DESC:Technical Field
[0001] The present subject matter described herein generally relates to a motorcycle and particularly relates to an integrated holder structure for said motorcycle.
Background
[0002] As is well known, motorcycles are typically equipped with one or more motorcycle accessory parts or accessory devices including a helmet holder, a rope anchor, a luggage hook and the like for receiving accessories such as a helmet, a package tying rope, luggage/bags etc. However, the above mentioned motorcycle accessory parts are conventionally secured independently to said body frame through individual mounting brackets. Accordingly, the number of component parts increases, leading to overall increase in weight of said motorcycle. Moreover, providing accessory parts such as helmet holder, rope anchor, luggage holder and the like, requires reliefs to be provided in different parts of the motorcycle, causing design changes to be made either in the frame or in the style parts, affecting not only aesthetics but also freedom of design. Further, welding multiple accessory parts also results in weakening of frame structure of the motorcycle.
[0003] There is therefore a need to reduce the number of parts involved while at the same time ensuring that there is no compromise in the number of accessory parts that would be made available to the customer.

Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a motorcycle including an integrated holder structure.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide an integrated holder structure including at least an accessory holding device provided therein.
[0007] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an integrated holder structure adapted to be mounted to a rigid portion of said motorcycle.
[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an integrated holder structure, said integrated holder structure being adapted to be retro fitted onto any motorcycle without involving any kind of welding procedures or without having to provide individual slots/reliefs in frame structure of motorcycle or in style parts of the motorcycle.
[0009] It is one more object of the present invention to provide an integrated holder structure whose assembly is simple and convenient.
[0010] It is one more object of the present invention to provide an integrated holder structure whose design enables to ensure improved manufacturing productivity at a reduced cost.
[0011] The present subject matter discloses an integrated holder structure for a motorcycle. As per an aspect of the present invention, the integrated holder structure includes an integrated support bracket, and an accessory holding device detachably attached to a portion of said integrated support bracket.
[0012] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the integrated support bracket is an elongated U bracket with one end being provided with a mounting slot for mounting to a rigid portion of the motorcycle. Preferably, a rear portion of a body frame of the motorcycle is used to receive said integrated support bracket. Further, other end of the integrated support bracket is rigidly attached to an anchor member provided to facilitate winding of a rope used for tying luggage placed on a rear portion of seat of the motorcycle. In a portion of said integrated support bracket, below said anchor member, an accessory holding device is supported. Particularly in an embodiment of the present invention, the accessory holding device is detachably attached to said support bracket. The accessory holding device enables accessories such as a protective helmet, bags etc. to be held securely. Further, the integrated holder structure also includes a luggage hook rigidly supported on said integrated support bracket and disposed above said accessory holding device.
[0013] Thus, the integrated holder structure as per the present invention is designed to support at least two or more accessory parts. In other words, a design of the integrated holder structure as per the present embodiment aids in ensuring that two or more accessory parts can be accommodated in said motorcycle without the need for additional mounting brackets or without causing any design changes in an existing motorcycle. Moreover, said integrated holder structure can be easily retro fitted to any existing vehicle as it involves only a single point mounting.
[0014] Summary provided above explains the basic features of the invention and does not limit the scope of the invention. The nature and further characteristic features of the present invention will be made clearer from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0015] The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where:
[0016] FIG.1 illustrates a typical motorcycle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG.2 illustrates a perspective view of a body frame depicting an integrated holder structure as mounted to a rear portion of the body frame in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG.3 illustrates a perspective view of the integrated holder structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG.4 illustrates an exploded view depicting mounting of an accessory holding device to a portion of said integrated holder structure.
