FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[001] The present invention relates to a stand device of a two-wheeled vehicle, and more particularly to, a side stand device of the two-wheeled vehicle.
BACKGROUND

[002] Generally, two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles, scooters, are provided with a side stand that supports the two-wheeled vehicle in a standing state (when the two-wheeled vehicle is parked). The side stand, generally, is pivotally mounted, with help of a mounting bolt, onto a bracket which in turn is secured to a lower portion of the two-wheeled vehicle’s body frame. The side stand is adapted to swing to a backward horizontal position (as retreat or stored position) and from the backward horizontal position to a forwardly inclined position (as service or operative position where the two-wheeled vehicle can be parked when not in use).
[003] If the two-wheeled vehicle is driven with the side stand remaining in the forwardly inclined position (operative position), the side stand tends to impinge on the road surface or the ground. The impingement becomes further acute when the two-wheeled vehicle leans/inclines towards the side of the side stand while negotiating a turn. The position of the side stand in the forwardly inclined position when the two-wheeled vehicle is moving poses a serious threat to the safety of the driver and resulting in the driver losing control of the vehicle leading to accidents that can be fatal.
[004] Hence, to obviate the abovementioned problem, it is preferred to sense the position of the side stand and accordingly allow or prevent the starting of the ignition system or the fuel supply system of the two-wheeled vehicle. Conventional systems are known for providing a position detecting device that can sense the position of the side stand. Such a position detecting device is disclosed in an Indian Patent Application No.1311/MUM/2010, in which a sensor is intended to give warning to rider of the vehicle if the side stand remains in the forwardly inclined position while riding the vehicle.
[005] However, such systems involve more number of components and are costly solutions. In view of the above, there is a need for a cost-effective simple solution to recline the side stand in the backward horizontal position when the two-wheeled vehicle is moving.
SUMMARY
[006] In an embodiment, a side stand assembly in a two-wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The side stand assembly includes a bracket, a side stand and a gear pedal. The side stand is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of a body frame of the two-wheeled vehicle through the bracket to assume a forwardly inclined position and a backward horizontal position. The side stand includes an engaging provision in upper end portion of the side stand. The engaging provision is adapted to engage with a complementary engaging provision configured in the bracket in the forwardly inclined position. The gear pedal is configured to rotate along an axis of a gear shaft of the two-wheeled vehicle. The gear pedal includes an extension extending downwardly towards a top portion of the upper end portion of the side stand such that upon rotating the gear pedal to a moving gear the extension is adapted to exert a force on the top portion in the forwardly inclined position of the side stand. The exerted force disengages the engaging provision and the complementary engaging provision, thereby enabling the side stand to rotate from the forwardly inclined position to the backward horizontal position under a biasing force.
[007] In an embodiment, the upper end portion of the side stand includes spaced apart an inner leaf member and an outer leaf member. The bracket is coupled between the inner leaf member and the outer leaf member using a fastening member. The fastening member is adapted to be inserted in a hole in the inner leaf member. A hole in the outer leaf member and a hole in the bracket.
[008] In an embodiment, the engaging provision includes a second depression, a spring member and a ball member. The second depression is formed in the outer leaf member. The spring member and the ball member are disposed along depth of the second depression. The complementary engaging provision includes a first depression formed in bracket member such that the first depression aligns with the second depression when the side stand is in the forwardly inclined position.
[009] In an embodiment, the ball member is disposed on the spring member in the second depression towards an open end of the second depression such that the ball member partially protrudes out of the second depression. The partially protruded part of the ball member is engaged with the first depression in the forwardly inclined position.
[0010] In an embodiment, the side stand assembly further includes a biasing means for exerting a biasing force for holding the side stand in the backward horizontal position. In an embodiment, one end of the biasing means is connected to an extended pin of the side stand and another end of the biasing means is connected to a point on the bracket member. In an embodiment, the biasing means is a torsional spring.
[0011] In an embodiment, the engaging provision and the complementary engaging provision are engaged in a snap fit engagement. The snap fit engagement is adapted to be disengaged by the exerted force.
[0012] In an embodiment, a two-wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The two-wheeled vehicle includes a body frame, a bracket, a side stand and a gear pedal. The side stand is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the body frame of the two-wheeled vehicle through the bracket to assume a forwardly inclined position and a backward horizontal position. The side stand includes an engaging provision in upper end portion of the side stand. The engaging provision is adapted to engage with a complementary engaging provision configured in the bracket in the forwardly inclined position. The gear pedal is configured to rotate along an axis of a gear shaft of the two-wheeled vehicle, the gear pedal includes an extension extending downwardly towards a top portion of the upper end portion of the side stand such that upon rotating the gear pedal to a moving gear the extension is adapted to exert a force on the top portion in the forwardly inclined position of the side stand. The exerted force disengages the engaging provision and the complementary engaging provision, thereby enabling the side stand to rotate from the forwardly inclined position to the backward horizontal position under a biasing force.
