Abstract:
An all terrain vehicle cargo bag assembly includes two or more separate sections which are connectable one to the other or detachable and which enable the inclusion of specially designed inserts in the combination for purposes of transport of various items. The assembly typically includes a central section and first and second lateral side sections attachable to the central section by means of hook and loop fastener straps. A protective flap on one side of the central section covers the connecting straps and also serves as a backrest when the luggage assembly is attached to an all terrain vehicle and appropriately positioned relative to the seat of the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to an all terrain vehicle cargo bag assembly or construction comprised of multiple sections which are attachable one to the other and which, in combination, may be attached to an all terrain vehicle (ATV) in a manner enabling the assembly for not only storage, but also as a back support for the seat of the all terrain vehicle.  
         [0002]     All terrain vehicles typically are four wheel vehicles capable of transport off of paved roads and even in areas where there are no trails. Typically such vehicles are four wheel drive vehicles capable of transport of a single person or two persons, one behind the other. The engine for the vehicle is generally positioned along a middle section of the vehicle with a seat positioned generally over the engine and a steering mechanism for the front wheels of the vehicle with handlebars or a steering wheel positioned for easy engagement by an individual seated on the vehicle seat. Typically, all terrain vehicles include some sort of storage capacity. That is, often molded plastic containers are tied or bolted to the vehicle adjacent or at the rear of the seat for the vehicle. The containers or cargo bags associated with such all terrain vehicles generally are a single large cargo bag or container. Typically, they are not insulated. Typically, they are bulky and thus difficult to maneuver. Typically, they may include multiple compartments.  
         [0003]     Thus, there has developed a need and desire for alternate designs for ATV containers or cargo bags.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Briefly, the present invention comprises a multi-section, all terrain vehicle luggage or cargo bag assembly or construction including a central section and first and second lateral side sections which are detachable from the central section. The lateral side sections typically include a longitudinal dimension which exceeds that of the central section yet are foldable and can be stored within the central section for packaging and shipment. The central section includes a generally rectangular parallelepiped enclosure with a top flap to provide access to the enclosure and a front flap which fits over a front wall panel and provides a backrest for an individual which has attached the all terrain luggage assembly to their vehicle. The lateral side sections of the assembly are attached to the central section by means of straps which fit through loops provided on the side sections. The straps at the front and back of the central section thus enable combining sections to provide improved storage capacity for an all terrain vehicle and easy removal of the separate sections. Various types of interior features are provided for the sections. For example, the central section may have rigid or semi-rigid wall panels and may be insulated for storage of food. It may also include a container with a drain tube.  
         [0005]     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved all terrain vehicle multi-sectioned luggage or cargo bag assembly.  
         [0006]     Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple section, cargo bag assembly for an all terrain vehicle which is rugged, easy to assemble and disassemble, inexpensive and capable of storing multiple types of materials and items.  
         [0007]     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a multi-sectioned all terrain vehicle luggage assembly including first and second lateral side container sections which may be attached or detached to a central container section wherein the central container section may be utilized as a back support in combination with the seat of an all terrain vehicle.  
         [0008]     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in a detailed description which follows.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the luggage or cargo bag assembly of the invention in a fully assembled condition and positioned in combination with the seat of a typical all terrain vehicle;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is the luggage assembly or cargo bag assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in an isometric view depicting the manner of disassembly of the separate sections of the assembly;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view showing a further step in the disassembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a further isometric view illustrating the disassembly and detachment of the separate container sections associated with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  further illustrates in an isometric view the features associated with the disassembly of the cargo bag luggage assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the back side and the underside thereof;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded isometric view illustrating the three separate sections of the cargo bag assembly of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the back side and underside thereof;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is an exploded isometric view of the central section of the cargo bag assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating the manner of placement of a container with a drain tube therein;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a bottom or underside isometric view of the central section of  FIG. 8  wherein the container and drain tube depicted in  FIG. 8  have been fully inserted and positioned within the central section of the assembly;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is an exploded isometric view of the central section of the luggage assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein alternative luggage or item inserts have been depicted as being positionable within the central section;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 11, 12 ,  13 , and  14  represent a sequence of isometric views illustrating the manner of assembly and disassembly of the inserts depicted in  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is a further isometric view of the inserts depicted in  FIG. 10  as viewed from the underside thereof; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  is an isometric view of the central section of the luggage assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the inserts of the type depicted in  FIG. 15  have been positioned therein.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     An embodiment of the invention is depicted in  FIGS. 1-7 .  FIGS. 8-16  illustrate additional features associated, in particular, with a central section or central cargo bag container associated with the embodiment of the invention, for example, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-7 . The additional features depicted in  FIGS. 8-16 , however, are not a limiting set of features for the invention, but merely constitute additional inclusive features which may be incorporated to facilitate use of the cargo bag construction as a multi-component or multipart or multi-section cargo bag assembly.  
