Abstract:
A saddlebag mounting system for a motorcycle having a frame. The saddlebag mounting system includes a mounting bracket, a saddlebag bracket, and a saddlebag coupled to the saddlebag bracket. The mounting bracket is coupled to the frame and includes a saddlebag support portion and a first latch component. The saddlebag bracket includes a hook portion and a second latch component. The hook portion is positionable over the saddlebag support portion to support the saddlebag bracket. The saddlebag bracket is pivotable while being supported between a secured position when the first and second latch components are coupled together and an unsecured position when the first and second latch components are uncoupled to each other. At least one of the first and second latch components includes a release mechanism that allows the saddlebag bracket to pivot from the secured position to the unsecured position.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to saddlebags for motorcycles, and more specifically to saddlebag mounting systems for mounting saddlebags to motorcycles.  
         [0002]     It is known in the art to use saddlebags to store the belongings of motorcycle riders. It is also known to provide a mounting system for securing the saddlebag to the motorcycle permitting removal of the bag from the motorcycle without the use of tools. Such mounting systems facilitate quick removal of the saddlebag in order to change the appearance of the motorcycle and/or to allow the use of the saddlebag for transporting items away from the motorcycle.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     The present invention provides a saddlebag mounting system for a motorcycle having a frame. In one embodiment, the saddlebag mounting system includes a mounting bracket, a saddlebag bracket, and a saddlebag coupled to the saddlebag bracket. The mounting bracket is coupled to the frame and includes a saddlebag support portion and a first latch component. The saddlebag bracket includes a hook portion and a second latch component. The hook portion is positionable over the saddlebag support portion to support the saddlebag bracket. The saddlebag bracket is pivotable while being supported between a secured position when the first and second latch components are coupled together and an unsecured position when the first and second latch components are uncoupled to each other. At least one of the first and second latch components includes a release mechanism that allows the saddlebag bracket to pivot from the secured position to the unsecured position.  
         [0004]     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a motorcycle illustrating a saddlebag mounting system embodying the invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of a portion of the saddlebag mounting system shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the saddlebag mounting system shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating saddlebags of the saddlebag mounting system attached to a mounting bracket of the saddlebag mounting system.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 , illustrating a latch of the saddlebag mounting system in the latched position.  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view similar to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the latch in the unlatched position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating one of the saddlebags pivoted away from a channel member of the mounting bracket.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section view taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating the saddlebag removed from the mounting bracket. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a motorcycle  10  including a frame  12 , a front steering assembly  14  pivotably mounted to the forward portion of the frame  12 , a front wheel  16  rotatably mounted to an end of the steering assembly  14 , a rear wheel  18  rotatably mounted to a rearward portion of the frame  12 , and an engine/transmission assembly  20  mounted to the frame  12  and operably coupled to the rear wheel  18 . The motorcycle  10  includes a rear fender  22  positioned over the rear wheel  18  and coupled to the frame  12  through either rear fender struts (not shown) or by a seat pan (not shown) as is common in the art. A seat  24  is coupled to the frame  12  above the rear wheel  18  and fender  22  to support an operator. The operator controls the engine/transmission assembly  20  to drive the rear wheel  18  and propel the motorcycle  10  and the operator pivots the steering assembly  14  and front wheel  16  to steer the motorcycle  10  while the motorcycle  10  is moving.  
         [0017]     The motorcycle  10  also includes a saddlebag mounting system  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the saddlebag mounting system  26  includes fender brackets  28  coupled to the frame  12 , a mounting bracket  30  coupled to the fender brackets  28 , saddlebag brackets  32  releasably coupled to opposite sides of the mounting bracket  30 , and a saddlebag  34  coupled to each respective saddlebag bracket  32 . The saddlebag mounting system  26  includes right and left sides that are substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis  36  of the motorcycle  10 . Only the right side of the saddlebag mounting system  26  will be described in detail below.  
