EP1052193A1

EP1052193A1 - Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP1052193A1
Application number: EP00109504A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dennis Gasparotto; Franco Arlanch; Dal Pra' Marco Lissa
Original assignee: Industrie Lissa Dal Pra' SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Lissa Dal Pra' SpA
Priority date: 1999-05-06
Filing date: 2000-05-04
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-04
Also published as: EP1052193B1; ATE246649T1; DE60004286D1

Abstract

A container is disclosed for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles, realised with metal structure, of parallelepiped shape, and provided with side closure walls of which at least one is tiltable horizontally to facilitate loading and unloading the motorcycle. Said container is characterised in that it is made up of a base (3) and of two side vertical walls (4), which are releasably coupled in their lower side to the above base, thus realising the final frame (1). Further on said two side walls are capable of being bent inwards of the frame so as to form a pack of minimum dimensions. Finally, at least one of said walls is capable of being bent also outwards of the frame itself to allow loading the motorcycle (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles, which should be bendable and stockable to others of the same type, according to the introducing portion of claim 1.
Metal containers used for containing motorcycles or other two-wheel vehicles are well known, having the purpose of improving the stocking in store, awaiting for delivery, or to facilitate their transport, for example from one race-course to the other, in the specific case of racing motorcycles.
By way of example, we may mention the German patents no. G7529183, G9105058, G9200411, DE-A-29810109, wherein there are described parallelepiped-shaped containers with a metal structure provided with side closing walls, of which at least one is horizontally tiltable to facilitate loading and unloading the motorcycle on/from the container itself.
Moreover, said containers of the known type are provided with devices for coupling the vehicle to the same container, and in case, they are also bendable in non-use conditions.
Purpose of the present finding is that of realising a container which should have innovative construction and use characteristics with respect to similar products of the known type.
Specifically, a first purpose of the finding is that of realising a container made up of a metal tubular structure of easy realisation, and formed of few reciprocally hinged elements.
A second purpose is that of realising a metal container with tubular structure which should allow reciprocally bending the side walls, thus having the minimum dimensions possible.
A third purpose of the finding is that of realising a container with a tubular structure which should allow arranging also large-size motorcycles, of the "Enduro" type, but which should at the same time have limited dimensions in height, so as to allow containing two stocked containers into the body of a common transport motor vehicle.
A fourth purpose of the finding is that of realising a container with a tubular structure which should allow arranging motorcycles with large-size fairings, such as motor scooters and road motorcycles.
A fifth purpose of the finding is that of realising a container with a tubular structure with reduced and modular overall dimensions, so as to obtain an optimal load on the transport motor vehicle.
A sixth purpose of the finding is that of realising a container which should allow stocking several open and loaded containers in total safety and stability conditions.
All of the above is obtainable with the realisation of a container with tubular structure made up of three different elements: a horizontal base that supports the vehicle, and two vertical sides, arranged on the two shorter sides of the base outline, preferably with equal profile, hinged in the lower side to the base itself so that at least one of said sides is capable of being horizontally bent outwards, to allow loading the vehicle, and both is capable of being bent inwards, to reduce to the minimum the dimensions of the structure itself when not in use, the characteristics of which will appear more clearly from the following description of a possible embodiment, made as an illustrative and not limitative example with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of two containers of the finding, adapted to transport enduro or cross motorcycles, stocked and filled with the vehicles;
Figure 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the three main parts forming the container of the finding;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the container of the finding in working position;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the container of Figure 3, in a totally inward bent position;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the container of Figure 3 with a side wall bent outwards:
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the base of the container of Figure 2;
Figure 7 shows a detailed prospect view of the coupling portion between the base and the side vertical wall;
Figure 8 shows an elevation prospect view of the container of the finding, in the version suitable for transporting motor scooters or motor-bicycles, filled with the motor vehicle;
Figure 9 shows a side view of the container of Figure 8;
Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the container of the finding, in working conditions, provided with basement suitable for housing road motorcycles or motor bicycles and scooters of significant dimensions;
Figure 11 shows the perspective view of a further embodiment of the container of the finding, in working conditions, provided with basement suitable for housing motor scooters and motor bicycles;
Figures 12 and 13 show the perspective view of the containers of Figures 10 and 11, in conditions of partial outwards aperture;
Figures 14 and 15 show the prospect views of stacks of containers, of the type represented in Figures 10 and 11, bent and stacked.

