Carrier arrangement for lateral luggage containers of a motorcycle

Abstract

A connecting arrangement is provided for fastening lateral luggage containers on a motor vehicle, in particular to a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, and a vehicle including the connecting arrangement. The connecting arrangement includes a rear vehicle frame section and a carrier element movably connected thereon. The carrier element extends transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame section, and has a lateral left-hand end designed for connecting to a left-hand luggage container and at a lateral right-hand end designed for connecting to a right-hand luggage container. The invention further relates to a vehicle having a corresponding connecting arrangement.

Claims

1. A connecting arrangement for the fastening of lateral luggage containers to a motor vehicle, comprising: a vehicle frame portion; and a carrier element configured to be connected to the vehicle frame portion in a manner permitting relative movement between the carrier element and the vehicle frame during operation of the motor vehicle, the carrier element extending transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame portion, wherein the carrier element has a lateral left-hand end configured to be connected to a left-hand luggage container and a lateral right-hand end configured to be connected to a right-hand luggage container.

2. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the carrier element includes a lateral carrying arm at the lateral left-hand end and a lateral carrying arm at the lateral right-hand end, each of the lateral carrying arms being configured to be connected to respective ones of the left-hand and right-hand luggage containers, and at least one transverse member connecting the lateral carrying arms to one another.

3. The connecting arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the lateral carrying arms are in each case connected to one another at their ends by the at least one a transverse member, and the carrier element is a rectangular-shaped or a trapezoidal shaped frame element.

4. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement is a translational movement transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame portion.

5. The connecting arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the carrier element is connected to the vehicle frame portion by a plurality of bearing points, and each of the bearing points have a guide portion configured to guide the translational movement.

6. The connecting arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising: at least two rail elements aligned transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame portion, wherein the carrier element is connected in translationally displaceable fashion to the rail elements by plain bearings.

7. The connecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement is a rotational movement of the carrier element relative to the vehicle frame portion about an axis of rotation.

8. The connecting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the axis of rotation is aligned in a vertical direction of the vehicle frame portion.

9. The connecting arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the axis of rotation is an axis of rotation of a rotary bearing or a virtual axis of rotation.

10. The connecting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the carrier element is connected for movable relative to the vehicle frame portion by a plurality of bearing points, and each of the bearing points has a guide portion configured to guide the rotational movement.

11. The connecting arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the axis of rotation is located in front of a geometric center of the carrier element in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame portion.

12. The connecting arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the axis of rotation is located within the carrier element.

13. The connecting arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the lateral carrying arms each include at least one hook-in portion configured for detachable hooking-in of the respective luggage container.

14. A vehicle, comprising: a connecting arrangement for fastening of lateral luggage containers to the motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising: a rigid fastening projection at each of a left side and a right side of a frame of the vehicle which includes the vehicle frame portion, wherein each of the rigid fastening projections is configured to receive the respective left-hand luggage container and right-hand luggage container, and each of the rigid fastening projections is configured to cooperate with lower regions of the respective left-hand luggage container and right-hand luggage container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a motorcycle with lateral luggage containers.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a connecting arrangement according to the description.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of the connecting arrangement.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the connecting arrangement.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the second embodiment from FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of the connecting arrangement.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the connecting arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates, in a plan view, a motor vehicle in the form of a motorcycle 1 with lateral luggage containers 7, 8. The motorcycle 1 is, in part, illustrated merely schematically for the purposes of improved clarity, and comprises, in a longitudinal direction L, a front wheel 2, which is steerable by a handlebar 3. Behind a vehicle tank 4, there follows a seat bench 5 for a rider or additionally for a pillion passenger positioned behind the rider. Provided under the seat bench 5 in the rear part of the motorcycle 1, that is to say in the region of a rear wheel (not visible), is a connecting arrangement 20 which will be described in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 7.

(9) Said connecting arrangement 20 is designed for the fastening of the lateral luggage containers 7, 8 to the motorcycle 1. Accordingly, via the connecting arrangement 20, a left-hand luggage container 7 is arranged on a left-hand side of the motorcycle 1 and a right-hand luggage container 8 is arranged on the right-hand side of the motorcycle 1.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the connecting arrangement 20 from FIG. 1 after at least the seat bench 5 has been removed.