         [0018]     The fender bracket  28  includes an upper leg portion  38 , a lower leg portion  40 , and an intermediate portion  42  connecting the upper and lower leg portions  38 ,  40 . The upper leg portion  38  is vertically oriented and is connected to either a fender strut or a seat pan by passing fasteners through apertures  44 . The lower leg portion  40  is also vertically oriented but is offset from the upper leg portion  38  by a distance defined by the thickness of the intermediate portion  42 , which is generally normal to the vertical plane. In some embodiments, the upper leg portion  38  is positioned inboard of the fender strut or seat pan and the lower leg portion  40  is positioned outboard of or nearly coplanar with a right side edge  46  of the fender  22  such that apertures  48  on the lower leg portion  40  are exposed. When viewed in cross-section, the intermediate portion  42  is not planar, but rather slopes to match the contour of the right side edge  46  of the fender  22 .  
         [0019]     The mounting bracket  30  includes an elongated, C-shaped channel member  50  having a center portion  52  and top and bottom portions  54 ,  56  extending away from outer edges of the center portion  52  in the outboard direction. The center portion  52  includes apertures  58  and fasteners are extended through the apertures  58  and the apertures  48  of the fender bracket  28  to couple the channel member  50  to the fender bracket  28 . The top and bottom portions  54 ,  56  include two pairs of vertically-aligned notches  60 ,  61  ( FIG. 3 ).  
         [0020]     The rearward end of the channel member  50  includes a latch  62  that is positioned within the channel member  50  and connected to the center portion  52  with fasteners. The latch  62  includes a release mechanism  64  extending in a rearward direction from the channel member  50 . The latch  62  includes a receiving aperture  66  on the outboard side ( FIG. 7 ). The release mechanism  64  is coupled to a sliding plate  68  within the latch  62  such that the sliding plate  68  partially restricts the aperture  66  of the latch  62  when the release mechanism  64  is extended and does not overlap or interfere with the aperture  66  when the release mechanism  64  is depressed or retracted. One example of an available latch that can be used with the present invention is supplied by SOUTHCO of Concordville, Pa. (P/N: E2-0-34783-24), however other latches can be used.  
         [0021]     The mounting bracket  30  also includes a first vertically-oriented tube  70  that can be mounted to the channel member  50  by positioning the tube  70  within the first pair of notches  60  and welding the tube  70  to the top and bottom portions  52 ,  54 . The mounting bracket  30  also includes a second tube  72  having a vertically-oriented forward portion  74 , a rearwardly-extending saddlebag support portion  76 , and connecting portion  78  that integrally connects to the symmetrical left side of the mounting bracket  30 . The forward portion  74  can be mounted to the channel member  50  by positioning the forward portion  74  within the second pair of notches  61  and welding the forward portion  74  to the top and bottom portions  54 ,  56 . The top of the first tube  70  is connected to the saddlebag support portion  76 . The connecting portion  78  extends downward from the height of the saddlebag support portion  76  such that the connecting portion  78  is lower than the saddlebag support portion  76 . The connecting portion  78  wraps around a rear edge  80  of the fender  22  such that the connecting portion  78  matches the contour of the rear edge  80 . The saddlebag support portion  76  includes a raised portion or tab  82  along the length of the saddlebag support portion  76 . The second tube  72  of the illustrated embodiment is a single tube that is bent to form the forward portion  74 , saddlebag support portion  76 , and the connecting portion  78  of both the right and left hand sides. The tab  82  can be a stamped metal piece welded in position to the saddlebag support portion  76 .  
         [0022]     The saddlebag bracket  32  is a generally planar plate  84  that can be stamped from sheet steel. The saddlebag bracket  32  includes a hook portion on the top side. The hook portion includes first and second hooks  86  that extend inwardly from the plate  84 . The first and second hooks  86  are spaced apart from each other to define a gap  88  between the facing edges of the hooks  86 . The saddlebag bracket  32  also includes a flange  90  extending inwardly from the bottom edge of the plate  84 . The plate  84  includes weight reducing cutouts  92 , mounting hole patterns  94 , and apertures defining first and second pin mounting locations  96 ,  98 . The saddlebag bracket  32  also includes a pin  100  connected to the first pin mounting location  96 . The saddlebag bracket  32  is substantially symmetrical about an axis  102  ( FIG. 6 ) such that a common saddlebag bracket  32  can be used with both the right and left sides of the saddlebag mounting system  26 . For example, if the illustrated saddlebag bracket  32  were to be used on the opposite side, the pin  100  would instead be connected to the second pin mounting location  98  thereby positioning the pin  100  in alignment with the latch  62  at the rearward portion of the opposite channel member  50 .  
