Abstract:
A saddle bag that can efficiently achieve required storage capacity and that is easy to use for easy loading and unloading of luggage. A saddle bag is disposed at a predetermined position in a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, and is configured to store articles. A storage unit formed substantially into a box shape to be capable of storing articles therein is supported inside a case unit for covering the storage unit via a slide mechanism. The storage unit can slidingly move between a bag closed position in which the storage unit is housed and closed in the case unit and a bag open position in which the storage unit is exposed from the case unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-073446 filed on Mar. 26, 2010 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a saddle bag mounted on a vehicle body of a motorcycle. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Background Art 
         [0005]    A motorcycle is known that includes saddle bags for accommodating luggage that are disposed on both sides of part (typically in a rear portion) of the vehicle body. For example, a motorcycle as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-91383 is structured to include a top box on an upper surface of a rear portion of a vehicle body and saddle bags disposed downwardly of the top box on both sides of the vehicle body. Each of the saddle bags is attached via a mounting bracket so as to bulge from a corresponding side surface. The saddle bag includes a box-like bag main unit with a vertically openable lid member on an upper side thereof. 
         [0006]    In addition, a saddle bag structure is disclosed in JP-T-2008-505015 that includes, in a mounted condition, a bag inside portion disposed on the vehicle side and a bag outside portion disposed on the outside of the bag inside portion with the bag outside portion being rotatable relative to the bag inside portion so as to open or close the saddle bag. The saddle bag further includes a bag intermediate member between the bag inside portion and the bag outside portion with the bag intermediate member being a bellows-like, extensible, flexible member. 
         [0007]    The related art saddle bag disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-91383 can be opened or closed only if the top box does not overlap the saddle bag in the vertical direction. This imposes restrictions on the size of the top box, when a need for enlarging the saddle bag is to be met. Meanwhile, the bulging size of the saddle bag in a vehicle width direction affects the vehicle width. Therefore, in the configuration of Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-91383, a required width in the vehicle lateral direction cannot be secured without making the top box small and thus a large storage capacity cannot be achieved. 
         [0008]    If a saddle bag includes a bellows-like bag intermediate member that functions when a bag outside portion is rotated to be open as in the related art saddle bag disclosed in JP-T-2008-505015, there is an improvement in terms of the size of the opening when the bag outside portion is opened. However, with a saddle bag on the side inclined to a lower position when a side stand is deployed (i.e. the saddle bag on the left side if the side stand is disposed on the left-hand side), the saddle bag operating procedure poses a problem in that, for example, the saddle bag needs to be opened with articles stored inside held by hand to prevent them from falling, or the saddle bag can only be closed if the articles are suitably pushed therein. Unfortunately, the saddle bag of this type is clumsy to use, since it needs special attention to ensure that the articles do not drop out by always being kept within the storage capacity in terms of both the number and size of the articles to be stored therein. 
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems and it is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a saddle bag that can efficiently achieve required storage capacity and that is easy to use for easy loading and unloading of luggage. 
         [0010]    To achieve the foregoing object, according to an embodiment of the present invention a saddle bag is disposed at a predetermined position in a vehicle and is configured to store articles. The saddle bag includes: a storage unit formed substantially into a box shape to be capable of storing articles therein; a case unit for covering the storage unit; and a slide mechanism via which the storage unit is supported on an inside of the case unit. The storage unit can slidingly move between a bag closed position in which the storage unit is housed and closed in the case unit and a bag open position in which the storage unit is exposed from the case unit. 
         [0011]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit includes a bottom wall surface, left and right side wall surfaces, a rear side wall surface, and an outer wall surface. The slide mechanism is disposed on an outside of each of the left and right side wall surfaces or of each of left and right sides of the bottom wall surface. 
         [0012]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit includes a damper mechanism that absorbs the impact of movement along a sliding motion direction. 
         [0013]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the saddle bag further includes small-sized storage units independent of the storage unit, disposed in a gap between the case unit and an outside of the storage unit. 
         [0014]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the small-sized storage units have openable lid portions. 
         [0015]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit includes a pair of saddle bags that slidingly open laterally in a vehicle lateral direction. 
         [0016]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the slide mechanism allows the storage unit to slidingly move between the bag closed position in which the storage unit is housed and closed in the case unit and the bag open position in which the storage unit is exposed from the case unit. As such, the storage unit is opened or closed in a box-like condition and in a condition of being steadily held, which facilitates loading and unloading of articles regardless of a condition in which the vehicle is stationary. 
         [0017]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit includes the slide mechanisms disposed on both sides thereof, which ensures smooth opening/closing. If the slide mechanisms are disposed on the side of the bottom wall surface, the storage unit can have a maximum opening. 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the damper mechanism not only ensures smooth opening/closing, but also absorbs impact during the opening/closing. This enhances operability and prevents the articles stored in the storage unit from dropping out. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the box-like shape of the storage unit combined with the small-sized storage units allows the case unit to be designed freely without being dependent on the box shape of the storage unit. This ensures an efficient storage space. 
         [0020]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the small-sized storage units have openable lid portions. This prevents articles stored in the small-sized storage units from dropping out. 
