EP4669567A1

EP4669567A1 - TOP BOX AND ASSOCIATED VEHICLE

Info

Publication number: EP4669567A1
Application number: EP24709510.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Walter Rosellini; Alberto Gracci; Nicola BERNARDINI
Original assignee: Piaggio and C SpA
Current assignee: Piaggio and C SpA
Priority date: 2023-02-23
Filing date: 2024-02-16
Publication date: 2025-12-31
Also published as: CN120731162A; WO2024176071A1; EP4669566A1; CN120787203A; WO2024176070A1; WO2024175958A1; CN120731163A; EP4669568A1

Abstract

A top box (1) for a rideable saddle vehicle (6), comprising: a body (101) shaped to define a housing compartment (S); a cover (201) hinged to the body (101) and configured to close said housing compartment (S); closing means (5) configured to reversibly lock/release the cover (201) to/from the body (101); an interlocking element (3) that is made in one piece with the bottom (401) of the body (101) of the top box (1), shaped to interlock a coupling element (2) of the vehicle (6), wherein the interlocking element (3) comprises a plurality of projections (103), wherein said projection (103) comprises a distal end (103A) which is wider than a base end (103B); locking members (4) accommodated inside the body (101) comprising a tooth (104) configured to vertically come out, in a locking position, through a passage (303) of the interlocking element (3) and to engage the coupling element (2) and selectively prevent the backward translation of the interlocking element (3) with respect to the coupling element (2). A rideable saddle vehicle (6) comprising a coupling element (2) integrated to a luggage carrier (22) ora structural part of the vehicle; in which the coupling element (2) comprises a plurality of openings (102) shaped so as to allow the insertion and the sliding of respective projections (103) of a top box (1), said openings (102) being shaped so that a receiving end (102A) of the opening (102) is wider than the opposite engagement end (102B) of the opening (102), and wherein the coupling element (2) comprises a cavity (602) shaped to receive a tooth (104) coming out the top box (1).

Description

TOP BOX AND RELATIVE VEHICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates in general to the field of rideable saddle vehicles, and more specifically, it relates to the technical field of fastenings for removable top boxes for rideable saddle vehicles, scooters in particular.

BACKGROUND ART

[002] On certain types of rideable saddle vehicles, in particular but not exclusively scooters with two or more wheels, it is common to use a top box which usually is applied to or integrated in the rear part of the vehicle. Known top boxes conventionally comprise a base and a cover hinged to the base. A storage compartment is defined between the base and the cover by virtue of which objects may be transported during the travel of the vehicle or in which the helmet may be placed, for example, when the vehicle is not being used.

[003] It is known to fasten top boxes to luggage carriers which in turn are mounted on the vehicle. The systems for fastening a top box to a luggage carrier have the drawback of making the installation of the top box relatively complicated. Indeed, such fastening systems preliminarily require fastening mounting brackets to one or more bars of the luggage carrier by a plurality of screws, for example. Then the top box is fastened to the mounting brackets by means of further screws which pass through the bottom of the top box and are engaged in corresponding nut screws provided in the mounting brackets.

[004] Alternatively, there are solutions in which an interface plate is stably fastened, with screws and brackets, to the luggage carrier of the vehicle and a top box is reversibly connected to the interface plate. A solution in such sense is described in patent document EP3674187. In this solution the top box comprises a fixed hook-shaped coupling element and a mobile coupling element, also hook-shaped, but with the hook facing in the opposite direction. This solution further includes an interface plate to which the top box may be coupled by means of the mobile and fixed coupling elements. In this solution, the interface plate makes the installation of the top box complex and unreliable. Furthermore, the mobile hook-shaped element may get stuck due to the dirt which may accumulate on the plate, thus making the removal of the top box from the plate difficult. Finally, the mobile hook-shaped element may be easily tampered acting from under the interface plate, thus allowing an ill-intentioned person to remove the top box from the motorcycle without particular difficulty. [005] Systems for fastening a top box directly to a luggage carrier are also known, such as those described in documents EP1661799, EP3153387 and JP2019-119333. Also, this type of fastenings makes the installations of the top box relatively complicated. The bottom surface has two front coupling slots and two rear guides which create a longitudinal abutment. The bottom of the top box has corresponding front hooks and rear projections. The mounting of the top box on the luggage carrier occurs by placing the bottom of the top box side-by-side to the horizontal surface of the luggage carrier so that the two hooks are inserted in the front slots and the projections in the rear guides. The safety locking then occurs by coupling a hook, carried by a closing lever hinged at the back to the top box, in a retaining portion present in the middle on the rear part of the luggage carrier. These solutions, as well as the previous one, do not prevent tampering with the top box coupling system, by acting from under the luggage carrier.

