GB2357481A

GB2357481A - Apparatus for carrying motorcycle luggage

Info

Publication number: GB2357481A
Application number: GB0021910A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Foulshaw Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-07
Filing date: 2000-09-07
Publication date: 2001-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-07
Also published as: GB0021910D0; GB2357481B

Abstract

Apparatus for attaching a luggage container e.g. a cloth pannier to a motorcycle, comprises:<BR> ```a support member (1) for carrying the luggage container; and<BR> ```a mounting unit, on or attachable to a fixed part of a motorcycle, for releasably mounting the support member (1) on the motorcycle;<BR> wherein, when the luggage container is installed on the support member (1), the luggage container (7) inhibits release of the support member (1) from the mounting unit. The mounting unit is preferably a pair of sockets (2 in Figure 4) into which the ends of support 1 fit. A rear rack 4 may also be present. The pannier may have a pocket for receiving the support 1.

Description

2357481 APPARATUS FOR CARRYING MOTORCYLE LUGGAGE The present invention

relates to apparatus for attaching a luggage container to a motorcycle.

Carrying any form of load on a motorcycle has long been a problem since, except for a few specially designed motorcycles, little to no luggage carrying capacity is typically provided.

Various compromise solutions have been tried, but all have their disadvantages. For example, rigid boxes C1op boxes") of moulded plastic can be carried on top of a metal frame fitted at the rear of the motorcycle behind the pillion seat. However, the downside to such an arrangement is that it usually has to be a permanent feature, having an aesthetically unpleasant shape, and the weight of any load carried is distributed too far to the rear of the motorcycle for balance to be optimised.

Another attempted solution has been to use panniers, which are often used in conjunction with the above-described "top boxes", sharing the same frame as a mounting point. The disadvantage with such panniers is that they increase the width of the motorcycle, which makes it more difficult for a rider to thread a route through traffic.

Moreover, when "top boxes" or panniers are removed, the unattractive metal frame remains, spoiling the aerodynamic and aesthetic properties of the motorcycle.

Throw-over panniers have also been used, being textile bags very similar to cowboy saddlebags. However, these can flap about during riding thus affecting balance and can also be caught in the rear wheel, which may cause an accident. Further, some riders carry loads by wearing rucksacks on their backs, but this can be very tiring if attempted for any length of time.

"Tank bags" have also been used, and these are held on to the petrol tank either by a strap or by magnets. However, such bags restrict movement of the rider, restrict vision of instruments and have to be removed during refuelling.

2 Finally, American custom-style riders have been using a back rest known as a "cissy bar", which is a fixed, inverted tubular structure that has become a styling icon. Such riders typically slide their bed roll over the bar, with the load carried on the pillion seat, i.e. in a weight position that motorcycles are generally designed for. Unfortunately, the bars stay on the machine even when luggage is not being carried, which can make their use on European style motorcycles ugly to look at.

Thus, prior systems of attempting to carry luggage have a number of potential problems, such as carrying the load too far back, too high up or with too large a width with respect to the motorcycle. Further, many riders admire the minimalistic concept of motorcycle riding and, being driven by aesthetic considerations, wish their motorcycle to appear as good looking as possible, even when luggage is not being carried.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a luggage system that is safe, as well as leaving a motorcycle looking aesthetically good when the system is not being used.

Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for attaching a luggage container to a motorcycle, comprising:

a support member for carrying a luggage container; and a mounting unit, on or attachable to a fixed part of a motorcycle, for releasably mounting the support member on the motorcycle; wherein, when the luggage container is installed on the support member, the luggage container inhibits release of the support member from the mounting unit.

Typically, the support member has two or more limbs, flexibly joined, for releasably mounting in the mounting unit. Thus, the limbs may be flexed apart, mounted within the mounting unit, and then allowed to flex together so that they stay mounted within the mounting unit.

Preferably, the support member is formed in the shape of a hoop. In this embodiment, the hoop has two limbs, each for mounting within the mounting unit.

3 Generally, the mounting unit comprises two or more receiving units, each receiving unit adapted to releasably receive a limb of the support member.

Preferably, the luggage container comprises a channel or pocket for attachment to the support member. Thus, once the support member has been mounted on the motorcycle, the luggage container may be attached to the support member by way of the pocket or channel. Once the luggage container has been so placed into position, it inhibits the release of the limbs of the support member from the mounting unit, and so the apparatus is held in place.