         [0023]     The saddlebag  34  is connected to the saddlebag bracket  32  by passing fasteners through apertures  104  that are aligned with the hole patterns  94  of the saddlebag bracket  32 . The saddlebag  34  includes a closure mechanism (not shown) that is movable to selectively restrict and provide access to the storage compartment within the saddlebag  34 . The storage compartment can be used to store items of the operator during riding or when the motorcycle  10  is at rest.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 3-10  illustrate the removal of the saddlebag bracket  32  and saddlebag  34  from the mounting bracket  30  and motorcycle  10 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the saddlebag bracket  32  is shown in the secured position attached to the motorcycle  10 . In this position, the hooks  86  engage the saddlebag support portion  76  with the tab  82  positioned within the gap  88  between the hooks  86 . As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the raised tab  82  abuts the facing edges of the hooks  86  to thereby resist movement of the saddlebag bracket  32  in the longitudinal direction. The flange  90  is in contact with the bottom face of the bottom portion  56  of the channel member  50 . As best shown in  FIG. 5 , the flange  90  and bottom portion  56  are slightly angled upward relative to horizontal to prevent the flange  90  from interfering with the bottom portion  56  when the saddlebag bracket  32  pivots about the hooks  86  and the saddlebag support portion  76 . The flange  90  resists movement of the saddlebag bracket  32  in the upward direction and in combination with the hooks  86  resist movement in both vertical directions. As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the secured position the pin  100  is received within the aperture  66  of the latch  62  and slidable plate  68  such that a notch  106  in the pin  100  receives a portion of the slidable plate  68 . The plate  84  within the notch  106  resists the removal of the pin  100  from the latch  62  thereby defining a latched condition. In the illustrated embodiment, the pin  100  is connected to the saddlebag bracket  32  and the latch  62  is connected to the channel member  50 . However, in other embodiments the mounting locations of these latch components  62 ,  100  can be reversed such that the latch  62  is mounted to the saddlebag bracket  32  and the pin  100  is mounted to the channel member  50  or elsewhere on the mounting bracket  30 .  
         [0025]     To begin removal of the saddlebag  34  and saddlebag bracket  32  from the motorcycle  10 , the operator reaches from the rear of the motorcycle  10  to depress the release mechanism  64 . As best shown in  FIG. 7 , when the release mechanism  64  is pressed, the sliding plate  68  moves from the notch  106  of the pin  100  thereby allowing the pin  100  to be removed from the aperture  66  of the latch  62 . The latch  62  includes a biasing mechanism  108  that pushes the pin  100  in an outward direction when the release mechanism  64  is pressed. The release mechanism  64  is biased by a spring  110  into the extended position and the sliding plate  68  is biased by the spring  110  into the engaged position overlapping the latch aperture  66 .  
         [0026]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , once the pin  100  is released from the latch  62  the lower portion of the saddlebag bracket  32  and saddlebag  34  can be pivoted away from the channel member  50  about an axis  112  defined by the hooks  86  and the saddlebag support portion  76 . In this pivoted position, the saddlebag bracket  32  and saddlebag  34  remain supported by the hooks  86  engaged with the saddlebag support portion  76 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the saddlebag bracket  32  and saddlebag  34  are then lifted to remove the hooks  86  from the saddlebag support portion  76 . After the saddlebag  34  is removed from the motorcycle  10  into the unsecured position, the mounting bracket  30  can remain on the motorcycle  10 .  
         [0027]     The procedure for removing the saddlebag  34  is basically reversed to attach the saddlebag  34  to the motorcycle  10 . First, the hooks  86  are positioned over the saddlebag support portion  76  such that the tab  82  is positioned between the hooks  86  and the saddlebag bracket  32  is pivoted away from the channel member  50 . The tab  82  and hooks  86  also help to align the pin  100  with the latch  62 . The saddlebag  34  is then pivoted toward the channel member  50  so that the pin  100  enters into the latch  62  and the flange  90  contacts the bottom face of the bottom portion  56 . The rounded end of the pin  100  moves the sliding plate  68  out of an interference position with the pin  100  as the pin  100  enters the latch  62 . The spring  110  then moves the sliding plate  68  into the notch  106  when the notch  106  is moved within the plane of the sliding plate  68 . The latch components are then in the latched position and the saddlebag  34  is secured to the mounting bracket  30 .  
         [0028]     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.