[006] A further solution is known from patent document US20200231239, which includes a top box to which a counter-plate is removably connected. This counter-plate may be associated with a plate, which in turn may be connected to the luggage carrier of a motorcycle. This solution, in addition to the motorcycle and the top box, thus includes two connection components, i.e., a counter-plate and a plate, which may be connected to each other and may be connected to the top box and vehicle, respectively. This solution does not exclude the interface elements between the top box and the motorcycle, but rather increases them. The installation of such top box is complex and also complicates the creation of the top box, resulting in higher production costs.

[007] Finally, a solution is known from document IT102014902317956, which includes the connection of the top box to a plate and therebetween by means of a belt wound about the top box. This solution has significant drawbacks in terms of safety and may not be used on commercial vehicles.

[008] It therefore is the object of the present description to make available a top box for a rideable saddle vehicle which allows locking the top box to the luggage carrier of the vehicle in a simple, affordable, and reliable manner. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a top box which is economical to make.

[009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a top box for a rideable saddle vehicle which is particularly adapted to be used with the aforesaid top box. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle which is difficult to tamper with to remove the top box. Finally, it is the object of the present invention a top box and a luggage carrier which may be connected to each other, and which minimize the risk of losing the top box on the road due to the accidental breakage of the coupling system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[010] The invention achieves the object with a top box for a rideable saddle vehicle, comprising:

- a body shaped to define a housing compartment;

- a cover hinged to the body and configured to close said housing compartment;

- closing means configured to reversibly lock/release the cover to/from the body;

- an interlocking element that is made in one piece with the bottom of the top box, shaped to interlock a coupling element of the vehicle, in which the interlocking element comprises a plurality of projections, in which said projection comprises a distal end which is wider than a base end;

- locking members configured as accommodated inside the body that comprise a tooth configured to vertically come out, through a passage of the interlocking element, and to engage the coupling element to selectively prevent the backward translation of the interlocking element with respect to the coupling element.

According to the present invention, the width of an element is measured along the right-left direction.

[Oil] The invention also relates to a rideable saddle vehicle comprising a coupling element integrated to a luggage carrier or structural part of the vehicle. The coupling element comprises a plurality of openings shaped so as to allow the insertion and the sliding of respective projections of a top box, preferably according to the invention. The openings are shaped so that a receiving end of the opening is wider than the opposite engagement end of the opening. The coupling element further includes a cavity shaped to receive a tooth coming out from the top box.

[012] In practice, the lower side of the bottom of the body of the top box is shaped so as to create said interlocking element, which, in turn, is shaped to interlock with a coupling element of the vehicle, which is an integral part of the motorcycle luggage carrier or a structural element of the motorcycle. The interlocking elements comprise projections which protrude under the bottom of the top box and are shaped so as to have the head wider than the stem. Conversely, the coupling element, which is an integral part of the motorcycle luggage carrier, has openings which are wider on the front side and narrower on the rear side. The luggage carrier has a flat and thin cover through which the openings for the coupling element are obtained. The top box further comprises locking members, arranged inside the body of the top box, which control a tooth to allow it to come out from underneath, through a hole on the bottom of the top box, and in particular through a passage in the interlocking element. This tooth is shaped to couple, when in the locked position, with a corresponding cavity which is obtained in the luggage carrier, thus preventing a front-rear movement of the top box, and therefore the release thereof from the luggage carrier.

[013] In particular, the openings extend preferably longitudinally along respective directions of extension which are parallel to one another and parallel to the midplane of the vehicle.

[014] Furthermore, the locking members are configured to selectively prevent the backward translation of the top box with respect to the coupling element when the top box is engaged in the coupling element.

[015] By virtue of these contrivances, the top box may be stably fastened to the vehicle with a simple, vertical approaching movement followed by a horizontal translation, without requiring the use of locking hooks, screws or brackets.

[016] Further features and improvements are the subject of the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[017] Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the reading of the following detailed description, provided by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the Figures shown on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a rideable saddle vehicle with a top box.

