Abstract:
A readily removable storage unit for mounting on the rear fender of a motorcycle comprising a storage compartment member defining an open cavity and a cover pivotably mounted on the compartment member adjacent its front end for movement between a cavity closing position and an open position. A lock is provided on the compartment member and the cover adjacent the rear wall for securing the cover in the cavity closing position. A fastener on the bottom wall of the compartment member is engageable with the rear fender of the motorcycle, and the saddle and compartment member have a cooperating releasable tongue and bracket so that the storage unit is mounted by first engaging the saddle and then engaging the fastener in the motorcycle rear fender.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to motorcycle accessories and, more particularly, to storage compartments for use on motorcycles. 
     Owners of motorcycles generally desire a sleek looking appearance, particularly when they are riding solo. Some owners desire the versatility of being able to add and remove a rear seat quickly when they wish to be accompanied by a passenger. Some frequently desire a storage unit which can be mounted upon the motorcycle readily in order to enable them to carry clothing, tools and whatever else they might require. As a result, various structures have been developed which can be mounted either on the frame or on the rear fender, many of which require a number of fasteners in order to achieve the desired mounting, and disengagement of those fasteners in order to remove the structure. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel storage compartment for rapid mounting on, and dismounting from, a motorcycle. 
     It is also an object to provide such a storage compartment which is streamlined and attractive in appearance. 
     Another object is to provide such a storage compartment which can be rapidly interchanged with a rear seat utilizing essentially the same mounting means. 
     A further object is to provide such a storage compartment which may be fabricated readily from synthetic resin to provide a relatively low cost but attractive structure which will enjoy a long life. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may be readily attained in a readily removable storage unit for mounting on the rear fender of a motorcycle with a saddle. The storage unit comprises a storage compartment member having front, rear, side, and bottom walls defining a cavity therebetween. Pivotably mounted on the compartment member adjacent the front wall is a cover dimensioned and configured to provide a closure for the cavity, and is movable between a cavity closing position and an open position. 
     For securing the cover in the cavity closing position, cooperating releasable locking means are provided on the cover and on the compartment member adjacent the rear wall. Also included are releasable mounting means on the bottom wall of the compartment member for engagement with the rear fender of the motorcycle upon which the storage unit is mounted, and releasable engagement means on the compartment member adjacent the front wall engageable with cooperating engagement means on the saddle of the motorcycle. The storage unit is mounted by engaging the engagement means on the compartment member with the saddle and then engaging the mounting means with the motorcycle rear fender. 
     Usually, the bottom wall of the storage compartment member is elongated and arcuate along its elongated axis to conform to the configuration of the motorcycle fender. Desirably, the bottom wall is also arcuate in the transverse direction to conform to the configuration of the motorcycle fender, and the bottom wall also has resilient bumpers thereon to space the bottom wall from the motorcycle fender. A threaded fastener is seated in an aperture in the bottom wall for engagement in a threaded aperture in the rear fender to provide the releasable mounting means. 
     Preferably, the cover has a recess in which an element of the locking means is seated, and extending about the periphery of the cover is sealing means which extends into a cooperating recess in the compartment member. A pull strap is provided adjacent the locking means on the cover to facilitate pivoting of the cover into the open position. Most desirably the cover is arcuate in the longitudinal direction and the side walls taper from the front wall to a reduced dimension at the rear wall to provide a streamlined appearance. 
     In one embodiment, the engagement means comprises a tongue on the bottom wall extending beyond the front wall to engage the saddle. In another embodiment, the engagement means comprises a bracket on the bottom wall which is adapted to receive a tongue projecting rearwardly from the saddle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage compartment embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof as mounted upon the rear fender of a motorcycle which is fragmentarily illustrated; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 2 along the lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the cover in the open position; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the hinge area of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the lock area of the compartment and cover; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the compartment with an alternate embodiment for the seat engaging assembly; and 
     FIG. 8 is a view of the fragmentarily illustrated motorcycle with a rear seat mounted thereon in place of the storage container. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning first to FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, therein illustrated is a quick change storage compartment unit adapted to be mounted on the rear fender of a motorcycle and generally designated by the numeral  10 . The unit  10  is comprised of a storage container generally designated by the numeral  16  and a cover generally designated by the numeral  20  which is locked in a closed position by the lock assembly generally designated by the numeral  21 . 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the compartment  10  is mounted on the rear fender  14  of a motorcycle  8  behind the saddle generally designated by the numeral  12 . In this particular embodiment, the motorcycle saddle also has a backrest  13 . 
