Patent Description:
The application of storage containers on some types of saddle riding-type vehicles, such as motorcycles, for example, in particular, but not exclusively motor scooters with two or more wheels, is known. For example, it is known to apply a storage container to the rear part of the saddle riding-type vehicles, for example to allow one or more helmets to be stored in the storage container.

Storage containers, commonly fixed to the rear end of motorcycles, generally comprise a container body defining the storage compartment, which comprises a base and a cover hinged to the base so that it can take an opening configuration, which allows access to the storage compartment, and a closing configuration, in which the cover closes the base at the top, thus preventing the storage compartment from being accessed. The base of the container is normally a rigid body with a closed bottom which, as described above, is adapted to be closed at the top by the cover.

Storage containers are commonly used to transport objects, such as one or more helmets, but storage containers having a more specific purpose are also known, e.g. heated or cooled thermal containers for transporting food.

Some storage containers have at least one electric, electromechanical, or electronic component or device, which requires a power supply for the operation thereof, hereinafter also referred to in short as an electric load device, or in general as an electric device. For example, some storage containers have one or more devices from the following list as the electric load device: an internal lighting source, an electromechanical lock, means allowing an active control of the temperature inside the container, an active object-holding device, for example having an inflatable member and an associated inflation device.

Storage containers for motorcycles, or in general for saddle riding-type vehicles of the known art, require wired power supply systems having electric cables or, in general, electrical conductors or at least connectors, which allow the power supply required for the operation of the electric load device to be supplied to the storage container. These electric cables generally allow the storage containers to be electrically connected to the electric system of motorcycles.

The aforesaid cabled power supply systems of the storage containers of the known art are generally costly and poorly reliable, also considering that the storage containers need to be detached quickly from the motorcycle if the user wants to remove the container after parking the motorcycle, in order to prevent theft or tampering with the storage container by ill-intentioned people. If there are included connectors allowing the storage containers to be connected, by means of electric cables, to the electric system of the vehicle, it should be remembered that such connectors are exposed to the weather conditions and that such connectors are thus to be conveniently protected, for example to prevent short-circuits or to ensure a good electrical contact over time. <CIT> discloses a solar energy wireless storage container. <CIT> discloses a wireless power supplier arrangement for motorcycle. <CIT> discloses an additional storage box for use on saddle-type vehicle.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a saddle riding-type vehicle, which is capable of completely or at least partially overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks. <CIT> shows all the features of the preamble of independent claim <NUM>.

Such an object is achieved by a storage container for a saddle riding-type vehicle, as generally defined in claim <NUM>. Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the aforesaid storage container are defined in the appended dependent claims.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of particular embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings briefly described in the following paragraph.

Identical or similar elements are indicated in the accompanying figures using the same reference numerals.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of a saddle riding-type vehicle <NUM>, which in the particular example depicted, without however introducing any limitation, consists of a two-wheeled motorcycle, and in particular a two-wheeled scooter, having a front wheel <NUM> and a rear wheel <NUM>.

Hereinafter, in the present description, without however introducing any limitation, reference will be made to a general motorcycle <NUM>, meaning that the following description may be generally applied to any type of ridable saddle vehicle comprising:.

The main body <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM> has a front part <NUM>, a tail part <NUM>, and a central part <NUM> interposed between the front part <NUM> and the tail part <NUM>. The central part <NUM> comprises, for example, a footboard <NUM>.

In the example, the front part <NUM> comprises a front shield <NUM>, a steering handlebar <NUM>, the front wheel <NUM>.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the tail part <NUM> comprises a luggage carrier <NUM>.

Preferably, the main body <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM> comprises at least one battery <NUM>.

