GB2086327A - A luggage carrier for a motorcycle - Google Patents

Abstract

A luggage carrier for a motorcycle is constructed by selecting and assembling components in a manner which allows for adjustment at least transversely and preferably longitudinally of the carrier. Such a carrier has two side arms 10 which are intended to extend longitudinally of the motorcycle and by which the carrier is mounted on the motorcycle, a top rail formed of two parts 13, 14, each top rail part being supported by and attached to one of the side arms, and two top members 15 intended to extend transversely of the motorcycle and interconnecting the top rail parts, the dimensions of which components being selected so that the carrier when assembled is suitable for mounting on a particular motorcycle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Luggage carriers for motorcycles This invention relates to luggage carriers for motorcycles.

A motorcycle luggage carrier cannot be of standard design and has to be manufactured having longitudinal, transverse and vertical dimensions and mounting positions specifically for a particular motorcycle. Such dimensions and mounting positions must be accurately determined, and a conventional carrier is of rigid construction and at least some or all of the joints between the members of the carrier involve welding. The carrier is thus expensive and requires protracted lead times through jig and tool manufacture.

According to the invention a method of constructing a luggage carrier for a motorcycle comprises the selection of components and their assembly in a manner which allows for adjustment at least transversely of the motorcycle.

Preferably the selected components also allow for adjustment longitudinally of the motorcycle.

It is also preferred that the components are assembled and maintained in their adjusted positions by bolts.

The invention also provides a luggage carrier for a motorcycle constructed as defined above, comprising two side arms which are intended to extend longitudinally of the motorcycle and by which the carrier is mounted on the motorcycle, a top rail formed of two parts, each top rail part being supported by and attached to one of the side arms, and two top members intended to extend transversely of the motorcycle and interconnecting the top rail parts, the dimensions of which components being selected so that the carrier when assembled is suitable for mounting on a particular motorcycle.

Preferably the top rail parts have respective portions which extend transversely of the carrier in telescopic relation and which allow for adjustment of the width of the carrier whilst remaining in telescopic relation.

It is also preferred that the top members are both bolted to the top rail parts through aligned apertures, at least one of the apertures in each top member being a longitudinal slot.

Each side arm preferably has a front end which is in telescopic relation with the remainder of the side arm thereby allowing adjustment of the length of the side arm, and means for retaining said adjustment in a plurality of predetermined positions.

The carrier preferably includes means for mounting the carrier on a motorcycle. The mounting means may comprise, for each side arm, an aperture at or adjacent the forward end of the side arm for mounting said end to a first mounting point on the motorcycle, and at a desired position along the side arm a bolt-on clamp attached at one end to the clamp and adapted to be attached at its other end to a second mounting point on the motorcycle.

By way of example, a specific embodiment in accordance with the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a luggage carrier for a motorcycle; and Figures 2 to 4 show alternative front ends of the side bars of the carrier of Figure 1 applicable for other motorcycles.

This example is concerned with the construction and assembly of a luggage carrier for a motorcycle. The carrier is itself applicable to one particular motorcycle only, but its manner of construction allows carriers for other motorcycles of widely differing dimensions to be readily assembled from a stock of components without expensive jig and tooling operations which involve considerable periods of time and workshop capacity.

Referring to Figure 1, the motorcycle carrier comprises two side arms 10 having telescopic front ends 1 a top rail 12 in two parts 13,14 and two top members 1 5.

The general dimensions of each of these components is selected in accordance with the appropriate dimensions of the particular motorcycle being fitted. For example, the side arms can be altered in length A and in height B, and the front ends 11 are provided in different lengths with one fixing hole or a plurality of fixing holes 1 6 for fine adjustment of the length of the respective side arm.

The two parts 13, 14 of the top rail are interconnected by a spigot 17 on one end of part 13 fitting inside the adjacent end of the other part 14, and each part has two mounting points 18, 19 for bolting the part to the respective side arm 10.

Again the general dimensions of the top rail 1 2 can be altered by substituting alternative rail parts 13, 14, for example with a different height E or a substantially different width C.

Fine adjustment of the width of the carrier may be achieved by relative movement of the spigot 1 7 of top rail part 13 within the other top rail part 14.

