Storage box device

Abstract

This storage box device comprises: a storage box to be attached to a vehicle body and capable of storing an article; and an operating mechanism that controls the lock state of the storage box. The operating mechanism includes: a slider that switches the storage box from a locked state to an unlocked state by sliding along a first direction; a detection unit that detects a sliding position of the slider; and a lock unit capable of restricting sliding of the slider. The slider has an operation part that is manually operated, and by operating the operation part along the first direction, the slider slides to switch the storage box from a locked state to an unlocked state. In a top view, in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the detection unit is disposed offset to one side relative to a body portion of the slider in the second direction. In a top view, in the second direction, the lock unit is disposed offset to the other side relative to the body portion of the slider in the second direction.

Description

Storage box device

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a storage box device that is attached, for example, to the rear of a seat of a motorcycle.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a storage box unit (storage box device) which is provided outside a vehicle body and includes a storage box capable of storing articles. In the storage box unit, a locking mechanism (operating mechanism) that brings the opening / closing part of the storage box into a locked state, and an actuator that releases the locked state of the locking mechanism are provided in a base member to which the storage box is attached.

[0003] International Publication No. 2021 / 065618

[0004] Incidentally, since the above-described storage box unit projects outside the vehicle body, further compactification of the locking mechanism portion is demanded. However, in the aforementioned Patent Document 1, the locked state of the locking mechanism is released by a mechanism in which the locking mechanism and a separately provided actuator are connected via a link in the base member. For this reason, it is necessary to provide spaces for respectively arranging the actuator, the locking mechanism, and the link mechanism, which limits the compactification of the storage box unit.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a more compact storage box device.

[0006] As a means of solving the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a storage box attached to a vehicle body and capable of accommodating articles, and an operating mechanism for operating the locked state of the storage box, wherein the operating mechanism includes a slider that switches the storage box from a locked state to an unlocked state by sliding along a first direction, a detection unit that detects the sliding position of the slider, and a locking unit that can restrict the sliding of the slider, wherein the slider has an operating unit that is operated manually, and by operating the operating unit along the first direction, the slider slides and the storage box can be switched from a locked state to an unlocked state, wherein the detection unit is positioned, in a top view, to one side of the second direction relative to the main body of the slider in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the locking unit is positioned, in a top view, to the other side of the second direction relative to the main body of the slider in the second direction.

[0007] This configuration allows the detection unit and the locking unit to be positioned separately on either side of the slider in the second direction. Therefore, compared to the case where both the detection unit and the locking unit are positioned off-center to one side of the slider's body in the second direction, the length of the operating mechanism in the first direction can be reduced. Consequently, the storage box device can be made more compact.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect described above, the detection unit is positioned such that, in a top view, it overlaps with the slider in at least a portion thereof.

[0009] This configuration suppresses the protrusion of the detection unit in the second direction, further reducing the width of the operating mechanism in the second direction.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is, in the first or second aspect described above, the locking portion comprises a drive unit that generates a driving force and a locking member that swings by the driving force generated by the drive unit, the slider has a contact portion to which the locking member can contact when the slider slides in the first direction, the locking member is supported so as to be swingable on an axis along the first direction and is swingable by the operation of the drive unit to a sliding-permissible position that avoids the contact portion of the slider when viewed from the first direction and to a sliding-restricting position that overlaps with the contact portion of the slider when viewed from the first direction.

[0011] With this configuration, the shaft supporting the locking member so that it can pivot extends along the first direction, thus further reducing the width in the second direction of the operating mechanism. Furthermore, since the locking member that the slider contacts is pivotably supported on the shaft along the first direction, even if a load is applied from the slider to the locking member, no force is generated that causes the locking member to pivot. Therefore, since no load is directly applied from the slider to the drive unit, the durability of the locking unit can be improved.

[0012] A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third aspects described above, the slider and the locking member are positioned so that at least a portion of them overlap when viewed from the first direction.

[0013] With this configuration, the slider and the locking member overlap in the first direction, which further reduces the width of the operating mechanism in the second direction.

[0014] A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fourth aspects described above, the invention further comprises a case member housing the slider, the detection unit, and the locking unit, wherein the case member has a rib portion that approaches the locking unit from the opposite side of the contact unit in the first direction.

[0015] With this configuration, even if an excessive load is applied from the slider to the locking member, the rib portion can support the locking member, thereby restricting the sliding of the slider. This improves the strength of the operating mechanism.

[0016] A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fifth aspects described above, the detection unit comprises a detection unit body and an operating member that is stroke-removably supported by the detection unit body and faces the detected portion of the slider in the first direction, wherein the stroke direction of the operating member is parallel to the first direction.

[0017] This configuration allows the operating member to stroke parallel to the slider, thereby reducing input errors caused by the slider's sliding motion relative to the detection unit. Furthermore, because the stroke direction of the operating member and the sliding direction of the slider are parallel, the detection unit and the slider can be arranged compactly.

[0018] A seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to sixth aspects described above, the present invention further comprises a case member that houses the slider, the detection unit, and the locking unit, wherein the case member has a pair of guide units that are slidable on the outer surface of the main body of the slider on both sides of the main body of the slider in the second direction, and an elastic member is arranged on the inside of the main body in the second direction that biases the slider toward its initial position before sliding.

[0019] This configuration allows the pair of guide sections to slide the slider stably along the first direction. Furthermore, since the elastic member is positioned inside the second direction of the slider's body, the width of the operating mechanism in the second direction can be reduced. Additionally, the elastic member improves the feel when manually operating the control section.

[0020] An eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to seventh aspects described above, the invention comprises: a transmitting means for transmitting a vehicle-specific ID code; a receiving means for receiving the ID code transmitted from the transmitting means; and a determination means for determining whether the ID code received by the receiving means is a legitimate ID code, wherein, when the determination means has determined that a legitimate ID code has been received, the detection unit detects the sliding of the slider, and the locking unit releases the restriction on the sliding of the slider.