The motorcycle <NUM> further comprises a storage container <NUM> preferably and not limitedly fixed to the tail part <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM>, and more preferably to the luggage carrier <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM>. For example, the storage container <NUM> comprise a container body <NUM>,<NUM> defining the storage compartment and comprising a base <NUM> and a cover or door <NUM> (hereinafter "cover") hinged to the base <NUM> so that it can take an opening configuration, allowing access to the storage compartment, and a closing configuration, in which the cover <NUM> closes the base <NUM>, thus preventing the storage compartment from being accessed. For example, the container body <NUM>, <NUM> is shaped like a container and the cover <NUM> closes the base <NUM> at the top.

According to a first embodiment, the storage container <NUM> comprises a fixing base <NUM>, such as a fixing plate, adapted and configured to fix, preferably removably, the storage container <NUM> to the luggage carrier <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM>. In a manner known per se, the aforesaid fixing base <NUM> can be mechanically coupled to the luggage carrier <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM> by means of an anti-tampering fixing system, e.g. a system of screws or bolts which are inaccessible to be unscrewed or removed or released when the storage container is fixed to the fixing base <NUM>. In turn, the storage container <NUM>, and in particular the base <NUM> thereof, can be mechanically coupled to the fixing base <NUM> though removable coupling means, which are known per se to those skilled in the art.

According to an alternative embodiment, the storage container <NUM> is directly fixed to the luggage carrier <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM>, i.e. without the inclusion of the fixing base <NUM>, through removable coupling means, which are known per se to those skilled in the art. These coupling means allow the base <NUM> of the storage container <NUM> to be directly fixed to the luggage carrier of the motorcycle <NUM>, for example.

The storage container <NUM> comprises an electric device <NUM> which requires a power supply for the operation thereof. Conveniently, as shown in the examples described below, the electric device <NUM> forms part of the storage container <NUM>. In particular, as shown in the examples described below, the electric device <NUM> is fixed to, or integrated in, the storage container <NUM>.

In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, the storage container <NUM> comprises a lock assembly <NUM> which is operable to take an operative release configuration for allowing the storage container <NUM> to be opened, and an operative locking configuration for preventing the storage container <NUM> from being opened. The electric device <NUM> is or comprises a controllable actuator which, from the operative locking configuration, allows the lock assembly <NUM> to be brought into the operative release configuration. For example, the controllable actuator is an electromagnetic actuator. For example, the lock assembly <NUM> comprises a latch <NUM> and the aforesaid controllable actuator allows the latch <NUM> to be moved, for example rotated. In the particular example in the figures, the aforesaid actuator is controllable to slide a piston <NUM> along a sliding direction in order to rotate the latch <NUM>. Conveniently, the lock assembly <NUM> can also be actuated by means of a key <NUM>.

In alternative or additional embodiments to that described above, the electric device <NUM> comprises one or more electric devices from the following list: an internal lighting source, means for heating/cooling the storage container <NUM>, an active object-holding device, an electrical socket, preferably USB.

The storage container <NUM> comprises a wireless power receiver <NUM>, integrated in the storage container, which is configured to obtain electrical power from an electromagnetic field generated by a wireless power transmitter <NUM>. As will be explained below, the wireless power transmitter <NUM> is arranged outside the storage container <NUM>, preferably close or adjacent to the storage container <NUM>, in particular outside the container body <NUM>,<NUM>. The storage container <NUM> further comprises a power supply circuit <NUM> operatively connected to the wireless power receiver <NUM> and to the electric device <NUM> to supply the electric device <NUM> with the electrical power obtained from the electromagnetic field.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the electrical power obtained from the electromagnetic field by the wireless power receiver <NUM> is of the inductive type. For example, the wireless power receiver <NUM> is an inductive coupling receiver of the resonant type or of the non-resonant type. For example, the wireless power receiver <NUM> comprises at least one electric coil which, when immersed in a variable magnetic field, is such as to supply an induced electric current. Preferably, the electric coil is a planar coil, such as a spiral planar coil. According to a possible embodiment, the wireless power receiver <NUM> complies with the Qi standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium, in accordance with the first version of the standard or any one of the subsequent versions.

