Abstract:
A luggage carrier for a two wheeled vehicle comprising an open topped container secured to the vehicle. The open topped container having a hinged lid, the lid adapted to provide a seal for the open topped container. The luggage carrier also has a releasable latch, the latch adapted to secure the container in a closed position. The luggage carrier has an alarm system for alarming the luggage carrier and a remote control mechanism for arming and disarming the alarm system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the National Phase of International Application PCT/SG2007/000374 filed Nov. 5, 2007 which designated the U.S. and that International Application was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English, and claims priority to European Application Serial No. 06255813.5, filed Nov. 13, 2006, all of which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates a luggage carrier for two wheeled vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Luggage carriers for two wheeled vehicles are known. Known luggage carriers are manually locked and unlocked using a key. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved luggage carrier for two wheeled vehicles or at least to provide the public or industry with a useful choice. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly in a first embodiment the invention consists in a luggage carrier for a two wheeled vehicle comprising: 
     an open topped container secured to said vehicle; 
     a hinged lid, adapted to provide a seal for said open topped container; 
     a releasable latch, said latch adapted to secure said lid to said container in a closed position; and 
     an alarm system for alarming said luggage carrier; and 
     a remote control mechanism for arming and disarming said alarm system. 
     Preferably said luggage carrier includes a lid lock to prevent said latch from being released, said lid lock adapted to be operable by said remote control mechanism. 
     Preferably said lid lock and said latch are an integral mechanism. 
     Preferably said luggage carrier includes a frame secured to said two wheeled vehicle and said container is mounted on said frame. 
     Preferably said container is detachably mounted to said frame. 
     Preferably said detachably mounted container is secured to said frame by a lock. 
     Preferably said frame lock is operable by said remote control mechanism. 
     Preferably said frame lock is integral with said lid lock. 
     Preferably said frame lock is integral with said latch. 
     Preferably said luggage carrier includes a brake light mounted on said lid; and a power passing mechanism for operating said brake light. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The luggage carrier in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the lock assembly, 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the frame securing assembly, 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the lock assembly of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 4  is front view of the lock assembly, 
         FIG. 5  is cross section of the lock assembly of  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 6  is a front isometric view of the locking sub assembly in a locked position, 
         FIG. 7  is an a rear isometric view of the locking sub assembly in a locked position, 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the lock assembly of  FIG. 1  in an unlocked position, 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the locked, lock assembly of  FIG. 8 , 
         FIG. 10  is a front isometric view of the locking sub assembly in an unlocked position, 
         FIG. 11  is an a rear isometric view of the locking sub assembly in an unlocked position, 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the lock assembly showing the lid latch open, 
         FIGS. 13 to 15  are front views of the locking mechanising illustrating the lock in a neutral, locked and unlocked positions, 
         FIG. 16  is a cross section of the frame of  FIG. 2  with the lock in the locked position, 
         FIG. 17  is a cross section of the frame of  FIG. 2  with the lock in the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 18  is an isometric view of the assembled lock assembly; 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded view from the back of the lock assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a front and back view of the cam of the lock assembly; 
         FIG. 21  is a view of the luggage carrier of the present invention on a motor cycle; and 
         FIG. 22  is a view of the remote control mechanism of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     An exemplary form of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 21  comprising a luggage carrier  210  that is attached to a two wheel vehicle  211 , such as a motorcycle. The luggage carrier  210  is attached to the vehicle  211  by a frame  212  that is typically located behind the motorcycle seat  230 . 
     The luggage carrier  210  comprises a container  213  into which a user may put luggage or helmets. The luggage carrier  210  has a lid  214  having at least one hinge  228  located at one side to the container  213  allowing the lid  214  to be raised up from and lowered down with respect to the container  213 . Preferably at least one hinge  228  is located at the back of the container  213  opposite the lid locking mechanism  220 . The lid  214  may be secured to the container  213  by a lock or locking mechanism  220  at another side. The lid  214  may include a light  215  that is preferably located on and integral with the lid  214 . 
     With reference to the figures a locking mechanism  220  for securing a lid  214  to a container  213  is shown. The locking mechanism  220  (lid lock) includes a button  1  for releasing the lid  214 , a two part lid lock bar  2 , and a spring  3 . In operation the spring  3  is biased to force the two parts of the lid lock bar  2  apart. To release the lock bars  2  the button  1  is depressed by a user which in turn pushes on an actuator  19 . The actuator  19  has slopped sides and when it is pushed the actuator  19  is forced into a slot  2   b  in the lid lock bars  2  such that the two lid lock bars  2  are forced together and the spring  3  is compressed releasing the lid. 
     The locking mechanism  220  is housed in housing  7 . The locking mechanism  220  also includes a cam  4  and a pinion gear  5 . The pinion gear  5  is directly connected to a motor  6  that is housed in the interior of the locking mechanism housing  7 . The cam is only able to turn approximately one quarter, as the cam teeth  41  illustrated in  FIG. 20  occupy only approximately a quarter of the circumference of the cam  4 . A motor controller  8  controls the operation of the motor  6 . 