[0021] By configuring it in this way, the operation of the control mechanism can be made compatible with the smart key, thus improving the product's marketability.

[0022] A ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to eighth aspects described above, a release operation switch is provided, separately from the slider, which is manually operated and allows the sliding restriction of the slider to be released.

[0023] This configuration allows the lock state of the storage box to be operated even if a fail-sale occurs in the drive unit or if the vehicle is not compatible with smart keys. Therefore, convenience is improved.

[0024] According to the present invention, a more compact storage box device can be provided.

[0025] This is a left side view of a motorcycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view of the operating mechanism of the storage box device. This is a top view of the operating mechanism showing the position of the slider when the storage box is locked. This is a top view of the operating mechanism showing the position of the slider when the storage box is unlocked. This is a front view showing the slider and locking part when the operating mechanism is viewed from the front of the vehicle. This is a top view of the operating mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This is a front view corresponding to Figure 5 in the third embodiment of the present invention. This is a top view of the operating mechanism according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. This is a top view of the operating mechanism according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, directions such as front, rear, left, and right are the same as the directions of the vehicle described below unless otherwise specified. In the drawings used in the following description, arrows FR indicating the front of the vehicle, LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, and UP indicating the top of the vehicle are shown where appropriate. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the front and rear in the vehicle's longitudinal direction may be simply referred to as "front" and "rear." Similarly, the up and down in the vehicle's vertical direction may be simply referred to as "up" and "down." Similarly, the left and right in the vehicle's lateral direction may be simply referred to as "left" and "right."

[0027] Figure 1 shows a unit-swing type motorcycle (saddle-type vehicle) 1 as an example of a saddle-type vehicle. The motorcycle 1 is equipped with a front wheel 3 which is the steering wheel and a rear wheel 4 which is the drive wheel. The front wheel 3 is supported by a pair of front forks 6 on the left and right sides and can be steered by a handlebar 2.

[0028] The storage box device 30 is mounted above and behind the seat 5 of the motorcycle 1. The storage box device 30 comprises a storage box 32, a base member 31, and an operating mechanism 33.

[0029] The storage box 32 is used as a so-called top box located above and behind the seat 5. The storage box 32 comprises a box body 35 and an opening / closing lid 36. The box body 35 forms the lower part of the storage box 32. The box body 35 is formed in a bottomed shape with an upper opening that opens upward. The opening / closing lid 36 forms the upper part of the storage box 32. The opening / closing lid 36 is provided to close the upper opening of the box body 35. The opening / closing lid 36 is rotatably connected to the box body 35 via a hinge mechanism (not shown) provided on the front side. As a result, the opening / closing lid 36 constitutes an opening / closing part that can open and close the upper opening of the box body 35.

[0030] The base member 31 is positioned behind the seat 5 where the occupant sits. The base member 31 is fixed, for example, to a carrier that extends behind the rear grip 25 by fastening members (not shown). The base member 31 functions as an attachment to which the storage box 32 and the operating mechanism 33 are mounted. The storage box 32 is mounted above the base member 31, and the operating mechanism 33 is mounted below and rear of the base member 31.

[0031] The operating mechanism 33 is a device having a mechanism for operating the locked state of the storage box 32. In this embodiment, the operating mechanism 33 is used to unlock the storage box 32, but it may also be used to attach or detach the storage box 32 to the vehicle body. The configuration of the operating mechanism 33 will be described in detail below. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the operating mechanism 33 includes a slider 50 that operates the locked state of the storage box 32 by sliding, a detection unit 60 that detects the sliding position of the slider 50, and a locking unit 70 that restricts the sliding of the slider 50. The slider 50, the detection unit 60, and the locking unit 70 are housed in a case member 40. A case cover (not shown) is fixed above the case member 40 by bolts or the like.

[0032] The case member 40 is formed in the shape of a container that opens upwards. The case member 40 integrally has a bottom portion 41 and a peripheral wall portion 42. The bottom portion 41 forms the bottom part of the case member 40, and the various components of the operating mechanism 33 are arranged thereon. The peripheral wall portion 42 is formed to rise upward from the edge of the bottom portion 41.

[0033] In the bottom portion 41, the front part of the bottom portion 41 is referred to as the front bottom portion 41a, the rear part of the bottom portion 41 as the rear bottom portion 41b, the left part of the bottom portion 41 as the left bottom portion 41c, and the right part of the bottom portion 41 as the right bottom portion 41d. The front bottom portion 41a, rear bottom portion 41b, left bottom portion 41c, and right bottom portion 41d are formed continuously. The front bottom portion 41a is formed by cutting an oblique notch at its right edge and is connected to the right bottom portion 41d. The front bottom portion 41a is connected to the left bottom portion 41c at an angle at its left edge. The left side of the front bottom portion 41a and the front side of the left bottom portion 41c are recessed downwards compared to the other areas (see Figure 5).

[0034] The right edge of the right bottom portion 41d extends rearward and connects to the right edge of the rear bottom portion 41b. The left edge of the left bottom portion 41c is formed by cutting out towards the rear and right sides and connects to the left edge of the rear bottom portion 41b. The edges of the right bottom portion 41d and the left bottom portion 41c gradually extend upward as they approach the rear bottom portion 41b.

