Variable volume case for cycle or motorcycle

Abstract

Variable volume case (100) for cycle or motorcycle comprising a bottom (10), with bottom and lower side walls; a collar (20), with upper side walls slidably mounted on the lower side walls; a lid (30), hinged to the collar and a lock (101); wherein said case (100) comprises a lifting mechanism (40) comprising a gear wheel (41) rotatably mounted at the bottom (10), comprising at least one slidably mounted gear rack (42) for each lower side wall (12), wherein each gear rack (42) comprises an extension (43) comprising a lower end (45) fixedly mounted with said gear rack (42) and an upper end (46) fixedly mounted with an upper wall (22) of said collar (20), wherein all gear racks (42) comprise a first portion of teeth (44) engaged with said gear wheel (41), for all side walls, at least two of said gear racks having longitudinal axes parallel to each other and two further gear racks having longitudinal axes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the other two.

Description

[0001] VARIABLE VOLUME CASE FOR CYCLE OR MOTORCYCLE

[0002] The present invention refers to a variable volume case for cycle or motorcycle .

[0003] In the state of the art , variable volume cases for cycles or motorcycles that comprise a bottom, a col lar and a lid and a lock are known . The bottom comprises a bottom wall and lower side walls ri sing from the bottom wall . The collar comprises upper side walls sl idably mounted with said lower side walls of said bottom . The lid is hinged with said collar .

[0004] Disadvantageously, a sliding of the collar with respect to the bottom struggles to maintain a parallelism between the walls , that i s , the upper walls of the collar struggle to slide in the same direction rigidly with respect to the lower walls of the bottom and therefore situations occur in which a portion of the upper wall o f the collar interferes with some of the lower walls o f the bottom j amming and partially or totally blocking the upward or downward sliding and preventing the volume o f the case from being extended to the maximum, or preventing the volume of the case from being reduced to a minimum .

[0005] Disadvantageously, it is di f ficult to vary the volume of the case and requires complicated unlocking and locking operations of the side walls of the bottom and of the collar .

[0006] Disadvantageously variable volume cases are poorly resistant and poorly durable as known volume variation mechanisms comprise a multiplicity of elements that may break due to vibrations transmitted from the frame of the cycle or motorcycle to the case during the travel o f the cycle or motorcycle .

[0007] Aim of the present invention consists in making a variable volume case for cycle or motorcycle that is much more resistant, durable , simpler, easy to use , which allows to maintain a parallelism between the walls of a collar and of a bottom of the case so that an expansion or a reduction in volume of the case takes place without j ams and that the case maintains its own volume with ease .

[0008] In accordance with the invention this aim is achieved with a variable volume case for cycle or motorcycle according to claim 1 .

[0009] Other features are provided in the dependent claims .

[0010] The features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, which is to be understood as exempli fying and not limiting, with re ference to the appended schematic drawings , in which : figure 1 shows a side view of a motorcycle that fits two variable volume cases for cycle or motorcycle according to the present invention, a first case mounted on top of a rear frame in turn mounted with the motorcycle and a second case mounted laterally with a side support frame mounted in turn with the motorcycle ; figure 2 shows a perspective view of a variable volume case according to the present invention uncovered of both a lid and an upper face of a bottom wall of a bottom of the case to show a li fting mechanism mounted with the bottom that maintains a parallelism between lower walls of the bottom and upper walls of the collar during a variation in volume of the case ; figure 3 shows a top plan view of figure 2 ; figure 4 shows a sectional view according to line IV- IV of figure 3 showing the variable volume case in a configuration of smaller volume ; figure 5 shows a sectional view as figure 4 showing the variable volume case in a configuration of passage between the configuration o f smaller volume to a configuration of greater volume ; figure 6 shows a sectional view like figures 4 and 5 showing the variable volume case in the configuration of greater volume ; figure 7 shows a view of an alternative li fting mechanism comprising a further gear wheel pivoted with a further toothed portion of a gear rack of the li fting mechanism; figure 8 shows a view of the alternative li fting mechanism comprising a motor that allows the further gear wheel of figure 7 to rotate and to automate a li fting and lowering of the collar with respect to the bottom so as to be able to automatically vary the volume of the case .