     The locking mechanism  220  in addition to securing the lid  214  to the container  213  secures the container  213  to the frame  212 . Referring particularly to  FIGS. 2 ,  16  and  17  a plate  12  is bolted or otherwise secured to the frame  212  via holes  12   b  in the plate. A latch  10  that is slidable in a channel of the locking mechanism body  7 . The slidable latch mechanism  10  is used to secure the container  213  to the plate  12 . In particular a hole  10   b  in the latch  10  secures the container to a slot in a projection  10   a , projecting from the plate  12 . The latch  10  is biased in a position to secure the container  213  to the plate  12  by a compression spring  11 . A button  9  on the end of the spring loaded mechanism allows a user to release the container  213  from the plate  12 . By depressing the button  9 , the button  9  depresses the latch  10  such that the latch is released from the projection  10   a  and the container  213  can be removed from the plate  12 . A lip (not shown) on the container  213  is secured into a channel  12   a  of the plate so that the container  213  is in use secured to the plate  12  in at least two positions, that is by the lip and the latch  10 . 
     The motor controller  8  is controllable by a remote device  60  illustrated in  FIG. 22  that operates remotely. Using the remote  60  allows the container  213  to be locked, as well as preventing the container  213  being removed from the frame  212  of the vehicle  211 . 
       FIGS. 3 to 7  show the locking mechanism  220  in a locked position. The lid  214  has a lock plate  13  that is secured to the main locking mechanism housing  7 . The positioning of the cam  4  prevents buttons  1  and  9  from operating. Cam projections  43 ,  44  on opposite edges of the cam  4  prevent the buttons  1 ,  9  from operating as the buttons are prevented by the projections from being pushed. 
     Button  9  operates to release the release mechanism of the lock bars  2  from the lid lock plate  13  as described above. A spring  14  provides assistance to separate the lid lock plate  13  from the main housing  7  when the lock bars are released. The lid lock plate  13  is attached to the lid  214  and is aligned with the main locking mechanism body  7 . 
       FIGS. 8 to 11  show the locking mechanism  220  in an unlocked position. The cam projections are now located a quarter turn away from their original position and no longer prevent the buttons  1 ,  9  from operating. The buttons  1 ,  9  are operable to release the lid  214  from the container  213  and the container  213  from the plate  12 . 
       FIG. 12  shows an electrical connection mechanism  15 ,  16 . A male connector part  16  is located at the top of the housing  7  and a corresponding female connector part  15  is located in the lid lock plate  13 . When the lid  214  is secured to the container  213 , the male connector part  16 , and the female connector part  15 , interlock to provide an electrical connection. 
     The electrical connection  15 ,  16  is typically used for a brake light  215  on the lid  214 . In an alternative embodiment the electrical connection  15 ,  16  can also be used to provide an audible alarm connection. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 to 15 , a manually key operable lock  17  may override the controller  8 . The key operable lock  17  includes a lever  18  that controls the operation of the cam  4 . The cam  4  includes a quarter turn segment  50  in which the lock lever  18  can be rotated. 
     In a neutral position illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the cam  4  can be operated by the controller  8  as the quarter turn needed by the controller  8  and motor  6  to move the cam to the unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 15  can be made. In this position the key  64  can be inserted and removed from the lock  17 . 
     In a locked position illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the lever  18  prevents the controller  8  from turning the cam  4 , the cam  4  in turn prevents the buttons  1 , 9  from operating. As soon as the controller  8  and motor  6  attempt to move the cam  4  the lock lever  18  prevents the cam  4  from turning. 
     In an unlocked position illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the lock lever  18  moves the cam  4  to a position that allows the buttons  1  and  9  to operate thereby manually unlocking the luggage carrier. In this position the lid  214  may be opened and the carrier  210  removed from the plate  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , the cam  4  is shown in a locked position. This prevents the button  9  from operating the latch  10  to release the container from the plate  12 . In  FIG. 17  the cam  4  is in a position such that the button  9  can be pushed by a user to move the latch  10  thereby releasing the container  213  from the plate  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18 and 19  in particular, the luggage carrier  210  also includes an alarm system integral with the motor controller  8 . “Motor Controller” and “Alarm System” are used interchangeable for the electronic circuits that control the motor  6  and provide an alarm. 
     The alarm system  8  is preferably powered by the motorcycle battery but also includes a rechargeable battery. The alarm system  8  has a speaker  35  to provide an audible alarm output with the alarm  8  is activated. The alarm system  8  comprises a number of electronic components mounted on a printer circuit board  37 . The alarm system  8  includes a sensor to detect vibrations, knocks or other motion. To fine tune the sensor a variable resistor  31  is utilised. The alarm system  8  is operated by the remote control  60  illustrated in  FIG. 22 . The printer circuit board  37  also includes a remote reset button  32  so that the alarm system  8  and the remote control  60  can be reset in the event that the alarm  8  and remote  60  inbuilt security codes get out of sequence. 
     The remote control  60  and the alarm  8  communicate using radio frequency transmission that has a range of up to 30 meters. 
     The remote control  60  has two buttons on one surface of the control unit  60 . One of the buttons  62  is used to turn the alarm  8  off and another button  63  is used to turn the alarm on. When the alarm  8  is turned off using button  62  the cam  4  is driven to the unlocked position. When the alarm  8  is turned on button  63  the cam  4  is driven to the locked position. In the preferred embodiment the remote  60  also includes an LED indicator  65  and a retractable key  64  that can be used to unlock the luggage carrier. 
     The alarm controller  8 , using the electric motor  6 , can lock and unlock the container  213 . In the event that a thief tries to disconnect power to the alarm  8  the alarm  8  will sound using the rechargeable battery of the alarm system  8 . 
     In a preferred embodiment in the alarm system  8  will automatically lock the luggage carrier  210  a short period of time after the luggage carrier  210  is unlocked. Three minutes is a particularly preferred time period. 
     The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof as defined by the accompanying claims.