         [0024]     Referring first therefore to  FIGS. 1-7 , the cargo bag assembly of the embodiment depicted is comprised of a central section or central cargo bag  20 , a first lateral side section or right side section or right side cargo bag  22  and a second lateral side section or left side cargo bag  24 . The cargo bags  20 ,  22  and  24  are separable. In the embodiment depicted, all three cargo bags may be positioned on an all terrain vehicle, for example, represented in phantom as vehicle  26  in  FIG. 1 . Typically, the cargo bag assembly comprised of the three sections  20 ,  22  and  24  is located at the backside of the seat  28  of an all terrain vehicle  26  and positioned so that the longitudinal axis of the central section or center section  20  is aligned with the longitudinal center axis  31  of the all terrain vehicle  26 .  
         [0025]     Attention is first directed to the center or central section  20  or central cargo bag  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the central section  20  includes a top cover flap  32  attached to a back side  36  of the central section. A forward cushion flap  30  is hinged about a front edge  40  of the forward side  42  of the central luggage section  20 . The front side  42  includes an upper strap  44  and a lower strap  46 . The straps  44  and  46  have opposite ends  48 ,  50 ,  52  and  54  which are flexible and may be fitted through connection rings such as ring  56  and ring  58  fastened to a first lateral side  60  of left lateral section  22 . This is depicted, for example, in  FIG. 2 . The straps, such as strap  48 , include a hook and loop fastener (Velcro fastener) in a preferred embodiment so that the straps such as strap  48  may be fitted through ring  56  and fastened to tightly engage and hold lateral side walls  60  against a lateral side wall of the central section  20 . Each of the straps  44  and  46  include such connection arrangements which enable attachment of the left and right lateral side sections  22  and  24  to the central section  20  of the luggage assembly. Note that the front cover cushion flap  30  is designed to be fitted over the straps  44  and  48  in order to protect the straps and also to provide a backside cushion for a person seated in the seat of the all terrain vehicle upon which the luggage assembly has been situated.  
         [0026]     The straps and more particularly the lower straps  52  and  54  of the lower band  46  are covered by a hinged connection buckle element  64  as shown in  FIG. 2 . This cover flap  64  is also depicted in  FIG. 3  and includes a buckle element  66  connectable to a second buckle element  68  associated with a connection strap  70  which is used to attach the central section  20  to the all terrain vehicle. In similar fashion as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a second flap  74  covers the lower strap  46  and is designed to be associated with a compatible buckle element.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 3, 4  and  5  thus depict the manner in which the central section  20  may be attached to or detached from the lateral side sections  22  and  24 . Thus, for example, section  22  includes a lateral side panel  80  which is positioned in opposed relation to a side of the central section  20 . Similarly, the lateral side section  24  includes a sidewall panel that may be positioned against lateral side  82  of the central section  20 . The straps, as previously described, may then be attached or released as the case may be, to attach the side sections  22  and  24  to the central section  20 .  
         [0028]     The longitudinal dimension (e.g., along axis  31 ) of the central section  20  is desirably lesser than that of the side sections  22  and  24 . Thus, the flap  30  can serve as a back cushion and the forward ends of the lateral side sections  22  and  24  can serve as arm rests for the driver of the all terrain vehicle having the assembly positioned thereon.  