[0011] In particular, figures 1 , 2 and 3 show a variable volume case 100 for cycle or motorcycle that comprises a bottom 10 , a collar 20 , a lid 30 and a lock 101 .

[0012] The case 100 is suitable to be mounted with a frame of the cycle or motorcycle by means of a support frame mounted in turn with the frame of the cycle or motorcycle , as shown in particular in figure 1 which depicts two cases 100 , a first case 100 mounted with a rear support frame mounted in turn with a frame o f the motorcycle and a second case mounted laterally with a side support frame mounted in turn with the frame o f the motorcycle .

[0013] As shown in particular in figures 2 and 3 , the bottom 10 of the case 100 comprises a bottom wall 11 and lower side walls 12 rising from the bottom wall 11 .

[0014] The bottom 11 comprises an upper through opening .

[0015] The collar 20 comprises upper side walls 22 sl idably mounted with said lower s ide walls 12 of said bottom 10 .

[0016] The collar 20 comprises two through openings , a lower through opening and an upper through opening .

[0017] The lid 30 is hinged with said collar 20 .

[0018] Figures 2 and 3 do not show the lid 30 , but hinges 103 on which the lid 30 is hinged .

[0019] The case 100 comprises a li fting mechanism 40 comprising a gear wheel 41 rotatably mounted with the bottom 10 , four gear racks 42 , i . e . one for each lower side wall 12 of the bottom .

[0020] Each gear rack 42 is slidably mounted with said bottom 10 .

[0021] Each gear rack 42 comprises an extension 43 comprising a lower end 45 fixedly mounted with the respective gear rack 42 and an upper end 46 fixedly mounted with an upper wall 22 of said collar 20 .

[0022] Advantageously, the gear rack 42 fits the extension 43 and is able to both push and pull the collar 20 upwards or downwards , so as to vary the volume of the case 100 .

[0023] All four gear racks 42 comprise a first portion of teeth 44 engaged with said gear wheel 41 .

[0024] Preferably the gear rack 42 is of rigid material .

[0025] Figures 2 and 3 show the lifting mechanism 40 as an upper face of the bottom wall 11 is uncovered .

[0026] Each gear rack 42 is moved by the gear wheel 41 which is arranged centrally to the four gear racks 42 .

[0027] Each gear rack 42 moves along the direction according to two senses .

[0028] The gear rack 42 by sliding along the direction towards a first sense pushes upwards the collar 20 increasing the volume of the case 100 up to a configuration of greater volume .

[0029] The gear rack 42 by sliding along the direction towards a second sense opposite to the first sense pul ls the collar 20 downwards decreasing the volume of the case 100 up to a configuration of smaller volume .

[0030] Preferably said gear wheel 41 is rotatably mounted with the bottom wall 11 of the bottom 10 .

[0031] The bottom wall 11 preferably comprises at least one guide 14 for each gear rack 42 .

[0032] Advantageously by rotating the gear wheel 41 all four gear racks 42 move linearly along a direction perpendicular to the respective lower side wall 12 . The four gear racks 42 face along four di f ferent directions , i . e . one direction for each lower side wall 12 .

[0033] Each guide 14 sl idably f its a respective gear rack 42 so that the gear rack 42 can move linearly along the direction in the first sense or in the second sense .

[0034] Preferably, as shown in particular in figures 2 , 3 , 7 and 8 , each gear rack 42 of said four gear racks 42 comprises a greater linear dimension that identi fies a longitudinal geometric axis of said at least one gear rack 42 .

[0035] Two first gear racks 42 of said four gear racks 42 have longitudinal geometric axes parallel to each other .

[0036] The first two gear racks 42 are connected to upper side walls 22 opposite to each other . Two second gear racks 42 of said four gear racks 42 have longitudinal geometric axes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal geometric axes o f said two first gear racks 42 .

[0037] The two second gear racks 42 are connected to upper side walls 22 opposite to each other .

[0038] Even more preferably, the two first gear racks 42 are arranged on a first geometric plane and said second gear racks 42 are arranged on a second geometric plane . Said first geometric plane is parallel to said second geometric plane and to said bottom wall 11 of the bottom 10 . Said first geometric plane is arranged at a distance from the bottom wall 11 smaller than the second geometric plane .