Figure 2 shows an axonometric top view of a top box, without a cover, fastened to the luggage carrier according to the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the top box fastened to the luggage carrier in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a back view of the top box according to the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows an axonometric bottom view of the top box in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows an axonometric top view of the coupling element integrated to a luggage carrier of a vehicle according to the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 7A shows a top view of a luggage carrier according to the teachings of the present invention. Figure 7B shows a side sectional view of the luggage carrier in Figure 7A.

Figures 8 and 9 show a side sectional view of the top box of Figure 4 with the locking members deactivated and activated, respectively.

Figures 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D show the coupling sequence of the top box to the coupling element of the luggage carrier. Figures 11A, 11B and 11C show the locking members in various operating positions as the position of the key changes.

Figure 12 shows an axonometric bottom view of the top box fastened to the luggage carrier in Figure 2.

Figure 13 shows a bottom back view of the top box fastened to the luggage carrier in Figure 2.

Figure 14 shows a side view of the top box fastened to the luggage carrier in Figure 2,

Figures 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D show diagrammatic views of various coupling steps between a projection of the interlocking element and the opening of the coupling element according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 16A and 16B show axonometric top views of a motorcycle luggage carrier with a top box according to a further embodiment of the present invention, without a cover, in two operating positions of the locking members.

Figures 17A, 17B, 17C show the sequence for coupling the top box according to the second embodiment to the coupling element of the luggage carrier.

Figure 18 shows a top box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[018] The following description of exemplary embodiments relates to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the various drawings identify the same elements or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[019] The Cartesian axes adapted to identify the forward-backward F-B, right-left R-L and top- down T-D directions are shown in the Figures.

[020] With reference to Figure 1, a rideable saddle vehicle 6 has a luggage carrier 22 at the rear end thereof, to which a top box 1 may be fastened. The luggage carrier 22 is stably fastened to the vehicle 6. The luggage carrier 22 is an element, generally made of metal, which protrudes in a cantilever manner at the rear of the vehicle 6. The luggage carrier 22 may be shaped to allow the passenger of the vehicle 6 to hold onto it when the vehicle 6 is moving, as in the version shown in Figure 1.

[021] Figures 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 show a top box 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 16, 17 and 18 show a top box 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The top box 1 comprises a body 101 shaped to define a housing compartment S together with a cover 201 hinged to the body 101. The cover 201 is configured to close the housing compartment S. Closing means 5 are configured to reversibly lock/release the cover 201 to/from the body 101. Optionally, the top box 1 may further comprise a handle 106 to facilitate the transport of the top box 1 when removed from the vehicle 6 and a backrest 107 to improve the comfort of the passenger of the vehicle 6.

[022] The closing means 5 of the cover 201 to the body 101 conventionally comprise a hook 105 supported by one of the cover 201 and the body 101 and configured to selectively engage a coupling pin 205 associated with the other of the cover 201 and the body 101, as shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11. The movement of hook 105 may be, for example, induced by a cam 504 driven by a key lock 204, as shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11.

[023] The assembly of the top box 1 to the vehicle 6 occurs by virtue of a coupling element 2 made integral with the luggage carrier 22. The luggage carrier 22 is shaped so as to create said coupling element 2. The coupling element 2 acts in conjunction with an interlocking element 3 associated with the bottom, i.e., with the lower side 401 of the body 101 of the top box 1. Essentially, the bottom 401 of the top box 1, on the lower outer side thereof, is shaped so as to create the interlocking element 3.

[024] The interlocking element 3 is made in one piece, or in any case integrated, with the bottom 401 of the top box 1 as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 18. Thus, tampering with the top box 1 is more difficult.

[025] The coupling element 2 of the luggage carrier 22 comprises a plurality of openings 102, while the interlocking element 3 of the top box 1 is provided with a plurality of projections 103. In the configuration shown in the Figures, the interlocking element 3 comprises three projections 103 arranged according to the vertexes of a triangle, and the coupling element 2 comprises three corresponding openings 102. Obviously, the number and arrangement of each projection/opening may vary in any manner. The three projections 103 of the top box 1 may also be used as support feet for the top box 1 on the ground or on a plane.

[026] Each projection 103 comprises a distal end 103A, i.e., the end further away from the bottom 401 of the top box 1, which is wider than a base end 103B, i.e., the end which is in contact with the bottom 401 of the top box 1. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the projections 103 extending downwards from the bottom of the body 101 have distal ends 103A which are at least in part wider than the base end 103B, where the width is measured in the right-left direction of the top box 1. [027] The projections 103 are equal or similar to each other and, frontally observing the top box 1 as in Figure 4, they are T-shaped. The rear projections 103 are closed at the rear to create a stroke end for the movement for coupling the top box 1 to the coupling element 2 of the luggage carrier 22.