[0035] In the peripheral wall portion 42, the front part of the peripheral wall portion 42 is referred to as the front peripheral wall portion 42a, the rear part of the peripheral wall portion 42 as the rear peripheral wall portion 42b, the left part of the peripheral wall portion 42 as the left peripheral wall portion 42c, and the right part of the peripheral wall portion 42 as the right peripheral wall portion 42d. The front peripheral wall portion 42a is formed along the shape of the front end edge of the front bottom portion 41a. Similarly, the rear peripheral wall portion 42b is formed along the shape of the rear end edge of the rear bottom portion 41b. The left peripheral wall portion 42c is formed along the shape of the left end edge of the left bottom portion 41c. The right peripheral wall portion 42d is formed along the shape of the right end edge of the right bottom portion 41d.

[0036] The case member 40 has a boss portion 45 formed on it, to which bolts or the like are fastened and fixed, for attaching the operating mechanism 33 to the base member 31. A clip nut (not shown) is provided at the upper end of the boss portion 45. The boss portion 45 has four boss portions 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d. Boss portion 45a is provided on the right rear of the rear bottom portion 41b. Boss portion 45b is provided on the left rear of the rear bottom portion 41b. Bosses 45a and 45b protrude upward from the rear bottom portion 41b. Boss portion 45c is provided on the right side of the right peripheral wall portion 42d and in front of boss portion 45a. Boss portion 45d is provided on the left side of the left peripheral wall portion 42c and in front of boss portion 45b. The outer edges of boss portions 45c and 45d function as part of the peripheral wall portion 42.

[0037] The slider 50 extends along the vehicle's longitudinal direction (first direction) and is located in the center of the case member 40. By sliding along the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the slider 50 causes a projection 55 provided on the slider 50 to release the locking mechanism of the storage box 32, thereby switching the storage box 32 from a locked state to an unlocked state. The storage box 32 is locked when the slider 50 is in the initial position (see Figure 3) and unlocked when the slider 50 is in the unlocked position (see Figure 4). The slider 50 has a main body portion 50A located in the center of the case member 40. The main body portion 50A has a front main body portion 51 provided on the front side, a central main body portion 52 provided behind the front main body portion 51, and a rear main body portion 53 provided behind the central main body portion 52.

[0038] The front body portion 51 is formed in a prismatic shape extending along the front-rear direction. A detection portion 57 projecting to the right is integrally formed at the front end of the front body portion 51. The detection portion 57 is a part for detecting the sliding position of the slider 50 by the detection portion 60. A contact portion 58 that abuts against the lock portion 70 is formed at the front end of the front body portion 51. The shape of the contact portion 58 will be described in detail later.

[0039] The central body portion 52 extends in a rectangular cross-section along the front-rear direction. The central body portion 52 has an opening 52a that penetrates in the vertical direction. The central body portion 52 holds an elastic member 56 within the opening 52a. The front end of the elastic member 56 abuts against a stopper portion 47 which is integrated with the case member 40, and the rear end is connected to the front end of the rear body portion 53. The stopper portion 47 protrudes upward from the bottom portion 41, and the opening 52a of the slider 50 is positioned to surround and abut the stopper portion 47. The elastic member 56 is housed in a compressed state such that its front end abuts against the stopper portion 47 and its rear end abuts against the rear wall of the opening 52a, and the repulsive force biases the slider 50 to its initial position. The initial position of the slider 50 is determined by the biasing force of the elastic member 56 causing the stopper portion 47 to abut against the front wall of the opening 52a. As the slider 50 slides along the front-rear direction, the elastic member 56 expands and contracts along the front-rear direction.

[0040] A pair of guide portions 43 are formed on both sides of the outer surface of the central main body portion 52 in the left-right direction, to guide the sliding of the slider 50. The pair of guide portions 43 protrude upward from the bottom portion 41 of the case member 40. The pair of guide portions 43 has a right guide portion 43a located on the right side of the central main body portion 52 and a left guide portion 43b located on the left side of the central main body portion 52. The right guide portion 43a has a plate-shaped member extending along the front-rear direction and two ribs extending to the right from the plate-shaped member. The left guide portion 43b has a plate-shaped member extending along the front-rear direction and two ribs extending to the left from the plate-shaped member.

[0041] The rear body portion 53 is formed in a rectangular prism shape extending along the front-rear direction. The rear body portion 53 has an operating portion 54 provided integrally with the rear end of the rear body portion 53, and a projection 55 formed integrally with the rear end of the rear body portion 53 in front of the operating portion 54 and projecting upward.

[0042] The operating section 54 is the part that the operator manually presses with their finger or the like to slide the slider 50 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The operating section 54 has a push portion 54a that the operator manually presses with their finger or the like, and a rib portion 54b that extends forward from the push portion 54a. The push portion 54a is formed as the rear end surface of the rear body portion 53 and is visible from an opening formed in the rear peripheral wall portion 42b of the case member 40. The width of the push portion 54a in the left-right direction is formed to be greater than the width of the rear end of the rear body portion 53 in the left-right direction. Rib portions 54b that extend forward are formed at both ends of the push portion 54a in the left-right direction. The lower part of the rib portion 54b is connected to the lower part of the rear body portion 53.

[0043] The projection 55 is formed in the central part of the rear side of the rear main body 53. The projection 55 protrudes upward.

[0044] The operation guide section 46 is integrally formed with the case member 40 in the central rear part of the case member 40 and is formed in a box shape with a partially open top surface that covers the operation section 54 from the left and right directions and from above. The operation guide section 46 integrally has a right rib section 46a and a left rib section 46b that protrude upward from the bottom section 41, and an upper rib section 46c that connects the right rib section 46a and the left rib section 46b. The right rib section 46a is located on the right side of the operation section 54. The left rib section 46b is located on the left side of the operation section 54. The right rib section 46a and the left rib section 46b extend in the front-rear direction along the left and right rib sections 54b of the operation section 54. The upper rib section 46c connects the right rib section 46a and the left rib section 46b at the rear side of the right rib section 46a and the left rib section 46b. The upper rib portion 46c has a recess that curves toward the rear, and the projection 55 faces this recess. The projection 55 engages with the recess of the upper rib portion 46c, thereby defining the initial position of the slider 50 in place of, or in cooperation with, the stopper portion 47.

