Abstract:
A collapsible storage bag for use on a vehicle such as a motorcycle, includes a collapsible support frame. In the open state, the bag is strengthened by the frame. In the collapsed state, the frame forms a compact, attractive protective cover over the storage bag.

Description:
This application claims priority of provisional application Ser. 60/395,933, filed Jul. 15, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is directed toward the field of travel storage bags for use on a vehicle such as a motorcycle. The bag is collapsible to minimize space, air friction, and unsightliness when not in use. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The exciting feel of wind through the hair of a motorcycle rider, often yields to the reality that a motorcycle provides more useful transportation with the addition of practical storage space. Such storage is preferably rigid enough that it will not flap or shift under wind or inertial forces; keeps out the elements; is attractive, unobtrusive, or essentially invisible; and is designed to maximize space, which is at a premium on a 2-wheeled vehicle. Many solutions to this problem have evolved from the cowboy&#39;s saddlebag. Rigid and flexible saddlebags and luggage carriers can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,960 to Powell et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,571 to Shimazaki et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,795 to Buell; U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,174 to Norinsky; U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,821 to Randall; U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,213 to Watkins; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,018 to Heltzen. 
   When storage is not needed on the motorcycle, for esthetic reasons, or to prevent theft when parked, the bags may be disconnected from the motorcycle. Mechanisms for disconnection may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,643 to Galbraith et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,496 to Litz; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,249 to Hann. The esthetics of the storage, and the storage space minimized, may also be improved by making the storage collapsible. Collapsible storage may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,213 to Watkins; U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,770 to Larsen; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,484 to Farrell. 
   A limitation of these collapsible storage systems, is that while the storage may be flattened in width (the dimension perpendicular to the ordinary direction of vehicular travel), the storage is still large and unsightly when viewed from the side, and a large, especially flat, object is susceptible to catching in the wind, with subsequent irritating flapping or damage and loss. Systems made completely of flexible material are also susceptible to such action in wind, even if not collapsed. A large system may increase air friction with lessened speed and fuel economy, impede the driver, causing safety problems, and interfere with inspection and maintenance. 
   There exists a need for a motorcycle storage system which collapses to a minimal space; provides protection from the elements; provides stiffness; and causes minimal interference with vehicle operation and maintenance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The preferred form of the instant invention provides a storage system comprising a flexible bag with a stiff support frame, which bag and frame collapse in multiple dimensions, such as both width and height, where the support frame also provides stiffness and protection in the deployed state. The frame may be built-in to the motorcycle, making the bag virtually invisible and unobtrusive when not in use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an upper side view of the storage bag, exploded from the support frame. 
       FIG. 2  is a lower side view of the storage bag, exploded from the support frame. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view through the deployed support frame. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view through the deployed upper arm pivot. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the storage bag collapsed and the support frame collapsed for storage with the cover section open. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the storage bag and support frame in the collapsed state, mounted to a vehicle. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view through the collapsed storage system. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view, showing an alternate form of the storage system, in the collapsed state on the left side of the motorcycle, and in the open state on the right side. 
       FIG. 9  is a view of another alternate form of the storage system, with the bag exploded from the support frame. 
       FIG. 10  is a view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9 , unfolded for normal storage use. 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 12  is a view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9 , nearly collapsed. 
       FIG. 13  is a view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9 , completely collapsed. 
       FIG. 14  is a sectional view through the apparatus of  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 15  is an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the storage system  100  comprises a generally cubical storage bag  101  shown exploded away from a support frame  114 . Storage bag  101  is formed of a flexible material such as cloth, leather, or vinyl, capable of collapse. The storage bag  101  has an access flap  103  with a sealing mechanism  102  such as a zipper. The support frame  114  with upper cover  110  is connected to left and right upper support arms  104  with pivot pins  108  and torsion springs  106 , forming a hinge. The support frame  114  is also connected to lower back cover  128  through hinge  116 , locked in place in the open or closed state by flexible straps  120  held by pins  118 . As the hinge  116  is offset from the pins  118 , straps  120  stretch if the support frame  114  moves, such as by vibration, away from the open or closed state. Said stretching urges the frame  114  back into place, preventing further unwanted motion from the desired open or closed state. Lower back cover  128  holds left and right risers  122  which in turn hold left and right lower arms  126  through pivot pins  124 . A riser  122  plus its hinged lower arm  126  forms a compound lower support. Upper snaps  204  connect to mating snaps  202  on bag  101 , and bag  101  is connected to mounting surface  117  by gluing, snaps, rivets, or other conventional means. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , bag surface  203  connects to mounting surface  117  (see  FIG. 1 ), and snaps  208  connect to mating snaps  206  on lower arms  126 . The corners of bag  101  are thus constrained by frame  114 , preventing flapping or displacement with rubbing against the vehicle wheels. The system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted to the exterior of a vehicle by connectors  603  such as rivets in connection locations  605 . Connections locations  605  are defined as locations strong enough to withstand mounting stresses without destruction such as by cracks or rips from vibration, and are reinforced if needed for that purpose, for instance by additional material thickness or a double layer of metal welded onto the location. Connectors  603  may also take the form of screws, welds, glue, or other means. Connectors  603  may be hand-removable (i.e. without the need for tools) devices, such as by snaps, buckles, thumbscrews, or the hook-and-loop fabric system known as Velcro®. 
     FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the support frame  114  in the deployed state. Lower arms  126  attaches to risers  122  by hinges formed by pivot pins  124 . Deployment rotation of arms  126  stops when surface  304  contacts surface  302  on riser  122 . Spring detents  130  mounted in risers  122  are positioned so the detents  130  engage holes  210  in the deployed state and holes  211  (see  FIG. 2 ) in the collapsed state, thus locking the risers in the desired (open or closed) position. After folding of upper support arms  104 , upper cover  110  pivots about hinge  116  downward for the collapsed state. Torsion spring  106  around pivot pin  108  applies pressure to arm  104  to hold arm  104  in the deployed state. 