[028] As better shown in Figures 6 and 7, the opening 102 is shaped so as to allow the insertion of a respective projection 103 into the opening 102, at a receiving end 102A thereof, and so as to allow the sliding of the projection 103 inserted from the receiving end 102A up to an engagement end 102B in which the removal of the projection 103 through the opening 102 is prevented. Essentially, the opening 102 of the luggage carrier 22 is shaped so as to have a wider portion adapted to allow the vertical insertion of the projection 103 and a narrower portion adapted to prevent the vertical extraction of the projection 103. The projection 103, on the other hand, has a stem 103C which is slimmer with respect to the head 103D, so that the stem 103C may slide into the narrower portion of the opening 103.

[029] The luggage carrier 22 comprises a substantially flat upper portion through which the openings 102 are made. The rear opening 102 is entirely closed, while the front openings 102 may be opened frontally. The openings 102, if observed from above as in Figure 7A, are T-shaped and the wider part, i.e., the receiving end 102A, is arranged towards the front of the vehicle 6 with respect to the narrower portion, i.e., the engagement end 102B.

[030] In particular, each projection 103 is shaped so that the distal end 103A achieves a shape coupling with the opening 102 when the projection 103 is in the engagement end 102B. Each projection 103 is thus free to enter the receiving end 102A of the opening 102, as shown in Figure 10B, and to slide, horizontally, inside the opening 102 up to the engagement end 102B thereof, as shown in Figure 10C. In this position, the head 103D of the projection is unable to come out from the engagement end 102B of the opening 102, thus creating the aforesaid shape coupling. Furthermore, by virtue of the openings 102 and the projections 103 thus shaped, the top box 1 does not detach from the luggage carrier 22 even if the locking members 104 disengage, in fact, the projections 103 remain within the perimeter of the openings 102 due to gravity.

[031] In this regard, each projection 103 advantageously has a stem 103C having a width W4 substantially equal to the width of the base end 103B and a head 103D having a width W2 equal to the width of the distal end 103A. The thickness of the head 103D may be constant or variable.

[032] Each opening 102 has, in turn, a width W1 at the receiving end 102A which is greater than the width W2 of the head 103D of the projection 103, and a width W3 at the engagement end 102B which is greater than the width W4 of the stem 103C and less than the width W2 of the head 103D of the projection 103, as better shown in Figure 15. Thus, a shape coupling is obtained which prevents the top box 1 from being extracted in the vertical direction from the luggage carrier 22.

[033] With regard to the thicknesses, the height T1 of stem 103C is at least equal to the thickness T2 of the opening 102. Thereby, once it has translated from the receiving end 102A into the engagement end 102B of opening 102, projection 103 creates a dovetail-shaped coupling which prevents the removal in the vertical direction of the interlocking element 3 from the coupling element 2.

[034] On the luggage carrier 22, there may be, at the receiving end 102A of each opening 102, a bottom surface 202 on which the head 103D of projection 103 may abut, during the engagement step, to facilitate the coupling of the interlocking element 3 on the coupling element 2, as shown in Figure 3 and 10B.

[035] The projections 103 may have heads 103D of the same or also different sizes such as, for example, shown in the Figures in which the head 103D of the projection 103, arranged at the back with respect to the direction of motion of the vehicle (forwards - backwards direction), is smaller than the one of the other projections 103.

[036] Locking members identified in the Figures by reference numeral 4 are used to prevent the backward translation of the interlocking element 3 with respect to the coupling element 2 when the interlocking element 3 of the top box lis engaged in the coupling element 2 of the luggage carrier 22.

