Device for closing and coupling luggage and the like, particularly for motorcycles

Abstract: Device for closing and coupling carryall cases and the like, particularly for motorcycles, comprising a shell (2) and a counter-shell (3) of a case (1) which are mutually hinged. The shell (2) is provided with brackets for coupling to racks of a motorcycle. The device further comprises a shaped plate (4) fixed inside an accommodation seat (5) defined within the shell (2). The shaped plate (4) has first pivoting means (10,11) for linkages (20) which define a first pivoting axis for lever systems (25) for coupling to the counter-shell (3) and a second pivoting axis for a locking plate (6). The shaped plate (4) has second pivoting means (15,16) for a handle (7) of the case (1), and the locking plate (6) is provided with means (30,32) for closing the device and with an opening (8) for means for uncoupling the carryall case from the motorcycle. Snap-action release (33) means connect the linkages (20) to the first pivoting means (10,11) and connect the handle (7) to the second pivoting means. The handle (7) has a cross-member (9) which, in closed position, is interposed between the lever systems (25) and the locking plate (6).

Description: The present invention relates to a device for closing and coupling luggage and the like, particularly for motorcycles. Recently it has become popular to apply on the rear rack of motorcycles, both low- and high-powered ones, luggage or rigid bags which are applied by means of bracket-like elements provided on the case to engage coupling pins provided on the racks. Such luggage are disclosed in prior patents in the name of the same Applicant, such as for example Italian patents 1,154,627 and no. 201,809. Known from EP-A-0 370 368 is a bag or suitcase for coupling to motorcycles, comprising a rigid body provided with coupling means for removably connecting the body to a supporting plate and comprising two mutually pivoted half-shells provided with mutual closure means, the coupling means comprising a button element operatively associated to with a small plate which is removably associable with a hook-like portion of the supporting plate, the closure means having a lever articulated to an engagement arm, a single lock element being provided which is supported by the lever. The greatest problems of current motorcycle luggage, such as carryall cases, bags etc. are linked to two factors; namely, first of all the need to prevent theft of the cases or rigid bags, and secondly the need to provide easy opening of the case, combined with easy uncoupling of the case from the motorcycle, obviously by the user who owns a related opening key. Furthermore, due to reasons which are also linked to the streamline of the motorcycle, it is important to eliminate the fixed external handle of the case, which currently protrudes from the body of most carryall cases or rigid bags installed on motorcycles. The aim of the present invention is to eliminate or substantially reduce the disadvantages described above in known types of cases for motorcycles by providing a device for closing and coupling cases and the like, particularly for motorcycles, which allows to retract the grip handle into the shape of the case or bag. Within the scope of the above aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a closure and coupling device which allows the user to easily open the case. Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure and coupling device which allows the user to easily remove the carryall case or rigid bag from the motorcycle. Not least object of the present invention is to provide a closure and coupling device for carryall cases and the like which is highly reliable, relatively easy to manufacture and at competitive costs. This aim, the objects mentioned and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by the features of independent claim 1. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a device for closing and coupling carryall cases and the like particularly for motorcycles, according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a perspective view of a carryall case in closed position; figure 2 is a perspective view of the carryall case in open position; figure 3 is a sectional view of the closure and coupling device according to the invention, in closed position; figure 4 is a sectional view of the closure and coupling device according to the invention, in open position; figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the closure and coupling device according to the invention; and figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of a handle of the carryall case. With reference to the above figures, a carryall case or rigid bag 1 for motorcycles has a shell 2 and a counter-shell or lid 3 which are hinged together. The shell 2 has brackets, not shown, for coupling to racks of a motorcycle which are not illustrated. A device for closing and coupling carryall cases and the like, particularly for motorcycles, comprises a shaped plate 4 fixed within an accommodation seat 5 defined within the shell 2. The shaped plate 4 has first pivoting means for linkages which define a first pivoting axis for lever systems for coupling to the counter-shell 3 and a second pivoting axis for a locking plate 6. The shaped plate 4 is furthermore provided with second pivoting means for a handle 7 of the carryall case 1, and the locking plate 6 is provided with means for closing the device according to the invention and