[0013] In an embodiment, the upper end portion of the side stand includes spaced apart an inner leaf member and an outer leaf member. The bracket is coupled between the inner leaf member and the outer leaf member using a fastening member. The fastening member is adapted to be inserted in a hole in the inner leaf member. A hole in the outer leaf member and a hole in the bracket.
[0014] In an embodiment, the engaging provision includes a second depression, a spring member and a ball member. The second depression is formed in the outer leaf member. The spring member and the ball member are disposed along depth of the second depression. The complementary engaging provision includes a first depression formed in bracket member such that the first depression aligns with the second depression when the side stand is in the forwardly inclined position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] The invention itself, together with further features and advantages, will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanied drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
[0016] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged view depicting a side stand in a backward horizontal position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged view depicting the side stand in a forwardly inclined position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] Figure 4 illustrates a view of the side stand in the backward horizontal position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view along line AA’ in Figure 4, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 6 illustrates an exploded view of a side stand assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0022] Figure 7 illustrates corresponding positions of a gear pedal and the side stand, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] The drawings referred to in this description are not to be understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted, and such drawings are only exemplary in nature. The colored drawings, if provided along with this description are only meant to make the details of invention clear and have no effect whatsoever on the scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention.
[0025] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
[0026] For the better understanding of this invention, reference would now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures and description here below, further, in the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in various views.
[0027] The terms “front / forward”, “rear / rearward / back / backward”, “up / upper / upward”, “down / downward / lower / lowerward” that may be used therein represent the directions as seen from a vehicle driver sitting astride and these directions are referred by arrows Fr, Rr, U, Lr in the drawing. Further, “left / leftward”, “right / rightward” that may be used herein represent the directions as seen from a vehicle driver sitting astride.
[0028] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a two-wheeled vehicle (100) (herein referred to as vehicle (100)) of conventional construction employing the present invention. In the vehicle (100), a side stand (11) is mounted onto a lower portion of the vehicle (100) for supporting the vehicle (100) in a standing state when the vehicle (100) is not in use. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle (100), includes one or more parts, such as a body frame (1), a front fork (2), a handle (3), a front wheel (4), a seat (6), a swing arm (7), a rear cushion (8), a rear wheel (9), an engine (10), a gear pedal (19) and the side stand (11). It may be noted that the two-wheeled vehicle (100) is shown to have include above stated parts, however, those ordinarily skilled in the art would appreciate that the two-wheeled vehicle (100) includes other parts which may not be relevant for explaining embodiments of the present invention and hence are not shown and described.
[0029] A side stand assembly (101) as depicted in Figure 2, includes the side stand (11), a bracket member (13), a biasing means (14) and a fastening member (12) such as a mounting bolt.
[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the side stand (11) is pivotally attached to the body frame (1) of the vehicle (100). In an embodiment, the side stand (11) is attached to the body frame (1) of the vehicle (100) via the bracket member (13) (or simply referred to as bracket 13) that is securely fixed to the lower portion of the body frame (1) of the vehicle (100). Further, the gear pedal (19) is fixedly mounted to a gear shaft (not shown) coupled to the engine (10) of the vehicle (100) and configured to rotate along an axis of the gear shaft. The gear pedal (19) further includes an extension (19e) that extends downwardly towards a top end of the side stand (11). When the gear pedal (19) is actuated to change gear position, i.e. gear pedal (19) is rotated in clockwise direction when seen from left side of the vehicle (100) (e.g., refer Figure 7), the extension (19e) of the gear pedal (19) moves in a circularly downward direction to move to a next higher gear.
[0031] As shown in Figure 6, the side stand (11) is having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the side stand (11) is bifurcated thereof to form a letter “U” like structure forming spaced apart two leaves namely an inner leaf member (25) and an outer leaf member (26). The inner leaf member (25) and the outer leaf member (26) are provided with journaling holes (25a) and (26a) entirely therethrough. The bracket member, (13) having a journaling hole (27) generally in consonance with the journaling holes (25a) and (26a) of the leaves (25) and (26), is disposed between the outer leaf member (25) and the inner leaf member (26). In an embodiment, an extended pin (16) is provided on the central region of the side stand (11) to hook eye end of a coil spring. In an embodiment, at least one torsional spring (14) (e.g., a biasing means) is provided, where one end of the torsional spring (14) engages with the bracket member (13) and other end is engaged to an upper portion of the side stand (11). The torsional spring (14) exerts a biasing force which tends to keep the side stand (11) in a backward horizontal position. The lower end of the side stand (11) is adapted to rest on the ground.
[0032] In one embodiment, the side stand (11) is adapted to swing from or to a forwardly inclined position depicted by S1 in the Figure 7 to or from the backward horizontal position depicted by S3 in the Figure 7. The side stand (11) is disposed substantially parallel to the adjacent body frame (1) and is provided with the biasing means (14) that keeps the side stand (11) biased towards the backward horizontal position S3. In an embodiment, the biasing means (14) is a coil spring. In an embodiment, the biasing means (14) is the torsional spring (14). In an embodiment, suitable resilient member is used as the biasing means (14).