[037] The locking members 4 comprise a tooth 104 guided to come out, in a locking position, through a passage 303 of the interlocking element 3, i.e., through the bottom 401 of the body 101, to be inserted into a cavity 602, preferably a blind cavity, provided in the coupling element 2 of the luggage carrier 22, so as to prevent the backward translation of the interlocking element 3 with respect to the coupling element 2. The tooth 104 translates substantially vertically, coming out of or re-entering into the coupling element 3, or the bottom 401 of the top box 1. When the tooth 104 is in the retracted position, the interlocking element 3 with the projections 103 thereof is free to slide with respect to the coupling element 2 and the openings 102 thereof. When the tooth 104 protrudes vertically coming out from the bottom 401 of the top box 1, engaging the relative cavity 602 of the coupling element 2, the translation, in a substantially horizontal direction, of the coupling element 3 with respect to the coupling element 2 is prevented, as it substantially occurs when a door latch engages the relevant groove of the door frame. [038] In the first embodiment in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the locking members 4, may be activated or deactivated, for example, by virtue of an activation/deactivation mechanism comprising a key lock 204. Alternatively, in the top box 1 of the second embodiment, the locking members 4 may move from a locking position, in which the tooth 104 comes out from the bottom of the top box 1, to a release position, in which the tooth 104 is retracted inside the top box 1, by means of a plate 109 which may be coupled to the body 101 of the top box.

[039] As shown in Figure 10, the cavity 602 is blind, i.e., closed on the bottom, to prevent an ill- intentioned person from moving the tooth 104 into the release position by acting on the lower part of the luggage carrier, for example with a hammer.

[040] The solution thus conceived, i.e., with the tooth 104 coming out from the top box 1, substantially vertically, and entering the relevant cavity 602 of the luggage carrier 22, ensures that the voluntary disengagement of the tooth 104 with respect to the cavity 602 is always possible, because it is not possible, unlike in known solutions, for dirt to accumulate in the cavity 602, thus blocking the tooth 104, since the cavity 602 is substantially entirely filled by the tooth 104, when the latter is in the locking position. Conversely, if the cavity fills with dirt when the top box 1 is detached from the vehicle 6, the insertion of the tooth 104 may be prevented, thus indirectly informing the user to clean the cavity 602. Furthermore, if the cavity 602 is not blind, the dirt may easily come out from the bottom of the cavity 602, thus always allowing the engagement with the tooth 104. The present solution therefore ensures the operational continuity of the top box 1, thus avoiding possible situations in which the voluntary removal of the top box 1 from the luggage carrier 22 is prevented. Furthermore, the solution thus conceived prevents the accidental detachment of the top box 1 from the vehicle 6 also in the event of failure of the locking members 4. In fact, the tooth 104 tends to remain in the locking position due to gravity, i.e., due to the weight of the tooth 104 itself. Since the tooth 104 remains engaged in the cavity 602, even if the locking members 4 are damaged or inadvertently disengage, the tooth 104 remains in position and there is no risk of losing the top box 1 on the road when the vehicle 6 is moving.

[041] In the configuration shown in the Figures, the cavity 602 is arranged close to the opening 102 which is located at the back with respect to the direction of motion of the vehicle 6, but obviously it may be arranged in any position adapted to prevent a backward, preferably horizontal, motion of the interlocking element 3.

[042] As shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, the locking members 4 of the first embodiment of the top box 1 comprise a lever 304 mounted oscillating about a transverse axis 305. The tooth 104 is associated with an end of the lever 304, while the opposite end 404 acts in conjunction with a cam 504 driven by the key lock 204 so that a determined position of the key corresponds to a determined position of the tooth 104.

[043] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the key lock 204 of the locking members 4 is the same key lock which locks/releases the cover 201 to/from the body 101 of the top box 1.

[044] Here, the cam 504, driven by the key lock 204, acts on the hook 105 and on the lever 304 so that:

- in a first position of the key 204 (Figure 11A), the tooth 104 comes out of the passage 303 of the interlocking element 3 and the hook 105 is engaged to the coupling pin 205 to lock the cover 201 to the body 101 of the top box 1;

- in a second position of the key 204 (Figure 11B), the tooth 104 of the fastening system does not come out of the passage 303 of the interlocking element 3 and the hook 105 is engaged to the coupling pin 205 to lock the cover 201 to the body 101;

- in a third position of the key 204 (Figure 11C), the tooth 104 of the fastening system comes out of the passage 303 of the interlocking element 3, and the hook 105 is disengaged from the coupling pin 205, so that the cover 201 is released from the body 101.