If the storage container <NUM> comprises a fixing base <NUM> to allow the storage container <NUM> to be fixed to the motorcycle <NUM>, it is advantageous for the fixing base <NUM> to comprise a transmitter <NUM>, i.e. a wireless power transmitter <NUM>, configured to generate an electromagnetic field which, upon hitting the wireless power receiver <NUM>, allows the latter to extract useful electrical power for supplying the electric device <NUM>. For example, the wireless power transmitter <NUM> is integrated in the fixing base <NUM>. Therefore, it can be understood how the wireless power transmitter <NUM> is functionally complementary to the wireless power receiver <NUM>. For example, the wireless power transmitter <NUM> also comprises at least one or more electric coils, which are preferably planar, adapted to generate a variable magnetic field which hits the wireless power receiver <NUM> when the storage container <NUM> is coupled to the fixing base <NUM>. For example, the wireless power transmitter <NUM> also complies with the Qi standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium, in accordance with the first version of the standard or any one of the subsequent versions.

The wireless power transmitter <NUM> is connected to a power source of the motorcycle <NUM>, e.g. to battery <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM> or in general to the electric system of the motorcycle <NUM>, e.g. by means of a connector <NUM>.

When the fixing base <NUM> is not provided and the storage container <NUM> is directly fixed to the motorcycle <NUM>, e.g. to the luggage carrier <NUM>, as for the wireless power transmitter <NUM> all the considerations explained in the previous paragraphs relating to the wireless power transmitter <NUM> described above apply, with the sole difference that in this case the wireless power transmitter <NUM> is integrated in the motorcycle <NUM>, e.g. in the luggage carrier <NUM>.

The wireless power receiver <NUM> is integrated in the base <NUM> of the container body <NUM>,<NUM>, preferably in a bottom wall of the base <NUM>, e.g. in the wall of the base <NUM> of the storage container <NUM>, which rests on the fixing base <NUM> or on the luggage carrier <NUM>, so that the wireless power receiver <NUM> is arranged as close as possible to the fixing base <NUM> or to the luggage carrier <NUM>, in order that the wireless power receiver <NUM> is arranged as close as possible to the wireless power transmitter <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a circuit block diagram of a preferred non-limiting embodiment of the power supply circuit <NUM>. As described above, such a power supply circuit <NUM> forms part of the storage container <NUM> and is operatively interposed between the wireless power receiver <NUM> and the electric device <NUM>.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the power supply circuit <NUM> comprises a storage device <NUM> for storing the electrical power extracted from the wireless power receiver <NUM>. For example, the storage device <NUM> comprises a rechargeable battery and/or a capacitor, preferably a supercapacitor.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the power supply circuit <NUM> comprises a conditioning circuit <NUM> (also referred to as a "power pick up unit"), which allows the electrical power extracted from the wireless power receiver <NUM> to be taken to an exploitable form on board the storage container <NUM>, e.g. in order to store it in the storage device <NUM>. The conditioning circuit <NUM> can comprise a recharge circuit, for example, if the storage device <NUM> comprises a rechargeable battery.

Conveniently, the power supply circuit <NUM> can further comprise a driving circuit <NUM> of the electric device <NUM>, such as a power circuit adapted to provide the electric device <NUM> with a power supply, which meets the parameters required for the operation of the electric device <NUM>, such as parameters in terms of voltage and/or current.

The power supply circuit <NUM> further comprises a control device <NUM> which is operable for selectively powering the electric device <NUM>. For example, if the electric device <NUM> comprises an internal light, the control device <NUM> could be or comprise an opening sensor of the storage container <NUM>, so as to allow an automatic lighting of the internal light upon opening the storage container.