To maintain the selected carrier width and to provide a luggage platform, the top rail parts 13, 14 are joined by the two top members 15 which are of suitable length D and extend transversely of the carrier. Each member 1 5 is bolted to both top rail parts 13, 14, and for the purpose of fine adjustment at least one of the mounting apertures 21 in each member 1 5 is a longitudinal slot.

Figures 2 to 4 show alternative forms of cranked, angled and slotted front ends 30, 31. 32 respectively, one of which may be more suitable for a particular motorcycle being fitted than the straight form shown in Figure 1. Still further forms of front end may be required in some cases.

To assemble the carrier the side arms 10 are provided with the appropriate form of front ends 11 which are held at the desired relative longitudinal adjustment by bolts 22 passing through a hole 23 in the main portion of the side arm and a selected hole 1 6 in the front end. The spigot 17 of top rail part 13 is next inserted into the adjacent end of the other top rail part 14, and the two parts 13, 14 are then bolted at their mounting points 18, 1 9 to the side arms 10. After fine adjustment of the carrier width the two top members 1 5 are bolted to the top rail parts 13, 14 and the carrier is complete.

Normally the front of the carrier will be attached to the top rear suspension mounting position on the motorcycle using the holes 24 in the front ends 11. The rear of the carrier may be mounted to the rear of the motorcycle frame using indicator mountings or grab rail mountings, or mudguard fixing points. For this purpose a pair of clamps 25 are assembled and bolted by bolts 26, 27 around each side arm (only one pair of clamps is shown) which is connected to the motorcycle frame by a support bracket 28 attached to the side arm by bolt 27. Different heights and widths of rear fixing points on the motorcycle frame may be accommodated by using appropriately dimensioned support brackets 28.

In this particular embodiment the side arms 10, front ends 11 and top rail parts 13, 14 are formed from mild steel tube finished in polished chrome.

The top members 1 5 are black nylon coated, mild steel strips. The clamps 25 are of aluminium alloy and the support brackets 28 are manufactured from mild steel and finished in nickel chrome.

As stated above, the purpose and thus an advantage of this invention is to enable a motorcycle luggage carrier to be assembled from a stock of components without special jig and tooling operations and thus with a considerable saving in time and workshop capacity.

The invention is not restricted to the specific details of the embodiment described above. For example, the portions of the top rail parts 13, 14 which are directly inwardly of the carrier and are joined in telescopic relation may be omitted. In this case, the top rail parts are interconnected only by the top members 1 5.

Claims (11)

1. A method of constructing a luggage carrier for a motorcycle comprising the selection of components and their assembly in a manner which allows for adjustment at least transversely of the motorcycle.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the selected components also allow for adjustment longitudinally of the motorcycle.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the components are assembled and maintained in their adjusted positions by bolts.

4. A luggage carrier for a motorcycle constructed as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, comprising two side arms which are intended to extend longitudinally of the motorcycle and by which the carrier is mounted on the motorcycle, a top rail formed of two parts, each top rail part being supported by and attached to one of the side arms, and two top members intended to extend transversely of the motorcycle and interconnecting the top rail parts, the dimensions of which components being selected so that the carrier when assembled is suitable for mounting on a particular motorcycle.

5. A luggage carrier as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the top rail parts have respective portions which extend transversely of the carrier in telescopic relation and which allow for adjustment of the width of the carrier whilst remaining in telescopic relation.

6. A luggage carrier as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the top members are both bolted to the top rail parts through aligned apertures, at least one of the apertures in each top member being a longitudinal slot.

7. A luggage carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein each side arm has a front end which is in telescopic relation with the remainder of the side arm thereby allowing adjustment of the length of the side arm, and means for retaining said adjustment in a plurality of predetermined positions.

8. A luggage carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7, including means for mounting the carrier on a motorcycle.

9. A luggage carrier as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the mounting means comprises, for each side arm, an aperture at or adjacent the forward end of the side arm for mounting said end to a first mounting point on the motorcycle, and at a desired position along the side arm a bolt-on clamp attached at one end to the clamp and adapted to be attached at. its other end to a second mounting point on the motorcycle.

1 0. A method of constructing a luggage carrier for a motorcycle substantially as hereinbefore described.

11. A luggage carrier for a motorcycle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.