[0045] In the initial position before the operating portion 54 is operated, the slider 50 is located on the rear side of the case member 40 (see FIG. 3). At this time, the operating portion 54 is arranged near the rear end of the case member 40. When the operating portion 54 is pushed forward against the biasing force of the elastic member 56, the slider 50 moves from the initial position to the unlocked position. In this process, the detection unit 60 detects that the detected portion (57) has moved, and checks whether a legitimate ID is present. When the check is passed, the lock portion (70) releases the sliding restriction on the slider 50, so that the slider 50 becomes slidable. Accordingly, the projection 55 releases the lock mechanism of the storage box 32, whereby the storage box 32 is brought into an unlocked state. In the unlocked position, the slider 50 as a whole is located on the front side in the case member 40 (see FIG. 4). When an operator releases the operating portion 54 such as by removing a finger, the slider 50 is automatically returned from the unlocked position to the initial position by the biasing force of the elastic member 56. In this way, when the operating portion 54 is pushed forward, the slider 50 slides along the vehicle front-rear direction, and switches the storage box 32 from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0046] A center line A shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a line passing through the center in the left-right width of the slider 50. The center line A passes through the center of the left-right width of the front main body portion 51, the central main body portion 52 and the rear main body portion 53. The detection unit 60 is arranged below the front main body portion 51 of the slider 50.

[0047] The detection unit 60 includes a rectangular detection unit main body 61 and an actuation member 62 supported by the detection unit main body 61 so as to be capable of stroking in the vehicle front-rear direction. The detection unit main body 61 is formed in a rectangular shape in a top view, where the left-right direction is along the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction is along the lateral direction. The detection unit main body 61 is arranged at a position partially overlapping a front main body portion 51 of a slider 50 in a top view. A center line B shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is a line passing through the center of the width of the detection unit main body 61 in the left-right direction. Most of the detection unit main body 61 on the left side of the center line B is located below the front main body portion 51 of the slider 50. The detection unit main body 61 is arranged slightly offset to the right side relative to the front main body portion 51 of the slider 50 in the left-right direction in a top view, and the center line B of the detection unit 60 is arranged on the right side in the left-right direction relative to a center line A of the slider 50.

[0048] A front end portion of the actuation member 62 is provided to protrude from a front end portion of the detection unit main body 61. The actuation member 62 protrudes forward from the detection unit main body 61 and detects sliding of the slider 50. A front end portion of the actuation member 62 faces a detected portion 57 of the slider 50 from the rear. The stroke direction of the actuation member 62 is parallel to the vehicle front-rear direction. That is, the actuation member 62 is biased forward, and maintains a state of being in contact with the detected portion 57 when the slider 50 is at an initial position. The detection unit 60 is arranged such that the amount of movement of the slider 50 from the initial position to a position detectable by the detection unit 60 is shorter than the amount of movement of the slider 50 from the initial position to a position abutting against a lock portion. When the slider 50 slides forward, along with the movement of the detected portion 57, the actuation member 62 strokes forward by a specified amount, and the detection unit 60 detects the sliding of the slider 50. The actuation member 62 functions as a switch that controls the movement of the lock portion 70.

[0049] Figure 5 is a front view showing the slider 50 and locking part 70 when the operating mechanism 33 is viewed from the front. As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, the locking part 70 is positioned to the left of the slider 50 and in front of the detection part 60. In a top view, the locking part 70 is formed in a rectangular shape with the left-right direction being the longitudinal direction and the front-back direction being the short direction. The center line C shown in Figures 3 and 4 is a line that passes through the center of the width of the locking part 70 in the left-right direction. In a top view, the locking part 70 is positioned to the left of the front body part 51 of the slider 50 in the left-right direction.

[0050] The locking unit 70 includes a drive unit 71 that restricts the sliding of the slider 50 according to the on / off state of the switch of the detection unit 60, and a locking member 72 that swings due to the drive unit 71. The drive unit 71 is a solenoid in which a current flows through a conductor provided inside by the detection unit 60, generating a magnetic field that causes the movable iron core 76 to stroke in the axial direction. The movable iron core 76 moves along the left-right direction. The movable iron core 76 is located below the drive unit 71 and is connected to the locking member 72.

[0051] The locking member 72 is directly connected to the movable iron core 76 and includes a transmission part 73 to which the driving force of the drive unit 71 is transmitted, a regulating part 75 that is operated by the movement of the transmission part 73 and moves to a contact position with the contact part 58 of the slider 50, and a rotating shaft 74 that pivotably supports the regulating part 75 and the transmission part 73. In a top view, the locking member 72 protrudes toward the right side of the drive unit 71. The locking member 72 is positioned towards the rear side of the locking part 70.

[0052] The transmission section 73 is located to the right of the movable iron core 76 and is L-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction. The lower end of the transmission section 73 is directly connected to the movable iron core 76. The right end of the movable iron core 76 is widened, allowing the transmission section 73 to be pulled to the left. The upper end of the transmission section 73 is connected to the regulating section 75 via a rotating shaft 74. The rotating shaft 74 has its axis in the front-rear direction and supports the transmission section 73 and the regulating section 75 so that they can swing. The transmission section 73 and the regulating section 75 are connected via the rotating shaft 74 and can swing together as a single unit. The regulating section 75 protrudes to the right from the rotating shaft 74. The upper edge of the regulating section 75 is formed to conform to the shape of the front end of the front main body section 51.

