Mounting interface for a removable motorcycle accessory

A support assembly for removably attaching an accessory to a fender of a motorcycle. The support assembly includes left and right mounting brackets configured to be coupled to the fender. Each of the mounting brackets includes a receiving slot to provide access to respective mounting locations of the left and right mounting brackets for securing the accessory. Each receiving slot has a width. Left and right inserts are insertable into the respective receiving slots when the accessory is removed. Each of the left and right inserts includes an insertion portion and a shoulder portion. Each insertion portion has a first thickness less than the receiving slot width and is configured to be received by the corresponding receiving slot and to be coupled to the corresponding mounting bracket. The shoulder portion has a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to motorcycles, and more specifically, to a mounting interface for a removable motorcycle accessory.

Removable accessories for motorcycles may leave the mounting surface exposed and susceptible to outdoor elements when removed. These accessories can also leave unsightly hardware behind, reducing the aesthetic appeal of the motorcycle.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention provides a support assembly for removably attaching an accessory to a fender of a motorcycle. The support assembly includes left and right mounting brackets configured to be coupled to the fender. Each of the mounting brackets includes a receiving slot to provide access to respective mounting locations of the left and right mounting brackets for securing the accessory. Each receiving slot has a width. Left and right inserts are insertable into the respective receiving slots when the accessory is removed. Each of the left and right inserts includes an insertion portion and a shoulder portion. Each insertion portion has a first thickness less than the receiving slot width and is configured to be received by the corresponding receiving slot and to be coupled to the corresponding mounting bracket. The shoulder portion has a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

In another aspect the invention provides a support assembly for removably attaching an accessory to a fender of a motorcycle. The support assembly includes left and right mounting brackets configured to be coupled to the fender. Each of the mounting brackets has a receiving slot configured to receive a portion of the accessory. Left and right inserts are insertable into the receiving slots to a seated position when the accessory is removed. Each of the inserts includes a first portion concealed within the mounting bracket when the insert is in the seated position and a second portion adjacent to and substantially filling the receiving slot when the insert is in the seated position. Each receiving slot opens upwardly from a top surface of the corresponding mounting bracket.

In yet another aspect the invention provides a method of de-accessorizing a fender of a motorcycle. Left and right mounting brackets are provided on opposing sides of the fender. Each mounting bracket includes a receiving slot, and a detachable accessory is supported by mounting portions of the detachable accessory through engagement with a respective mounting interface of each of the left and right mounting brackets. The mounting portions of the detachable accessory are decoupled from the mounting interfaces of the mounting brackets. The accessory is removed from the mounting brackets by extracting the mounting portions of the detachable accessory from the respective receiving slots. A pair of left and right inserts are provided and each insert has a first portion engageable with one of the mounting interfaces of the mounting brackets. The left and right inserts are inserted into the respective receiving slots. The first portion of each insert is secured to the mounting interface of the corresponding mounting bracket with at least one fastener. The receiving slots of the corresponding mounting brackets are substantially closed with second portions of the corresponding inserts when the first portions of the inserts are secured to the corresponding mounting interfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a motorcycle10. The motorcycle10includes a frame14, a front wheel18, and at least one rear wheel22. An engine26is configured to drive the at least one rear wheel22. A front fender30and a rear fender34are provided as body panels. A support assembly38(FIG. 2) is provided for removably attaching an accessory42to the frame14of the motorcycle10. The motorcycle10illustrated is a touring motorcycle, provided with a front cowling46, a windshield50, and integrated luggage containers, such as a pair of saddlebags58, and the removable accessory42, which includes a top case62(e.g., Harley-Davidson TOUR-PAK®).

Referring toFIG. 2, the support assembly38includes a pair of left and right fender struts, or inner mounting brackets66provided at a rearward extent of the frame14and coupled to the rear fender34at opposing, laterally outward sides70of the rear fender34. The inner mounting brackets66each include a plurality of holes74. Each of the inner mounting brackets66is fastened directly to the corresponding laterally outward side70of the rear fender34with threaded rear fender fasteners78. For example, the holes74may be clearance holes for the fasteners78, which are passed through the holes74to engage a threaded portion of the rear fender34, or a nut on the interior of the rear fender34. The rear fender34and the inner mounting brackets66can also be coupled in other ways, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The inner mounting brackets66are secured to or integral with a rear section82of the motorcycle frame14. The support assembly38further includes a pair of left and right outer mounting brackets86that are coupled to the rear fender34of the motorcycle via the inner mounting brackets66and substantially conceal the inner mounting brackets66when coupled.

Each outer mounting bracket86includes two positioning holes94. Threaded saddlebag support fasteners98are inserted through each of the positioning holes94(e.g., clearance holes) to couple the outer mounting brackets86to the inner mounting brackets66via threaded apertures174provided in the inner mounting brackets66. A boss100protrudes laterally inward from the inside of each of the outer mounting brackets86, as seen at the left hand side ofFIG. 2. The boss100abuts with an elongated boss76on the corresponding inner mounting bracket66, seen at the right hand side ofFIG. 2, to provide contact control for positioning the outer mounting bracket86relative to the inner mounting brackets66and the frame14when the fasteners98are secured. The outer mounting brackets86are saddlebag mounting brackets in the illustrated construction, each provided with at least one mounting location or interface102for securing a corresponding saddlebag58(FIG. 2). The rear fender34includes brackets134that extend laterally outward from a rear, bottom portion138of the rear fender34. Each bracket134includes a hole142through which a threaded saddlebag support fastener146is inserted to couple a bottom portion150of the outer mounting bracket86to the respective bracket134.

