Patent Application
20060118585
The present invention relates to a universal support system to position motorcycle accessories (or equipments) on the tank.
Universal support devices for motorcycling use are known, which are used to hook containers of various kinds, such as sacks, bags or suitcases, to the tank of motorcycles. Certain devices are based on the use of straps that can be tied around the tank, others make use of adhesive and/or magnetic supports to be positioned on the tank or coverings in leather or fabrics of various types, which are wrapped around the tank.
For example, in patent application EP 1 253 071, a universal support system of containers on motorcycle tanks based on the use of adhesive bands is described. In this case the adhesive bands, which are made of a flexible material, adhere to the outer surface of the motorcycle tank and have certain appendices serving as anchorage for the extendible straps of the container to be fixed.
In the French patent application FR 2 760 714 a baggage support is described, which is obtained by partially wrapping the motorcycle tank with a sheath, fixed at the ends, comprising baggage fixing elements.
JP 920 78 53 relates to a supplementary stiff covering for a motorcycle tank, which is fixed to the frame of the vehicle at the anchorage points of the tank.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,207 claims a sack for motorcycle use, to be applied to the tank by means of Velcro straps. Such straps fix a support sole to the tank on which, again by the use of Velcro straps, the sack is fixed according to a system enabling the sack alone to be released and leaving the remainder of the support device installed on the tank.
Similarly, in the British patent application No. GB 2 080 222, the support is made with straps which are fixed to the frame of the motorcycle, provided with quick release buckles.
DE 41 07 008 relates to a support enabling bags to be applied on the tank of a motorcycle based on covering the tank with a cover provided with magnetic metallic inserts; the cover being a base to which the bags are fastened, for example by zips.
These same methods have further been applied for fixing objects other than bags to motorcycles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,040 relates to a device allowing to fix a mobile telephone holder to a motorcycle by means of straps.
The abovementioned devices for fixing bags, sacks and containers of various types to motorcycle tanks present various drawbacks. Firstly, the adhesive bands form a fixed support: once they have adhered to the outer surface of the motorcycle tank, they cannot, as needed, be removed with ease. Besides, the adhesive substance used can, over time, attack the tank paint or, when the bands are taken off, it may leave residues that are difficult to eliminate. Another drawback of this solution is the visual result: in fact the adhesive bands interfere with the chromatic and/or figurative patterns made by the motorcycle manufacturer.
Similarly, the solutions that use sheathes, straps or rigid coverings are also invasive and unpractical solutions, proving in fact awkward both their mounting on the tank and their dismantling. These supports, which are conceived for constituting the anchorage of other objects, remain themselves fixed on to the vehicle, thus modifying the visual and chromatic appearance thereof.
Also the solution that uses magnets is based on the use of the same in association with coverings in leather or in fabric. Besides the mechanic hold of this solution is critical at high speeds of the motorcycle, when the magnets may not be sufficiently efficient and, therefore, they may encounter shifts or detachments from the tank.
The object of the invention is that of providing a universal support for the anchorage of different objects to a motorcycle tank such as for example containers of various kinds, gadgets, motorcycle accessories, electronic components and instruments, airbags, video cameras, motorcycle cover tarpaulins and helmet holders. The invention in fact overcomes the prior art problems, being of practical installation, thus enabling very rapid mounting and dismantling and enabling to occupy, furthermore, limited volumes. In addition, the solution according to the invention does not interfere with the appearance of the motor vehicle, thus preserving the original chromatic patterns.
The invention relates to a universal support device for motorcycle accessories characterised by being fixed directly to the motorcycle's fuel tank cap.
According to one conventional embodiment, the caps of motorcycle tanks are composed principally of a fixed outer portion, shaped as a circular crown, which is fixed to the motorcycle tank by at least two screws, and by an opening inner portion for the inner volume of the tank to be accessed.
The device according to the present invention is in particular associated and fixed to said fixed outer portion, or circular crown, when the tank cap is of the type described above.
The support device according to the invention can be made, in practice, according to different equivalent designs. In particular, according to a preferred embodiment, the device is constituted by a annular ring nut that is fixed to the outer crown of the motorcycle tank cap by screws that mesh in the same holes used to fasten the outer crown of the cap to the tank. Accordingly, the installation of the ring nut occurs simply by unscrewing the screws that fix the outer crown of the cap to the tank, and subsequently rescrewing the ring nut to the tank, by at least two screws, with the fixed part of the cap tightened between the tank and the ring nut. The ring nut has a generic circular crown shape such as to enable the opening of the tank cap and not hinder, therefore, refuelings. The ring nut presents on the upper surface thereof means for the anchorage of different objects, such as, sacks, bags, rucksacks, suitcases, trolleys, tarpaulins, small support frames, video cameras, gadgets, etc. For example, the support according to the invention made as described above, may be used to anchor a protective tarpaulin to the motorcycle tank for the covering of the motorcycle itself, the tarpaulin being able to be provided with additional means of hooking to the motorcycle, such as magnets, ties, strings, Velcro belts, in order to make, when in use, an efficient coverage of the vehicle and driver. Through the support according to the invention, it is possible to fix a mobile telephone to the motorcycle in a convenient position for use (and reading of the relative display) by the driver, or fix a helmet thus enabling the driver to transport a supplementary helmet without the movements thereof being hindered. The ring nut may, for example, be provided on said upper surface with protrusions of various forms suitable to couple by fitting to corresponding supports present on the objects to be fixed to the motorcycle.