(11) As described, the connecting arrangement 20 is designed for the fastening of the lateral luggage containers 7, 8 to the motorcycle 1 The connecting arrangement 20 comprises a carrier element 22 and at least one rear vehicle frame portion 21, which is defined for example by a rear-end frame of the motorcycle and which is rigidly connected to a main frame (not illustrated) of the motorcycle 1. The vehicle frame portion 21 comprises for example a left-hand and a right-hand longitudinal member, which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction L′ and which are connected to one another by a connecting portion at their respective rear end. It is self-evident that the vehicle frame portion 21 may likewise have other components and/or a different geometry.

(12) At any rate, the carrier element 22 is arranged on a top side of the vehicle frame portion 21 and so as to extend transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction L′ of the vehicle frame portion 21. This also means that the carrier element 22 is, in an installed state, positioned between the top side of the vehicle frame portion 21 and the seat bench, which may be arranged thereabove, in a vehicle vertical direction. The longitudinal direction L′ of the vehicle frame portion 21 is in this case identical to the longitudinal direction L of the motorcycle 1.

(13) Alternatively, and therefore in a manner which is not illustrated, it is however also possible for an arrangement to be arranged below the vehicle frame portion or within the vehicle frame portion.

(14) The carrier element 22 is designed, at a lateral left-hand end 22a, for connection to the left-hand luggage container 7 and, at a lateral right-hand end 22b, for connection to the right-hand luggage container 8. The connection between the carrier element 22 and the vehicle frame portion 21 arranged therebelow (in the vehicle vertical direction) is designed such that the carrier element 22 is connected to the vehicle frame portion 21 so as to be movable relative thereto.

(15) The carrier element 22 comprises in each case one lateral carrying arm 23a, 23b in the region of the left-hand 22a and of the right-hand end 22b, and two transverse members 24 which connect the lateral carrying arms 23a, 23b to one another. Furthermore, the two lateral carrying arms 23a, 23b are each designed for connection to the associated lateral luggage container 7, 8. For this purpose, the carrying arms 23a, 23b have—as can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 7—two hook-in portions 25 at their respective outer ends, which hook-in portions project in a transverse direction Q (that is to say point in the direction of the luggage containers 7, 8) and each comprise a depression or recess into which the respective luggage container 7, 8 can be inserted with engaging action by way of in each case two corresponding projections 26, in particular two hook-like projections or hook-like undercuts, and can be removed as required. Instead of two projections, it is self-evidently likewise possible for only one or more than two projections 26 to be provided per luggage container 7, 8.

(16) The carrier element 22 is designed as a frame element which has an approximately rectangular or at least trapezoidal shape by virtue of the lateral carrying arms 23a, 23b being connected to one another at their ends in each case by means of one of the two transverse members 24.

(17) FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of the connecting arrangement 20 that has already been described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(18) In this first embodiment, the relative movement of the carrier element 22 with respect to the vehicle frame portion 21 arranged therebelow is defined by a translational movement B.sub.T of the carrier element 22 transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction L′ of the vehicle frame portion 21, that is to say in the transverse direction Q.

(19) For this purpose, the carrier element 22 is connected in a translationally movable fashion to the vehicle frame portion 21 by a number of bearing points 30, with four bearing points 30 being illustrated, wherein the bearing points 30 each have a guide portion 31 for the guidance of the translational movement B.sub.T. For the translational movement, a movement extent of −20 mm≤y≤+20 mm, preferably −10 mm≤y≤+10 mm, particularly preferably −7 mm≤y≤+7 mm, may for example be provided. This means that the carrier element 22 connected to the vehicle frame portion 21 can be displaced from the illustrated central neutral position selectively by up to 20 mm, preferably up to 10 mm, particularly preferably up to 7 mm, in the direction of the left-hand side or correspondingly in the direction of the right-hand side. In this way, effective movement decoupling is provided, such that effective damping of wobbling movements of the vehicle 1 is made possible.

(20) FIG. 4 illustrates, in a plan view, a second embodiment of the connecting arrangement 20, which likewise provides a relative movement of the carrier element 22 with respect to the vehicle frame portion 21, arranged therebelow, by a translational movement B.sub.T of the carrier element 22 transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction L′ of the vehicle frame portion 21, that is to say in the transverse direction Q.