[0039] Advantageously, the four gear racks 42 sl ide along their own direction without intersecting or interfering with each other, in fact the first gear racks 42 parallel to each other do not intersect one another and the other two second gear racks 42 , also parallel to each other, are arranged at a di f ferent height level than the first gear racks 42 avoiding interfering .

[0040] Even more preferably as shown in figures 2- 8 said extension 43 comprises at least one flexible portion .

[0041] Advantageously, the flexible portion allows the extension 43 to bend, as the extension 43 is connected through the lower end 45 with the gear rack 42 , which is arranged on a geometric plane parallel to the bottom wall 11 of the bottom 10 and through the upper end 46 with the upper side wall 22 of the collar 20 which is substantially vertical as it is substantially parallel to the lower side wall 12 which rises substantial ly vertically from the bottom wall 11 . By substantially vertical it is meant that the side wall 12 rises upwards along a direction comprised between ±30 degrees with respect to a direction that is normal to a geometric plane parallel to the bottom wall 11 .

[0042] More preferably each lower side wall 12 comprises a guide for each extension 43 of the gear rack 42 .

[0043] Even more preferably each upper side view 22 of the collar 20 comprises a guide 23 for each extension 43 o f the gear rack 42 .

[0044] Even more advantageously each guide 14 of each gear rack 42 comprises an elastic element 13 comprising a first end mounted with the gear rack 42 and a second end mounted with the bottom 10 .

[0045] Advantageously, the elastic element 13 is a spring or an elastic tie rod suitable for maintaining the gear rack 42 in the configuration of lower volume of the case 100 which corresponds to a configuration of greater compression of the elastic element 13 .

[0046] The configuration of smaller volume of the case 100 provides that the gear rack 42 is pulled by the elastic element 13 into a configuration of greater compression .

[0047] The configuration of greater volume of the case 100 provides that the elastic element 13 is in a configuration of smaller compression .

[0048] Advantageously, the li fting mechanism 40 al lows both to li ft the collar 20 with respect to the bottom 10 by letting the case pass into the configuration o f greater volume and to push the collar 20 with respect to the bottom 10 by letting the case pass into the configuration of smaller volume .

[0049] Even more preferably said bottom 10 and said col lar

[0050] 20 comprise end-of-travel abutment elements 112 , 113 , 114 , 122 , 123 , 124 suitable for preventing the upper side walls 22 of the collar 20 from sliding completely out of the lower side walls 12 of the bottom 10 .

[0051] As shown in particular in figures 4- 6 , the bottom 10 comprises a first end-of-travel abutment element 113 which is an upper edge of the bottom 10 . The collar 20 comprises a second end-of-travel element 123 which is an inverted U-shaped portion comprised within the upper side wall 22 of the collar 20 between two inner faces of the upper side wall 22 . The lower side wall 12 sl ides between the two inner faces of the upper side wall 22 until the first end-of-travel abutment element 113 which is an upper edge of the lower side wall 12 comes into interference through abutment against the second end-of- travel abutment element 123 of the collar .

[0052] Preferably, the first end-of-travel abutment element 113 comprises a watertight seal that advantageously allows the compartment inside the case 100 to be made impermeable when the case 100 i s in a configuration of smaller volume .

[0053] Figure 4 shows the configuration of smaller volume of the case 100 which provides that the first end-of- travel abutment element 113 is in interference through abutment against the second end-of-travel abutment element 123 .

[0054] Figure 6 shows the configuration of greater volume of the case 100 and provides that a third end-of-travel abutment element 114 is in interference through abutment against a fourth end-of-travel abutment element 124 .

[0055] The third end-of-travel element 114 is the lower face of a flange of the upper edge of the lower s ide wall 12 of the bottom 10 . The fourth end-of-travel element 124 is an upper face of a flange of a lower edge of one of the two inner faces of the upper side wall 22 of the collar 20 .

[0056] Preferably, the third end-of-travel abutment element 114 comprises a watertight seal that advantageously allows the compartment inside the case 100 to be made impermeable when the case 100 i s in a configuration of greater volume .