[045] In the second embodiment of the top box 1, there is a plate 109, on the lower side of which, the tooth 104 is made in one piece. When the plate 109 is coupled to the body 101 of the top box 1, the tooth 104 comes out from the bottom of the top box 1 through a passage 303 of the interlocking element 3. The plate 109 is connected to the bottom 401 of the body 101 by means of an eyebolt 108 which is configured to screw onto a portion of the bottom 401 of the body 101. This solution, very simple but effective, allows to lock, from the inside of the top box 1, the plate 109 to the body 101 and therefore the tooth 104 in the locking position, as shown in Figures 16A and 17C. By unscrewing the eyebolt 108 it is instead possible to lift the plate 109, as shown in Figures 16B, 17A and 17B, and therefore bring the tooth 104 into the release position.

[046] The locking members 4 are housed inside the body 101 of the top box 1, in particular at the lower side 401 thereof, so as to only minimally occupy the housing compartment S. The positioning of the locking members 4 inside the body 101 makes the top box 1 safer and more difficult to tamper with.

[047] Figure 10 shows, in sequence, the various coupling steps of the interlocking element 4, associated with the first embodiment of the top box 1, at the coupling element 2 associated with the luggage carrier 22 of the vehicle 6. [048] Similarly, Figure 17 shows the coupling sequence of the second embodiment of the top box 1 with the coupling element 2 of the luggage carrier 22.

[049] Initially, the top box 1 is neared to the coupling element 2 so that the head 103D of the projections 103 is aligned, horizontally, with the receiving end 102A of the corresponding openings

102 (Figures lOA and 17A).

[050] Then, the heads 103D of the projections 103 are introduced into the receiving end 102A of the corresponding openings 102 up to reaching the abutment surface 202 (Figure 10B). The projections are pushed into the engagement end 102B of the openings 102 with a horizontal translational movement (Figures 10C and 17B). In this position, the stem 103C of the projections

103 comes out of the opening 102, while the head 103D interferes with said opening so as to prevent the vertical translation thereof. In the last step, the tooth 104 comes out downwards from the passage 303 to engage in the cavity 602 of the coupling element 2 so as to also prevent a horizontal translation (Figures 10D and 17C) and, therefore, a backwards motion. In this condition, the top box

1 is firmly connected to the luggage carrier 22 of the vehicle 6.

[051] The head 103D of each projection 103 of the top box 1 may widen with respect to the stem 103C in every direction, as shown in Figure 15, but preferably widens laterally, in a left-right direction, and possibly at the rear, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 8.

[052] The projections 103 also serve as feet for supporting the top box 1 on the ground, when this is removed from the vehicle 6. Since the top box 1 has three projections and the heads 103D are flat, the top box 1 rests stably thereon even when it is resting on the ground.

[053] Figures 12, 13, 14 show further views of a top box 1 coupled to a luggage carrier 22 of a rideable saddle vehicle 6 according to the teachings of the present invention. The coupling element

2 is integrated into a luggage carrier 22 and comprises a support surface. The luggage carrier 22 is shaped so as to be fixed to the vehicle frame by means of bolts. The support surface includes three openings 102 which extend longitudinally along respective directions of extension which are parallel to one another and to the midplane M of the vehicle 6, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[054] The openings 102 have a receiving end 102A and an engagement end 102B having different width, in particular the engagement end 102B has a width smaller than the width of the receiving end 102A so as to allow the insertion of a corresponding projection 103 of the interlocking element

3 into the receiving end 102A and the successive sliding of the projection 103 up to the engagement end 102B. [055] The openings 102 have this shape to be coupled with the projections 103 which have a stem 103C which is narrower than the head 103D so as to prevent the removal through the openings 102 when the projection 103 is positioned in the engagement end 102B.

[056] The projections 103 thus devised have a shape which, at least in part, recalls that of a mushroom, when they are observed frontally, as schematized in Figure 15. In particular, the projections 103 have a stem 103C and a base end 103B with a width W4 and a head 103D and a distal end 103A with a width W2, as shown in Figure 15A, W2 being greater than W4.

[057] The opening 102 has a receiving end 102A which has a width W1 which is greater than the width W3 of the engagement end 102B, as shown in Figure 15A. In turn, the receiving end 102A has a width W1 which is greater than the width W2 of the head 103D so as to allow the insertion of the projection 103 into the opening 102, as shown in Figure 15B. Furthermore, the engagement end 102B has a width W3 which is greater than the width W4 of the stem 103C, so as to allow the sliding of the projection 103 into the opening 102, as shown in Figure 15C, until the projection 103 reaches a limit stop position as shown in Figure 15D.

