AU730915B2 - A removable cover for a motorcycle fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a motorcycle accessory, more particularly a removable cover for a motorcycle fuel tank, comprising a central portion (3) extended by at least two end portions (4, 5) for covering, at least partially, the fuel tank from one edge to the opposite edge, the cover consisting of a substantially rigid shell (1) with an inner surface of shape substantially matching that of the tank and comprising, at each of its end parts (4, 5) independent fixing means (10, 11) for locking the shell on the motorcycle. The invention also concerns a removable luggage carrier.

Description

Fax frt 3 78698682 14/10/99 03:36 Pg: 9 A RMOVABLE- COVER FOR. A MOTORCYCLE TANK TECMMZCAL FINW The invention relates to the field of accessories for mnotorcycles, and more p~rticularly accessories for a motorcycle tank~, whether real or dummy, and intended for use on a motorcycle that is i~n motion, and:thus to be Bubjected to dynamic forces.

As a general rule, the-fuel tank of a motorcycle -is situated-over the engine, between the saddle azd. the handlebar. In some casei., for. technieal reasons to do with. space avai:lability' the tank is'not Bituated.inT that ocattion, 'but is disposed beneath the saddle.. Under 'such% circumstances, 'for -reasons of appearance, the motorcycle 1s possesses a dummy tank or casing between the* saddle and the handlebar a~cl fitted to the frame -above the engizie.

Given. itspositioni between. the saddleand the handlebar,, a tank, whether reeal or dWmny, *is liable to be* subjectedt to damage at its saddle end caused by pieces of' metal fitted to-the 'clothing of a' motorcycle 'user or riddr. Such-piecesa of metal qive rise to..dcratches and to anocks -that spoil the appearance 'of th6' covering 'of the.. tahk and. that contribiute to depreciating the motorcycle.

PRXOR ART.

In order to remedy. suhrisk of -damage, the prior art proposes, for. example, f itting anadkesive protection.

or-cover on* that portion of thea tank which is situated close, to the saddle. Hovever, because* of the.'way fixing is perforined,by means .of adhesive, such protecti0# cannot be removed or replaced- without seriously damaging the *covering on the tank, thereby leading to an* effect*' which *is the opposite of that, for which' it is intended..

'It is also khown to imple'ment a. protection or cover' constituted'byan enveloping mat which is held, in place by means- of straps passing beneath the 'tink.' 'Such a mat 41' Fax from 33 78698682141/9 8:6 P:0 14/10/99 03:36 PS: 18 2 is generally made of textile. material or 'of natural orsynthetic- leather, -by stitching together pieces of various shapes go as to match'the'particular shape-of the' t~nk.* us patent US 4 065 859 describes an example -of a: f flexibl1e removable tank mat or cover-.having a central portioni extended by two -end portions so as to ienvelop the tdnk from one edge to an opposite edge.. Each end portion *is' provided -with a. fixing rod deindto receive at least two fixing devices which' are common to both rods..

Each of the common fixing devices -is constituted by'a self -locking rachet-type' strap fitted to each of tEhe rods and passing uixder the tanicuc that when theY are capd the flexible cover is held on 'the tank.

is Although 'flexible 'covers or -mats Of the above types generally perform the. function of protectinig a tank,1 they nevertheless suf ter f rom drawbacks inherent to their.

nature. -Firstly, itis expensive to manufactUre a.

structure that is.- obtained b3y. stitching together various elements, the number of .which increAses with'increasing compl~exity in the shape of the tank. Furthermore, suc~h a mat is incapable of'providing the tank with effecti~ve protect iofi against hard knocks. Finally, it is, hot.

always -eady'to ,fix the malt' byr meina of straps or the like,' given the lack, of space available-in the region of* the motorcycle situated beneath- the tank and above the *engine.

