Abstract:
A motorcycle luggage accessory and method for making thereof is disclosed which provides lumbar support and is removably secured longitudinally, laterally, and vertically to the back of a motorcycle. This device does not require engaging a backrest.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention is a luggage accessory for a motorcycle that provides a back support for the rider, and which is removably attachable to a rear frame of a motorcycle. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many types of luggage accessories for use in association with motorcycles are known. Some such accessories are rigid clamshell structures attachable to a rack at the rear of the motorcycle, and other luggage accessories are soft bags which are secured by straps to frame members at the rear of the motorcycle. While such prior luggage accessories provide suitable means for storage, they are generally attached to the motorcycle in a way which does not facilitate their use as a backrest for the rider. Any such accessories which may be configured as a backrest for the rider only can function as a backrest when full. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,239 (Lovitt) discloses a bag with straps which loop around the seat back of a motorcycle. The seat back engaging loops provide lateral stability for the luggage. The bag of this invention is soft and provides no inherent structure for a backrest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has the desirable feature of providing a backrest for the motorcycle rider as well as providing a means for storing personal effects. The invention is a rigid structure which is preferably tubular so as to provide a natural support to the rider&#39;s lumbar region. The invention may be secured to the seat support frame of the motorcycle or other rear motorcycle frame members, and is normally positioned in front of the passenger seat back. The accessory of the invention is preferably held in place by means of straps. When there are two riders on the motorcycle, the accessory can be secured to support frame members behind the passenger seat back. 
     The invention comprises a rigid support such as a tube which is covered by a material such as a synthetic leather. The rigid support for the luggage accessory enables the accessory to serve as a backrest even when it is empty. In a preferred embodiment, the accessory has an attachable backrest member which is adjustable to the preference of the rider. 
     Each end of the luggage accessory is provided with an endcap which maybe completely removed to provide easy access to the interior of the luggage. 
     The invention has the desirability of providing the motorcycle rider with a detachable accessory which functions as a backrest. The accessory of the invention has a rigid hollow support with opposing open ends, and a cover is releasably engageable about the support. A plurality of straps are attached to the rigid hollow support for the purpose of engaging the seat support frame so that the accessory may be secured to it. The secured luggage accessory may be positioned to provide a backrest for a rider of the motorcycle. The accessory has endcaps which are releasably attachable to the opposing open ends of the covered support. The invention disclosed herein provides for lumbar support for the motorcycle rider while the luggage is empty and does not require the mounting of additional support structure to the motorcycle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of the rigid hollow support; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of the cover and closing means; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the rigid hollow support inserted and centered within the cover, and closing means are also illustrated; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of a fully assembled motorcycle luggage accessory comprising the rigid hollow support centered within the cover, and the two ends of the cover joined together by the closing means; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective side and partial cross-sectional view of the motorcycle luggage accessory, illustrating the handle and removable endcaps; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the motorcycle luggage accessory secured to a rear-portion of a motorcycle, illustrating two strap means (strap) and a removably mounted backrest; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a single strap means (a single strap), and an attachment means (a metal loop); and 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of the motorcycle luggage accessory secured to the rear-portion of the motorcycle (behind a backrest), illustrated are two strap means and a removably attached backrest. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes, contemplated by the inventor, for carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a removably engageable motorcycle luggage accessory which provides a backrest for the motorcyclist as well as a means for storing personal effects. 
     The accessory is both rigid and cylindrical. The accessory may be mounted either behind or on top of the motorcycle seat. This dual positioning feature allows the accessory to provide lumbar support to a motorcyclist. The accessory, being rigid, can provide lumbar support even while empty. 
     The motorcycle luggage accessory is securable to the rear frame portion of the motorcycle by strap means and attachment means. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of the rigid hollow support  120 . This figure illustrates the rigid hollow support  120  used to make the accessory  10  rigid. In one preferred embodiment, the rigid hollow support  120  is a PVC pipe. In another preferred embodiment the rigid hollow support  120  has an outer diameter of 12.75 inches. In yet another preferred embodiment the rigid hollow support  120  has an outer diameter of 16.0 inches. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of the cover  130  and closing means  140 . The cover  130  may be constructed out of a durable weather resistant material. The cover  130  encompass the rigid hollow support  120  and protects it and its contents from the environment. The cover  130  has a first end  150  and the second end  160 . The cover  130  has a length that is double that of the rigid hollow support  120 . The cover  130  also serves to give the accessory,  10  an aesthetically appealing appearance. The closing means  140  are well known in the art and may comprise, but not limited to, zippers or Velcro. In one embodiment the cover  130  is made of a leather. In another embodiment the cover  130  is made of a synthetic leather. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the rigid hollow support  120  inserted and centered within the cover  130 . The rigid hollow support  120  is inserted in the cover  130  until both are centered around a common midpoint. The first end  150  and the second end  160  of cover  130  are then inserted into the rigid hollow support  120 . The first end  150  and the second end  160  are then joined together by the closing means  140  inside the rigid hollow support  120 . 