With continued reference toFIG. 2, the outer mounting brackets86define a substantially curved shape, similar to that of the rear fender34. A portion of each of the outer mounting brackets86, e.g. a top surface86A, defines a receiving slot114, that opens upward when coupled to the motorcycle10(FIG. 1). The receiving slots114each have a first width118that is measured laterally, perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline122of the motorcycle10. Each of the receiving slots114provides access for a luggage mounting bracket126for mounting a portion of the accessory42. A mounting interface is accessible through each of the receiving slots114. In the illustrated construction, the mounting interface is provided by the inner mounting brackets66and threaded apertures274therein.

As shown inFIG. 2, the luggage mounting bracket126is configured to support the luggage container62and mount to the support assembly38. More specifically, the luggage mounting bracket126includes two insertion portions194that extend into the receiving slots114and are coupled to the respective inner mounting bracket66via the threaded apertures274. The luggage mounting bracket126includes a plate portion158. The plate portion158includes a plurality of holes162for mounting the luggage container62, as shown inFIG. 1. Together, the luggage mounting bracket126and the luggage container62form the removable accessory42. Other types of removable accessories, such as a backrest or a luggage rack, can be coupled to the support assembly38via interface102. Referring toFIG. 3, two left supporting arms174and two right supporting arms178extend downwardly from the plate portion158.

Each of the left and right mounting portions of the luggage mounting bracket126includes an insertion portion194and a shoulder portion198extending between the two corresponding supporting arms174,178. Each insertion portion194has a first thickness and is configured to extend into the receiving slot114on the corresponding outer mounting bracket86(FIG. 2). Two mounting holes202extend through each insertion portion194. The mounting holes202are clearance holes that receive the fasteners210to secure the luggage mounting bracket126on the support assembly38.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the insertion portions194are configured to be removably inserted into the receiving slots114to couple the luggage mounting bracket126with the inner and the outer mounting brackets66,86. Two clearance holes90are provided in each outer mounting bracket86. The clearance holes90receive the corresponding fasteners210(e.g. threaded fasteners such as screws or bolts). Each fastener210passes through the clearance hole90, through the corresponding hole202in the insertion portion194, and engages one of the threaded apertures274in the inner support members66to retain or secure the luggage mounting bracket126relative to the support assembly38.FIG. 5illustrates the luggage mounting bracket126removed from the outer mounting brackets86.

As shown inFIG. 6, inserts214are configured to be inserted into the corresponding receiving slots114upon removal of the luggage mounting bracket126(FIG. 3). Each insert214includes an insertion portion222and a shoulder portion226. Two mounting holes234extend through each of the insertion portions222and are configured to receive the fasteners210to couple the insert214to the mounting interface of the inner support members66. The coupling of the insert214to the mounting interface of the inner support member66defines a seated position of the insert214. The insertion portion222includes a body portion236and a boss portion237that surrounds each of the mounting holes234. The insertion portion222defines different thicknesses at different portions measured laterally, perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline122of the motorcycle10as shown inFIG. 8. A thickness229of the boss portion237is the thickest portion of the insertion portion222. A bottom edge portion of the insert214has a thickness230less than the thickness229of the boss portion237. A body portion236has a thickness231less than the bottom edge thickness230. The insertion portion222is configured to extend through the corresponding receiving slot114such that it is substantially concealed within the outer mounting bracket86. A recess235is positioned between the mounting holes234on the insertion portion222and is configured to accept the boss100on the interior of the corresponding outer mounting bracket86. The inserts214can be constructed of a chrome-plated plastic material, or various other non-metallic or metallic materials. A compression limiter238(e.g., of carbon steel) is press-fit into each of the mounting holes234to provide mounting surfaces of increased strength and hardness within the insertion portions222.

The shoulder portion226is adjacent to and substantially fills the receiving slot114when the insert214is inserted into the outer mounting brackets86to the seated position as shown inFIG. 7. The shoulder portion226may be partially or fully received into the receiving slot114. As shown inFIG. 8, the shoulder portion226has a thickness242as great as, or greater than, the thickness of any part of the insertion portion222. The thickness242of the shoulder portion226is about equal to the width118of the receiving slot114to substantially close the receiving slot114. This can prevent debris or dirt from entering the receiving slot114when the accessory42is not attached.

FIG. 7illustrates an option for mounting additional accessories, and more specifically, left and right saddlebags58to the outer mounting brackets86. Other various accessories may also be mounted to the outer mounting brackets86as desired by a user.

A method of de-accessorizing the rear fender34of the motorcycle10shown inFIG. 1is as follows. Left and right outer mounting brackets86are provided on opposing sides70of the rear fender34as illustrated inFIG. 2. The luggage mounting bracket126of the removable accessory42is mounted into the outer mounting brackets86as shown inFIG. 4. The removable accessory42can be decoupled and removed from the outer mounting brackets86as desired by a user, leaving the receiving slots114on the outer mounting brackets86exposed as shown inFIG. 5. The left and right inserts214are placed into the receiving slots114such that the shoulder portions226substantially fill and/or conceal the receiving slots114(FIGS. 6 and 7). The insertion portion222of each insert214is secured to the inner mounting bracket66with at least one of the fasteners210. Thus, the inserts214can be secured to the accessory mounting interface with the same fasteners210used to secure the accessory42such that no additional mounting interface or hardware is required to couple the inserts214to the motorcycle10.