Again preferably, when uninstalled, the support member is storable within the channel or pocket of the luggage container. Thus, when the luggage is not required to be carried on the motorcycle, the luggage container can be lifted off the support member, and the latter can then be removed from the mounting unit before being stored back in the luggage container.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, each receiving unit and a part of the limb of the support member received therein are mutually tapered so as to form an interlockable key mechanism. Typically, the mutual tapering is in two planes, so as to prevent relative rotational movement when the key mechanism is in the locked position. This allows the support member to be securely held within the mounting unit, so as to safely fix the load carried to the motorcycle.

The apparatus may also further comprise an optional strap for securing the position of the installed luggage container. This strap can prevent the luggage container sliding upwards along the support member during riding.

The present invention will now be described in further detail by way of the following non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a support member of the apparatus of the present invention; 4 Figure 2 depicts a plan view of a typical "grab baC of a standard motorcycle together with a rear rack, the "grab baC having a mounting unit of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the view shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a view similar to that of Figure 3, but also shows the "grab bar" attached to the rear of a motorcycle; Figure 5 shows the same view as that shown in Figure 4, but with the support member mounted within the mounting unit of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 6 depicts the same view as Figure 5, but additionally shows one luggage container attached to the support member; Figure 7 illustrates a motorcycle carrying two luggage containers using the apparatus of the present invention; and Figure 8 shows a luggage container uninstalled from the motorcycle and shows the support member being carried within a pocket of the container.

In Figure 1, a support member 1 is shown attached to a mounting unit 2, which is integrally formed as part of a "grab baC 3. The latter is typically attached to a motorcycle behind the pillion seat and allows a pillion passenger to hold the bar and so assume a steady position on the motorcycle.

The grab bar 3 is also shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, which additionally show a rear rack 4 attached to the grab bar 3. The rear rack 4 is an optional feature, but when present allows a luggage container, when installed on the motorcycle, to rest thereon. Figure 4 also shows the pillion seat 5 in front of the grab bar 3.

In Figure 5, the support member 1 is shown attached to the mounting unit 2. In order to so attach the support member 1 to the mounting unit 2, the two limbs of the support member 1 are first flexed open, and then their distal ends are placed into position within the mounting unit 2. The support member is typically made of steel, so that it has sufficient strength, but also so that it has some flexibility. The driver's seat 6 is also shown in front of the pillion seat 5.

Once the support member is in place, a luggage container, such as pannier 7 (see Figure 6), can be attached to the support member, for example by sliding the support member into a channel or pocket within the pannier 7. Once the pannier 7 is in place, release of the limbs of the support member 1 from the mounting unit 2 is inhibited by the pannier 7 itself. Panniers 7 may be fixed to the apparatus such that they rest on the rear rack 4, or on the pillion seat 5, or both (see Figure 7).

When the rider does not wish luggage to be carried on the motorcycle, the pannier(s) 7 can be removed, then the limbs of the support member 1 can be flexed outwards to allow removal of the support member 1 from the mounting unit 2. The support member can then be placed back in the channel or pocket 8 (see Figure 8) of the pannier and carried with the rider when the motorcycle is left in a parked location. Also shown in Figure 8 is a strap 9, which can be locked around the limbs of the support member 1 when the luggage is installed on the apparatus. The strap 9 when so locked can prevent slippage of the pannier 7 up the support member 1 during riding of the motorcycle.

When the support member 1 has been released from the mounting unit 2, the motorcycle still retains an aesthetically pleasing look, since only the mounting unit 2 remains fixed to the grab bar 3.

Thus, the present invention provides apparatus for easily attaching loads to motorcycles, especially in positions for which motorcycles are designed to carry weight, so enabling safe and balanced riding, whilst allowing the motorcycle to retain its aesthetic looks even when the load is removed.

6

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 Apparatus for attaching a luggage container to a motorcycle, comprising:

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member comprises two or more limbs, flexibly joined, for releasably mounting in the mounting unit.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support member is formed in the shape of a hoop.

4 Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mounting unit comprises two or more receiving units, each receiving unit adapted to releasably receive a limb of the support member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the luggage container comprises a channel or pocket for receiving, and so securing, the support member.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein, when uninstalled, the support member is storable within the channel or pocket of the luggage container. 7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein each receiving unit and a part of the limb of the support member received therein are mutually tapered so as to form an interlockable key mechanism.

7

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mutual tapering is in two planes so as to prevent relative rotational movement when the key mechanism is in the locked position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a strap for securing the position of the installed luggage container.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a rear rack on which an installed luggage container may rest.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rear rack is integrally formed as part of either the mounting unit or the support member.

12. Apparatus for attaching a luggage container to a motorcycle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.