[058] In one version (not shown), the thickness T3 of the head 103D has a non-constant thickness. More specifically, the thickness of the head 103D increases to the detriment of the height of stem 103C, which decreases. Preferably, the thickest portion of the head 103D is the opposite one with respect to the engagement end 102B when the projection 103 has entered the opening 102. Thereby, as the projection 103 advances in the opening 102 towards the aforesaid stroke end, the geometrical interference between the head 103D and the opening 102 increases and the clearances decrease, making the coupling more stable and less noisy. Alternatively, the thickness T2 of the edges of the opening 102 may progressively increase, with the same logic as above, and the thickness of the head 103D remains constant, for the same purpose.

[059] The luggage carrier 22 thus conceived therefore comprises a structure, where the top box 1 rests against and is coupled, shaped like the coupling element 2 described above. This portion of the luggage carrier 22, better shown in Figure 6, is preferably made of metal, even more preferably of aluminum alloy, so as to ensure a sufficient resistance to loads and a greater protection against tampering. The lower part of the luggage carrier 22, better visible in Figure 12, may be closed by a cover (not shown) made of polymeric or metal material, to improve the aesthetics thereof and to better protect the luggage carrier 22.

[060] Other cases are in any case possible. For example, it is possible to provide forthe projections 103 to take on the shape of engagement tabs and the openings 102 of hooks oriented with the engagement opening 102B substantially vertical so as to ensure the coupling between the interlocking element 3 and the coupling element 2 with the same movement, i.e., a vertical approaching translation following a horizontal engagement. All of this is without departing from the above-described inventive concept claimed below.

[061] It is to be understood that, within the scope of the attached claims, the disclosure may be accomplished in a manner other than as specifically described herein.

[062] Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention are defined by the following numbered clauses:

1. A luggage carrier 22 for a rideable saddle vehicle 6 comprising a support surface 110 on which a plurality of openings 102 are obtained, said openings 102 being shaped so as to have a front part 102A wider than a rear part 102B.

2. A luggage carrier 22 according to clause 1, in which the openings 102 comprise at least one front opening and at least one rear opening, and in which the openings 102 are preferably three.

3. A luggage carrier 22 according to clause 1 or 2, in which the support surface 110 comprises a recess 602 positioned in a manner which does not coincide with said openings 102, preferably said recess 602 comprises a closed bottom.

4. A luggage carrier 22 according to any one of clauses 1 to 3, in which the luggage carrier 22 is substantially V-shaped and comprises portions for coupling to the vehicle and handles.

5. A rideable saddle vehicle 6 comprising a luggage carrier 22 according to any one of clauses 1 to 4.

6. A top box 1 for a luggage carrier 22 of a rideable saddle vehicle 6 comprising:

- a body 101, onto which a cover 201 is hinged, shaped to define a housing compartment which is openable and closable;

- a lower portion 3 of the body 201 shaped to interlock with the luggage carrier 22;

- locking members 4 configured to move between a locking position, in which the top box 1 may not be disconnected from the luggage carrier 22, and a release position, in which the top box 1 may be disconnected from the luggage carrier 22.

7. A top box 1 according to clause 6, in which the lower portion 3 comprises at least one lower- front coupling element 103 and at least one lower-rear coupling element 103 shaped to project downwards from the lower portion 3 and to fit into corresponding openings 102 of the luggage carrier 22. A top box 1 according to clause 7, wherein said lower couplings 103 comprise a head 103D connected to a stem 103C, in which the head 103D is at least in part wider than the stem

103C. A top box 1 according to clause 7 or 8, in which the lower couplings 103 comprise a closed front portion. A top box 1 according to any one of clauses 7 to 9, in which the lower portion 3 comprises a plurality of elastic spacers. A top box 1 according to any one of clauses 7 to 10, in which the locking members 4 comprise a tooth 104 adapted to come out from a passage 303 present on the lower portion 3 of the body 201. A top box 1 according to clause 11, in which the locking members 4 comprise a plate 109 to which the tooth 104 is connected. A top box 1 according to clause 12, in which said plate 109 is connectable in a stable manner to the body 201 by means of connection means 108 such as, for example, an eyebolt or a bolt.