SUV6NAY OF THE INVENTION Given -the -drawbacks of motorcycle tank covers in -the prior art, there-is a need for a novel cover which can'be fitted easily to a' motorcycle -tank without adhesive, withiout. spoiling the tank, and without a compl1ex system of' straps. .A need -is al1so felt for a .novel .cover whi ch is. also suitable for providing the tank -with* ef fective protect~ion against Pcertain knocks and wrhich, does not require.'high labor cost. for d6anfacture. Fax fromt 33 78698682 14/10/99 83:36 Pg: 11 3.

An obj ect Of- the invention is to satisfy those.

requirements by proposing a novel removable cover which obviates the drawbacks of the prior art.

The. invention thus provides a remo-jakle cover f or a S motorcycle tank, the-cover being of the type having 'a central portion extended by-.at least two end portions 'for *enveloping at least a part of the tank from one .edge to an opposite edge.

According to the invention, the cover is constituted by a substantially rigid-shell having an inside face -of ashape that, is substantially complemntary to tlie shape of *the tank-and including, at 'each dt its end portions, independent fixing means for preventing the shell from moving relative, to the motorcy4;le.

Is In the field of motorcycle tank accessories, there also existg -the need to -be able to fix various pieces, of equipment 6n the tank, e.g. such a's a case or a bag stttabe or ecivig he rider's belong'ng when traveling.

A prior art solution to this -problem proposesf fitting' such "tank" bags witb 'magnets. for adhering to metal tanks. :Hoiever magneticAlly-f ixed. tank bags arie not rigidly secured -to' the akso they can. become *.detached under the ef fect ,of sjpeed* and 'they. are easily torn off by an ill-intentioned person, particulaily during a* short-duration stop .on a trip. Fu~rthermore, While the bag is be'igput; into, platce,' its gystem'of magnets is liablei to give rise to knocks-that can, damage the top f ace of the tank.

the prior art also proposes, fitting a bag on a-tank mat of 'the kind described above. Nevertheless, in addition to the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent to such -a mat, *fitting thebag ori the tank by means of the mat. does'not hold the bag on strongly enough.* Given the natuee of the mlat, the bag can be caused to move sideways when the motorcyclie is corneriing,'to. indeed to move l'ongitudinally when the motorcycle'is accelerating or Fax frrmft 33 78698682 14/10/99 03:36 Pg: 12 braking. Such unwanted movements. are- uncomfortable *for the rider of the motorcycle and contribute to tiring the rider.

A document DE 31 2S 460 also proposes fitting a S removable tank bag by means of a fixing device that includes a platform for~ receivinrg the bag, placed on top.

of. the tank, -and held in position -by two long namtow arms *extending respectively towards the front *and. the, back -of *the motorcy cle. The front arm is fixed to the tank while -the batck-arm is f;Lxed to the 'frame of the motorcycle..

Given its structure, such afixing device also suffers from the drawback of not holding the bag and:fixing device assembly adequately-sinc~e it can still-perform movements, In particular& sideways movements, due tomotion of the motorcycle, with the above-mzentioned effeicts on. rider comfort and on rider. ftatiguii, and also with the.rs of spoiling the surface of the tank..

Another object of the. invention, is to r emedy the above-mentfioned drawbacks' 'by proposing a novel tank'- cover.

'which makes, it possible-,' in particular, to fit. equipment' on the tank in reliable and. rigid manner without any risk of damaging 'the 'tank and' having.. a manufa4cturingy cost that includes only asmall -labor contezt.

To achieve these objects, accor~ding to. another.

-charzateristic of the invention, the, removable cover for A mto rcycle tank is constituted by. a'sbanil'rgd shell having, an inside face' of a' shape that. is s ubstantiall3y eomplethentary to 'the' shape of the tank.

'including having independent fixing means at each of itse end portions for preventing the shell from-moving.

relative' to'- the motorcycle9, and' further comprising. means *for fitting vario'us 'pieces of equipment,. in particular such as a rovbebag.

According to another characteristic of the.

invention, in order to ensure:t'hat' h removable cover is* stable on the motorcycle while It. is in motion, the shell cotstituting the cover Includes means for preventing it atx From 33 78698682 14/18/99 83:36 PS: 13 from moving, at least laterally, by mutual engagement between the'shell and the tank.

