Patent Publication Number: US-2009224015-A1

Title: Accessory Pouch

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to cycle vehicles and, more particularly, to saddlebags arrangements therefore. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The number of people experiencing the enjoyment of touring on bicycles, mopeds or motorcycles has been steadily increasing over the years. Cycles have replaced the use of automobiles for traveling to work, school, the grocery store and other places where it is necessary for the rider to carry various objects on the cycle to and from his destination. Panniers, as they are referred to in the trade, may take various forms such as saddlebags, packs, baskets and the like. 
     Saddlebags are particularly useful for motorcycle touring over an extended period of time. Some Saddlebags take the form of rigid containers affixed to the rear sides of the motorcycle. These constructions, unfortunately, unduly increase the weight of the cycle and are not readily removable. Many known arrangements also require semi-permanent attachment of large amounts of hardware to the cycle. 
     To overcome this problem, it would be highly advantageous to employ a lightweight saddlebag arrangement that can be used both on and off the cycle as pieces of luggage without the need for distracting hardware. Unfortunately, this noteworthy objective is not easily achieved. Such an arrangement not only requires that the saddlebags be removably attached to the cycle, but they also must be mounted in such a manner that they do not impede safe operation of the motorcycle or comfort of the passenger. Flexible, lightweight saddlebags have their advantages because it is easy to manually carry them after removal from the cycle. However, they are ordinarily not designed to withstand the road abuse and their flexible sides may interfere with the spokes of the rear wheel when hanging from the side of the seat. It is also difficult to load/unload flexible bags because of their tendency to sag. Additionally, the load distribution of the objects in the bag may become uneven, resulting in an unpredictable sway of the bag caused by shifts in the load. 
     Finally, it is of importance that the saddlebags be securely fastened to the cycle and remain in a stable position when encountering the high wind forces typically experienced at highway speeds. The saddlebag mounting arrangement not only must accomplish this objective but it also would be highly desirable to employ a mounting arrangement that could be used on a variety of different cycle constructions without requiring substantial modifications of the cycle to effectuate the saddlebag mounting arrangement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,706 discloses that the saddlebag includes a cutaway in the forward lower corner portion thereof to provide a heel clearance for a passenger on the cycle. A substantially solid panel is affixed to the interior rear of the bag and an elongated attachment plate is provided on the exterior rear of the saddlebag. A U-shaped bar pivotally mounted to the interior panel is advantageously employed as part of the internal frame construction for the bag. The bags are mounted on the cycle by way of a first pair of straps secured to spaced locations on the seat and a second pair of straps removably connected thereto. The ends of the straps of the second pair are detachably secured to the attachment plate on the saddlebags. A rigid strap mounted to a fixed part of the cycle is adapted to receive a connector extending from the lower front side of the saddlebag. A rear strap connecting the rear portions of a pair of saddlebags is also provided. Each saddlebag may include detachable exhaust/abrasion shields. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,095 discloses a saddle bag insert  10  for use with a soft sided saddle bag  100  having front  101  and rear  102  end panels, a pair of side panels  103 ,  104  and a floor panel  105 . The saddle bag insert  10  includes an insert member  20  fabricated from an elongated, thin, flat, contoured strip of rigid yet flexible material  21  having an intermediate segment  22  and a pair of end segments  23 ,  24  that are adapted to resiliently conform to the contours of the front and rear end panels  101 ,  102  and the floor panel  105  to provide rigidity to the soft sided saddle bag  100 . 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,075 discloses a saddle bag provided at least on one side of a rear wheel, the saddle bag is supported on the body frame and protected using a reduced number of required parts, thus increasing design freedom. A guard pipe extends outside beyond the saddle bag and is mounted to the body frame. At least a portion of the saddle bag is fixedly supported by the guard pipe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,040 discloses a rigid insert is provided in a soft luggage shell. The insert conforms to the configuration of the inside luggage surface and is removably held in place by a twistable retainer ring. The ring is encased in a cloth sleeve and mounted to the luggage in the vicinity of an edge of the insert. By twisting the ring, the ring and associated sleeve can be selectively placed either abuttingly against the insert or away from the insert to allow its removal. The invention also contemplates the provision of a protective shield which is removably mounted to a surface of the luggage which abuts a carrying vehicle. 
     SUMMARY  
     A pouch for being used with a rigid saddle bag may include a first end panel, a second end panel, a top panel between the first and panel and the second end panel, a bottom panel between the first and panel and the second end panel, a first and second substantially L-shaped side panel between the top and bottom panels. 
     The rigid saddlebag may include a projecting member to define a first storage area and a second storage area, and the pouch and may be adapted to fit within the first storage area or the second storage area of the rigid saddlebag. 
     The projecting member may include a longitudinal portion, and the projecting member may include a traverse portion. 
     The pouch may be deformable, and the pouch may include an opening to an interior area of the pouch. 
     The pouch may be formed from leather, and the pouch may be formed from plastic or vinyl. 