Claims

1 . A top box (1) for a rideable saddle vehicle (6), comprising: a body (101) shaped to define a housing compartment (S); a cover (201) hinged to the body (101) and configured to close said housing compartment (S); closing means (5) configured to reversibly lock/release the cover (201) to/from the body (101); an interlocking element (3) that is made in one piece with bottom (401) of the body (101) of the top box (1), shaped to interlock a coupling element (2) of the vehicle (6), wherein the interlocking element (3) comprises a plurality of projections (103), wherein said projection (103) comprises a distal end (103A) which is wider than a base end (103B); locking members (4) accommodated inside the body (101) comprising a tooth (104) configured to vertically come out, in a locking position, through a passage (303) of the interlocking element (3) and to engage the coupling element (2) and selectively prevent the backward translation of the interlocking element (3) with respect to the coupling element (2).

2. A top box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the projection (103) preferably has a stem (103C) having a width (W4) equal to the width of the base end (103B) and a head (103D) having a width (W2) equal to the width of the distal end (103A).

3. A top box (1) according to claim 2, wherein said projections (103) are three in number and are arranged according to the vertexes of a triangle.

4. A top box (1) according any one of preceding claims, wherein the closing means (5) of the cover (201) to the body (101) comprise a hook (105), supported by one between the cover (201) and the body (101), configured to selectively engage a coupling pin (205) associated with the other of the cover (201) and the body (101).

5. A top box (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the locking members (4) comprise a lever (304) mounted oscillating around a transverse axis; wherein the tooth (104) is associated with an end of the lever (304), while the opposite end (404) acts in conjunction with a cam (504) driven by a key lock (204) comprised in the closing means (5) so that a determined position of the key corresponds to a determined position of the tooth (104).

6. A top box (1) according to claim 5, wherein the cam (504) driven by the key lock (204) acts on the hook (105) and on the lever (304) so that: in a first position of the key (204), the tooth (104) of the fastening system comes out of the passage (303) of the interlocking element (3) and the hook (105) is engaged to the coupling pin (205) to lock the cover (201) to the body (101); in a second position of the key (204), the tooth (104) of the fastening system does not come out of the passage (303) of the interlocking element (3) and the hook (105) is engaged to the coupling pin (205) to lock the cover (201) to the body (101); in a third position of the key (204), the tooth (104) of the fastening system comes out of the passage (303) of the interlocking element (3) and the hook (105) is disengaged from the coupling pin (205) so that the cover (201) is released from the body (101).

7. A top box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locking members (4) comprise a plate (109) on which the tooth (104) is made integral and connection means (108) for connecting the plate (109) to the body (201), so that when the plate (109) is connected to the body (201) the tooth (201) projects downwards, engaging the coupling element (2) in a locked position and when the plate (10) is disconnected from the body (201), the tooth (104) is retracted inside the body (201) and the interlocking element (3) translates freely with respect to the coupling element (2).

8. A top box (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the head (103D) has a nonconstant thickness.

9. A top box (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the tooth (104) is configured to move from a release position to a locking position and vice versa, according to a substantially vertical direction.

10. A rideable saddle vehicle (6) comprising: a coupling element (2) integrated to a luggage carrier (22) or a structural part of the vehicle; wherein the coupling element (2) comprises a plurality of openings (102) shaped so as to allow the insertion and the sliding of respective projections (103) of a top box (1), said openings (102) being shaped so that a receiving end (102A) of the opening (102) is wider than the opposite engagement end (102B) of the opening (102), and wherein the coupling element (2) comprises a cavity (602) shaped to receive a tooth (104) coming out the top box

1 1. A rideable saddle vehicle (6) according to claim 10, wherein said openings (102) extend longitudinally along respective directions of extension which are parallel to one another and parallel to the midplane (M) of the vehicle (6).

12. A rideable saddle vehicle (6) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said cavity (602) is blind.

13. A rideable saddle vehicle (6) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the opening (102) has a width (Wl) at the receiving end (102A) which is greater than a width (W3) at the engagement end (102B).

14. A rideable saddle vehicle (6) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, further comprising a top box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

15. A rideable saddle vehicle (6) according to claim 14, wherein the cavity (602) and the tooth (104) have complementary shapes.

16. A rideable saddle vehicle (6) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the projection (103) is shaped so that the distal end (103A) achieves a shape coupling with the opening (102) when the projection (103) is in said engagement end (102B).

17. A rideable saddle vehicle (6) according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the width (Wl) of the opening (102) at the receiving end (102A) is greater than the width (W2) of the head (103D) of the projection (103), and the width (W3) of the opening (102) at the engagement end (102B) is greater than the width (W4) of the stem (103C) and smaller than the width (W2) of the head (103D) of the projection (103).