Various other-characteristics appear from the fo~llowirxg description made -with reference to the accompanying drawings which~ show embodiments of the inventiona non-limiting !examples.

-BR3r, DESC21PTION OF.THE MZUMN Figure 1 is'. a perspective view. of a preferried embodiment of..*a rigid shelliconstituting a cover of the invention.. Figure 2 is. a.)Dperspective view. ofthe Figurie 1 hell.

fitted to a motorcycle tank.

Figiire 3 is a longitudinal section on plane .IM1-III of Figure Figure 4 is a-perspective view. analogous to Figure 2. showing the* cover of the :i'euio~ te with'a.

removable bag..

Figures 5 and. 6 are-longitudinal sections,substantiailly anlogous to Figuie 3, showing variant.

embodiments of the cover of the invention.

Figures 7 to'.10 are perspective views anbilogoud to Figure 1. showing other variant embodiments of the inivention..

F'igure 11. -is a perspective view showing another -embodiment of a cover of the invention fitted to a motorcycle tank..

As shown in Figure 1, the removable cover of the invention for a motorcycle tank is constituted by a' Pubstantially rigid shell 1. This shell 1 is designed to envelop. at: least p art of the topk face of 'a motorcycle tank'2, as- shown- in Figure.2.

In. a preferred embodiment, shown more particularly in'Figures ,1 to. the substantially igid shell Iposseses a 'Central portion.-3 -f o. elongate -shape. The* central -portion. 3 of the shell I envelops 'a middle -region of the -tank 2 that is substantially syTmnmetrical..abotut a" 7) fax troft JS YUb!flibUZ 14/10/99 83:36 Pg: 14 lIongitzidinal inidplane As can. bD seen- in the section.

on the plane P 1 L of Figure 3o the central portion 3 extends from one edge,2, of the t~kto an opposite edgeb 22 in such* a manner as to hav e at-least two opposite end 4 and 5 pointing respectively towards the front and the back of the motorcycle. more-particularly* -the back end 'portion .5 is close to the saddle -of' the *motorc ycle (not shown). In, its. central portion, the shell 1 -has a passage 6 designied to -give access to. an orifice for filling th6 -tank 2. Tn order to-enable. the shell I to be secured to the 'mo1orcyc:LI., each of *the two end portions 4 and 5. is provided with distinct or independent fixing means rtespectively refe6renced 10 and.

3.11. The fixing means 10 and 11 -are said to be distinct or idependent. as opposed to -fixing means-that are *interconnmected beneath the tank 2, by means of-a *strap or the like.

I:n the example shown, the fixing means 10 fitted to the front. end portion 4 are 'implement-ed in.- the. form of a: groove constituted by a folded-back portion of the shell.

1 designed to be engaged on a prlojecting edge 2. of the tank.. The f ixinj. means 11. at the. badk end portio6n 5 in this example are constituted by a t~ib that.'is pierced td be fixed secureLzly to. the motorcycle, and 'more* 'patticulaxly to a portion. 12 of. its frade .(shown diigramrfidtically) 'by-means.of a tank fIxing screw 123.

in prefierred, manner, the'-shell 1 is shaped to. have an.-inside face 1i. of shape that is substantially complemnentary to'the shape of the port-ion of. the tanik with: which it is held in contact -by the' fixing means. -and l1 which preferably, butnot necessary, serv6 to put the shell 1 uhd~r tension. To this end, and in the.

'embodiment shown in Figure the developed. len~gth of. tfieinside face 13. is slightly shorter than-the developed -egh.of the -facing face of thie tank, such that when the screwi 13 is tightened, the tcib 11i exerts traction onL the shell 1. which in also hooked" to. the tahnk,via time grooVe Fax from 33 78698682148/9 3:6 P:1 14/10/99 03:36 PS: 7.

at the front end portion In order to avoid *spoiling or dulling the surface of the tank with which it cdmee into contact, the inside face -1:1 preferably.

possesses. an anti-scratch. protective covering, e~g. a.

stuck-on textile sheet, flocking, a coating of suitable synthetic material, or the-iike. In addition, the material of this protective covering can be selected s0 that it also presenits an anti-vibration damrping function.