         [0021]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit includes a pair of saddle bags that slidingly open laterally in the vehicle lateral direction. Therefore, even if the vehicle is mounted with a trunk case (top box) having a capacity so large so as to cover the upper side of the case unit, the trunk case does not impede articles from being loaded or unloaded to/from the saddle bag. In addition, the storage unit is opened or closed in a box-like condition and in a condition of being steadily held. Even when the motorcycle is in an inclined stationary state with a side stand deployed, the articles stored in the saddle bag are reliably held inside the storage unit, which prevents the articles from dropping out when the storage unit is slid open. Further, since the storage unit is steadily held by the slide mechanisms, there is no need to support the storage unit with one hand when an article is loaded therein. This enhances operability. 
         [0022]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a left side elevational view showing a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view showing a saddle bag attached to the motorcycle shown in  FIG. 1  in a closed position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the saddle bag attached to the motorcycle shown in  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a partial exploded perspective view showing a slide mechanism of the saddle bag according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a back surface side of a bottom portion of a storage unit in the saddle bag according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a partial schematic plan view showing a rear portion of the motorcycle according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    A specific embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. 
         [0031]    The embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . The embodiment is applied to a motorcycle. 
         [0032]    The drawings should be viewed in the direction of reference numerals. Throughout the descriptions given hereunder, expressions indicating directions including front and rear, right and left, and upper and lower mean the same directions as those as viewed from a rider. In the drawings, an arrow Fr indicates forward of the vehicle, an arrow Rr indicates rearward of the vehicle, an arrow L indicates leftward of the vehicle, an arrow R indicates rightward of the vehicle, an arrow U indicates upward of the vehicle, and an arrow D indicates downward of the vehicle. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a motorcycle (saddle riding type vehicle)  10  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a front top cover  12 , a front side cover  13 , a top bridge  14 , a center cover  15 , a rear side cover  16 , a front lower cover  17 , a rear lower cover  18 , and a pair of left and right saddle bags  60 . More specifically, the front top cover  12  covers forwardly of a vehicle body frame  11 . The front side cover  13  covers sideways of a front portion of the vehicle body frame  11 . The top bridge  14  and the center cover  15  cover upwardly of the front portion of the vehicle body frame  11 . The rear side cover  16  covers sideways of a rear portion of the vehicle body frame  11 . The front lower cover  17  covers forwardly of an engine  40 . The rear lower cover  18  covers downwardly of the engine  40 . The pair of left and right saddle bags  60  is disposed to sandwich the relatively large trunk case  19  and a rear wheel WR disposed on the rear portion of the vehicle body frame  11 . The motorcycle  10  further includes a tail light  29  disposed on a rear surface of each of the trunk case  19  and the saddle bags  60 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the motorcycle  10  further includes a headlight  21  that is flush with the surface of the front top cover  12 , a windshield  22  disposed upwardly of the front top cover  12 , and a side mirror  23  on each side of the windshield  22 . In addition, the motorcycle  10  includes a front fender  30 , an air cleaner  25 , a fuel tank  26 , a rider&#39;s seat  27 , and a pillion  28 . More specifically, the front fender  30  is disposed on a front fork to which a steering handlebar  24  is connected and covers a front wheel WF. The air cleaner  25  is disposed forwardly, and the fuel tank  26  is disposed downwardly, of the rider&#39;s seat  27 . The pillion  28  including a seatback portion  28   a  is disposed rearwardly of the rider&#39;s seat  27 . 
         [0035]    An exhaust system  50  is connected to the engine  40 . The exhaust system  50  includes a pair of left and right exhaust pipes connected to an exhaust port not shown of the engine  40  and a muffler that is connected to a downstream end of each of the left and right exhaust pipes. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the saddle bag  60  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit  62  that is formed substantially into a box shape in which articles can be stored. The saddle bag  60  is thus structured to support the storage unit  62  with an inside of a case unit  61  that covers the storage unit  62  via a slide mechanism  80 . More specifically, the storage unit  62  can slidingly move between a bag closed position in which the storage unit  62  is housed in the case unit  61  (in which the saddle bag  60  is closed as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a bag open position in which the storage unit  62  is slid out of the case unit  61  (in which the saddle bag  60  is open as shown in  FIG. 3 ). As such, the storage unit  62  is opened or closed in a box-like condition and in a condition of being steadily held as will be described later. This facilitates loading and unloading of articles regardless of the condition in which the motorcycle  10  is stationary. 
         [0037]    The storage unit  62  is formed as a box-like container including a bottom wall surface  67 , a left side wall surface  64 , a right side wall surface  65 , a rear side wall surface  66 , and an outer wall surface  63 . The storage unit  62 , being a sturdy, box-like storage structure as described above, reliably stores and holds articles stored therein. In addition, the slide mechanism  80  is disposed on an outside of each of the left side wall surface  64  and the right side wall surface  65 . The slide mechanism  80  includes, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 4 , a slider section  81  affixed to each of the left side wall surface  64  and the right side wall surface  65  and a rail section  82  fixed to an inside of the case unit  61  or, for example, a vehicle support bracket. 