     The preferred method of manufacture requires that both the rigid hollow support  120  and the cover  130  share a common midpoint but this is not an essential element of the invention as it would be obvious to anyone skilled in the art that the luggage could easily be constructed even if the rigid hollow support  120  was not centered within the cover  130 . 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a fully assembled accessory  10 . The accessory  10  comprising the rigid hollow support  120  centered within the cover  130 . The first end  150  and the second end  160  of the cover  130  are joined together by the closing means  140  inside the rigid hollow support  120 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective side and partial cross-sectional view of the accessory  10 . This figure illustrates the accessory  10 , in a standalone mode, ready for transporting items. The strap means  30  may be used as a shoulder strap to aid in the manual transportation of the accessory  10 . 
     FIG. 6 shows an accessory  10 , secured to a rear-portion of a motorcycle  20 , illustrating an endcap  25 , two strap means  30 , attachment means  35 , a removably mounted backrest  40 , and a handle  45 . The accessory  10  having a front-facing portion  50  and a rear-facing portion  60 . The accessory  10  is rigid, cylindrical in shape and constructed of a durable weather resistant material. The interior of accessory  10  is accessible by removing either one of the two endcaps  25 . The accessory  10  may be carried by the handle  45 . 
     The attachment means  35  may comprise metal loops or hooks but it would be obvious to someone skilled in the art that mechanical equivalents may be substituted to achieve the same results. The strap means  30  may comprise a strap or cord constructed of a durable, wear resistant material. The strap means  30  would include a means for adjusting the length and tension of the strap. The strap means  30  would also include a means for securing the strap and locking it into place. The means for adjusting and the means for securing may be the same means. Such means for adjusting the length and securing the strap are well known in the art and do not form an essential feature of this invention. 
     The strap means  30  secures the accessory  10 , via the attachment means  35 , to the rear-portion of the motorcycle  20 . The strap means  30  engages both the attachment means  35  and the rear-portion of the motorcycle  20  in several physically spaced apart locations. The strap means  30  is tensioned at an angle between the attachment means  35  and the rear-portion  20 , thereby providing stability in all three dimensions. 
     The attachment means  35  are located on the bottom portion  70  of the accessory  10 . At least three attachment means  35  are located on the bottom portion  70  of the accessory  10 , in a triangular orientation. 
     In another embodiment four attachment means  35  are located on the bottom portion  70  of the accessory  10 , two being located adjacent to the front-facing portion  50  and two being located adjacent to the rear-facing portion  60 . 
     In another embodiment, the removably mounted backrest  40  is mounted to the accessory  10  with Velcro™ (hook and loop fasteners). 
     The removably mounted backrest  40  is an optional feature of this invention as the motorcycle luggage accessory itself may act as a backrest. 
     FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of a single strap means  30  and an attachment means  35 . A single strap means  30  of sufficient length may be used to engage all of the attachment means  35 . In another embodiment each strap means  30  may correspond to a unique attachment means  35 . 
     FIG. 8 shows a removably mounted backrest  40  attached to the accessory  10  with Velcro (hook and loop fasteners). The backrest  40  provides additional lumbar support for a motorcyclist, when mounted on or behind the motorcycle seat  80 . When a passenger is seated behind the motorcyclist, the accessory  10  is preferably mounted on a luggage rack (not shown) to the rear of seat  80 . 
     The endcaps  25  are also illustrated in this figure as are the snap means  90  which secure the endcaps  25  to the central luggage body  100 . The endcaps  25  provide access to the inside of the accessory  10 . Either one or both endcaps  25  may be removed by disengaging the snap means  90 . In another embodiment, the accessory  10  may be manufactured with only one removable endcap  25 . The snap means  90  are well known in the art and may comprise, but not limited to, metal snaps. 
     This figure also illustrates three strap means  30  which are angled and tensioned to provide three dimensional stability to the accessory  10 . 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.