According to another practical embodiment, the ring nut is threaded so as to enable the mesh of a corresponding male/female ring nut applied to the object to be fixed to the motorcycle tank.
According to a further practical embodiment, the ring nut fixed to the tank enables the abovementioned objects to be anchored by closure means with prior art automatic button fittings. According to these embodiments, the objects can be hooked to the ring nut, or unhooked, by simply pressing one or more buttons which cause the automatic closures to snap.
Again, the ring nut can be coupled to one or more flaps of fabric provided with zips or Velcro bands, so as to enable the hooking of objects provided with corresponding closures.
Further practical embodiments of the invention provides the use of hooking devices on the ring nut with fittings and levers of the type used, for example, in the photographic field to fix video cameras or cameras to tripods.
The ring nut may, according to other equivalent embodiments, be provided with at least one slider or at least one fitting, for example, swallow-tail shaped, and with automatic locking means, such as for example, sprung balls or clips. In this way hooking the objects to the tank is made by coupling one or more suitable elements, which are present on the object to be fixed either to the vehicle, said slider or the abovementioned fitting until they make the automatic locking elements trigger.
A further embodiment according to the invention may also be a device based on the replacement of the screws that, originally according to the design of the vehicle manufacturer, fix the outer crown of the tank cap to the tank itself, with various screws having special supports fixed to the head portion. According to such embodiment, therefore, the support object of the invention is represented by retainer means protruding from the screws of the fixed portion of the tank cap. Obviously, also in this case, the retainer means can be those of the prior art, based on shape, magnetic or zip couplings, etc.
Again according to the finding, the support according to the invention can be made with at least two semicircular supports that can be fixed, like the ring nut, to the fixed part (outer crown) of the tank cap by the screws thereof.
The invention enables to resolve the problems presented by the prior art. Firstly, in fact, the support according to the invention enables to fix a great variety of objects to the tank of a motorcycle with rapid hooking/release systems, thus offering high stability and mechanical hold, even in the case in which the driver or the passenger of the motorcycle, holds on to the objects fixed to the support itself when in motion. When the support is free, it occupies a small volume above the tank cap, and at the same time, permits the opening of the cap for refuelings. It is of easy installation, does not interfere with the appearance of the vehicle and can be dismantled simply by unscrewing the screws that fasten the cap to the tank. The vast range of attachments with which the support can be provided, enables to fix a number of objects to the tank of the motor vehicle, such as bags, rucksacks, suitcases, trolleys, gadgets, helmet holder bags, containers of various kinds, motorcycle cover tarpaulins, electronic equipment, video cameras, satellite navigators, etc.
Also according to the invention, should the support of the invention be intended to fix electronic equipment to the motorcycle tank, the support itself can be provided with elements suited to dampen the vibrations that the motorcycle may transmit.
The support according to the invention can furthermore provide a locking/unlocking device of the coupling between the supported object and the support itself, which device is controlled by a traditional lock or by an equivalent mechanism, such as of the numerical combination type commonly used for suitcases.
The lock, or equivalent mechanism thereof, may be provided either directly on the support of the invention, or they may be housed on the motor vehicle or even on the object to be associated to the support itself.
This latter solution is particularly advantageous when the universal support is used for anchoring a bag, a suitcase, a container, etc., to a motor vehicle. In this case the lock is preferably installed on the bag and is associated, by a suitable connection means, such as a flexible metal cable covered by a sheath, to the locking/unlocking device of the support of the invention. The user may thus release the bag from the support, or lock it to the same, by turning the relative key in the lock, or inserting the opening combination in the corresponding mechanism.
In the case in which the motor vehicle tank has an outer interspace, the means connecting the locking/unlocking device of the support to the lock can be housed inside said interspace.
The locking/unlocking device enables to fasten a variety of objects to the tank, thus preventing any thief from stealing them when the vehicle is immobile. The user of the support according to the present invention, in the case in which it is fitted with the abovementioned locking/unlocking device, is thus able to leave the supported objects unguarded, such as a bag coupled to the motorcycle tank, without necessarily having to provide for their removal when, for example, the vehicle is parked.
