Abstract:
A storage box assembly includes a mounting base for mounting to a rear luggage carrier of a motorcycle, a first locating device upwardly extending from the mounting base, a second locating device upwardly extending from the mounting base and controllable to move relative to the first locating device, a storage box, which has a first retaining recess for receiving the first locating device and at least one second retaining recess for receiving the second locating device, and a control device coupled to the mounting base and operable to move the second locating device between a first position where the second locating device engages the second retaining recess to lock the storage box to the mounting base, and a second position where the second locating device is disengaged from the second retaining recess to unlock the storage box for allowing removal of the storage box from the mounting base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to motorcycle parts and more specifically, to a storage box assembly having a mounting base mountable to a rear luggage rack of a motorcycle, and a storage box detachably mounted to the mounting base. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a storage box  2  fixedly provided at the rear side of a motorcycle  1  for storing things. According to this design, screw bolts (not shown) are inserted through the bottom panel of the storage box  2  and fastened to respective mounting through holes on the rear luggage rack  3  of the motorcycle  1  to affix the storage box  2  to the rear luggage rack  3 . Therefore, the storage box  2  is fixedly secured to the rear luggage rack  3  and cannot be conveniently removed from the motorcycle  1 . 
         [0005]    As stated above, the storage box  2  is affixed to the rear luggage rack  3  with screw bolts; therefore, the mounting procedure of the storage box  2  as well as its dismounting procedure are time-consuming and inconvenient. Therefore, the storage box  2  is constantly secured to the rear luggage rack  3  of the motorcycle  1 , and will not be frequently conveniently removed from the motorcycle  1  for other purposes. Further, inserting the screw bolts through the bottom panel of the storage box  2  may cause concentration of stress around each mounting through hole on the bottom panel of the storage box  2  through which the associating screw bolt is inserted, thereby resulting possible damage to the bottom panel of the storage box  2 . In general, the aforesaid storage box  2  is simply used for carrying things on the motorcycle  1 , not applicable for other purposes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one objective of the present invention to provide a storage box assembly for motorcycle, which can rapidly and detachably be installed in the rear luggage rack of a motorcycle, and firmly secured in place when installed. 
         [0007]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide a storage box assembly for motorcycle, which can be removed from the motorcycle for other purposes. 
         [0008]    To achieve these objectives of the present invention, the storage box assembly comprises a mounting base for mounting to a rear luggage carrier of a motorcycle. The mounting base has a bearing surface. A first locating device upwardly extends from the bearing surface. A second locating device upwardly extends from the bearing surface and is controllable to move relative to the first locating device between a first position and a second position. A storage box has a mounting wall corresponding to the mounting base, at least one first retaining recess formed on the mounting wall for receiving the first locating device, and at least one second retaining recess formed on the mounting wall for receiving the second locating device. A control device is coupled to the mounting base for moving the second locating device relative to the first locating device between the first position where the second locating device engages the at least one second retaining recess to lock the storage box to the mounting base, and the second position where the second locating device is disengaged from the at least one second retaining recess to unlock the storage box for allowing removal of the storage box from the mounting base. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage box assembly further comprises two wheels respectively pivoted to a bottom side of the storage box, and a retractable handle mounted on one side of the storage box such that the storage box can be drawn to move on the ground by the wheels thereof after removal of the storage box from the mounting base. 
         [0010]    In addition, the control device has a protruding block. A lock is mounted in a front end of the mounting base and provided with a stop block, which is operatable to stop against the protruding block of the control device to constrain the second locating device to the first position when the lock is set in a locking position. 
         [0011]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing showing a storage box installed in the rear luggage rack of a motorcycle according to the prior art; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of a motorcycle, showing the application of a storage box assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the mounting base of the storage box assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the mounting base of the storage box assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the mounting base of the storage box assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the control device of the storage box assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top plain view of the guard plate of the storage box assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing showing the connection of the storage box to the mounting base according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a schematic sectional view showing the connection of the storage box to the mounting base according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a schematic drawing showing the storage box locked to the mounting base according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a schematic drawing of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that the sliders are in the third position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view of a part of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is similar to  FIG. 11  but showing that the locating pins of the sliders are engaged into the locating holes of the inner tubes of the retractable handle; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is similar to  FIG. 12  but showing that the engagement block are stopped against the sliders and the locating pins of the sliders are engaged into the locating holes of the inner tubes of the retractable handle, and 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a schematic drawing showing the storage box independently used. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a storage box assembly for motorcycle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises mainly a mounting base  10  mounted on a rear luggage rack  101  of a motorcycle  100  and a storage box  50  mounted on the mounting base  10 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-10 , the storage box assembly for motorcycle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the aforesaid mounting base  10 , a first locating device  28 , a lock  30 , a control device  34 , a second locating device  40 , two return springs  44 , a guard plate  46 , the aforesaid storage box  50 , a retractable handle  58 , two wheels  60 , and a cushion pad  68 . Detailed description of these components will be recited hereinunder. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-5  again, the mounting base  10  is a plate member having a front end  12 , a rear end  14  and a bearing surface  16 . The mounting base  10  further has a recessed chamber  18 , two guiding rods  20 , a locating rod  21 , two openings  22 , two receptacles  24 , and an engagement block  26 . 