.Finally,*the shell 1 posses Isee means 15 for. fittin~g various pieces of equipment, e.g. such as a remnovable -akcase'or bag 16, as- shown in iue4 nti example, the fitting means 15 -are. constituted by -four *temporary ser-uzing* systems of the, twist-lock kind- for .cooperatingwh tohle fitted with metal eye-lets formed in a base-of the bag;16. The. means I5 arje %preferably, but-not exclusively, disposed in such a' manner as to pilace 'the bag 1-6 on top of the- tank towardsi the front so-as to-leave uncovered the rear portion of the shell 1 and of the, tank 2 situated close to the 2D saddle of the-motorcycle.

By means of it's Structurep the substantially rigid shell of the invention form a removable cover for a..

otcycle tank that is-easy to put ino place 'or to remove, without spoiling the tank. In addition, the independent fixing means 10 and 11 secure the shell* rigidly to. the motorcycl1e, -in particular -in the example *shown, by pressing. it.- down so as to hold. its inside f ace in* contact with the top face of the tank 2. In .general, this top face -is.convex in shape, nevertheless,.

it may include' concave. depressions 17 or bulges 18. 'The shell 1 then -takes advantage', of these local 'def ormati'ons 17 and 18 by means of *its inside face. 1, which is complementary in shiipe to. the tank. 2 to obtain mutuail engagement, with the tank serving to secure the_ shell both lterllyaridlonituinally in addition to the secure fixing. performed by the independent fixing 'means 10 and The sahell. 1 is. thus* advantageously suitable. for' Fax f romi 33 78698682 14/18/99 83:36 Pg: 16 siupportinq a large load c ontained- in the removable b~ag 16' *without being subjected to movement" under the. effect of *linear or centifugal acceleration of'the motorc .ycle..

Similarly, in preferable but non-essential manner,' the. shell 1 extends sufficiently to envelop a middle region' 23 of the tink as well as at'least a-portion of -the* flanks* adj acent thereto, -such that, 'given the rig'idity of. the. shell *and the complementary' shapes of the ~shell and of .the tank, the shell presents means that prevent movement, at least laterally, by mutual .engagement With.' the tank. Thus, as can be, seen. more.clearly..from. Figure 2, at 'the 'margin of its middle region. -23; and on either' side thereof,. the -tank has respective flanks each.

having a connection zone with'the. middle region and 'also,' in the example shown,* a flat. zone in. the. margin of 'its central region 3 and on either side thereof, theshell I then has a *sort of drop .edge which envelops the flau*'2 4 F at least in part, and-which more particular 'ly envelops. 'the corresponding connection zone and flat zone -2s. The two drop edges 3, contribute 'to the mutual *engagement of the complementary surfaces of the shell 1 and of the tank 2, thereby forming means for .preventinig *the cover from moving, at least laterally, and increasingi th~e stability thereof during motion of the motorcycle.

1 t should be observed that tiie' zones of' the inside face 11 that are 'complementary to. the local- deformations or shapes 17,- 18 of -thei. tank also. constitute means 'for *preventing movement, at least sideways, by mutual engagement.

The shell of the i'nvention'.Ig constituted by a web of substantially rigid or semirigid material of any siitable.'kind,' such de', for -example,' metal,' plastics Materials1,''opst mAterials, l1aminated-wood, o r the.

like.

.Preferably, :thieshell I is made of impregnated carbon 'cloth shaped' in female mold 'obtained from taking a partial impression of the tank onto 'whici'Ehe shell I Fax f ram 33 78698682 14/18/99 83:36 Pg: 17 9 is to be fitted. This method of manufacture' presents th~e advantage of enabling the shell I to be made quicklywithout incurring large.-labor costs.