[0053] Here, the shape of the front end of the front body portion 51 of the slider 50 will be explained mainly with reference to Figure 5. The front end of the front body portion 51 has a cutout at the lower left end when viewed from the front. The front end of the front body portion 51 has a slanted edge portion 57a ​​that extends diagonally upward and to the left from the detected portion 57, a first receiving portion 51a that extends to the left from the slanted edge portion 57a, and a second receiving portion 51b that extends diagonally further upward and to the left from the first receiving portion 51a, and then extends to the left. That is, the slanted edge portion 57a, the first receiving portion 51a, and the second receiving portion 51b form the lower left end of the front body portion 51 and are formed to engage with the regulating portion 75 when locked. The second receiving portion 51b has a contact portion 58 formed on a surface that is recessed toward the rear side relative to the front end of the front body portion 51. The contact portion 58 is the part that the restricting portion 75 of the locking member 72 contacts when the slider 50 slides forward.

[0054] The restricting portion 75 has a tip portion 75a corresponding to the shape of the first receiving portion 51a and a restricting portion 75b corresponding to the shape of the second receiving portion 51b. The upper edge of the tip portion 75a extends from the right end of the restricting portion 75 toward the left, following the shape of the first receiving portion 51a. The upper edge of the restricting portion 75b extends diagonally upward and to the left from the first receiving portion 51a, following the shape of the second receiving portion 51b, and then extends toward the left. In the sliding restricting position, the rear surface of the restricting portion 75b can come into contact with the contact portion 58. That is, in the sliding restricting position, the restricting portion 75b is positioned so as to overlap with the contact portion 58 when viewed from the front. In this way, the slider 50 and the locking member 72 are positioned so as to overlap at least a portion when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Note that the position where at least a portion overlaps is not necessarily limited to the case where the restricting portion 75b and the contact portion 58 overlap. The slider 50 and the locking member 72 may be positioned so that, when viewed from the front, at least a portion of their parts, other than the restricting portion 75b and the contact portion 58, overlap.

[0055] A return spring 77 is positioned below the tip portion 75a of the restricting portion 75. The return spring 77 is a spring member (elastic member) that biases the restricting portion 75 to the sliding restricting position.

[0056] The movement of the locking member 72 will now be explained. The locking member 72 can swing, by the operation of the drive unit 71, to a sliding-permitted position that avoids the contact portion 58 of the slider 50 when viewed from the front, and to a sliding-restricted position that overlaps with the contact portion 58 of the slider 50 when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In Figure 5, the locking member 72 in the sliding-restricted position is shown by a solid line, and the locking member 72 in the sliding-permitted position is shown by a dashed line.

[0057] When the locking member 72 is in the sliding restriction position, the switch of the detection unit 60 is in the off state, and the movable iron core 76 of the locking unit 70 protrudes toward the transmission unit 73. The return spring 77 pulls out the movable iron core 76 via the transmission unit 73 and biases the restricting unit 75 toward the sliding restriction position. At this time, the drive unit 71 (solenoid) is not energized, and no power consumption occurs in the locked state. The restricting unit 75 also rotates clockwise in Figure 5 via the rotation shaft 74, and the restricting portion 75b moves to a position where it can come into contact with the contact portion 58. At this time, the locking member 72 is positioned in front of the slider 50 so as to overlap it when viewed from the front, and the locking member 72 restricts the sliding of the slider 50, preventing the slider 50 from sliding forward.

[0058] When the locking member 72 is in the sliding-permitted position, the switch of the detection unit 60 is ON, power is supplied to the drive unit 71, and the movable iron core 76 of the locking member 70 is pulled into the drive unit 71. That is, the transmission unit 73 is pulled towards the drive unit 71, so the restricting member 75 rotates counterclockwise via the rotating shaft 74 against the biasing force of the return spring 77. When the restricting member 75 rotates counterclockwise, the return spring 77 compresses downward, and the restricting member 75 moves to a position away from the contact portion 58. At this time, the locking member 72 moves to a position in front of the slider 50 where it does not overlap when viewed from the front, and the slider 50 becomes capable of sliding forward, so the locking member 72 can permit the sliding of the slider 50.

[0059] As shown in Figure 2, a rib portion 44 is formed in front of the front body portion 51 of the slider 50 and the locking member 72, projecting upward from the case member 40. The rib portion 44 is formed in a plate shape extending along the front-rear direction from the front circumferential wall portion 42a. The rib portion 44 is positioned in front of the front body portion 51 of the slider 50. The rib portion 44 is positioned close to the locking member 72 from the front side, that is, from the opposite side of the contact portion 58. In this way, since the rib portion 44 of the case member 40 is close to the locking member 72, the locking member 72 can be supported by the rib portion 44 even if an excessive load is applied to the locking member 72 from the slider 50.

[0060] Motorcycle 1 is equipped with a smart key system (not shown). The smart key system comprises a smart key (portable device, FOB key, terminal) held by the occupant (driver or passenger), a smart key control unit (on-board device, SCU) mounted on the body of motorcycle 1, and a transceiver that transmits and receives commands to and from the outside based on commands from the smart key control unit. The smart key control unit and the transceiver communicate bidirectionally to authenticate the smart key's ID code. The smart key system enables engine starting, unlocking of various parts of the vehicle, etc., once the smart key's ID code has been authenticated. Hereinafter, the smart key control unit may be referred to as the SCU.

[0061] The following describes how to unlock the storage box 32 using a smart key. The unlocking method comprises a transmitting means for transmitting a vehicle-specific ID code, a receiving means for receiving the ID code from the transmitting means, and a determination means for determining whether the ID code received by the receiving means is a legitimate ID code. First, when a driver or passenger carrying a smart key performs a predetermined operation to unlock the storage box 32, the SCU instructs the transceiver to send a request signal to the smart key requesting the transmission of an authentication ID code. Next, the smart key, having received the request signal from the transmitting means, sends an authentication ID code to the transceiver. The ID code is a vehicle-specific code. The receiving means receives the ID code from the smart key. The determination means compares the SCU-side ID code stored in memory with the smart key-side ID code, which is the authentication signal input from the transceiver, and determines whether the ID code received from the smart key is a legitimate ID code registered specifically for the vehicle. If these ID codes match and authentication is performed, the SCU enables the detection of sliding motion of the slider 50 by the detection unit 60.

