding means at its forward end for reception by and locking into said safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component (e) when the latter is in its said closed strap-locking and anchoring causation disposition (i).   
     
     
       28. The engagable holding means (q) in the combination of claim 27 when it is in the form of a centrally open, ring-like catch holder. 
     
     
       29. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 27, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       30. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 28, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       31. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to any one of the combinations of claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, or 9, inclusive, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (q) an engagable holding means at its forward end for reception by and locking into said safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component (e) when the latter is in its closed strap-locking and anchoring causation disposition (i).   
     
     
       32. The engagable holding means (q) in the combination of claim 31 when it is in the form of a centrally open, ring-like catch holder. 
     
     
       33. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to claim 32, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       34. A safety-release back rest rig assembly combination that is pursuant to any one of the combinations of claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, or 9, inclusive, wherein each of said safety strap(s) means (d) has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (r) an adjustable buckle unit means therewith and therein provided for changing the length of said strap means to most propitiously and comfortably accomodate the posture and positioning of said driver of (b) and (c) when mounted on said seating means (b).   
     
     
       35. The adjustable buckle means (r) in the combination of claim 12 when it is of the quick-opening and -releasing variety and design. 
     
     
       36. A motorcycle and equivalent vehicle safety-release back rest rig assembly combination in accordance with the combination of claim 1, wherein (r) said seating means (b) for driver mounting is in the nature of a typical motorcycle seat and the like which has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith:   (s) an encircling band intermediately thereabout securely fastened at one of its ends to said seat and connected at its other free end to the "on" and "off" actuating control for said electrical switch unit (h) whereby the influence of substantially full driver weight resting on said seating means (k) tends to so pull and urge said band (s) as to set said switch unit (h) into appropriate position to actuate and activate said safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component (e) to said closed strap-locking and anchoring causation (i) posture of the component (e); and   uplifting and removal of at least a portion of the driver weight from resting on said seating means (k) tends to relieve urging pulling of said band (s) back to its normal untensed encirclement of said seating means so as to alternately set said switch unit (h) into appropriate position to deactuate and deactivate said safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component (e) to said open strap-liberating and -disengaging causation (j) posture of the component (e).     
     
     
       37. The combination of claim 36, wherein said seat encircling band (s) is comprised of an essentially non-elastic material of construction. 
     
     
       38. The combination of claim 36, wherein said seat encircling band (s) is leather. 
     
     
       39. A combination pursuant to claims 37 or 38 wherein there is additionally included in cooperative assembly therein a spring means interconnecting the said free end of said seat encircling band (s) with said actuating control for said electrical switch unit (h). 
     
     
       40. A motorcycle and equivalent vehicle safety-release back rest rig assembly combination in accordance with the combination of claim 1, wherein (t) said safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component (e) contains an electrically energizable solenoid unit therein for actuation and deactuation of the component (e) to one or another of said respective positions wherein the component (e) is either its closed, strap-locking and anchoring causation (i) posture or in its open, strap-liberating and disengaging causation (j) posture.   
     
     
       41. A motorcycle and equivalent vehicle safety-release back rest rig assembly combination in accordance with the combination of claim 1, wherein (t) said safety strap(s) means holding and releasing component (e) contains an electrically energizable solenoid unit therein for actuation and deactuation of the component (e) to one or another of said respective positions wherein the component (e) is in either its closed, strap-locking and anchoring causation (i) posture or in its open, strap-liberating and -disengaging causation (j) posture; and   (u) said solenoid unit (t) of said holding and releasing component (e) is adapted to move a hold pin back and forth in order to: engage and catch for retention the forward end(s) of any and all of said safety strap(s) means when said component (e) is in its closed, strap-locking and anchoring causation (i) posture; and   disengage and freely release for liberation the forward end(s) of any and all of of said safety strap(s) means when said component (e) is in its open, strap-liberating and -disengaging causation (j) posture.     
     
     
       42. Either one of the combinations pursuant to those of claims 18 or 19 when mounted on and with the handlebar of a motorcycle and like-type vehicle. 
     
     
       43. Either one of the combinations pursuant to those of claims 18 or 19 when mounted with the handlebar neck of a motorcycle and like-type vehicle. 
     
     
       44. Either one of the combinations pursuant to those of claims 18 or 19 having in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (v) an auxilliary "on-off" reversing switch included in the electrical circuitry of said holding and releasing component (e) which switch is adapted when in its "off" position to render said component (e) inoperable and maintained in its open, strap-liberating and -disengaging causation (j) posture.   
     
     
       45. A motorcycle and equivalent vehicle safety-release back rest rig assembly combination in accordance with the combination of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is of the motor-powered and driven variety and has in further cooperative and associated combination therewith: (w) a "tether switch" installation arrangement on said vehicle body structure (a) and adapted to be connected to some part of the driver in (b) and (c), which "tether switch" (s) is adapted to shut down and "kill" the locomoting motor power drive means of the vehicle when said "tether switch" (w) is put in its "off" position by disengaging manipulation by and of said driver for any reason of such driver movement.     
     
     
       46. A motorcycle having thereon and being provided with the safety-release back rest rig assembly combination of claim 1. 
     
     
       47. A bicycle having thereon and being provided with the safety-release back rest rig assembly combination of claim 1. 
     
     
       48. A motor drive-assisted bicycle having thereon and being provided with the safety-release back rest rig assembly combination of claim 1. 
     
     
       49. A snowmobile having thereon and being provided with the safety-release back rest rig assembly combination of claim 1. 
     
     
       50. A boat having thereon and being provided with the safety-release back rest rig assembly combination of claim 1. 
     
     
       51. An adjustable buckle means (r) in a combination that is pursuant to any one of the combinations of claims 33-30, inclusive, when it is of the quick-opening and -releasing variety and design. .Iadd. 
     
     
       52.  A releasable back support assembly for use by a rider seated on a cycle frame having wheel means at its forward and rearward ends and a seat for such rider between said wheel means, said assembly comprising a sling-like member for embracing the rider's back; movable anchor means carried by said frame forwardly of said seat; strap means separably secured at one end to said anchor means and at its opposite end to said member, said strap means being of such length as to be taut and provide support for the rider's back when the rider leans rearwardly against said member; electrical operating means coupled to said anchor means and operable to move the latter from a first position in which it secures said one end of said strap means to said frame to a second position in which said one end of said strap means is disengageable from said anchor means; and electrical actuating means coupled to said operating means for operating the latter said actuating means including means movable between closed and open positions in response to seating and unseating of the rider on and from said seat..Iaddend. .Iadd.53. A back support assembly according to claim 52 wherein said sling-like member comprises a garment which may be worn by said rider..Iaddend. .Iadd.54. A back support assembly according to claim 53 wherein said garment is a vest. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. A back support assembly according to claim 53 wherein said garment is a jacket..Iaddend. .Iadd.56. A back support assembly according to claim 52 wherein said strap means is adjustable in length, and including means for maintaining said strap means at a selected length. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57. A back support assembly according to claim 52 wherein said anchor means comprises a projection protruding from said frame. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58. A back support assembly according to claim 57 wherein said projection comprises a pin. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59. A back support assembly according to claim 57 wherein said strap means includes a loop for the removable accommodation of said projection..Iaddend. .Iadd.60. A back support according to claim 52 wherein said sling-like member comprises a belt..Iaddend. .Iadd.61. A back support according to claim 60 wherein said belt is secured to a vest that may be worn by said rider..Iaddend. .Iadd.62. A back support according to claim 60 wherein said belt includes rings at its opposite ends removably secured to strap means..Iaddend.