[0020] FIG.5a illustrates said accessory holding device in an open condition as per an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG.5b illustrates said accessory holding device in a closed condition as per an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0022] Exemplary embodiments detailing features of the integrated holder structure, in accordance with the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various aspects of different embodiments of the present invention will become discernible from the following description set out hereunder. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Further, it is to be noted that terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “front”, “forward”, “rearward”, “downward”, “upward”, “top”, “bottom” and like terms are used herein based on the illustrated state or in a standing state of the motorcycle with a driver riding thereon unless otherwise elaborated. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis refers to a front to rear axis relative to the motorcycle, while a lateral axis refers to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to the motorcycle. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of motorcycle 10 in accordance with the present invention. The motorcycle 10 includes a body frame 11 to support different parts of said motorcycle 10. A head pipe 12 is provided at a front end of the body frame 11. The head pipe 12 supports a steering shaft (not shown) rotatably in a certain range. In an upper portion of the head pipe 12, a handlebar 20 is rotatably integrally connected to the steering shaft. The handlebar 20 is used to steer the motorcycle 10 and is connected to a front wheel 21 through the steering shaft. An upper portion of the front wheel 21 is covered by a front fender 22 which prevents mud and water from getting deflected towards the steering shaft. Further, a front fork assembly 23 is supported partially on the front fender 22.
[0024] In a front portion of the body frame 11 a fuel tank 24 is arranged immediately behind the handlebar 20 and is disposed over an engine 25. A seat 26 is placed behind the fuel tank 24. The seat 26 includes a front rider portion and rear pillion portion.
[0025] For the safety of the rider and in conformance with the traffic rules, a headlamp unit 27 and a pair of turn signal lamp units 28 are provided in the front portion of the motorcycle 10. The headlamp unit 27 and the pair of turn signal lamp units 28 are housed in a headlamp housing assembly 30.
[0026] Suspension systems are provided for comfortable steering of the motorcycle 10 on the road. The front fork assembly 23, which forms the front suspension system, serves as rigidity component just like the body frame 11. The front fork assembly 23 clamped to the head pipe 12 through an upper bracket 12a and a lower bracket 12b is capable of being moved to the left and right. Further, a rear suspension system, which is a hydraulic damped arrangement, is connected to the body frame 11. The rear suspension system comprises at least one rear suspension 31 preferably on a left hand side of the motorcycle 10. However, in a motorcycle with two rear suspensions, the same may be disposed on the left side and the right side respectively of said motorcycle.
[0027] The engine 25 is mounted to a front lower portion of the body frame 11 by means of an engine mounting bracket 32. The engine 25 is equipped with an exhaust system that includes an exhaust pipe (not shown) connected to the engine 25 and a muffler (not shown) connected to the exhaust pipe. The muffler (not shown) extends rearwards along the right side of the rear wheel 40.
[0028] Further, a swing arm 35 (shown in FIG.2) extending rearwards is swingably connected to a lower rear portion of the body frame 11. The rear wheel 40 is rotatably supported at a rear end of the swing arm 35. Power from the engine 25 is transmitted to the rear wheel 40 through a power drive mechanism, such as a drive chain, so as to drive and rotate the rear wheel 40.
[0029] A rear fender 45 for covering an upper side of the rear wheel 40 is mounted to a rear portion of body frame 11 to prevent mud and water splashed by the rotating rear wheel 40 from entering the muffler, the engine 25 and other parts disposed close by.
[0030] To enhance the overall aesthetics of the motorcycle 10 and to prevent undesired foreign particles from entering parts of the motorcycle, a plurality of rear covers 50 is attached to a rear portion of the body frame 11.
[0031] FIG.2 is a perspective view of the body frame 11 of the motorcycle 10. As may be seen, the body frame 11 includes the head pipe 12, a down tube 13 extending downwards and rearwards from said head pipe 12, at least one main tube 14 extending rearwards from said head pipe 12, a pair of rear tubes 15 extending rearwards from a portion of said main tube 14, a pair of side tubes 16 extending inclinedly downwardly and forwardly from said pair of rear tubes 15, a pair of footrest support tubes 17 detachably attached to a rear frame bracket (not shown) provided on either sides of said pair of rear tubes 15; said pair of footrest support tubes 17 extending inclinedly rearwardly and downwardly from said frame bracket. Particularly, the body frame 11 is the skeleton of the motorcycle and forms a rigid portion of the motorcycle. More particularly, the pair of rear tubes 15, the pair of side tubes 16, and the pair of footrest support tubes 17 form a rear portion of the body frame 11 and contribute to rigidity of the motorcycle 10.