[0062] When the detection unit 60 is active in detecting the sliding of the slider 50, and the detected part 57 of the slider 50 moves away from the operating member 62 of the detection unit 60, current flows to the locking part 70. When current flows to the locking part 70, the movable iron core 76 is pulled inward, and the locking member 72 swings from the sliding restriction position to the sliding allowable position. This makes it possible to push the slider 50 forward, causing the projection 55 to activate the lock on the storage box 32 and unlock the storage box 32.

[0063] Next, a method for unlocking the storage box 32 without using a smart key will be described. When a smart key is not used, the process for enabling the detection of the slider 50's sliding motion by the detection unit 60 is different from when a smart key is used. First, the rider uses the ignition key to unlock a storage compartment or a space under the seat, etc., which is equipped with a release operation switch (not shown). The release operation switch functions as a switch for enabling the detection of the slider 50's sliding motion by the detection unit 60. The release operation switch is, for example, a toggle switch. By manually operating the release operation switch, the detection of the slider 50's sliding motion by the detection unit 60 can be enabled, and the restriction on the slider 50's sliding motion can be released. In this way, the release operation switch can unlock the storage box 32 in the same way as when a smart key is used. The switch member may be located anywhere on the motorcycle 1 as long as it can be unlocked by the ignition key. The release operation switch may also be provided so that it can be operated directly by the ignition key.

[0064] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figure 6. The basic configuration of the operating mechanism in this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the configuration of the locking member and the case member differs from that of the first embodiment. Figure 6 is a top view of the operating mechanism in the second embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 6, components common to the drawings of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted (the same applies to the following embodiments).

[0065] As shown in Figure 6, the locking portion 270 includes a drive unit 271 and a locking member 272. In a top view, the locking member 72 protrudes toward the right side of the drive unit 271. The locking member 272 is positioned towards the front of the locking portion 270. The configuration of the locking member 272, other than its position, is the same as that of the locking member 72 in the first embodiment.

[0066] Because the locking member 272 is positioned closer to the front of the locking portion 270, the locking portion 270 is positioned further back than in the first embodiment, and the locking portion 270 is positioned closer to the center of the case member 40. As a result, the shape of the case member 240 in the second embodiment is different from the shape of the case member 40 in the first embodiment.

[0067] The front bottom portion 241a of the case member 240 has a recessed left front edge that curves backward. The left bottom portion 241c is formed continuously with the front bottom portion 241a. The left edge of the left bottom portion 241c extends along the front-rear direction to the boss portion 45d. The front peripheral wall portion 242a of the peripheral wall portion 242 is formed along the shape of the front edge of the front bottom portion 241a. Similarly, the left peripheral wall portion 242c is formed along the shape of the left edge of the left bottom portion 241c.

[0068] This allows the locking portion 270 and the boss portion 45d to be positioned closer together, thereby reducing the length of the left peripheral wall portion 242c in the front-to-back direction. Consequently, the case member 40 can be reduced in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, the operating mechanism 233 can be made more compact.

[0069] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 7. The basic configuration of the operating mechanism in this embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, but the configuration of the locking part and the case member differs from that of the first embodiment. Figure 7 is a front view corresponding to Figure 5 in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] As shown in Figure 7, the locking portion 370 is positioned upside down compared to the locking portion 70 of the first embodiment. The locking portion 370 includes a drive portion 371 and a locking member 372. The movable iron core 376 is located above the drive portion 371 and is connected to the locking member 372. The locking member 372 has a transmission portion 73 and a regulating portion 75 integrally formed.

[0071] The locking member 372 is pivotably supported at its lower end by a rotating shaft 374. A movable iron core 376 is positioned at the left end of the upper part of the locking member 372, to which the driving force of the drive unit 371 is transmitted. A restricting portion 375b is provided at the right end of the upper part of the locking member 372.

[0072] The locking member 372 is positioned so that, when viewed from the front, it fits into a notch formed at the lower left end of the front end of the front body portion 51 of the slider 50, and when viewed from the front, the rotating shaft 374 that protrudes to the right from the drive unit 371 can be positioned closer to the notch. As a result, the left side of the front bottom portion 341a and the front side of the left bottom portion 341c can be formed at the same height as the other areas without being recessed downwards. Therefore, the locking portion 370 can be positioned higher. Consequently, the case member 340 can be reduced in the vertical direction. Consequently, the operating mechanism 333 can be made more compact.

[0073] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 8. The basic configuration of the operating mechanism in this embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, but the configuration of the slider, detection unit, and case member differs from that of the first embodiment. Figure 8 is a top view of the operating mechanism in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] As shown in Figure 8, the detection unit 460 includes a rectangular detection unit body 461 and an operating member 462 supported by the detection unit body 461 so as to be strobeable in the left-right direction. The detection unit body 461 is positioned in an orientation rotated 90° counterclockwise from the orientation in the first embodiment and has a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction. The operating member 462 is provided protruding from the left end of the detection unit body 461. The stroke direction of the operating member 462 is parallel to the left-right direction. The operating member 462 strokes so as to slide along the detected portion 457 of the slider 450.