[0033] In an embodiment, the coil spring (the biasing means (14)) is provided with two eye ends, where one eye end is hooked to the extended pin (16) of the side stand (11) and other eye end (17) is hooked to a suitable point on the bracket member (13) or a suitable portion of the body frame (1), more particularly, to the extension pin on the bracket member (13). Thus, the side stand (11) exhibits a tendency to retract to the backward horizontal position S3.
[0034] The bracket member (13) includes a first depression (13e) on a surface facing the outer leaf member (26) on which a second depression (26e) is provided. Further, the second depression (26e) is provided on the outer leaf member (26) of the side stand (11) at such location that it always remain covered by the bracket member (13) for all the positions of the side stand (11). In an embodiment, the second depression (26e) is a blind depression configured to have an opening towards the bracket member (13). Further, the first depression (13e) is located at such position on the bracket member (13) that it aligns with the second depression (26e) on an inner surface (26i) of the outer leaf member (26) when the side stand (11) has substantially reached to the forwardly inclined position S1.
[0035] The side stand (11) includes an engaging provision in upper end portion of the side stand (11), where the engaging provision is adapted to be engaged with a complementary engaging provision in the bracket (13), in the forwardly inclined position of the side stand (11). In an embodiment of the illustrated figures, the engaging provision includes the second depression (26e) including a spring member (26s) and a ball member (26b) disposed along a depth of the second depression (26e). Further, the complementary engaging provision includes the first depression (13e). In an embodiment, the spring member (26s) is a coil spring. The ball member (26b) is disposed on the spring member (26s) in the second depression (26e) towards an open end of the second depression (26e). A combined length of the uncompressed spring member (26s) and dimension of the ball member (26b) along depth of the second depression (26e) is such that the ball member (26b) partially protrudes out of the second depression (26e) and is in contact with the surface of the bracket member (13) when the side stand (11) is mounted to the bracket member (13). The spring member (26s) is made up of such material/property/dimension that it applies continuous pressure to the ball member (26b) against the bracket member (13).
[0036] When rider operates the side stand (11) against the biasing force of the biasing means (14) from the backward horizontal position S3 to the forwardly inclined position S1 to park the vehicle by means of the side stand (11), the first depression (13e) of the bracket member (13) aligns with the second depression (26e) located on the inner surface (26i) of the outer leaf member (26). The spring member (26s) exerts pressure on the ball member (26b) for engaging the ball member (26b) with the first depression (13e). When the ball member (26b) engages with the first depression (13e), the side stand (11) is at the forwardly inclined position S1. The side stand (11) cannot retract back to its backward horizontal position S3 when the ball member (26b) is engaged with the first depression (13e). The ball member (26b) must be disengaged from the first depression (13e) by applying external force. The external force required to release the side stand (11) from its forwardly inclined position (S1) depends on the engagement of the ball member (26b) with the first depression (13e), which in turn depends on the extent to which the ball member (26b) has penetrated in the first depression (13e) of the bracket member (13).
[0037] In an embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 2, when the side stand (11) is in forwardly inclined position S1, the extension (19e) of the gear pedal (19) remains in a close vicinity of a top portion (11t) of the side stand (11). The top portion (11t) of the side stand (11) is the extension of the side stand (11) above an axis of the fastening member (12), in an exemplary depiction of the top portion (11t) is provided on the outer leaf member (26) of the side stand (11).
[0038] When the rider operates the gear pedal (19) in a moving gear for example in clockwise direction (when looked from left side of the vehicle (100) or from the side on which the side stand is located) to shift the gear (for changing gear position) from a normal position G1 (see Figure 7) to a displaced position G2 (see Figure 7), the extension (19e) of the gear pedal (19) pushes the top portion (11t) of the side stand (11) towards front side of the vehicle (100). As the force on the gear pedal (19) increases, the ball member (26b) compresses the spring member (26s) and tends to disengage from the first depression (13e) of the bracket member (13). At or beyond a particular force on the gear pedal (19) the ball member (26b) disengages from the first depression (13e) and the side stand (11) rotates to the backward horizontal position S3 under the biasing force by the biasing means (14). The intermediate position of the side stand (11) at which the ball member (26b) disengages from the first depression (13e) is represented by S2 in the Figure 7.
[0039] Thus, the gear pedal (19) has to exert the force on the side stand (11) to release the ball member (26b) from the first depression (13e) of the bracket member (13).
[0040] In some additional embodiments, the engaging provision and the complementary engaging provision may be configured in other variety of ways, for example provisions (the engaging provision and the complementary engaging provision) can be designed to be engaged in a snap fit engagement, wherein the snap fit engagement is adapted to be disengaged by the exerted force applied by the extension (19e).
[0041] As described in the aforementioned description, the side stand takes retreat or backward horizontal position automatically on putting the vehicle in the geared position by the rider even if rider has forgotten to fold the side stand and thereby relieves the rider from operating the side stand manually.
[0042] The invention does not employ any electronics means like indicator or sensor to remind the rider about the side stand position therefore, this is relatively cheaper solution.
[0043] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