The design of the shell 1 also lends itself to manufacture 'yinjection molding a thermoplastic material or by stamping' a metal sheet. 'Those methods make it possible to reduce manufacturing costs on medium, or long production runs.

in 'the above example, the means 15 for fitting 10, various items of equipoment are. constituted by systems fo6r.* fitting a removableb. Nevertheless, the means could' be foarmed by a box forming-an integral part of thie shel 1 asshon'i~r Piuze5'whi*ch shows-' a dhell that- is.

otherwise. identical to that described with reference to i~s Figuresg 1 to 4. Naturally, 'these fitting mheans 15. could be constituted.by anysuitable device,, enabling various items of equipment to be fixed in temoayo definitiv, maniner, e.g4. communications instruments, navigation -instr~uments, .,Or the like..

Figure 6 shows a variant. embodiment which differs from the preferred 'shape of. 'shell 1 shown in Figure in' that. the f ixing Jmeans 10. at the. front end portion 4 are.

constituted by at 'least and preferably two -tabs. 1O3.' designed to be fixed to -a portion of t hei frame 12 of the* in-this variant,'the means 3.5 foe fitting a.

removiable bag are constituted by hooks, buit" they could be.

constitutied by any suitable buckle device.; Figure 7-shows a variant embodiment of'the shell '1 having a: f ront end por~tion 4. formed by two branches 4, and 42'each provided with a 'groove 102.designed to be engaged over a proj ,ectins edge of the tank. In this variant, thei f ixing means 11 for' the back -end portion 5 are formed by a tab that. is designed to be fixed to the frame of the motorcycle.,.

Figure 8 showis another variant embodiment of the shell In this variant, the central portion 3 of th~e Fax fromt 33 78698682 14/10/99 83:36 Pg: 18 shell has no means for'fitting various items of equipment, and the. fixing meIans 10, 11 at its front and back end portions 4 and 5 are both constituted by girooves, each dindto be engaged on a projectinq edge of the tank In order to -enable the shell, 1. to b6,e f fitted o nto the tank 2, and then enable -it. to be held' securely, the bottom of at least one of the grooves. is, provided with an 'elasticaliy deiormable.1.ining; such Theshell 1: made in this way is then fitted to: the.' tank 2 by engaging the groove that has the elastically deformable -lining and then compressing the lining'while the other groove is engaged. After the applied-stresa has been released and unider the ef fect of the elasticity of the lining, the shell 1 is hdld pressed against the *tank 2. The 'shell -in this variant of the invention *possesses a function of protecting the tank and it also provides a surface suitable for receiving decoration.

Figure 9 shout another variant embodiment of the shell1 1 in which the 'front end port ion- 4' i s provided- with a groorve 10 while the back, end portion is fitted witli fixing means 1.1 constituted by an independent extension haviing a, groove'19 for engaging an a'projecting, edge of the tank. -The end portion 5 and its extension Sl are interconnected by, at. -least one 'toggle closiure de-Vice enabling the shell 1 to be held rigidly'by being put -under. tension when 'the groove. .10 and 19 are both engaged undr projecting edges of the tank.

Naturally, 'the device 20 could be replaced by any terrigid clamping system suitable. for puitting '.the shellI 2. *under tension.

Finally, in this examplei the central portion 3 does not 'have a. passage giving access to an orifice for f filling the tank.

In the embodiment of the invent~ion shown in Figure te friont 'enzd p 6rtion 4 is..fitted with fixing means.

formed by an extension 43. connect'ed to the end portiori 'T I Fax from :33 78698682 14/18/99 03:36 Pg: 19 via a rigid jioint 21, such as a hinge. The extension 41 has a tab for fixing to the. frame of the Motorcycle. In addition, the fixing means 1. fitted to the back end portion 5 differ from those described With to Figure 9 in that the extension S, is provided with a tab, likewise designed -to be fixed t o the franme of the motorcycle.* *The shel 1 Imade in-this wayhmkes it possible to, gain access to an orifice for filling the'tank byr lifting the central. portion 3I forwards'after the -toggle faste~ning device 20 hAs.'been .opened.* -Such adisposition is' particularly advarfttageous -when% the shell :1 does not have *a-passage togive access to said orfc 5 hnte '.access passage is covered by'abag (pot. shown) fixed to.

the ftatening -means Naturally, the respective positions of the joint 21.

and of the device 20 could be interchanged, such that-the central p~ortion would lift towards the back of the motorcycle :towards. its saddle.