As it can be seen in the figures, the container of the finding out, which one or more identical containers (see figure 1) can be superimposed so as to contain two motorcycles 2, is made up of a base 3 and of two side walls 4 (see figure 2), said two walls being releasebly coupled in their lower side to base 3, thus realising the final frame 1 (see figure 3).
The two vertical side walls 4 can be bent inwards so as to form a pack of very small dimensions (see figure 4) and at least one of them can also be bent outwards (see figure 5) to allow loading motorcycle 2.
As far as its contruction is concerned, base 3 is made up of a tubular plane structure 5 which, in the central portion, in longitudinal direction, is provided with two plate boxes 6 and 7, which constitute the lowered pockets for containing and supporting the wheels of the motorcycle (see figure 6).
In particular, pocket 7 housing the front wheel of the motorcycle is provided with a front closure profile 9, which serves as stop for the vehicle both during loading and during transport.
Advantageously, the two pockets 6 and 7 are longitudinally adjustable, see arrow 9, so as to arrange them at the different lengths of the wheel base of the various models of motorcycle, and they are also replaceable, in function of the width of the tires of said motorcycle, from the narrowest ones mounted on cross motorcycles, to the largest one mounted on high-powered motorcycles.
On the structure of base 3, in correspondence with the front and/or rear wheel, there are welded some opposed lugs 10, which allow securing the motorcycle to the frame of the container, using some belts fastened to the motor vehicle.
The hinging of the side wall 4 to base 3 is obtained by inserting the lower ends of its two uprights 11 into corresponding vertical box seats 12 applied to the four vertices of the base itself.
The arrangement and the rotation of wall 4 onto base 3 are obtained through the constraint action generated by the transverse pins 13 and 14, of which the upper one, 13, that rests on a recess 15 obtained on the box seat 12, blocks the upright in the vertical position, whereas the lower one, 14, engaged to slide into a lozenge slit 16, obtained on the same box seat, only permits the vertical displacement of the upright itself; as a result, to tilt the above vertical wall, the operator must simply lift the same by about one centimetre so as to free pin 13 from the above recess.
To obtain a stocking of more superimposed loaded containers, which should ensure the maximum safety and stability, the joint between the top of the uprights of the lower container and the base of the container above is of the self-centering type, that is, with hemispherical coupling 17 and central stop pivot 18.
In a possible alternative embodiment, which allows realising a container having a length and a width of the base with contained and modular measures so as to allow an optimal load on the transport motor vehicle, housing 8 - which houses the front motorcycle wheel - is provided with a profile having such width as to allow the above wheel to be arranged with inclined handlebar with respect to the frame (see figures 8 and 9).
A further alternative embodiment provides for the hinging system of at least one side wall 4 on base 3 through the keying of the lower ends of its two uprights 11 on corresponding vertical plates 22, welded to the two vertices of the base itself and matching the above ends in their inner portion.
In this way, when the side wall 4 is bent outwards, there is the maximum possible width of passage between the two uprights, thus allowing also the passage of large-dimension motorcycles, such as motor vehicles with bulky fairings.
Finally, it is provided that crosspiece 21, which in the upper side couples the two uprights 11, has a substantially convex section (see detail in figure 12), and that on base 3 there is realised a conveyance channel delimited by two shaped profiles 20, so as to facilitate the loading of heavy motorcycles or with lowered fairing.

Claims

Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles, realised with metal structure, of parallelepiped shape, and provided with side closure walls of which at least one is tiltable outwards to facilitate loading and unloading the motorcycle,

said container being characterised in that

it is made up of a base (3) and of two side vertical walls (4), said two walls being releasebly coupled in their lower side to the above base, thus realising the final frame (1), said two side walls being capable of being bent inwards of the frame so as to form a pack of very small dimensions, at least one of said walls being capable of being bent also outwards of the frame itself to allow loading the motorcycle (2).
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to claim 1, characterised in that the two bendable walls (4) are arranged in correspondence with the two shorter sides of the base outline (3).
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the base (3) is made up of a tubular plane structure (5) provided, in its central portion and with longitudinal direction, with two plate boxes (6, 7), which constitute the lowered pockets for partly containing and supporting the wheels of the motorcycle (2).
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to claim 3, characterised in that the two pockets (6, 7) are adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the structure (1) so as to arrange them at the different lengths of the wheel base of the various models of motorcycle.
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to claim 3, characterised in that its two pockets (6, 7) are replaceable in function of the width of the motorcycle tires (2).
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that on the structure of the base (3), in correspondence with the front and/or rear wheel of the vehicle, there are welded some opposed lugs (10), which allow securing the motorcycle to the frame (1) with the use of belts fastened to the motor vehicle.
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the hinging of the side wall (4) to the base (3) is obtained by inserting the lower ends of its two uprights (11) into corresponding vertical box seats (12) applied to the four vertices of the base itself.
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the arrangement and the rotation of the wall (4) onto the base (3) are obtained through the constraint action generated by the transverse pins (13, 14), of which the upper one (13), which rests on a recess (15) obtained on the box seat (12), blocks the upright in the vertical position, whereas the lower one (14), engaged to slide into a lozenge slit (16), obtained on the same box seat, only permits the vertical displacement of the upright itself.
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the joint between the top of the uprights (11) of the lower container and the base (3) of the container above is of the self-centering type, that is, with a hemispherical coupling (17) and central stop pivot (18).
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the housing (8) which houses the front motorcycle wheel (2) is provided with a profile having such width as to allow the above wheel to arrange in inclined position with respect to the frame.
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the hinging of at least one of the two side walls (4) on the base (3) is realised through two vertical plates (22) welded in correspondence with the vertices of said base and matching the ends of the two uprights (11) of said wall in their inner portion.
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the crosspiece (21) which in the upper side couples the two uprights (11), has a substantially convex section when the side wall (4) is bent outwards.
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that a conveyance channel (19) delimited by some shaped profiles (20) is provided on the base (3).
Container for stocking and transporting motorcycles and other similar two-wheel vehicles according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the pocket (7) housing the front motorcycle wheel is provided with a front closure profile (9) which serves as stop of the vehicle both during the loading and during transport.