We claim:
1. A side stand assembly (101) in a two-wheeled vehicle (100), comprising:
a bracket (13);
a side stand (11) pivotally mounted to a lower portion of a body frame (1) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) through the bracket (13) to assume a forwardly inclined position and a backward horizontal position, the side stand (11) comprising an engaging provision in upper end portion of the side stand (11), the engaging provision adapted to be engaged with a complementary engaging provision configured in the bracket (13) in the forwardly inclined position; and
a gear pedal (19) configured to rotate along an axis of a gear shaft of the two-wheeled vehicle (100), the gear pedal (19) comprising an extension (19e) extending downwardly towards a top portion (11t) of the upper end portion of the side stand (11) such that upon rotating the gear pedal (19) to a moving gear the extension (19e) is adapted to exert a force on the top portion (11t) in the forwardly inclined position of the side stand (11), wherein the exerted force disengages the engaging provision and the complementary engaging provision, thereby enabling the side stand (11) to rotate from the forwardly inclined position to the backward horizontal position under a biasing force.

2. The side stand assembly (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper end portion of the side stand (11) comprises spaced apart an inner leaf member (25) and an outer leaf member (26), and wherein the bracket (13) is coupled between the inner leaf member (25) and the outer leaf member (26) using a fastening member (12), wherein the fastening member (12) is adapted to be inserted in a hole (25a) in the inner leaf member (25), a hole (26a) in the outer leaf member (26) and a hole (27) in the bracket (13).