[0075] The detected portion 457 of the slider 450 is formed on the right edge of the front body portion 451, on the side of the central body portion 52. The detected portion 457 is formed in a groove shape that is recessed to the left of the right edge of the front body portion 451. An oblique surface 457a is formed at the front end of the detected portion 457 to allow the operating member 462 to stroke smoothly. In the fourth embodiment, since the detected portion 457 does not protrude to the right, the width of the case member in the left-right direction can be reduced. For this reason, the front edge of the right bottom portion 441d is formed by gently cutting obliquely toward the right edge of the front bottom portion 441a. The front peripheral wall portion 442a and the right peripheral wall portion 442d are formed along the shapes of the respective edges of the front bottom portion 441a and the right bottom portion 441d, respectively.

[0076] As the slider 450 slides forward, the tip of the operating member 462 slides along the detected part 457. At this time, the operating member 462 strokes to the left, and the detection unit 460 detects the sliding of the slider 450. In this way, even when the detection unit 460 is positioned so that the longitudinal direction of the detection unit body 461 is aligned with the front-rear direction, the operating mechanism 433 can be made more compact.

[0077] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 9. The basic configuration of the operating mechanism in this embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, but the configuration of the slider, detection unit and case member differs from that of the first embodiment. Figure 9 is a top view of the operating mechanism in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] As shown in Figure 9, the edges of the front bottom portion 541a and the right bottom portion 541d of the case member 540 are connected in a corner shape. The front circumferential wall portion 542a and the right circumferential wall portion 542d are formed along the shapes of the respective edges of the front bottom portion 541a and the right bottom portion 541d.

[0079] The detection unit 560 includes a rectangular detection unit body 561, an operating member 562 protruding rearward from the detection unit body 561, and a spring member 563 that transmits the sliding motion of the slider 550 to the operating member 562. The detection unit 560 is arranged along the front circumferential wall portion 542a and the right circumferential wall portion 542d. The detection unit body 561 is arranged in a direction that is inverted vertically and horizontally compared to the first embodiment. The operating member 562 is provided protruding from the rear end of the detection unit body 561.

[0080] In the fifth embodiment, the operating member 562 is of the push-in type. That is, the switch is turned on when the operating member 562 is pushed into the detection unit body 561. A spring member 563 is provided behind the tip of the operating member 562. The spring member 563 is in contact with the detected part 557 of the slider 550 from the front. When the detection unit 560 is of the push-in type, a difference may occur between the stroke of the slider 550 and the stroke of the operating member 562, but the spring member 563 can absorb this difference.

[0081] The detected part 557 is located on the rear side of the front main body 551 and protrudes to the right. The front surface of the detected part 557 is in contact with the rear end of the spring member 563. When the slider 550 slides forward, the spring member 563 pushes the operating member 562 forward as the detected part 557 moves. The operating member 562 is pushed into the inside of the detection unit body 561, and the detection unit 560 detects the sliding of the slider 550. In this way, even when using a push-in type detection unit 560, the operating mechanism 533 can be made more compact.

[0082] As described above, the storage box device in the above embodiment comprises a storage box 32 that is attached to the vehicle body and can store articles, and an operating mechanism 33 that operates the locked state of the storage box 32. The operating mechanism 33 has a slider 50 that switches the storage box 32 from a locked state to an unlocked state by sliding along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a detection unit 60 that detects the sliding position of the slider 50, and a locking unit 70 that can restrict the sliding of the slider 50. The slider 50 has an operating unit 54 that is operated manually, and by operating the operating unit 54 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the slider 50 slides and the storage box 32 can be switched from a locked state to an unlocked state. The detection unit 60 is positioned offset to one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the main body 50A of the slider 50, and the locking unit 70 is positioned offset to the other side in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the main body 50A of the slider 50.

[0083] This configuration allows the detection unit 60 and the locking unit 70 to be positioned separately on either side of the slider 50 in the left-right direction of the vehicle. As a result, the width (length) of the operating mechanism 33 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle can be reduced compared to the case where both the detection unit 60 and the locking unit 70 are positioned biased to one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle compared to the main body 50A of the slider 50. Consequently, the storage box device 30 can be made more compact.

[0084] The above-described storage box device includes a transmitting means for transmitting a vehicle-specific ID code, a receiving means for receiving the ID code transmitted from the transmitting means, and a determination means for determining whether the ID code received by the receiving means is a legitimate ID code. When the determination means determines that a legitimate ID code has been received, and the detection unit 60 detects the sliding of the slider 50, the locking unit 70 releases the restriction on the sliding of the slider 50.

[0085] By configuring it in this way, the operation of the operating mechanism 33 can be made compatible with the smart key, thus improving its marketability.

[0086] In the above-described storage box device, the detection unit 60 is positioned so that, when viewed from above, at least a portion of it overlaps with the slider 50.

[0087] This configuration suppresses the protrusion of the detection unit 60 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and further reduces the width of the operating mechanism 33 in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0088] In the above-described storage box device, the locking portion 70 includes a drive unit 71 that generates a driving force and a locking member 72 that swings due to the driving force generated by the drive unit 71. The slider 50 has a contact portion 58 that the locking member 72 can contact when sliding in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The locking member 72 is pivotably supported on a rotation axis 74 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and is characterized in that, by the operation of the drive unit 71, it can swing to a sliding-permitted position that avoids the contact portion 58 of the slider 50 when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and to a sliding-restricted position that overlaps with the contact portion 58 of the slider 50 when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0089] With this configuration, the shaft that pivotably supports the locking member 72 extends along the first direction, thus further reducing the width of the operating mechanism 33 in the vehicle's left-right direction. Furthermore, since the locking member 72 that the slider 50 contacts is pivotably supported on a rotation shaft 74 that runs along the vehicle's front-rear direction, even when a load is applied from the slider 50 to the locking member 72, no force is generated to pivot the locking member 72. As a result, no load is directly applied from the slider 50 to the drive unit 71, improving the durability of the locking unit 70.