     The pouch may have approximately the same dimensions as the storage area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of the bottom section of the rigid saddlebag; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the bottom section of the rigid saddlebag; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the top section of the rigid saddlebag; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the first L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the second L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of the first L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom view of the first L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of the first L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the second L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a side view of the first L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of the second L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a top view of the rigid saddlebag with the first and second L-shaped deformable punches; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a top view of a third L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a top view of a fourth L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a bottom view of the third L-shaped deformable pouch; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a bottom view of the fourth L-shaped deformable pouch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of the bottom section of a rigid saddlebag  100 . The rigid saddlebag  100  includes end wall  103  on each opposing end of the rigid saddlebag  100 , a front wall  105 , a back wall  109  and a bottom wall  107 .  FIG. 1  additionally illustrates a projecting member  101  which extends upwards from the bottom wall  107 . The projecting member  101  includes a longitudinal portion  111  which extends approximately longitudinally in the center of the bottom wall  107  and includes a traverse portion  113  which extends from one end of the longitudinal portion  111 . The projecting member  101  results in a storage area that is not efficient. Objects which have been placed in a storage area will tend to move around and rattle when the vehicle is moving. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the rigid saddlebag  100 .  FIG. 2  shows the opposing end walls  103  and the bottom wall  107 .  FIG. 2  additionally illustrates the projecting member  101  including the longitudinal portion  111  and the traverse portion  113 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the top section which cooperates with the bottom section of a rigid saddlebag  100 . The rigid saddlebag  100  includes end wall  103  on each opposing end of the rigid saddlebag  100 , a front wall  105 , a back wall  109  and a top wall  115 .  FIG. 3  additionally illustrates a projecting member  101  which extends downwards from the top wall  115 . The upward projecting member  101  includes a longitudinal portion  111  which extends approximately at longitudinally in the center of the top wall  115  and includes a traverse portion  113  which extends from one end of the longitudinal portion  111 . The projecting member  101  results in a storage area that is not efficient. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of a first L-shaped deformable pouch  440  which includes a hollow deformable housing which includes a front end panel  441 , a back end panel  443 , a top panel  445 , a bottom panel  447  and a first side panel  449  which includes a closable opening  451  to allow access to the interior of the hollow housing and to allow storage of items of interest to the user of the first L-shaped deformable pouch  440 . The closable opening may be closable and sealed with a sealing apparatus such as a zipper, hooks and loops (Velcro), buttons or any other suitable sealing apparatus. The bottom panel  447  includes a depression  448 . Each of the front end panel  441 , the back end panel  443 , the top panel  445 , the bottom panel number  447  and the first and second side panel  449  include a stitching line  442  around the periphery of the respective panel. The closable opening  451  may include a stitching line  452  around the periphery of the closable opening  451 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of a second L-shaped deformable pouch  540  which has smaller dimensions than the first L-shaped deformable pouch  440  and which includes a hollow deformable housing which includes a front end panel  541 , a back end panel  543 , a top panel  545 , a bottom panel  547  and a first side panel  549  which includes a closable opening  551  to allow access to the interior of the hollow housing and to allow storage of items of interest to the user of the second L-shaped deformable pouch  540 . The closable opening  551  may be closable and sealed with a sealing apparatus such as a zipper, hooks and loops (Velcro), buttons or any other suitable sealing apparatus. 
     The first and second L-shaped deformable pouch may be formed from plastic, leather, cloth, vinyl or other suitable material. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of a first L-shaped deformable pouch  440  which includes a hollow deformable housing which includes a front end panel  441 , a back end panel  443 , a top panel  445 , a bottom panel  447  and a second side panel  450 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom view of the second L-shaped deformable pouch  540  which includes a hollow deformable housing which includes a front end panel  541 , a back end panel  543 , a top panel  545 , a bottom panel  547  and a second side panel  550 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a first L-shaped deformable pouch  440  which includes a hollow deformable housing which includes a front end panel  441 , a back end panel  443 , a top panel  445  and the first and second side panels  449 ,  450 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of a second L-shaped deformable pouch  540  which includes a hollow deformable housing which includes a front end panel  541 , a back end panel  543 , a top panel  547  and the first and second side panels  549 ,  550 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a side view of a first L-shaped deformable pouch  440  which includes a hollow deformable housing which includes a front end panel  441 , a back end panel  443 , a bottom panel  447  and the first and second side panels  449 ,  450 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of a second L-shaped deformable pouch  540  which includes a hollow deformable housing which includes a front end panel  541 , a back end panel  543 , a bottom panel  547  and the first and second side panels  549 ,  550 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates the first and second L-shaped deformable pouches  441 ,  551  used in conjunction with the rigid saddlebag  100 . The pouches have approximately the same dimensions as the storage area of the rigid saddle bags. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a top view of a third L-shaped deformable pouch  1341  which is substantially a mirror image of the first L-shaped deformable pouch  441 . The third L-shaped deformable pouch can be used in cooperation with an opposing saddlebag. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a top view of a fourth L-shaped deformable pouch  1441  which is substantially a mirror image of the second L-shaped deformable pouch  551 . The fourth L-shaped deformable pouch can be used in cooperation with an opposing saddlebag. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a bottom view of the third L-shaped deformable pouch  1341 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a bottom view of the fourth L-shaped deformable pouch  1441 . 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.