[0057] Even more preferably, a fi fth end-of-travel abutment element 112 and a s ixth end-of-travel abutment element 122 are provided .

[0058] The fi fth end-of-travel abutment element 112 is an upper face of a flange of the lower side wall 12 of the bottom 10 facing inwardly of the compartment of the case 100 .

[0059] The sixth end-of-travel abutment element 122 is a lower face of a flange o f the upper side wall 22 of the collar 20 facing inwardly of the compartment of the case 100 .

[0060] Advantageously, the fi fth 112 and the sixth end-of- travel abutment element 122 only come into abutment i f an attempted break-in occurs , in which case the fi fth 112 and the sixth end-of-travel abutment element 122 come into abutment preventing the opening of the case 100 .

[0061] Even more preferably, an alternative is provided according to figures 7 and 8 wherein at least one gear rack 42 of said at least one gear rack 42 comprises a second toothed portion 48 .

[0062] The second toothed portion 48 i s opposite to the first toothed portion 44 of the gear rack 42 .

[0063] The li fting mechanism 40 comprises a second gear wheel 49 suitable to be rotated by a motor 70 . The second toothed portion 48 is pivoted with said second gear wheel 49 .

[0064] The second gear wheel 49 is rotatably mounted with the bottom 10 .

[0065] Even more preferably the second gear wheel 49 i s rotatably mounted with the bottom wall 11 of the bottom 10 .

[0066] Preferably, as shown in figures 2 and 3 , said second toothed portion 48 of the gear rack 42 is provided on at least one of the gear racks 42 to allow a fast motori zation of the li fting mechanism 40 , i . e . to motori ze the variation in volume of the case 100 . Figures 2 and 3 show the second toothed portion 48 present on two of the first gear racks 42 .

[0067] Even more preferably it is provided that the case 100 comprises two handles 50 as shown in particular in figures 1 , 2 , 4- 6 .

[0068] Advantageously, the handles 50 allow the col lar 20 to be li fted or pushed with respect to the bottom 10 varying the volume of the case 100 even when the case 100 comprises the motor 70 and the second gear wheel 49 , but in this case it is necessary for the motor 70 to be disengaged in a so-called idle configuration to prevent the user during lifting or lowering by means of the handles 50 from encountering a braking ef fect of the motor 70 that prevents volume variation by means o f handles 50 .

[0069] In the alternative case where the handles 50 are not present , it is suf ficient that the motor 70 and the second gear wheel 49 are engaged to vary the volume o f the case 100 or to fix the volume of the case 100 at a volume desired by the user .

[0070] As shown in particular in figures 4- 6 , each handle 50 of said two handles 50 comprises a lower portion 51 , an upper portion 52 pivoted with an upper side wall 22 of the collar 20 , a middle portion 53 , a spacer arm 60 comprising a first end 61 pivoted with said middle portion 53 and a second end 62 pivoted with a lower wall 12 of the bottom 10 .

[0071] Even more preferably each lower side wall 12 pivoting said spacer arm 60 comprises a spacer protuberance 15 that rises perpendicularly to the lower side wall 12 . Said spacer protuberance 15 comprises an outer end pivoting said second end 62 of the spacer arm 60 .

[0072] The upper portion 52 of the handle is pivoted with the upper side wall 22 o f the collar 20 by means of a pin 25 .

[0073] By li fting both handles 50 and grasping them at a handleable portion 55 of each handle 50 suitable for allowing a user ' s fingers to engage, it is possible to li ft the collar 20 with respect to the bottom 10 increasing the volume of the compartment of the case 100 bringing it into the configuration of greater volume , or it is possible by means of the handles 50 to push the collar 20 with respect to the bottom 10 decreasing the volume of the compartment of the case 100 and bringing the case 100 into the configuration of smaller volume .

[0074] Advantageously, the parallelism between the upper side walls 22 of the collar 20 and the lower side wal ls 12 of the bottom 10 is obtained thanks to the li fting mechanism 40 described above .