with an opening 8 for means for uncoupling the case 1 from the rack of the motorcycle. Snap-action release means connect the linkages to the first pivoting means and connect the handle 7 to the second pivoting means. The handle 7 has a cross-member 9 which, in closed position, is interposed between the lever systems and the locking plate 6. The first pivoting means for the linkages comprise a first pair of lugs 10 and 11 which rise from an end portion 12 of the shaped plate 4. Mutually aligned holes 13 and 14 provided on each lug 10 and 11 define a third pivoting axis. The second pivoting means comprise a second pair of lugs 15 and 16 which rise from an end portion 17 of the shaped plate 4 opposite to the preceding one. Mutually aligned holes 18 and 19 provided on each lug 15 and 16 define a fourth pivoting axis for the handle 7. The linkages comprise a plate-like link 20 which has, at one of its ends, a first sleeve 21 cooperating with the holes 13 and 14 of the lugs 10 and 11 to define the third pivoting axis. The sleeve 21 engages said first pair of lugs 10 and 11, so that it can rotate, through fixing means which are constituted for example by a respective pivot 22. In a median portion of the first plate-like element 20 a second sleeve 23 defines the first pivoting axis to which said coupling lever systems are fixed through fixing means constituted for example by the respective pin 22a. A third sleeve 24 is located at the other end of the plate-like linkage 20 and defines the second pivoting axis about which said linkage is engaged with wing-like lugs 6a defined on the locking plate 6 through fixing means constituted for example by the respective pivot 22b. The coupling lever systems comprise a plate-like element 25 having a pawl-shaped end portion 26 which engages the counter-shell 3 of the carryall case 1. A terminal portion 27 protrudes in a cantilevered manner from a median portion of the plate-like element 25, and bushes 29 are defined on its end; said bushes can be coupled to the second sleeve 23 by means of the respective pivot 22b. The closure means comprise a single-key lock 30, shown in the figures with a key 31 inserted, which actuates a locking bolt 32 whose ends engage, in closure position, below the plate 4 and below the uncoupling means. The uncoupling means comprise a button 33 which releases the fixing brackets from the motorcycle rack. The button 33 has a first projection 34 for the engagement of the locking bolt 32 and projecting sides 35 which prevent, by engaging against an inner face of a guiding seat 50, the exit of the button 33 from the opening 8. The button 33 furthermore acts on a slider 51 biased by springs 52 and is provided with a slot 53 for removable engagement with the locking tooth 54 of a projection 55 which protrudes from the rack 56. The snap-action release means comprise a first coiled spring 36 having ends fixed respectively to a wing 60 defined by the plate 4 proximate to the element 12 and to a projection 37 protruding from the surface of the second sleeve 23 of the plate-like linkage 20. The snap-action release means furthermore comprise a pair of second coiled springs 38 whose ends are respectively fixed to the uprights 39 of the handle 7 and to ridges 40 of the lug 15 of the second pair of lugs 15 and 16. The shell 2 of the carryall case 1 defines a band 41 which remains in a median position of the carryall case 1 when it is in closed position and on which it is possible to insert reflector elements or bands 42 and 43 and at least one front element 44, which may have a different color, so as to allow the combination of the colors on the case in the most appropriate manner. The reflector bands 42 and 43 and the element 44 engage a guide 45 defined in the shell 2, and the reflector elements 42 and 43 are arranged on the band 41 in such a position as to correspond to the rear of the motorcycle. The locking plate 6 has, on an end adjacent to the cross-member 9 of the handle 7 when it is in closed position, a groove 46 which facilitates the extraction of the handle on the part of the user. It is furthermore possible to provide, in the shell 2, an object-carrying compartment 47 which can be taken out and removably coupled inside said shell. Briefly, operation is as follows: starting from the closed position, illustrated in figures 1 and 3, in order to open the device it is necessary to turn the key 31 in order to rotate the locking bolt 32, thus releasing the plate-like element 25 and the button 33. In order to open the carryall case 1 it is necessary to pull the locking plate 6 out slightly, as more clearly shown in figures 2 and 4, thus releasing the first coiled spring 36, which turns the linkage 20 and thus rotates and shifts the second plate-like element 25 upward and toward the outside of the case 1, releasing the pawl-shaped end 26 of the plate-like element from the counter-shell 3. The closure operation is performed by carrying out the above described operations in a reverse order. As regards the release of the carryall case 1 from the motorcycle, once the key 31 has been turned, thus freeing the button 33, it is necessary to push said button down completely in order to release, in a per se known manner, the brackets of the carryall case 1 from the rack of the motorcycle. In this case it is advantageously possible to pull out the handle 7 by acting, through the groove 46, on the cross-member 9 of said handle. In this manner the dead center of the second coiled spring 38 is passed and said