3. The side stand assembly (101) as claimed in claims 1 or 2,
wherein the engaging provision comprises
a second depression (26e) formed in the outer leaf member (26), and
a spring member (26s) and a ball member (26b) disposed along depth of the second depression (26e), and
wherein the complementary engaging provision comprises a first depression (13e) formed in bracket member (13) such that the first depression (13e) aligns with the second depression (26e) when the side stand (11) in the forwardly inclined position.

4. The side stand assembly (101) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ball member (26b) is disposed on the spring member (26s) in the second depression (26e) towards an open end of the second depression (26e) such that the ball member (26b) partially protrudes out of the second depression (26e), wherein the partially protruded part of the ball member (26b) is engaged with the first depression (13e) in the forwardly inclined position.

5. The side stand assembly (101) as claimed in claims 1 to 4, further comprising a biasing means (14) for exerting a biasing force for holding the side stand (11) in the backward horizontal position.

6. The side stand assembly (101) as claimed in claim 2, wherein one end of the biasing means (14) is connected to an extended pin (16) of the side stand (11) and another end of the biasing means (14) is connected to a point on the bracket member (13).

7. The side stand assembly (101) as claimed in claims 5 or 6, wherein the biasing means (14) is a torsional spring.

8. The side stand assembly (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging provision and the complementary engaging provision are engaged in a snap fit engagement, wherein the snap fit engagement is adapted to be disengaged by the exerted force.

9. A two-wheeled vehicle (100), comprising:
a body frame (1); and
a side stand assembly (101) comprising:
a bracket (13);
a side stand (11) pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the body frame (1) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) through the bracket (13) to assume a forwardly inclined position and a backward horizontal position, the side stand (11) comprising an engaging provision in upper end portion of the side stand (11), the engaging provision adapted to be engaged with a complementary engaging provision in the bracket (13) in the forwardly inclined position; and
a gear pedal (19) configured to rotate along an axis of a gear shaft of the two-wheeled vehicle (100), the gear pedal (19) comprising an extension (19e) extending downwardly towards a top portion (11t) of the upper end portion of the side stand (11) such that upon rotating the gear pedal (19) to a moving gear the extension (19e) is adapted to exert a force on the top portion (11t) in the forwardly inclined position of the side stand (11), wherein the exerted force disengages the engaging provision and the complementary engaging provision, thereby enabling the side stand (11) to rotate from the forwardly inclined position to the backward horizontal position under a biasing force.

10. The two wheeled-vehicle (100), as claimed in claim 9, wherein the upper end portion of the side stand (11) comprises spaced apart an inner leaf member (25) and an outer leaf member (26), and wherein the bracket (13) is coupled between the inner leaf member (25) and the outer leaf member (26) using a fastening member (12), wherein the fastening member (12) is adapted to be inserted in a hole (25a) in the inner leaf member (25), a hole (26a) in the outer leaf member (26) and a hole (27) in the bracket (13).

11. The two wheeled-vehicle (100), as claimed in claims 9 or 10,
wherein the engaging provision comprises
a second depression (26e) formed in the outer leaf member (26),
a spring member (26s) and a ball member (26b) disposed along depth of the second depression (26e), and
wherein the complementary engaging provision comprises a first depression (13e) formed in bracket member (13) such that the first depression (13e) aligns with the second depression (26e) when the side stand (11) in the forwardly inclined position.