         [0031]    The recessed chamber  18  is formed on one side of the mounting base  10  opposite to the bearing surface  16  and disposed near the front edge  12 . The two guiding rods  20  and the locating rod  21  are respectively perpendicularly extending from the bottom wall of the recessed chamber  18 . The two openings  22  are respectively extending through the bearing surface  16  in communication with the recessed chamber  18 . The two receptacles  24  are respectively protruded from the bearing surface  16  corresponding to the two openings  22 , each having a receptacle hole  24   a  respectively disposed in communication with the openings  22  and a pin  24   b  inside the receptacle hole  24   a.  The engagement block  26  has two beveled guide edges  26   a  symmetrically disposed at the left and right sides. According to the present preferred embodiment, the mounting base  10  is fixedly provided at the rear luggage rack  101  of the motorcycle  100 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The mounting base  10  can be affixed to the rear luggage rack  101  of the motorcycle  100  by any of a variety of conventional mounting techniques. 
         [0032]    The first locating device  28  is formed integral with a part of the bearing surface  16  of the mounting base  10  near the rear end  14 , having a hook  28   a  suspending above the bearing surface  16  and extending in direction toward the front end  12  of the mounting base  10 . 
         [0033]    The lock  30  is mounted in the front end  12  of the mounting base  10  and extending to the inside of the recessed chamber  18 , having a T-shaped stop block  32 . A qualified key  102  can be inserted into the lock  30  and rotated to move the stop block  32  between a locking position shown in  FIG. 10  and an unlocking position shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the control device  34  comprises a flat base  36 , a handle  38  curved downwards from one side, namely, the front side of the flat base  36 , a protruding block  36   a  upwardly extended from the flat base  36  adjacent to the handle  38 , two elongated slots  36   b  cut through the top and bottom sides of the flat base  36  and equally spaced from the protruding block  36  at two sides, and a locating slot  36   c  cut through the top and bottom sides of the flat base  36  and spaced from the protruding block  36  (opposite to the handle  38 ) at one side opposite to the handle  38 . Further, a second locating device  40  is formed integral with the other side, namely, the rear side of the flat base  36 . The second locating device  40  is comprised of two hooks  42  bilaterally upwardly extending from the rear side of the flat base  36 . Each hook  42  has a front slop  42   a  and a back pin  42   b.  The control device  34  is mounted in the recessed chamber  18  of the mounting base  10 , letting the two hooks  42  extend out of the two openings  22  of the mounting base  10  into the two receptacles  24  such that the guiding rods  20  and locating rod  21  of the mounting base  10  are respectively inserted through the elongated slots  36   b  and locating slot  36   c  of the control device  34 . After installation of the control device  34  in the recessed chamber  18  of the mounting base  10 , the control device  34  is movable between a first position P 1  as shown in  FIG. 8  and a second position P 2  as indicated by the imaginary line in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0035]    The two return springs  44  are respectively coupled between the pins  24   b  in the receptacles  24  and the pins  42   b  of the hooks  42  to hold the control device  34  constantly in the first position P 1  when the control device  34  receives no external pressure. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the guard plate  46  is covered on the outer side of the flat base  36  of the control device  34 , having a plurality of mounting through holes  46   a.  Fastening elements, for example, locating pins  48  are respectively fastened to and the guiding rods  20  and locating rod  21  of the mounting base  10  through the mounting through holes  46   a  of the guard plate  46  to affix the guard plate  46  to the mounting base  10 , preventing falling of the control device  34  out of the mounting base  10 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 11 , the storage box  50  has a mounting wall  52  at one side, a first retaining recess  54  and two second retaining recesses  56  respectively formed on the mounting wall  52 . The second retaining recesses  56  each have an inside stop edge  56   a.  Before fastening the storage box  50  to the mounting base  10 , the lock  30  must be kept in the unlocking position as shown in  FIG. 8 . During installation, the first retaining recess  54  of the storage box  50  is coupled to the first locating device  28 , and then the storage box  50  is closely attached to the mounting base  10  to force the peripheral edges of the second retaining recesses  56  against the slopes  42   a  of the hooks  42  (see  FIG. 9 ) and to further move the two hooks  42  backwards, for enabling the two receptacles  24  to be respectively inserted into the second retaining recesses  56 . After the two receptacles  24  have been respectively inserted into the second retaining recesses  56 , the two return spring  44  immediately force the two hooks  42  out of the receptacle holes  24   a  of the receptacles  24  into engagement with the inside stop edges  56   a  in the second retaining recesses  56  (see  FIG. 10 ), and therefore the storage box  50  is firmly secured to the mounting base  10 . Further, the hook  28   a  of the first locating device  28  may be covered with an elastic covering or the like (not shown), assuring positive engagement when the hook  28   a  is hooked in the first retaining recess  54 . 