[0090] In the above-described storage box device, the slider 50 and the locking member 72 are positioned so that at least a portion of them overlap when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0091] With this configuration, the slider 50 and the locking member 72 overlap in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, which further reduces the width of the operating mechanism 33 in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0092] The above-described storage box device further comprises a case member 40 that houses the slider 50, the detection unit 60, and the locking unit 70, and the case member 40 is characterized in that it has a rib portion 44 that approaches the locking unit 72 from the opposite side of the contact portion 58 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0093] With this configuration, even if an excessive load is applied to the locking member 72 from the slider 50, the rib portion 44 can support the locking member 72, thereby restricting the sliding of the slider 50. This improves the strength of the operating mechanism 33.

[0094] In the above-described storage box device, the detection unit 60 comprises a detection unit body 61 and an operating member 62 that is stroke-removably supported by the detection unit body 61 and faces the detected portion 57 of the slider 50 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, wherein the stroke direction of the operating member 62 is parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0095] With this configuration, the operating member 62 strokes parallel to the slider 50, thus reducing input errors caused by the sliding of the slider 50 relative to the detection unit 60. Furthermore, because the stroke direction of the operating member 62 and the sliding direction of the slider 50 are parallel, the detection unit 60 and the slider 50 can be arranged compactly.

[0096] The above-described storage box device further comprises a case member 40 that houses the slider 50, the detection unit 60, and the locking unit 70. The case member 40 has a pair of guide parts 43 that are slidable on the outer surface of the main body 50A of the slider 50 on both sides in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and an elastic member 56 is arranged on the inside of the main body 50A in the left-right direction of the vehicle to bias the slider 50 toward its initial position before sliding.

[0097] With this configuration, the pair of guide sections 43 can stably slide the slider 50 along the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Furthermore, since the elastic member 56 is positioned on the inside of the main body 50A of the slider 50 in the vehicle's lateral direction, the width of the operating mechanism 33 in the vehicle's lateral direction can be reduced. In addition, the elastic member 56 can improve the feel when manually operating the operating section 54.

[0098] The above-described storage box device is characterized by having a release operation switch, which is operated manually and separate from the slider 50, that allows the sliding restriction of the slider 50 to be released.

[0099] This configuration allows the lock state of the storage box 32 to be operated even if a fail-sale occurs in the drive unit or if the vehicle is not compatible with smart keys. Therefore, convenience can be improved.

[0100] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and for example, the shapes of the case member 40, slider 50, detection unit 60, and locking unit 70 are not particularly limited. The storage box device of this embodiment may also be applied to saddle-type vehicles other than motorcycles.

[0101] 1 Motorcycle 30 Storage box device 32 Storage box 33 Operating mechanism 40 Case member 44 Rib part 50 Slider 51 Front main body part 52 Central main body part 53 Rear main body part 53 Main body part 54 Operating part 56 Elastic member 57 Detected part 58 Contact part 60 Detecting part 61 Detecting part body 62 Operating member 70 Locking part 71 Drive part 72 Locking member

Claims

1. A storage box device comprising: a storage box attached to a vehicle body and capable of accommodating articles; and an operating mechanism for operating the locked state of the storage box, wherein the operating mechanism includes: a slider that switches the storage box from a locked state to an unlocked state by sliding along a first direction; a detection unit for detecting the sliding position of the slider; and a locking unit capable of restricting the sliding of the slider, wherein the slider has an operating unit that is operated manually, and by operating the operating unit along the first direction, the slider slides and the storage box can be switched from a locked state to an unlocked state, wherein the detection unit is positioned, in a top view, to one side of the second direction relative to the main body of the slider in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the locking unit is positioned, in a top view, to the other side of the second direction relative to the main body of the slider in the second direction.

2. The storage box device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection unit is positioned so as to overlap with the slider in at least a portion of it when viewed from above.

3. The storage box device according to claim 1, wherein the locking part comprises a drive unit that generates a driving force and a locking member that swings by the driving force generated by the drive unit, the slider has a contact portion to which the locking member can contact when the slider slides in the first direction, the locking member is supported so as to be swingable on an axis along the first direction and is swingable by the operation of the drive unit to a sliding-permitted position that avoids the contact portion of the slider when viewed from the first direction and a sliding-restricted position that overlaps with the contact portion of the slider when viewed from the first direction.

4. The storage box device according to claim 3, characterized in that the slider and the locking member are positioned so that at least a portion of them overlap when viewed from the first direction.

5. The storage box device according to claim 3, further comprising a case member for housing the slider, the detection unit, and the locking unit, wherein the case member has a rib portion that approaches the locking unit from the opposite side of the contact unit in the first direction.

6. The storage box device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises a detection unit body and an operating member that is stroke-removably supported by the detection unit body and faces the detected portion of the slider in the first direction, and the stroke direction of the operating member is parallel to the first direction.

7. The storage box device according to claim 1, further comprising a case member for housing the slider, the detection unit, and the locking unit, wherein the case member has a pair of guide units that are slidable on the outer surface of the main body of the slider on both sides of the main body in the second direction, and an elastic member is arranged on the inside of the main body in the second direction for biasing the slider toward its initial position before sliding.

8. The storage box device according to claim 1, comprising: a transmitting means for transmitting a vehicle-specific ID code; a receiving means for receiving the ID code transmitted from the transmitting means; and a determination means for determining whether the ID code received by the receiving means is a legitimate ID code, wherein when the determination means has determined that a legitimate ID code has been received, the detection unit detects the sliding of the slider, and the locking unit releases the restriction on the sliding of the slider.

9. The storage box device according to claim 1, further comprising a release operation switch, which is operated manually and separate from the slider, to release the sliding restriction on the slider.

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