     Turning now in detail to the storage container  16 , it has a bottom wall  22 , a front wall  24 , a rear wall  26 , side walls  28  and a top wall  32  providing an opening  31  over which the cover  20  extends. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the bottom wall  22  has a recess  33  adjacent the front wall  24  in which is seated the rearward end of an elongated tongue  34  secured to the bottom wall  22  by fasteners  36 . 
     As seen in FIGS. 2-4, tongue  34  extends into a recess opening on the rear surface of the saddle  12  so as to engage the front end of the compartment unit  10 . Also provided in the bottom wall  22  somewhat forwardly of the rearward end of the opening  31  is an aperture (not shown) in which is seated a threaded fastener  40 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the threaded fastener  40  is engageable in a threaded insert  42  in the rear fender  14  to secure the compartment unit  10  in firm engagement with the rear fender. The combination of the engagement of the tongue  34  and the fastener  36  provides a secure assembly upon the rear fender  14  of the motorcycle  8 . Also provided on the bottom wall  22  are a multiplicity of depending bumpers  44  of rubber or other resilient material which are mounted on the bottom wall by fasteners  46 . As can be seen, the bottom wall is convexly 
     arcuate to generally follow the contour of the rear fender  14  and is also transversely arcuate to follow the transverse contour of the rear fender  14 . 
     To provide the compartment with a streamlined appearance, the side walls  28  taper longitudinally to a reduced elevation at the rear wall  26 . The top wall  32  is also configured to provide a recess  48  adjacent to and extending about the opening  31 . 
     The cover  20  is similarly molded with an elongate arcuate configuration to conform to the taper on the container  16  and it has a recess  68  in its lower surface in which is mounted a liner  66 . Extending about the liner  66  is a resilient sealing strip  74  which seats in the recess  70  about the opening  31  in the storage container  16 . 
     Turning next to FIG. 5, the hinge assembly is provided by a boss  52  molded on the cover  20  and a bracket  50  mounted on the container  16 . The bracket has a pair of ears which fit about the boss  52 . A tubular member  54  is provided in a passageway (not shown) through the boss  52  and a pivot pin  56  extends through the ears on the hinge bracket  50  and tube  54  to provide the desired pivotal connection. Locating the hinge assembly at the front end of the compartment affords a significant benefit in that air flowing over the cover surface will tend to keep the cover closed in the event that it has not been latched and locked. 
     Turning next to the lock assembly  21 , this is seen in FIG. 6 to comprise a strike plate  58  mounted by fasteners  59  on a lip of the container  16  defining the rearward end of the opening  31 . Seated in a recess  62  adjacent the rear end of the cover  20  is the lock generally designated by the numeral  60  and its lower end extends through and is secured to the cover  20  by a lock nut  61 . 
     To facilitate opening of the cover after disengagement of the lock  60  from the strike plate  58 , a rigid synthetic resin pull strap or tongue  64  is provided on the lock  60 . Upon rotation of the lock cylinder, a latch  63  on the depending portion of the lock  60  will engage the strike plate  58 . 