Figure 11'shows another embodiment of- the shell I of, thea invention which envelops part of the Eank 2*between t wo edges situated on either side of the longitudinail* midplanes -P without enveloping the portion of'the tank.

that .is.*aituated towards the back. -Each of the portions 23 'of the shell I. situated at -the. edges of the tank* is fitted with independent fixing means enablingthe shell I.

to be' secured, releasably and rigidly directly to the tdnk or to the motorcycle. In the 'example shown in Figure 11, the shell 1 extends sufficiently or envelope-the tank sufficiently to enable the covering, and the' tank to be mutually engaged so as to define means -for preeventinig lateral movement and also longitudinal movement of-the cover relative to the motorcycle, in addition to the *effect of the fixing means.

.In another embodiment (not shown' the shell I completely envelops the top portion 'of the tiank.'.

WJhatever the particular shape of the. enveloped portion of P:%WPDOCS\DYSSPECIE%7496[3speddm.2311 -12the tank, whether real or dummy, the shell 1 has fixing means, preferably rigid fixing means, suitable for enabling it to be secured temporarily to the motorcycle without damaging it. These fixing means preferably define anchor points of the shell 1 which form the apexes of a convex polygon that is symmetrical about the longitudinal midplane

P

1 In accordance with the invention, the fixing means of the shell 1 can be made in any other appropriate manner, and in particular can make use of any combination of the above-described means. In a variant that is not shown, the fixing means can implement pressure screws designed to rest against the bottom face of the tank, e.g. by being held behind a projecting edge.

SUSCEPTIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION .0 ••go 15 The invention is applicable to articles for motorcycles, and more particularly to S• covers for motorcycle tanks.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims (7)

1. A removable cover for a motorcycle tank, the cover being of the type having a central portion extended by at least two end portions for enveloping at least a part of the tank from one edge to an opposite edge, the cover being characterised in that it is constituted by a substantially rigid shell having an inside face of a shape that is substantially complementary to the shape of the tank and including, at each of its end portions, independent fixing means for preventing the shell from moving relative to the motorcycle.

2. A removable cover according to claim 1, characterised in that the shell presents means for preventing it from moving, at least laterally, by mutual engagement between the shell and the tank. 15 3. A removable cover according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the shell is designed to be pressed against the tank by the fixing means which put the shell under tension.

4. A removable cover according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the central 20 portion of the shell is of elongate shape, shaped to envelop a middle region of the tank that 0.is substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal midplane, and the shell comprises at least two opposite end portions, one of which is designed to be directed towards the front of the motorcycle and the other of which is designed to be directed towards the back thereof. •ooo

5. A removable cover according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the fixing means comprise at least one groove designed to be engaged over a projecting edge of the tank.

6. A removable cover according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the fixing means comprise at least one tab designed to be fixed on the motorcycle.

7. A removable cover according to claim 4, characterised in that the fixing means at P:\WPDOCS\DYS\SPECIE\749613spe.doc-23/ll O

14- one of the end portions are constituted by a groove designed to be engaged on a projecting edge of the tank, and at the opposite end portion are constituted by a tab designed to be fixed to the motorcycle. 8. A removable cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the shell possesses a passage designed to give access to an orifice for filling the tank. 9. A removable cover according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the shell possesses means for fitting an item of equipment. A removable cover according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the shell possesses means for fitting a removable bag. o 11. A removable cover for a motorcycle tank substantially as hereinbefore described 15 with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2 3 r d day of November, 2000 YVES MOILLE By Its Patent Attorneys 20 DAVIES COLLISON CAVE