[0075] As can be seen, the spacer arm 60 and the handle 50 represent a configuration similar to that of a connecting rod and a crank, where the spacer arm 60 represents the connecting rod, therefore figure 4 shows the spacer arm 60 in a configuration close to that of the bottom dead centre of a crank connecting rod system, while figure 6 shows the spacer arm 60 in a configuration close to that of the top dead centre of the crank connecting rod system .

[0076] As shown in figure 4 , the configuration o f smaller volume of the case 100 provides that a longitudinal geometric axis identi fied by a conj oining of the pins o f the first end 61 and by the second end 62 of the spacer arm 60 is at an angle a with respect to a vertical axi s that is normal to a geometric plane on which the bottom wall 11 of the bottom 10 lies . When the spacer arm 60 has the longitudinal geometric axis along the vertical axis , then the spacer arm 60 is at bottom dead centre . The angle a is comprised between 3 and 10 sexagesimal degrees , preferably between 5 and 10 sexagesimal degrees with respect to the vertical , therefore when as shown in figure 4 the spacer arm 60 is arranged at the angle a, the spacer arm 60 is beyond the bottom dead centre and this arrangement of the handle 50 allows to easily keep the configuration of smaller volume of the case 100 fixed .

[0077] As shown in figure 6 , the configuration o f greater volume of the case 100 provides that the longitudinal geometric axis identi fied by the conj oining of the pins of the first end 61 and by the second end 62 of the spacer arm 60 is at an angle p with respect to the vertical axis . When the spacer arm 60 has the longitudinal geometric axis along the vertical axis , then the spacer arm 60 is at top dead centre . The angle p is comprised between 3 and 10 sexagesimal degrees , preferably between 3 and 5 sexagesimal degrees with respect to the vertical , therefore when as shown in figure 6 the spacer arm 60 is arranged at the angle p , the spacer arm 60 is beyond the upper dead centre and this arrangement of the handle 50 allows to easily keep the configuration of greater volume of the case 100 fixed .

[0078] Advantageously the variable volume case 100 for cycle or motorcycle of the present invention is both much more resistant, more durable , simpler, is easy to use , allows to maintain a paralleli sm between the wall s 12 , 22 of the collar 20 and of the bottom 10 of the case 100 so that the expansion or reduction in volume of the compartment of the case 100 takes place without j ams and that the case 100 can maintain its own volume with ease .

[0079] Alternatively, it is possible to provide that there are two gear racks 42 for each lower side wall 12 .

[0080] Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the case 100 has a di f ferent shape and comprises at least one gear rack 42 for each lower side wall 12 of the bottom 11 , so that all the upper walls 22 are li fted or pulled at the same time to maintain parallelism during the variation in volume of the case 100 . For example i f the case 100 had six walls instead of four then there would be at least six gear racks 42 , i . e . at least one for each lower side wall 12 of the bottom 11 .

[0081] Alternatively, it is possible to provide that i f the case 100 had a cylinder shape and the bottom 11 had only one circular lower side wall 12 , there are three gear racks 42 arranged at 120 sexagesimal degrees from each other so as to push the circular upper side wall 22 of the collar 20 upwards or to pull it downwards whi le maintaining parallelism between di f ferent portions of the circular upper side wall 22 .

[0082] Alternatively it is possible to provide that the gear wheel 41 is mounted on di f ferent portions of the bottom 11 . In this case the length of the gear racks 42 and of the extensions 43 is adj usted in such a way that when the gear wheel 41 rotates , the li fting mechanism 40 allows the upper side walls 22 to move together and simultaneously maintaining the parallelism of the upper side walls 22 with the lower s ide walls 12 during the variation in volume of the case .

[0083] Alternatively, the configuration of smaller volume of the case 100 provides that the gear rack 42 is pulled by the elastic element 13 in a configuration of smaller compression . The configuration of greater volume of the case 100 provides that the elastic element 13 is in a configuration of greater compression .

[0084] Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the handles 50 can be optional and therefore not be present in the motori zed solution of the volume variation case 100 , that is , how much the motor 70 and the second gear wheel 49 are present that allow the collar 20 to be raised or lowered with respect to the bottom 10 by varying the volume of the compartment of the case 100 .