     The storage compartment unit  10  can be quickly mounted upon the motorcycle  10  by inserting the tongue  34  into the recess at the rear of the saddle  12  and then aligning the aperture in the bottom wall  22  with the threaded insert  42  in the rear fender  14 . The fastener  40  is then threaded into the insert  42  to firmly engage the compartment upon the rear fender  14 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 7, therein illustrated is an alternative embodiment in which the saddle generally designated by the numeral  12  has a rearwardly projecting tongue  98  which will engage or seat in the bracket  90  on the bottom wall  94  of the container  16 . In the same manner as provided in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the bottom wall  94  is further secured to the rear fender  14  of the motorcycle  10  by a fastener  40  engaging in the threaded insert  42  of the rear fender  14 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 8, therein illustrated is a rear seat generally designated by the numeral  76  mounted on the rear fender  14  of the motorcycle  8  in a position abutting the rearward end of the saddle  12  and using a similar mounting arrangement. As seen, the rear seat  76  has a tongue  78  which is supported on its bottom surface and extends into the same recess in the rear of the saddle  12 . At the rearward end, the seat  76  has a tongue  80  which extends rearwardly of the seat  76  and a threaded fastener  82  extends therethrough and threadably engages in the insert  42  provided in the rear fender  14 . Bumpers  84  are provided on its bottom surface and secured thereto by fasteners  85 . 
     Thus, when the motorcycle operator desires to transport a passenger, the storage compartment unit  10  may be readily removed by opening the cover  20 , unthreading the fastener  40  and sliding the tongue  34  rearwardly from the saddle  12  to effect its disengagement. The seat  76  can quickly be moved into position and fastened securely by the fastener  82 . 
     As will be readily appreciated, the storage compartment is readily fabricated from synthetic resins. Since the specific configuration will generally vary with the motorcycle upon which it is to be mounted in order to blend its appearance with that of the underlying motorcycle, the preferred technique for the manufacture is to utilize glass fiber reinforced synthetic resins laid up utilizing a relatively low cost form. However, if the volume of a storage compartment having a given configuration is large enough, then injection molding and blow molding techniques can be utilized with suitable molds and synthetic thermoplastic resins of character. Compression molding can also be utilized in the event that the volume is large enough to justify the investment in the necessary tooling. 
     As will be appreciated, the coloration of the exterior of the storage compartment can be provided by the incorporation of suitable dyes and pigments into the resin from which it is being molded. Alternatively, in accordance with conventional practice, the exterior of the container components can be painted. 
     To provide a smooth and attractive interior, particularly when the storage compartment is fabricated by laying up glass reinforced resin, molded liners of synthetic resin can be inserted into both the base unit and the cover. This synthetic resin will generally be a thermoplastic material which can be readily molded to provide the inserts. If so desired, the resin may also be produced from resins which will have some resiliency and even resins which are formed to provide a cellular structure. Another lining which is economical and easily applied is synthetic resin sheeting; a particularly useful material is foam carpeting which can be secured by adhesive. The liners reduce sound which might be generated by the items being stored within the compartment striking the walls and provide a degree of protection for items which may be placed inside the storage compartment. 
     It is also desirable to provide a seal between the cover and the base structure as indicated in the illustrated embodiment in order to preclude or minimize penetration into the compartment of water, dirt, etc. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the storage compartment has a forwardly extending tongue which fits into a recess or under a bracket, provided at or in the rear end of the saddle. If so desired, the arrangement can be reversed with the saddle having a rearwardly projecting tongue which engages in a bracket provided on the bottom wall of the container. 
     Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the compartment is fabricated with a depending skirt, i.e., side flanges which extend below the level of the bottom wall to conceal the bumpers and fasteners which extend downwardly through the bottom wall. It is desirable, however to space the compartment unit upwardly from the rear fender by rubber bumpers and the like as is shown in the attached drawings. 
     Thus, it can be seen from this foregoing detailed description and attached drawings that the storage compartment of the present invention is one which can be readily mounted on and dismounted from, the rear fender. It can be contoured to blend with the contours of the associated motorcycle so as to maintain its streamlined appearance. The compartment can be fabricated readily by various molding techniques from synthetic resins so as to provide long life as well as relatively low cost. Moreover, it can be seen that the storage compartment can be readily interchanged with a rear passenger seat as desired by the owner.