(21) By contrast to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the connecting arrangement 20 comprises two rail elements 40 aligned transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction L′ of the vehicle frame portion 21. Said rail elements are arranged parallel to and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction L′, such that the carrier element 22 is connected in translationally displaceable fashion to the rail elements 40 by means of plain bearings 43 that are illustrated in more detail in FIG. 5.

(22) As shown in the side view of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the carrier element 22 has, in the illustrated embodiment, projections 41 which extend in the direction of the rail elements 40 and which comprise recesses 42, which 42 partially engage around the rail elements 40 and in which the plain bearings 43 are arranged. As illustrated, the rail elements 40 may be designed for example as extruded profiles.

(23) FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of the connecting arrangement 20. This substantially corresponds to the other embodiments, such that, for identical components or at least components of identical action, the same reference designations are used, and reference is made to the descriptions of FIGS. 1 to 5.

(24) The illustrated third embodiment differs in that the relative movement is defined by a rotational movement B.sub.D of the carrier element 22 about a defined axis of rotation D relative to the vehicle frame portion 21. Here, the axis of rotation D is aligned in a vertical direction of the vehicle frame portion 21 or of the overall motorcycle 1 (that is to say perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 6). The axis of rotation D is formed by a real axis of rotation D which is defined by a rotary bearing 51. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis of rotation D is, as viewed in a transverse direction, arranged in a center, that is to say on the longitudinal direction L′ of the vehicle frame portion 21. For this purpose, the rotary bearing D is connected to a frame transverse member 21a which connects the two longitudinal members of the vehicle frame portion 21.

(25) A movement extent of the relative movement, that is to say of the rotational movement B.sub.D, may for example encompass a rotation about the axis of rotation D by a maximum angle α between −10°≤α≤+10°, preferably between −5°≤α≤+5°, particularly preferably between −3°≤α≤+3°. This means that the carrier element 22 connected to the vehicle frame portion 21 can be rotated out of a central neutral position (that is to say proceeding from an alignment in the longitudinal direction L′) by at most the angle α of up to +10° or by up to −10° (preferably at most +5° and −5°, particularly preferably at most +3° and −3°) within the defined movement plane.

(26) To achieve reliable guidance of the rotational movement B.sub.D about the axis of rotation D, the carrier element 22 is optionally connected in a relatively movable manner to the vehicle frame portion 21 by a number of bearing points 50 in addition to the rotary bearing D, wherein the bearing points 50 each have a guide portion 51 for the guidance of the rotational movement B.sub.D. Four bearing points 50 are illustrated, wherein it is likewise possible for only two or else more than four bearing points to be provided.

(27) The guide portions 51 are preferably each designed as a slot or curved guide groove, which are arranged tangentially with respect to a respective circular path K1, K2 or with their curvature along the respective circular path K1, K2. The centers of all circular paths K1, K2 are arranged coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation D.

(28) FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the connecting arrangement 20. This substantially corresponds to the third embodiment as per FIG. 6, such that, for identical components or at least components of identical action, the same reference designations are used, and reference is made to the descriptions of FIG. 6.

(29) The illustrated fourth embodiment likewise provides a relative movement which is defined by a rotational movement B.sub.D of the carrier element 22 about a defined axis of rotation D.sub.v relative to the vehicle frame portion 21.

(30) By contrast to the third embodiment, however, the real axis of rotation, or a rotary bearing 51 that defines the axis of rotation D, is omitted. A virtual axis of rotation D.sub.v is provided instead.

(31) This is provided by virtue of the carrier element 22 being connected in a relatively movable manner to the vehicle frame portion 21 exclusively by the number of bearing points 50, wherein the bearing points 50 each have a guide portion 51 for the guidance of the rotational movement. A movement extent of the rotational movement B.sub.D is selected as per the third embodiment.

(32) For both embodiments with a rotationally movable carrier element 22, that is to say the third and fourth embodiments, the defined axis of rotation D is, in the longitudinal direction L′ of the vehicle frame portion 21, arranged in front of a geometrical center of gravity S of the carrier element 22. Additionally, the defined axis of rotation D is arranged within the carrier element 22 and intersects the area defined and delimited by the carrier element 22.

(33) Alternatively, and therefore in a manner which is not illustrated, the defined real or the virtual axis of rotation D, D.sub.v may be arranged in front of the carrier element 22 in the longitudinal direction L.

(34) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.