     FIG. 4  shows the torsion spring  106  in more detail. Edge  404  of arm  104  contacts edge  402  of upper cover  110  to stop movement from spring  106  on arm  104  in the deployed state. 
     FIG. 5  shows the storage system almost completely collapsed. Lower arms  126  are folded into risers  122 , then risers  122  are pivoted upwardly and inwardly on pivots  132 . Upper support arms  104  are similarly folded inwardly into upper cover  110 . Bag  101  is collapsed and folded inside frame  114 . Upper cover  110  is then swung downward on hinge  116 , then straps  120  are reattached to pins  118  which locks upper cover  110  closed. The storage system  100  is therefore collapsed both vertically, and inwardly toward the center of the vehicle, consuming minimal space. Upper cover  110  acts to hold support arms  104  in the deployed state, then as a cover in the collapsed state. 
     FIG. 6  shows the storage system  100  in the collapsed state, with strap  120  in the locked position, mounted to a vehicle  502  such as a motorcycle. 
     FIG. 7  is a cross section through the storage system  100  showing the folded bag  101 . 
     FIG. 8  is a cross section showing a variation of the preferred form, where the frame is internal (i.e. built into the vehicle, as opposed to added-on to the exterior of the vehicle) to a vehicle  502 , such as built into a motorcycle fender  127 , and the upper support arms  104  are connected to the motorcycle exterior, and the storage bag  101  may be attached to the mounting surface  117  which is also the inner portion of the wheelwell. Lower support  125  rotates downward to open the storage system, and conversely upward to collapse and close. The storage system is shown collapsed on the left side, and opened on the right side. A lock, as is well known in the art, may be used to lock the storage system closed, concealing small items left in the collapsed bag, such as currency. In this internal embodiment the connection location for connecting to the vehicle, comprises the circumference of the frame, the connection to the frame by being constructed with the fender, as in a fiberglass mold designed to form the fender and frame. Alternatively, a hole may be cut in an existing fender, and a frame connected to the fender using, for example, a fiberglass repair kit, which connects by gluing the frame to the fender. The lower support  125  in this embodiment has a similar appearance and operation to the well-known vehicular glovebox. 
     FIG. 9  shows another alternate construction of the storage system. The storage bag  101  is shown exploded away from the support frame  114 . Rather than being formed of two folding arms, lower support  125  is comprised of a single right-angled cover segment, rotating off lower back cover  128  with hinge  116 . The bag  101  has access flap  103  with sealing mechanism such as a zipper  102 . Support arms  104  are also right-angled, so that collapse is in three dimensions; the storage capacity when in use is therefore maximal in comparison to the collapsed size. Support arms  104  are held in the deployed state by means such as spring clips  904  attached by means such as spot welding, and rotate from lower back cover  128  with hinges  966 . The spring clips  904  when deployed, act as a stop against the mounting plate edge  906 , holding the upper support arms in the deployed state. Extending from the left support arm to the right support arm is a strap  908 . The strap is made of a flexible material with an enlarged section  912  (see  FIG. 12 ) at one end and a hole  914  in the strap on the other end. The strap  908  passes through hole  920  in the forward support arm with the enlarged section  912  of the strap acting as a stop so the strap does not pull through the support arm, then passes through slot  916  in the bag, and finally out hole  922 . The rear end of the strap has a lock  910  passing through hole  914  in the strap end, thereby restraining the strap from slipping through the hole in the support arm. When the lock is removed, the strap may be removed, allowing the bag  101  to be removed from the frame  114 . 
     FIG. 10  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 9  unfolded for storage use. Spring clips  904  hold arms  104  in place in the open state. Storage bag  101  is shown expanded in three dimensions. 
     FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the storage system  100  of  FIG. 10 . Bag  101  is connected to frame  114  by mounting strap  908 , male snaps  206  and female snaps  208 . Connectors  603  such as rivets connect the storage system to the vehicle  502 . 
     FIG. 12  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 9  almost completely closed. Male snaps  206  engage female snaps  924  to lock the cover  125  closed. 
     FIG. 13  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 9  completely closed. Alternatively, if cover  125  is cut to pass behind lock  910 , lock  910  will also lock the cover  125  closed. 
     FIG. 14  is a sectional view through  FIG. 13 , showing the folded bag  101  and connectors  603  connecting the system to vehicle  502 . 
     FIG. 15  shows another variation of the invention, where the bag  101  is external to the support arms  104 ,  126 . Upper support arms  104  pass through openings such as slits  1500 , and lower support arms  126  pass through openings such as slits  1502 , for support of the bag  101 . The snaps  204  and  206  face outward rather inward as in  FIG. 2 , and the mating snaps  202  and  208  (shown in imaginary cutouts in bag  101 ) similarly face inward rather than outward as in  FIG. 2 . The bag  101  is therefore supported internally rather than externally as in  FIG. 2 . 
   The invention is not limited to the preferred mode illustrated. For instance, the invention is shown as mounted on a rear fender, but could be mounted on, or integral to, the vehicle in other locations, such as a front fender, fairing, seat, brace, dashboard, or other location. Collapse of the frame is illustrated by hinges, pivots, and stops, but other methods of flexure, such as a cloth hinge, would be applicable. Sealing of the bag is illustrated by zipper, but other sealing methods such as snaps, buckles, or Velcro® would be usable. Connection of the bag to the frame is illustrated as snaps, but other methods such as buckles, welding, or Velcro® would be applicable. These and other variants are within the spirit and scope of the claims below.