         [0038]    The slider section  81  is formed into a T shape in a transverse section, including a sliding portion  81   a  and a mounting portion  81   b . The slider section  81  is fixed to the left side wall surface  64  and the right side wall surface  65  with, for example, screws via mounting screw holes  81   c . The rail section  82  includes a pair of protrusions  82   a ,  82   a  that constitute a rail groove  83  and a mounting portion  82   b  having mounting screw holes  82   c . The rail section  82  is fixed to the case unit  61  or, for example, a vehicle bracket. 
         [0039]    The storage unit  62  can be slidingly moved relative to the case unit  61  in a longitudinal direction of the slide mechanism  80  (lateral direction of the vehicle) when the sliding portion  81   a  is fitted into the rail groove  83 . Thanks to the slide mechanisms  80  disposed on both sides of the storage unit  62 , the storage unit  62  can be smoothly opened or closed in a steadily held condition. 
         [0040]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the slide mechanisms  80  are disposed on both lateral sides of the storage unit  62 . The slide mechanisms  80  may nonetheless be disposed at, for example, positions close to either lateral side of the bottom wall surface  67  of the storage unit  62 . In this case, the storage unit  62  can have a maximum opening because of margins outside the left side wall surface  64  and the right side wall surface  65 , not occupied by the slide mechanisms  80 . 
         [0041]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit  62  includes a damper mechanism  90  that absorbs impact of movement along a sliding motion direction. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the damper mechanism  90  is a well-known type including, for example, an inner shaft member  91  moving inside an outer shaft member  92 . The inner shaft member  91  has a first end journaled at a distal end connecting portion  91   a  on the back side of the bottom wall surface  67 . The outer shaft member  92  has a first end journaled at a frame portion  61   a  of the case unit  61  or a proximal end connecting portion  92   a  of, for example, a bracket on the vehicle main body. If the storage unit  62  has a mechanism such as this damper mechanism  90 , impact involved in opening or closing the storage unit  62  can be absorbed to ensure smooth sliding motion. 
         [0043]    In addition, a locking section  88  is disposed on the outer wall surface  63  of the storage unit  62 . The locking section  88  may incorporate any of various types of well-known locking structures and details thereof will be omitted. In operation, for example, the structure may be suitably locked in a lock portion  89  disposed on the case unit  61 . When, for example, the storage unit  62  is to be slid out from the bag closed position, a button  88   a  on an outer surface of the locking section  88  is pressed to unlock and slide out the storage unit  62 ; when the storage unit  62  is to be slid into the bag closed position, the outer wall surface  63  is pushed all the way, so that the locking section  88  is locked in the lock portion  89 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the saddle bag  60  according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes small-sized storage units  71 ,  75  independent of the storage unit  62 , disposed in a gap between the case unit  61  and the outside of the storage unit  62 . More specifically, the storage unit  62  is a box shape; if the case unit  61  bulges in the vehicle longitudinal direction as in the embodiment of the present invention, therefore, there are spaces available at the front and rear of the storage unit  62  and the small-sized storage units  71 ,  75  fill these spaces. The small-sized storage units  71 ,  75  have openable lid portions  71   a ,  75   a , respectively, to prevent articles stored therein from dropping out. 
         [0045]    The lid portions  71   a ,  75   a  are adapted to be pivotally openable about hinge portions  71   d ,  75   d , respectively, disposed on lower sides thereof. The lid portions  71   a ,  75   a  may therefore be opened or closed by operating, for example, knob portions  71   b ,  75   b  and suitably locked in a closed position with locking means not shown. As such, the lid portions  71   a ,  75   a  open on upper sides thereof, which facilitates loading and unloading of articles to/from the small-sized storage units  71 ,  75 . 
         [0046]    In the saddle bag  60  according to the embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit  62  is slidingly open laterally in the vehicle lateral direction as shown in  FIG. 6 . The storage unit  62  is open in the vehicle lateral direction in a steadily held condition as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Therefore, even with overlapping zones FL (shown hatched in  FIG. 6 ) in which the two saddle bags  60  reach under the trunk case  19 , the trunk case  19  does not interfere at all with loading and unloading of articles. More specifically, the space under the trunk case  19  can be effectively used, so that effects can be achieved of securing a storage space and inhibiting the vehicle width from increasing. 
         [0047]    In addition, even when the motorcycle  10  is in an inclined stationary state with a side stand  20  (see  FIG. 1 ) deployed, the articles stored in the saddle bag  60  are reliably held inside the storage unit  62 , which prevents the articles from dropping out when the storage unit  62  is slid open. Further, the storage unit  62  is steadily held by the slide mechanisms  80 . This eliminates the need for supporting the storage unit  62  with one hand when an article is loaded therein, enhancing operability. 
         [0048]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the saddle bag may be shaped differently, and the damper mechanism and the locking mechanism may be arranged differently as necessary. In addition, with the slide mechanism, the structure shown in  FIG. 4  is not the only possible arrangement and any other well-known slide mechanism may be suitably applied. 
         [0049]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.