The control device <NUM> is a manual control device positioned outside the storage container <NUM>, preferably on the rear outer side of the storage container <NUM>, i.e. on the side which, under a use condition in which the storage container <NUM> is coupled to the motorcycle <NUM>, faces the side opposite to the front part <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM>. For example, the manual control device <NUM> comprises a switch, preferably a push-button switch. For example, the aforesaid manual control device <NUM> allows a user to open the storage container <NUM> without using the key <NUM> if the electric device <NUM> is a controllable actuator of the lock assembly <NUM>.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the power supply circuit <NUM> is such as to activate or deactivate the power supply of the electric device <NUM> based on a consent given or denied, respectively, by an authorization control system. Thereby, an unauthorized use of the storage container <NUM> by ill-intentioned people is advantageously avoided. For example, if the electric device <NUM> is a controllable actuator of the lock assembly <NUM>, ill-intentioned people are prevented from opening the storage container <NUM>.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the authorization control system is included in the storage container <NUM>, particularly in the power supply circuit <NUM>. Advantageously, this allows an authorized user to use the electric device <NUM>, for example in order to open the storage container <NUM>, also when the storage container <NUM> is removed from the motorcycle <NUM>. This may occur both when the storage container <NUM> comprises an electrical power storage device <NUM> and when it does not. In fact, however, it is theoretically possible to obtain electrical power by means of the wireless power receiver <NUM> even from any other wireless power transmitter which is functionally complementary to the wireless power receiver <NUM>, and which is integrated, for example, in a charging pad or in a docking station which can be kept for example at home, in the garage or in the office by a user.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the authorization control system comprises a radio receiver <NUM> of an authorization signal. For example, the authorization signal is a radio signal transmitted by a keyfob logically paired with the storage container <NUM> and/or with the motorcycle <NUM>, so that the electric device <NUM> can be electrically powered only when an authorized user, who possesses and has the keyfob with him/her, is within the visibility range of the keyfob by the radio receiver <NUM>.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the aforesaid authorization control system is adapted and configured to activate or deactivate the power supply of the electric device <NUM> based on at least one operation state of the motorcycle <NUM>, for example as a function of one or more of the following listed conditions: the state of start-up or switch-off of the motor <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM> even as a function of the state of start-up or switch-off of the control panel of the motorcycle <NUM>, the speed of the motorcycle <NUM>, the parking state of the motorcycle <NUM>, the interval of time elapsed since one of the previous conditions occurred or ceased.

The aforesaid conditions can be autonomously verified by the power supply circuit <NUM>, particularly if the power supply circuit <NUM> comprises an electrical power storage device <NUM>. For example, the authorization control system can deny the consent whenever the motor of the motorcycle <NUM> is on, for example to prevent the storage container <NUM> from being opened by ill-intentioned people when the motor <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM> is on but the latter is still at a traffic light or in a queue, for example. In order to detect whether the motor <NUM> is on, the authorization control system can verify, for example, whether the wireless power transmitter <NUM> is transmitting or not an electromagnetic field, based on the electrical power obtained by the wireless power receiver <NUM>. In this case, it is possible to configure the motorcycle <NUM> so that it can supply the transmitter <NUM> only when the motor <NUM> is on. In other words, the information on the state of the motorcycle <NUM> can also be transmitted wirelessly to the storage container <NUM>, e.g. by means of the transmitter <NUM> or by means of one or more separate transmitters configured to transmit data or information by means of the transmission of radiofrequency signals (e.g. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or RFID).

However, if the storage container <NUM> is not provided with an electrical power storage device <NUM>, all the authorization logics can be managed on board the motorcycle <NUM>, e.g. by the electronic control unit (ECU) of the motorcycle <NUM>, establishing the authorization conditions which allow the motorcycle <NUM> to power the transmitter <NUM> and thus to power the electric device <NUM>, for example.

According to a preferred embodiment, the power supply circuit comprises an electronic control unit <NUM>, which is possibly powered by the electrical power stored in the storage device <NUM> and which allows, for example, one or more of the operations defined in the following list to be managed: charging the storage device <NUM>, driving the electric device <NUM>, managing the inputs of the control device <NUM>, controlling the authorization by processing the signals outputted by the radio receiver <NUM> and/or by means of the electrical power extracted from the wireless power receiver <NUM>, for example.

