Case assembly for motorcycle including a coupling system

A case assembly for motorcycles comprises a frame (11) for coupling to the motorcycle and a case (12) including means that allow its removable coupling to the frame. The means which allow the removable coupling include U-shaped elements (17) which move between a non-active position to accommodate therein a complementary element (13) of the frame and an active rotated position to secure therein said element (13) of the frame. Conveniently, between the case and the frame there are other passive coupling means (14, 15) at a distance of the U-shaped elements for positioning the case before the coupling movement of the U-shaped elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention. This invention relates to a case assembly for motorcycle including an innovative coupling system.

2. Description of the Related Art. In the field of equipments for motorcycles there is the common known problem to provide a stable and safe coupling system for removable side cases. Usually the case assembly includes a specific frame which is fixed irremovably to the motorcycle and a case including suitable coupling means for the removable coupling to the frame. Various types of coupling means have been proposed in the prior art in the attempt to supply a secure coupling of the case avoiding accidental disengagements or false couplings and at the same time to allow the user to easily intentionally engage and disengage the case.

The general object of this invention is to supply a case assembly for motorcycles with safety and stability features greatly improved in comparison to known systems, retaining at the same time operational easiness and a simple but strong structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A case assembly for motorcycles according to the invention comprises a frame for coupling to the motorcycle and a case including means that allow its removable coupling to the frame, the characterizing feature of the assembly is that the coupling means include U-shaped elements which move between a non-active position to accommodate therein a complementary element of the frame and an active rotated position to secure therein said element of the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, inFIG. 1a case assembly according to the invention, generally indicated as10, is depicted.

Such case assembly10comprises a frame11which has to be fixed to a motorcycle by known means, not shown herein, and a rigid case12. Between the frame11and the case assembly10there are suitable means for the removable coupling. The case12has a shape and features which are already known, thus, it will not be described in detail herein.

Conveniently, the frame11is a tubular frame adequately shaped to obtain lateral support points for the case12and an upper hooking bar13. The case12has a side to be coupled with the frame11on which there are coupling means. The coupling means include a pair of passive coupling means14conveniently having mushroom shape (better visible inFIG. 2), to be coupled with adequate hollows15made near the lower edge of the case12. The hollows15are open at the bottom in order to allow the insertion of the mushroom shaped coupling means14by moving the case12downwards.

Near the upper edge, the case12has an active coupling mean16including a pair of movable U-shaped elements17aligned to form a tube to accommodate the horizontal hooking bar13of the frame11.

The U-shaped elements17can be rotated on demand (conveniently along a common axis20parallel to the hooking bar13) to move between a disengaged non-active position and an active position of fix engagement onto the horizontal hooking bar13of the frame11.

In the disengaged position, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the U-shaped elements17look outward from the back side of the case12, in particular, they are aligned horizontal having the opening looking outward, so that the hooking bar13can freely enter or exit the tube formed by the two aligned U-shaped elements. In the engaged position shown inFIG. 3, the U-shaped elements17are parallel to the back side of the case12, in particular they look downward so that they prevent the case12to move away from the frame11.

Conveniently, the case12has also a resting groove34above the hooking bar13when the U-shaped elements17are in the active position, so that the weight of the case12is partially relieved from the U-shaped elements17.

The pivoting of the U-shaped elements17is in an upper position relative to the horizontal hooking bar13in such a manner, that the thrust of the hooking bar13inside the U-shaped elements17makes them automatically rotate into the engaged position.

There are also blocking means in order to prevent the case12to slide upward when being engaged onto the frame11. Conveniently, these blocking means comprise a central tooth18protruding from the frame11and inserting into a specific seat19in the wall of the case12when the case12is in the engaged position ofFIG. 3.

InFIG. 6an alternative embodiment is shown in which the central tooth18is replaced by a pair of rigid protuberances118which projects from the wall of the case12in order to be placed immediately beneath the horizontal hooking bar13of the frame11in such a manner, that the engaged case12cannot move upward.

Hence, as it will be clear, the movement from the non-active position ofFIG. 2to the engaged active position ofFIG. 3is obtained by means of a spring simply pushing the case12against the frame11after having inserted the lower mushrooms shaped coupling means14into their seats in the case12. Once in the active position, the U-shaped elements17are steadily kept in such position by a block mechanism21which can be released through a push button22. Conveniently, further, a lock23can be added to prevent the possibility of disengagement of the case12. Further conveniently, the lock23can also at the same time block the locking mechanism of the case12, for example realized by a hook24which engages a complementary rim in the covershell of the case12.

InFIG. 4the detail of the block mechanism21is shown from the back, after removing the covershell of the case12(the mechanism is in engaged position, with the U-shaped elements17facing downward). As it can be seen in this FIG., each U-shaped element17has a spring25required to push it in the non-active horizontal position, and a tooth26on the back which inserts in the end of a sliding element27when the U-shaped element17is in active position. The two sliding elements27are pushed toward the engagement position respectively by two springs28. In this way, when the U-shaped element17is pushed in the active position by the action of its spring25, the sliding element27clicks into the engagement position under the tooth26, blocking the U-shaped element17into the active position.

The push button22operates on the sliding elements27in such a way that, when it is pushed, it retreats the sliding elements27from the engagement position with the U-shaped elements17releasing back into the non-active position.

As it can be easily seen in the enlarged detail ofFIG. 5, the push button22operates on each sliding element27by an inclined plane29which slides on a corresponding inclined plane30of the sliding element27. The lock23can operate in a known way to prevent the operation of the push button22.

As it can be seen inFIG. 4, the push button22operates also, by the action of springs31, a bolt32which has a protuberance33inserting into a seat in the tooth18. In this way, a further protection against the disengagement of the case12is provided.

At this point it is clear how the objects of the invention have been reached. Having the frame11mounted on the motorcycle, it is sufficient to insert the lower hollows15in the protruding mushrooms shaped coupling means14, which are a position reference, and to push the case12from the top against the frame11in order to engage the central tooth18in the corresponding seat and cause the rotation toward the block or lock position of the U- shaped elements17in order to engage the case12. In this manner, the case12is fixed in at least four points. The case12can be disengaged with only one movement by pressing the push button22with the lock unlocked.

Moreover, the free movement of the U-shaped elements17toward the operating position allows engaging the case12to the frame11even when the lock is already in the block position.

The system according to the invention grants high security, stable and reliable engagement, no vibrations and operational easiness.

As a matter off course, the description mentioned above refers to one embodiment of the innovative principles of this invention and is an exemplification of such innovative principles only, and does not have to be considered limitative for the scope of the invention hereby claimed. For example, the means which prevent the case12to move upward can be different from the tooth18. For example, they may include a tooth protruding from the case12to insert into the frame11.

In the embodiment described, the whole mechanism including the movable elements is close to the upper edge of the case12, this allows to easily realize a functional assembly including all the movable elements, the handle, the lock, and the push button. The frame11can also be different from the tubular frame described.