In the case in which the support according to the invention is provided with the abovementioned locking/unlocking device, this device can be connected to the centralised opening/closure system of the motor vehicle's locks so as to be opened or closed simultaneously with the other locks of the same motor vehicle. For this reason the lock of the locking/unlocking device can be servo-assisted by an electric actuator, for example connected to a control gearcase and that can be activated from a distance, with a remote control.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock controlling the locking/unlocking device of the support can be activated using the same key for opening/closing the locks provided on the motorcycle. In practice, when the motorbike provides one key for opening/closing the locks, lockers, steering lock, etc., the same key can be used for locking/unlocking the support.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the abovementioned support device comprises a shaped portion so as to constitute a constraint point for an anti-theft device of the motorcycle, of the type in which the relative movement of an element necessary for motion, such as the handlebars or a wheel of the same motorcycle is reversible prevented or limited.
The support according to the invention is represented in an examplificative though non-limiting way in the appended drawings of some of the practical embodiments thereof. In particular:
A further preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
In particular,
The ring nut 27, similarly to the ring nut 4 of the previous figures, can be constrained to the outer crown 1a of the cap 1 of the tank of a motorcycle and the circular plate 28 can be fixed to the object to be supported. Alternatively, the circular plate 28, suitably shaped to form a circular crown, can be fixed to the crown 1a of the cap 1 and the ring nut 27 can on the other hand be constrained firmly to the object to be anchored to the tank.
The ring nut 27 has a number of through holes suitable to house suitable clamping screws 2, and at least one fit suitable to make an efficient coupling with the circular plate 28. Preferably, this fit, as in the case illustrated, comprises a number of shaped openings 29 such as to make a bayonet coupling with as many pins 30 that protrude from the surface of the plate 28. For coupling the plate 28 to the ring nut 27, it is sufficient to insert the pin 30 into the apertures 29 and rotate the plate 28 relatively to the ring nut 27, according to the direction of the arrow R of
The pins 30 have a body 31 and a head 32 (
The locking/unlocking device of the coupling between the ring nut 27 and the circular plate 28 can be made in many different ways, equivalent to one another. In the case illustrated (
The plug 33 is mobile along its own axis between a first position, corresponding to its maximum extension from the surface 35 of the plate 28, and a second position, in which the same plug is entirely housed in the plate 28 and does not protrude from its surface 35. Preferably, a contrast element, such as a spring, is present inside the plug 35 in order to take it back to its first position, following one of its shifts.
When the plate 28 is coupled to the ring nut 27, the plug 35 rests initially on portion W of the ring nut 27. Simultaneously to the introduction of the pins 30 in the apertures 29, the plug 33 is pushed into its second position. As illustrated in
The plug 33 can be activated manually, for example, by a lever (not illustrated) present on the side surface of the plate 28, or can be connected to a safety system, for example provided with a lock. The safety system can be installed directly on the ring nut 27 or on the plate 28, or it can be installed on the object to be anchored to the motor vehicle or on the motor vehicle itself.
Preferably the plug 33 is integrally coupled to a metal cable, for example welded inside thereof or screwed to it, a cable that if tensioned takes the plug 33 into its second position, thus overcoming the resistance of the contrast element, and thus enabling the disengagement of the plug 33 from the hole 34. The cable can be tensioned, or released, by a mechanism commanded by a traditional type lock or equivalent thereof, for example a lock with combination. This safety system makes it possible to lock or unlock the plug 33 also by activating a lock that is not located directly on the ring nut 27 or on the plate 28.
The lock can be installed directly on the bag 36 and the corresponding key can be the same that activates the other locks present on the motorcycle or any lockers.
According to another embodiment of the present invention the abovementioned lock can be activated by an optional centralised closing system of the motorcycle's locks.
In a further embodiment of the present invention (not illustrated) the support device, for example the ring nut 4 or the brackets 12, may function as a support, or as a constraint point, for an anti-theft system of the type in which, thanks to a lock or padlock, the relative movement of an organ necessary for movement, such as the handlebars or a wheel of the motorcycle, is prevented or limited.
Anti-theft devices of this type usually comprise a clamp, or other clamping device, that can be bound to the organ of the motorcycle to be immobilised and a contrast end suitable to engage, in a reversible way, with another part of the same motorcycle in order to enable the relative locking between the organ to block and the motorcycle itself.
In this case, ring nut 4 may comprise a suitably shaped portion to be bound to the contrast end of the anti-theft system, whilst the clamp of the anti-theft system is fixed to the organ necessary for movement, such as for example a handlebar or wheel. A locking device commanded by a lock then makes it possible to lock, in a given mutual position, the handlebars or the wheel in relation to the ring nut 4, thus preventing any relative movement of the handlebar or wheel in relation to the motorcycle.
In a simpler embodiment, the anti-theft device can be of the chain type provided with a padlock, and in this case the ring nut 4, according to a particular aspect of the present invention, can comprise a retainer ring for the chain itself. The latter thus engages between the ring of the ring nut 4 and, in special seats or according to an arrangement suited to the purpose, with the handlebars or a wheel of the motorcycle to prevent or restrict motion, thanks to the closure padlock.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI2003A 000333 | Feb 2003 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB04/00457 | 2/24/2004 | WO | 10/4/2005 |
