Abstract:
A device to prevent unauthorized access to motorcycle saddle bags by inserting a lockable closure insert within the bag. A hinge closure is secured within the opening of a leather type saddle bag with a separate attachment hasp fitting engageable on the opposing bag wall. The locking device is covered by the bag closure flap for decorative and accessibility reasons.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This device relates to motorcycle accessories mounting saddle bag which provide storage compartments that are positioned over the rear wheel of the motorcycle. Saddle bags of this type can be of leather with a mounting frame for attachment to one another and the motorcycle or alternately rigid hard shell saddle bag enclosures formed of synthetic resin materials or the like. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type are directed to motorcycle saddle bags that are typically made of leather with an internal reinforcing mounting frame. The saddle bags have a main storage area with a flap lid that is secured thereover by leather straps and interengagement buckles positioned on the bag surface. Locking saddle bags can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,258,869, 2,527,433 and 2,423,003. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,869 a saddle pack is disclosed having a pair of side housing interconnected by a support web. This device has a zipper inner closure flap and an over flap to provide a secondary or sub-compartment therebetween. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,527,433 is directed to a motorcycle saddle carrier formed of metal defining a pair of oppositely disposed storage compartments. Each compartment has a hinge lid that is contoured to match the compartment shape so as to provide a continuation of same. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,423,003 discloses a motorcycle saddle bag that is lockable. The bag has a rigid mounting plate that is secured to the fender of the motorcycle with a lock engagement portion extending therefrom. This is arranged to lock the bag to the support bracket by use of a pad lock engageable through a lock engagement portion, all within the confines of the bag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A lockable accessory device for motorcycle saddle bags that provides a secure closure for the bag within the access opening. The locking device has a hinged rigid lid that is selectively engageable with a lock bracket secured to the bag and uses a padlock to secure the hinged lid in place. The bag&#39;s original closure flaps overlies the locking device concealing same before access. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a saddle bag with locking device installed within; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the hinge lid portion of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged end plan view; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a lock engagement bracket of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the lock engagement bracket as seen in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged end elevational view of the locking device in locked position on a saddle bag; and 
     FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the lock engagement bracket of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a motorcycle saddle bag  10  can be seen having a main leather body  11  defining an enclosure  12  within, a support and mounting frame  13  is secured within the enclosure  12  defining a rectangular opening at  14 . A flexible closure flap  15  extends from the main body member  11  in a hinged relation thereto as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. The closure flap  15  has a top portion  16 , integral sidewalls  17  and a front wall  18 . A pair of oppositely disposed leather straps  19  extends from the front wall  18  and are in spaced parallel relation to one another. Each of the straps  19  has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures within so as to engage in a corresponding buckle fitting  19 A on the main body member  11 . The hereinbefore described saddle bag  10  is well known within the art and is commercially available in pairs so as to be secured to a motorcycle (not shown). 
     A locking insert  20  of the invention, best seen in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings has a rigid lid member  21  being of a generally rectangular shape defining a lid top  22 , having a contoured front lip portion  23  that is pivotally connected to the lid top  22  by an interengaging hinge fitting  24 . The lid member  21  is of a registering dimension with that of the saddle bag  10  main body member  11  rectangular opening at  14 , best seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings. An elongated hinge fitting  25  with springs  25 A is affixed to the lid top  22  in oppositely disposed spaced relation to the front lip portion  23  as best seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The hinge fitting  25  is correspondingly secure to a portion of the frame  13  adjacent the internal closure flap  15  as hereinbefore described. A hasp engagement tab  26  having an opening therein at  27  extends midway from the front lip portion  23  of the lid member  21  as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4,  5  and  7  of the drawings, a hasp fitting  27  can be seen having a hasp portion  28  and an attachment portion  29 . A hasp portion  28  has a hasp bar  30  extending outwardly therefrom. The attachment portion  29  is integral with the hasp portion defining a depending engagement area therebetween. 
     An apertured mounting element  31  is secured to the attachment portion  29  having a pair of set screws  32  extending therethrough. A bag engagement bracket  33  is independently positioned between the respective hasp portion  28  and attachment portion  29  to engage the front wall  34  of the main body member  11 . In use, the set screws  32  are threadably advanced against the bracket  33  securing the hasp fitting  27  to the front wall  34  in registering alignment with the hereinbefore described hasp engagement tab  26 . It will be evident from the above description that the engagement bracket  33  is in vertical alignment with a front portion  35  of the mounting frame  13  shown in broken lines in FIG. 5 that extends along the front wall  34  of the main body member  11 . 
     With the locking insert  20  of the invention secured within the opening at  14  defined by the main leather body member  11  and the support mounting frame  13 , the lid member  21  can be closed and secured by pivoting the contoured lip portion  23 , as shown in broken lines in FIG. 6 of the drawings, to engage the hasp engagement tab  26  over the hasp bar  30 . A “pad” type lock (not shown) can be engaged through the hasp bar  30  securing the lid member  21  within the opening at  14 . The closure flap  15  of the saddle bag  10  can then be hinged downwardly over the locked assembly secured by the hereinbefore described straps  19  and the respective buckle fittings  19 A concealing the locking insert  20  of the invention. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that motorcycle bags mare typically sold in pairs and that the locking inserts  20  of the invention can be in one or both of the motorcycle bags as is desired by the user. 
     It will therefore be seen that a new and novel motorcycle saddle bag locking device has been illustrated and described and that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.