Top case arrangement

Abstract

A top case arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motor-cycle like vehicle, and a vehicle having such a top case, are provided. The top case arrangement includes a top-case, and a base support arranged below the top case. The base support connects to the vehicle structure and includes connecting sections for selectively connecting armrests to the base support. The top case includes in the region of the lower side, at least one cavity in which both connecting sections are arranged when the top case is in an installed position on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A top case arrangement for a vehicle, comprising: a top case; and a base support arranged at least partially below a central region of the top case that is between lateral sides of the top case, the base support having linking portions, each linking portion being configured to receive a corresponding armrest, wherein the base support is configured to connect the top case to a structure of the vehicle that is at least partially below the top case, and the top case has at an underside at least one indentation configured to accommodate the base support linking portions when the top case is in an installed position on the vehicle.

2. The top case arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a motorcycle or a saddle-shaped seat-equipped vehicle.

3. The top case arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one indentation is configured such that, when the top case is in the installed position and no armrests are present on the base support linking portions, the top case covers at least the linking portions of the base support in the at least one indentation.

4. The top case arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the top case has two side walls which project beyond the underside of the top case at the indentation, each of the two side walls having a wall portion forming at least one lateral covering of a corresponding one of the linking portions.

5. The top case arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wall portions are detachably connected to the respective side wall of the top case by at least one of a non-positive and a positive-locking connection.

6. The top case arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vehicle structure is a rear frame.

7. The top case arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the linking portions is configured to receive the corresponding armrest in at least one of a positive-locking and a non-positive manner.

8. The top case arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base support has ends opposite one another in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of travel of the vehicle, and the linking portions are arranged the opposite ends of the base support.

9. A vehicle including a top case arrangement, comprising: a top case; and a base support arranged at least partially below a central region of the top case that is between lateral sides of the top case, the base support having linking portions, each linking portion being configured to receive a corresponding armrest, wherein the base support is configured to connect the top case to a structure of the vehicle that is at least partially below the top case, and the top case has at an underside at least one indentation configured to accommodate the base support linking portions when the top case is in an installed position on the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic frontal view of a top case arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional view of a top case arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a perspective partial view of the top case arrangement from FIG. 2 with a mounted wall portion.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a perspective partial view of the top case arrangement from FIGS. 2 and 3 with a removed wall portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) A frontal view of a top case arrangement 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 in a purely schematic and highly simplified representation. Top case arrangement 10 is provided for a vehicle (not represented), such as, for example, a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, and has for this purpose a top case 11 and a base support 12 arranged below top case 11.

(6) Base support 12 is formed for connection to a merely indicated vehicle structure 19 and furthermore has two linking portions 12a, 12b for optional linking of two armrests 18a, 18b to base support 12. Both linking portions 12a, 12b are arranged at opposite ends of base support 12. For the sake of clarity, both armrests 18a, 18b are represented spaced apart from linking portions 12a, 12b, but these are connected in the installed state directly to linking portions 12a, 12b. Each of both linking portions 12a, 12b is correspondingly formed for positive-locking and/or non-positive linking in each case of an armrest 18a, 18b.

(7) Top case 11 furthermore has in the region of an under side 11a an indentation 13 which define a receiving volume in which both linking portions 12a, 12b are arranged. Entire base support 12 is furthermore also arranged in indentation 13 in the represented embodiment.

(8) Indentation 13 is configured such that top case 11, in a non-mounted state of the armrests (as represented), forms by means of indentation 13 a covering of both linking portions 12a, 12b of base support 12. Linking portions 12a, 12b are thus covered and protected at least from above and both sides by a wall of indentation 13. A hindrance or risk of injury to a user by linking portions 12a, 12b is prevented.

(9) To this end, two side walls 14, 15 of top case 11 are provided which project downwards beyond under side 11a of top case 11 for formation of indentation 13 and to this end comprise in each case one wall portion 14a, 15a. Each of wall portions 14a, 15a forms in each case the lateral covering of one of both linking portions 12a, 12b.

(10) Wall portions 14a, 15a can be connected, for example, in each case detachably by means of a non-positive and/or positive-locking connection to respectively assigned side wall 14, 15 of top case 11.

(11) Base support 13 is furthermore formed for connection to a vehicle structure 19 embodied as a rear frame.

(12) For the represented case that no armrests 18a, 18b are connected to the linking portions, rather only base support 12 is provided on the vehicle, a projection of the linking portions in the lateral direction beyond top case 11 is avoided and thusas describeda hindrance to the user or a risk of injury by otherwise projecting linking portions is effectively eliminated.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment, represented in greater detail, of a top case arrangement 20 in a partial sectional view also from a frontal perspective. Top case 21 of top case arrangement 20 has an under side 21a which has an indentation 23 which is pronounced locally to different degrees. A base support 22 is arranged at least partially in said indentation 23, which base support 22 has a receiving portion 22b at its lateral end. Said 22b is covered by under side 21a of top case 21 and by lateral wall portion 25a and is thus arranged within indentation 23. Wall portion 25a represents a sub-portion 25, which projects beyond under side 21a, of a side wall 25 of top case 21 and continues this 25 downwards for generation of a continuous side contour of top case 21.

(14) A perspective partial view of top case arrangement 20 from FIG. 2 with a mounted wall portion 25a is represented in FIG. 3, wherein top case arrangement 20 is connected to a vehicle structure 29 embodied as a rear frame. It is apparent that wall portion 25a forms a sub-portion of side wall 25 and at least laterally covers linking portion 22b lying therebehind (not visible) of base support 22.

(15) FIG. 4 shows a perspective partial view of top case arrangement 20 from FIGS. 2 and 3 with removed wall portion 25a (not represented). Non-covered connecting portion 22b of base support 22 is correspondingly apparent, to which connecting portion 22b an armrest 18b (not represented) can be attached.

(16) 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.