         [0029]     The various sections,  20 ,  22  and  24  may be totally disassembled or partially assembled in any array desired. When disassembled, the central section  20  includes carry straps such as the strap  86  which facilitate transport of the central section  20 . The lateral side sections, such as section  22 , may include a removable top flap such as the flap  88  for access to the interior thereof. As depicted in  FIG. 6  the back wall  36  of the central section  20  includes upper strap  90  and lower strap  92  having strap ends, for example, strap end  94  which fits through a ring  96  associated with a side section  22 . In this manner, the straps  90  and  92  in combination with the straps  44  and  46  function to maintain the attachment of the assembly sections or may be utilized to release those sections. Each of the sections further include auxiliary buckles such as the buckle  98  for the lateral side section  24  which connects with a strap  100  that may be utilized to attach the lateral side section  24  to the all terrain vehicle  26 . Similar additional straps such as straps  102 ,  104  and  106  are provided in association with each of the lateral sides of the section  24 .  
         [0030]     The central section  20  includes similar strap assemblies such as strap assembly  110  and strap assembly  112  as well as strap assembly  114 . The number and position of the various strap assemblies is dependent in part upon the construction of the all terrain vehicle and the connection points for such straps. The array of the described embodiment which positions strap connections at the midpoints of the various sections of the separate elements of the assembly typically will generally suffice for the attachment of the cargo bag assembly to an all terrain vehicle.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  illustrates the cargo bag assembly from the backside wherein the separate sections  20 ,  22  and  24  have been separated from one another. It is to be noted that the side or lateral sections  22  and  24  may be comprised of flexible material such as canvas, plastic or other similar material and thus folded and placed within the central section  20  for purposes of packaging and shipment. The central section  20  may include a lower side molded pan, for example pan  120 , which will maintain the general configuration of the central section. Alternatively, or in addition, a generally rigid sided box shaped container, such as container  130  in  FIG. 8 , may be placed in section  20  to provide a generally rigid sided or form maintained container which renders the total assembly capable of retaining the configuration depicted in  FIG. 1  even when the separate sections  20 ,  22 ,  24  do not contain articles. The remaining component parts or sections  22 ,  24  may then be made from a flexible material as previously described. However, in a preferred embodiment the central section will include reinforcing elements such as bamboo strips, wire inserts or polyethylene board inserts positioned between layers of fabric forming the lateral sides and front and back side of the central section  20 . Similarly, the lateral side sections  22  and  24  may include molded plastic component parts, in whole or in part, forming the bottom section, for example, of section  24 . Thus, there are a myriad of ways in which the separate sections comprising the combination may be fabricated to provide a luggage container or multiple separate luggage containers.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a construction wherein an insertable premolded pan or tray  130  with a drain tube  132  may be inserted into a soft side central section  20 . In this embodiment, the drain tube  132  will fit through an opening  134  in bottom side  136  of the central section  20 . The tray  130  thus provides a means to maintain the form and shape of the central section. Other alternative constructions are illustrated in the remaining figures. The tube  132  permits draining of water in the event the container  130  is filled with ice and is used as a cooler.  
         [0033]     Thus, referring to  FIGS. 10-16 , it will be noted that a foldable rigid sided carton, for example, of the type which would retain and hold canned goods, drinks or the like, may be positioned within the central container  20 . Thus, a multi-sided foldable drink container in the form of a multiple sided rigid hinged element as depicted in  FIGS. 11-15  can be folded to a flat condition as illustrated in  FIG. 13  or alternatively to the open and unfolded condition of  FIG. 15 . The assembled trays, for example, of  FIG. 15 ; namely, the trays  140  and  142  may then be inserted into the interior of the central section  20  to provide form and shape to that central section as well as providing a means for organizing storage.  
         [0034]     With the embodiment of the present invention, the size and shape of each of the separate sections may be modified for special needs. Each of the sections may be insulated or uninsulated. If one of the sections becomes damaged, it may be replaced. Various types of inserts may be included in any one or all of the sections. For example, as depicted in  FIGS. 11-15  drink and bottle holders may be inserted to provide the multiple functions of providing an insulating feature, a form or shape retention feature for the bag and a feature enabling removal or replacement of the drink and bottle holders should they become damaged.  
         [0035]     With the construction of the invention as depicted in the embodiment discussed, therefore, multiple benefits accrue. Various changes may be made, however, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.