Abstract:
A support for hard bag luggage of the type used on motorcycles wherein there is provided a central upstanding vertical post having hard bag supporting arms extending in opposite directions and associated means for maintaining in spaced relation between the support luggage and the central post.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/560,301 filed on Apr. 7, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to supports for luggage and more particularly to a support for hard luggage removed from a motorcycle during cleaning and repair of the motorcycle.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Hard luggage in the vernacular of motor cyclists is referred to as hard bags. Hard bags are typically fabricated of a hard plastic material or aluminum, for example.  
         [0006]     The hard bags are most often molded of a special plastic polymer compound which will resist cracking from exposure to the elements. These hard bags are typically mounted to a motorcycle with some sort of metal or plastic brackets. Hard bags have a number of advantages over soft bags. Amongst the advantages is that such structures are more secure than soft bags, both from a theft standpoint and from accidentally falling from the motorcycle. Such baggage also is waterproof to a large extent.  
         [0007]     Amongst the disadvantages, it can be difficult to locate hard bags that will properly fit one&#39;s motorcycle due to the large number of motorcycle designs and sizes. Even if one is able to locate proper hard bags, the cost is typically very high. Some motorcycles are sold with hard luggage or it is available as an accessory from the manufacturer.  
         [0008]     Many commercially available hard bags are sold in a ready-to-install mode or are said in condition to be custom painted. These bags include those designed for use with original style exhaust or with staggered dual exhaust, and typically not designed to be used with upswept or shotgun-style exhausts.  
         [0009]     Mounting systems are provided which result in no-hassle mounting for effortless bolt-on installation. Support brackets are mounted to the fender struts and frame.  
         [0010]     It becomes necessary to remove the hard bags from the motorcycle when the motorcycle is to be washed, polished, and suitably detailed, for example. Great care must be exercised to be certain that the finish of the hard bags is not marred or scratched during this temporary displacement.  
         [0011]     A primary object of the present invention is to produce a support for the hard bag luggage during the time such luggage is removed from the associated motorcycle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The above, as well as other, objects of the invention may be achieved by a support for hard bag luggage comprising a base; upstanding columnar member having a first end portion attached to the base and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion; an upper support secured to the columnar member and extending outwardly therefrom for supporting the hard bags; and at least one arm secured to the columnar member and extending outwardly from the columnar member at a spaced interval, the arm adapted to provide lateral support for the hard bag luggage to maintain the same in spaced relation from the columnar member.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The above objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a support for hard bag luggage embodying the features of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the support illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing one hard bag luggage affixed thereto; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the support illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with two hard bag luggage pieces attached thereto. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     Referring to the drawings, there are illustrated two different sizes of a support for hard bag luggage of the type utilized on motorcycles and incorporating the features of the invention.  
         [0018]     The illustrated support structure includes a supporting base  10  which consists of a longitudinally extending central member  12  disposed to extend horizontally on a supporting surface. A pair of parallel spaced apart supporting foot members  14 ,  16  is integrally connected to the opposite ends of the central member  12 . The foot members  14 ,  16  must be of sufficient length to adequately support the completed assembly as will become manifest hereinafter.  
         [0019]     The base  10  is provided to support an upstanding columnar member or post  18 . The lowermost or proximal end of the columnar member  18  is secured by welding or other suitable securing means such as threaded fasteners, for example, to the center or midpoint of the central member  12  of the base  10 .  
         [0020]     A horizontally extending upper support  20  is secured to the upper or distal end of the columnar member  18  and fastened thereto by welding or other suitable means such as threaded fasteners, for example.  
         [0021]     In the preferred embodiment, a pair of generally parallel spaced apart cross members  22 ,  24  are secured to the upper support  20 . The cross members  22 ,  24  are secured to the upper support  20  by welding or other suitable means such as threaded fasteners, for example. The outermost ends of the cross members  22 ,  24  are adapted to support respective hard bags  40 ,  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , by being received within spaced apart notches, brackets, or the like formed on the inner facing walls of the outer surface of the hard bags  40 ,  50 .  
         [0022]     A second or supplement cross member  30  is secured to the columnar member  18  at a point below the upper cross members  22 ,  24  and is disposed in general parallel relation thereto. The ends of the second cross member  30  are caused to contact the outside wall of the respective hard bags  40 ,  50  below the attachment points of the upper cross members  22 ,  24  and are provided for lateral support hereof. The ends of the second cross members may be typically provided with elastomeric covering to protect the supported hard bags from being scratched or otherwise damaged during the support thereof.  
         [0023]     As clearly illustrated in the drawings, the ends of the upper cross members  22 ,  24  may be bent to extend slightly upwardly to effect proper support attitude in respect of the associated hard bags  40 ,  50 .  
         [0024]     The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3  includes cross members  22 ,  24 , wherein the ends are designed to be received within suitable apertures in the outer surfaces of the respective side walls of the hard bag luggage to be supported. It must be understood that the ends of the cross members  22 ,  24  could be provided with brackets, snaps, or other fastening devices which would cooperate with corresponding means secured to or integral with the side walls of the hard bag luggage to be supported. Regardless of the specific design of the cross members  22 ,  24 , it will be further understood that cooperating means, such as the cross member  30  must be employed to properly orient the associated luggage to militate against the occurrence of any scuffing or scratching of the outer surfaces of the associated luggage.  
         [0025]     Also, to assure the stability of the assembly, the supporting base  10  must be able to adequately support a single hard bag  40 , for example. In the illustrated embodiment, this functional feature is met by a determination of the length of the supporting foot members  14 ,  16 .  
         [0026]     It will be understood that the components of the support may be formed of metal, wood, plastic, or other material which would have sufficient inherent strength to support the hard bag luggage.  
         [0027]     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be understood that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.