second spring 38 extracts the handle from the case. Conveniently, the handle 7 retracts flush, thus eliminating the disadvantages described earlier, and advantageously, due to the configuration of the plate-like element, it is not affected in any way by the opening or closure of said carryall case 1. It has been observed that the present device achieves the intended aim and objects, constituting a valid improvement to the systems currently in use, advantageously improving both the aesthetics and the usefulness of carryall cases or rigid travel bags used on motorcycles, and furthermore limits the possibility of their fraudulent removal. The device thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: Carryall case having a device for closing and coupling said carryall case, particularly for motorcycles, said carryall case comprising a shell (2) defining on a surface thereof an accommodation seat, said shell (2) being provided with coupling brackets; a counter-shell (3) hingedly connected to said shell (2), said device for closing and coupling said carryall case comprising a shaped plate (4) fixed inside said accommodation seat (5), and provided with first pivoting means (10, 11) and second pivoting means (15,16), linkages (20) pivotally connected to said shaped plate(4) by said first pivoting means (10,11), said linkages (20) defining a first pivoting axis and a second pivoting axis, a lever system (25) couplable to said counter-shell (3) and pivotally connected to said linkages (20) about said first pivoting axis, a locking plate (6) pivotally connected to said linkages (20) about said second pivoting axis, said locking plate (6) having closure means (30, 32) and an opening (8), uncoupling means (33) which, in closed position, projects from said opening (8), a handle (7) pivotally connected to said shaped plate (4) by said second pivoting means (15, 16), said handle (7) having a cross-member (9) which, in closed position, is interposed between said lever systems (25) and said locking plate (6), and release means (36, 38) connecting said linkages (20) to said first pivoting means (10, 11) and said handle (7) to said second pivoting means (15, 16). Carryall case according to claim 1, characterized in that said first pivoting means comprise a first pair of lugs (10,11) which rise from an end portion (12) of said shaped plate (4), mutually aligned holes (13,14) defined on each lug constituting a third pivoting axis. Carryall case device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said second pivoting means comprise a second pair of lugs (15,16) which rise from an end portion (17), opposite to the preceding one, of said shaped plate (4), mutually aligned holes (18,19) provided on each lug defining a fourth pivoting axis for said handle (7). Carryall case, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said linkages comprise a plate-like linkage (20) which is provided at one end with a first sleeve (21) defining said third pivoting axis and adapted to engage said first pair of lugs (10,11) by fixing means (22), in a median portion, with a second sleeve (23) which defines said first pivoting axis within which said lever systems (25) are associated and fixed by fixing means (22a), and, at the other end, a third sleeve (24) which defines said second pivoting axis with which said locking plate (6) is engaged by fixing means (22b). Carryall case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coupling lever systems comprise a plate-like element (25) which has a pawl-shaped end portion (26) adapted to engage said counter-shell (3) of said case, a median portion from which a terminal portion (27) protrudes in a cantilevered manner, bushes (29) being defined on the end of said terminal portion (27) and adapted to be articulated to said second sleeve (23) by said fixing means (22b). Carryall case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure means comprise a single-key lock (30) adapted to actuate a bolt (32) which is adapted to engage below said shaped plate (4) and below said uncoupling means (33). Carryall case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said uncoupling means comprises a button (33), said button (33) having a first projection (34) for the engagement of said bolt (32) and projecting sides (35) engageable against the inner face of a guiding seat (50). Carryall case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said release means comprise a first coiled spring (36), the ends whereof being respectively fixed to a wing (60) defined by said shaped plate (4) and to said second sleeve (23) of said plate-like linkage (20), and second coiled springs (38), the ends whereof are respectively fixed to the uprights (39) of said handle (7) and to said second pair of lugs (15,16). Carryall case, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shell (2) of said carryall case (1) defines a band (41) which remains in a median position of said case (1) when it is in closed position and on which it is possible to insert reflector elements (42,43) and front elements (44) with diversifiable colors which engage in a guide (45) defined in said lower shell (2), said reflector elements (42,43) being arranged on said band (41) in such a position as to correspond to the rear of said motorcycle.

Inventors: VISENZI GIUSEPPE, VISENZI, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: VISENZI GIUSEPPE, VISENZI, GIUSEPPE
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B62J7
IPC codes: E05C19, E05B65, A45C13, B62J9