[0085] In practice , the materials used, as well as their dimensions , can be of any type according to the technical requirements .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Variable volume case (100) for cycle or motorcycle comprising a bottom (10) , a collar (20) and a lid (30) and a lock (101) , wherein said bottom (10) comprises a bottom wall (11) and lower side walls (12) rising from the bottom wall (11) , wherein said collar (20) comprises upper side walls (22) slidably mounted with said lower side walls (12) of said bottom (10) , wherein said lid (30) is hinged with said collar (20) , wherein said case (100) comprises a lifting mechanism (40) comprising a gear wheel (41) rotatably mounted at the bottom (10) , at least one gear rack (42) for each lower side wall (12) , wherein each of said at least one gear rack (42) is slidably mounted with said bottom (10) , wherein each of said at least one gear rack (42) comprises an extension (43) comprising a lower end (45) fixedly mounted with said at least one gear rack (42) and an upper end (46) fixedly mounted with an upper wall (22) of said collar (20) , wherein all the gear racks (42) of said at least one gear rack (42) comprise a first portion of teeth (44) engaged with said gear wheel (41) , characterized in that it comprises four gear racks (42) of said at least one gear rack (42) , that a greater linear dimension of said at least one gear rack (42) identifies a longitudinal geometricaxis of said at least one gear rack (42) , wherein two first gear racks (42) of said four gear racks (42) have longitudinal geometric axes parallel to each other, wherein two second gear racks (42) of said four gear racks (42) have longitudinal geometric axes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal geometric axes of said two first gear racks (42) .

2. Case (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said gear wheel (41) is rotatably mounted with the bottom wall (11) of the bottom (10) , said bottom wall (11) comprises at least one guide (14) for each of said at least one gear rack (42) , wherein each of said at least one guide (14) slidably fits a respective one of said at least one gear rack ( 42 ) .

3. Case (100) according to one or more of any of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said two first gear racks (42) are arranged on a first geometric plane and said second gear racks (42) are arranged above a second geometric plane, wherein said first geometric plane is parallel to said second geometric plane and to said bottom wall (11) of the bottom (10) , wherein said first geometric plane is arranged at a distance from the bottom wall (11) smaller than the second geometric plane.

4. Case (100) according to one or more of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extension (43) comprises at least one flexible portion.

5. Case (100) according to one or more of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bottom (10) and said collar (20) comprise end-of-travelabutment elements (112, 113, 114, 122, 123, 124) suitable for preventing the upper side walls (22) of the collar (20) from sliding completely out of the lower side walls (12) of the bottom (10) .

6. Case (100) according to one or more of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one gear rack (42) of said at least one gear rack (42) comprises a second toothed portion (48) , wherein said lifting mechanism (40) comprises a second gear wheel (49) rotatably mounted with the bottom (10) and suitable to be rotated by a motor (70) , wherein said second toothed portion (48) is pivoted with said second gear wheel (49) .

7. Case (100) according to one or more of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two handles (50) , wherein each handle (50) of said two handles (50) comprises a lower portion (51) , an upper portion (52) pivoted with an upper side wall (22) of the collar (20) , a middle portion (53) , a spacer arm (60) comprising a first end (61) pivoted with said middle portion (53) and a second end (62) pivoted with a lower wall (12) of the bottom (10) .

8. Case (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that each lower side wall (12) pivoting said spacer arm (60) comprises a spacer protuberance (15) that rises perpendicularly to the lower side wall (12) , wherein said spacer protuberance (15) comprises an outer end pivoting said second end (62) of the spacer arm (60) .

9. Case 100 according to one or more of any of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said spacer arm (60) identifies a longitudinal geometric axis betweentwo pins of the first (61) and second end (62) of the spacer arm ( 60 ) , in that said configuration of smaller volume of the case (100) provides that the longitudinal geometric axis of the spacer arm (60) is at an angle a with respect to a vertical axis that is normal to a geometric plane on which the bottom wall (11) of the bottom (10) lies, wherein said angle a is comprised between 3 and 10 sexagesimal degrees with respect to the vertical axis, in that said configuration of greater volume of the case (100) provides that the longitudinal geometric axis of the spacer arm (60) is at an angle p with respect to the vertical axis, wherein said angle p is comprised between 3 and 10 sexagesimal degrees with respect to the vertical axis.

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