Note that a storage container <NUM> of the type described above is also an object of the present patent application, which comprises, in addition to or instead of the wireless power receiver <NUM>, a wireless power transmitter which is equal or similar to the wireless transmitter <NUM> detailed in the present description and operatively connected to an electrical power storage unit <NUM> included or integrated in the storage container <NUM>, such as a rechargeable battery, a capacitor, a supercapacitor, for example.

By virtue of the wireless power transmitter included in the storage container <NUM> and by virtue of the electrical power storage unit <NUM>, the storage container <NUM> can be advantageously used to supply electrical power to the motorcycle <NUM> and/or to supply electrical power to any other device requiring a power supply (e.g. a smartphone). This can be useful both when the storage container <NUM> is fixed to the motorcycle <NUM> and when it is removed therefrom.

If the wireless power receiver <NUM> is present in the storage container <NUM>, for the principle or theorem of reciprocity of antennae, the wireless power receiver <NUM> with modifications within the reach of those skilled in the art can be used as a wireless power transmitter of the storage container <NUM>. In this case, the storage container <NUM> can be selectively used as a source of wireless power or as a load adapted to absorb a wireless power.

If the wireless power receiver <NUM> is not present and the wireless power transmitter is present instead, the storage container <NUM> can be used however by providing for the possibility to charge the storage unit <NUM>, e.g. by including a charging socket of the storage container <NUM> for the connection to an external power source, e.g. for the connection to an electrical power distribution network by means of which the storage container <NUM> can be charged both when it is removed from the motorcycle <NUM> and when it is fixed to the motorcycle <NUM> and the motorcycle <NUM> is at an electric charging station, for example.

Based on the above explanation, it is thus possible to understand how a storage container of the type described above allows the aforesaid objects to be achieved with reference to known prior art.

Without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the embodiments and details may be widely varied with respect to the above disclosure given merely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The present invention relates to the technical field of saddle riding-type vehicles and is particularly directed to a storage container for a saddle riding-type vehicle.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the power supply circuit <NUM> further comprises a control device <NUM> which is operable for selectively powering the electric device <NUM>. For example, if the electric device <NUM> comprises an internal light, the control device <NUM> could be or comprise an opening sensor of the storage container <NUM>, so as to allow an automatic lighting of the internal light upon opening the storage container.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control device <NUM> is a manual control device positioned outside the storage container <NUM>, preferably on the rear outer side of the storage container <NUM>, i.e. on the side which, under a use condition in which the storage container <NUM> is coupled to the motorcycle <NUM>, faces the side opposite to the front part <NUM> of the motorcycle <NUM>. For example, the manual control device <NUM> comprises a switch, preferably a push-button switch. For example, the aforesaid manual control device <NUM> allows a user to open the storage container <NUM> without using the key <NUM> if the electric device <NUM> is a controllable actuator of the lock assembly <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A storage container (<NUM>) for a saddle riding-type vehicle (<NUM>), the container (<NUM>) comprising an electric device (<NUM>) requiring a power supply for the operation thereof, comprising:
- a wireless power receiver (<NUM>) configured to obtain electrical power from an electromagnetic field generated by a wireless power transmitter (<NUM>);
- a power supply circuit (<NUM>) operatively connected to the wireless power receiver (<NUM>) and to the electric device (<NUM>) to supply the electric device (<NUM>) with the electrical power obtained from the electromagnetic field, wherein the power supply circuit forms part of the storage container (<NUM>) and is operatively interposed between the wireless power receiver (<NUM>) and the electric device (<NUM>);
- a container body (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a base (<NUM>) and a cover or door (<NUM>), and
characterised in that the wireless power receiver (<NUM>) is integrated in the base (<NUM>) of the container body (<NUM>,<NUM>)
wherein the power supply circuit (<NUM>) further comprises control device (<NUM>) which is operable for selectively powering the electric device (<NUM>) and which is a manual control device positioned outside the storage container (<NUM>).