         [0038]    After installation of the storage box  50  in the mounting base  10 , rotate the key  102  to move the stop block  32  to the locking position shown in  FIG. 10  where the stop block  32  is stopped against the protruding block  36   a  of the control device  34  to prohibit outward movement of the control device  34 , and the control device  34  is kept in the first position P 1 , i.e., the hooks  42  of the second locating device  40  are kept engaged with the inside stop edges  56   a  in the second retaining recesses  56 , and therefore the storage box  50  is locked to the mounting base  10  and prohibited from vibration during running of the motorcycle. On the contrary, when rotate the key  102  in the reversed direction to move the stop block  32  away from the protruding block  36   a  of the control device  34 , the control device  34  is unlocked and can be pulled outwards to move the control device  34  to the second position P 2 , i.e., to disengage the hooks  42  from the inside stop edges  56   a  in the second retaining recesses  56 , and therefore the storage box  50  is unlocked and can be taken away from the mounting base  10 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the retractable handle  58  is mounted on the mounting wall  52  of the storage box  50 , and the two wheels  60  are respectively pivoted to the bottom side of the storage box  50 . The retractable handle  58  comprises two outer tubes affixed to the mounting wall  52  of the storage box  50 , two inner tubes  59  respectively inserted into the outer tubes and axially movable in and out of the outer tubes, and a grip  58   a  connected between the respective outer ends of the inner tubes  59  outside the outer tubes. The inner tubes  59  each have a locating hole  59   a  adjacent to the grip  58   a.  The storage box  50  has a transversely extending opening  62  near the second retaining recesses  56 . Two sliders  64  are reversely mounted in the transversely extending opening  62 , each having a beveled guide face  64   a  and a locating pin  64   b.  Two spring members  66  are respectively mounted on the locating pins  64   b  of the sliders  64  and stopped against a part inside of the storage box  50 , thereby holding the sliders  64  in a third position P 3  as shown in  FIG. 12  where the engagement block  26  is kept apart from the sliders  64 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , when the storage box  50  is fastened to the mounting base  10 , the engagement block  26  is perpendicularly inserted into the transversely extending opening  62  to force the two beveled guide edges  26   a  of the engagement block  26  against the beveled guide edges  64   a  of the sliders  64 , and therefore the sliders  64  are moved in reversed directions to a fourth position P 4  where the locating pins  64   b  of the sliders  64  are respectively engaged into the locating holes  59   a  of the inner tubes  59  to lock the retractable handle  58  in the received position. On the contrary, when the storage box  50  is removed from the mounting base  10 , the spring members  66  immediately return the sliders  64  to the third position. 
         [0041]    Further, the cushion pad  68  is provided between the storage box  50  and the mounting base  10  to lessen impact between the storage box  50  and the mounting base  10 . According to the present preferred embodiment, the cushion pad  68  is affixed to the mounting wall  52  of the storage box  50 . 
         [0042]    As indicated above, the storage box  50  can easily and rapidly be fastened to or disconnected from the mounting base  10 . By means of the hook  28  of the first locating device  28  and the hooks  42  of the second locating device  40 , the storage box  50  is firmly secured to the mounting base  10 . Further, simply pulling the control device  34  outwards, the storage box  50  is unlocked and can be taken away from the mounting base  10 . Further, the storage box  50  can be installed in the rear luggage rack of a motorcycle for carrying things. When the storage box  50  is removed from the motorcycle, the retractable handle  58  can be extended out, and the wheels  60  can be kept in contact with the floor for enabling the storage box  50  to be moved on the floor with less effort, as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0043]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.