Slide locking motorcycle kick arm

Abstract

A slide locking kick arm includes a shaft connectable to an engine kick starter and a foot pedal which fits over the free end of the shaft for stowage and slides to the free end of the shaft where it can be pivoted outboard away from the engine to deploy. The shaft includes an offset as necessary to avoid interference by engine-mounted or vehicle mounted parts. A spring-loaded locking pin with one or more alignment plates may be incorporated to provide positive engagement.

1 . A slide locking kick arm, comprising:
 a foot pedal;   a shaft having a first end portion connectable to a kick starter and an elongated portion extending to a free end;   first connecting means for connecting said shaft to an engine kick starter;   second connecting means for slidably attaching said foot pedal to said shaft elongated portion, said second connecting means including rotating means for rotating said pedal approximately ninety degrees outboard only when said pedal is moved proximal to said free end; and,   locking means for locking said pedal in its outboard rotated position.   
     
     
         2 . A slide locking kick arm, comprising:
 a shaft having a first portion connectable to a motorcycle kick starter, a second offset portion extending from said first portion at an angle to prevent interference with engine-mounted parts, and a third portion extending from said offset portion to a free end; and,   a foot pedal including a first interior cavity having a closed end and an open end receiving at least a portion of said shaft third portion therein, and further including a pivot engagement portion slidingly engagable to said shaft third portion along at least a portion of the length of said shaft third portion and pivotable outboard at a location proximal to the free end of said shaft third portion.   
     
     
         3 . A slide locking kick arm as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 said shaft third portion including an enclosed slot disposed along at least a portion of said shaft third part; and,   said pivot engagement portion comprises an axel extending transversely through said foot pedal and said enclosed slot.   
     
     
         4 . A slide locking kick arm as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 said shaft third portion including a first channel disposed along at least a portion of the length of said shaft third part; and,   said pivot engagement portion comprises a first bearing projecting into the interior of said foot pedal cavity and engaging said first channel.   
     
     
         5 . A slide locking kick arm as in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 said shaft third portion further including a second channel, said first and second channels parallel and disposed along opposing sides of at least a portion of the length of said shaft third portion; and,   said pivot engagement portion further comprising a second bearing projecting into the interior of said foot pedal cavity and engaging said second channel.   
     
     
         6 . A slide locking kick arm as in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 said first bearing including a ball bearing and a spring acting on said ball bearing to urge said ball bearing into said first channel.   
     
     
         7 . A slide locking kick arm as in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 each of said first and second bearings comprising a ball bearing and a spring acting on said ball bearing to urge said first and second ball bearings into said first and second channels, respectively.   
     
     
         8 . A slide locking kick arm as in  claim 6  or  7 , further comprising:
 wherein each of said ball bearings and springs is retained within a corresponding hollow insert within a wall of said pedal, each of said hollow inserts including an exterior lip for engaging an interior wall of said pedal, and an internal retaining lip for retaining the ball bearing against the spring within the hollow insert. 
 
     
     
         9 . The slide locking kick arm of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 wherein said foot pedal further includes:
 a locking pin having first and second ends and a locking pin handle connected to said first end, said locking pin slidably insertable through the closed end of said foot pedal through said first cavity and beyond said first cavity open end; 
 a fixed support plate fixedly connected to said locking pin and positioned within said first cavity of said foot pedal; 
 a locking pin spring disposed within said first cavity acting between said fixed support plate and said first cavity closed end; and, 
   said kick arm shaft third portion further comprises a first locking pin receiving hole through said free end extending lengthwise into said shaft third portion, and a second locking pin receiving hole extending transversely into said shaft third portion proximal to said shaft third portion free end.   
     
     
         10 . The slide locking kick arm of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a sliding support plate slidably attachable to said locking pin between said fixed support plate and said second end of said locking pin. 
 
     
     
         11 . The slide locking kick arm of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a sliding support plate spring extending along said locking pin between said fixed support plate and said sliding support plate. 
 
     
     
         12 . The slide locking kick arm of  claim 9 , wherein said locking pin handle is a closed loop. 
     
     
         13 . The slide locking kick arm of  claim 2 , wherein said foot pedal further comprises a raised retaining lip extending radially outward from the closed end of said foot pedal. 
     
     
         14 . The slide locking kick arm of  claim 2 , wherein said foot pedal further includes a treaded outer surface. 
     
     
         15 . A slide locking kick arm as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 wherein said foot pedal further comprises a second cavity extending from said open end said first cavity, the second cavity comprising: a posterior wall; a posterior lip; two opposing lateral walls extending from said posterior wall, each of said lateral walls including a penetration for receiving a pivot engagement portion; and, an anterior lip connecting the two lateral walls, said anterior lip located opposite from said posterior lip across the open end of said first cavity;   such that, when said foot pedal is extended to the free end of said shaft third portion, said foot pedal can be rotated outboard about said pivot engagement portion, thereby resting said posterior wall against the free end of said shaft third portion, and resting said anterior lip against an exterior surface of said shaft third portion, and engaging said shaft third portion free end against said posterior lip.   
     
     
         16 . The slide locking kick arm of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 said shaft third portion including an enclosed slot disposed along at least a portion of said shaft third part; and,   said pivot engagement portion comprises an axel extending transversely through said sidewall penetrations and enclosed slot.