[0032] The rear suspension 31, being one of the load bearing members of the motorcycle is supported in the rear portion of the body frame 11. Particularly, the rear suspension 31 is supported between the swing arm 35 and a suspension mounting bracket 31a. In the present embodiment, said suspension mounting bracket 31a serves as one of the rigid portions of the body frame since it is rigidly supported between one rear tube of the pair of rear tubes 15 and one side tube of the pair of side tubes 16. As a result, in one implementation, the suspension mounting bracket 31a is used to receive said integrated holder structure 55. Particularly, in one implementation, said integrated holder structure 55 is sandwich mounted to said suspension mounting bracket 31a together with the rear suspension 31 through an integrated support bracket 55a (shown in FIG.3) thereof. More particularly, said integrated holder structure 55 is secured to the suspension mounting bracket 31a through a mounting slot 55s (shown in FIG.3) provided in a first arm 55af (shown in FIG.4) of said support bracket 55a.
[0033] Preferably, said integrated holder structure 55 is disposed on a right side of the motorcycle 10 by attachment to the suspension mounting bracket 31a. However, said integrated holder structure 55 may be attached to any other rigid portion of the body frame. Particularly, since the integrated holder structure 55 as per the present invention is designed to receive load, it is desirable that the same be mounted to a rigid portion, of the body frame 11 in the motorcycle, so that the integrated holder structure 55 does not yield due to load. In an embodiment, said integrated holder structure 55 may be mounted to an extension bracket extending from a portion of the body frame, such as a saree guard mounting bracket attached to a left rear tube of the pair of rear tubes 15. In another embodiment, said integrated holder structure 55 may be sandwich mounted to the rear frame bracket together with one footrest support tube of the pair of footrest support tubes 17.
[0034] Said integrated holder structure 55 when disposed on a right hand side of the body frame may also be used as a pillion grip since said holder structure 55 is provided with an anchor member 55b at one of the end portions of said support bracket 55a. The integrated holder structure 55 as per the present invention not only facilitates a pillion rider to grip, but also serves to accommodate/hold accessories such as a protective helmet, luggage/bags, a rope to tie luggage etc.
[0035] FIG.3 is a perspective view depicting the integrated holder structure 55 in accordance with the present embodiment. As per the present embodiment, the integrated holder structure 55 includes the integrated support bracket 55a, the anchor member 55b rigidly supported at one end of said integrated support bracket 55a, and an accessory holding device 55c detachably attached to said integrated support bracket 55a. Further, as per the present embodiment, the integrated holder structure 55 also includes a luggage hook 55d rigidly supported to the integrated support bracket 55a. As per one embodiment and as may be seen in FIG.3, said luggage hook 55d is disposed below the anchor member 55b and above the accessory holding device 55c. However, in another embodiment, respective positions of said luggage hook 55d and that of the accessory holding device 55c may be interchanged.
[0036] The integrated holder structure 55 as per the present invention serves as a multipurpose accessory holding or luggage holding structure. Whereas the anchor member 55b of the integrated holder structure 55 serves to anchor/support heavy luggage that may be placed on a pillion seat of the motorcycle by accommodating a rope/wire that may be used to tie said luggage, the luggage hook 55d serves to receive luggage carrying bags or receptacles that may be hung around said luggage hook 55d. Further, the accessory holding device 55c serves to securely receive accessories such as protective helmets or other valuable items such as handbags. Moreover, the anchor member 55b may also serve as a pillion grip for a pillion rider seated on the rear portion of the seat 26 in cases when the integrated holder structure 55 is disposed on the left hand side of the body frame. In another embodiment, when said integrated holder structure 55 is mounted to the saree guard mounting bracket and is disposed on a right hand side of the body frame, the anchor member 55b of said holder structure 55 may be done away with in order to facilitate convenient mounting of said holder structure 55. Similarly, when the integrated holder structure 55 is to be mounted to the rear frame bracket, the anchor member 55b may be done away with.
[0037] Providing the integrated support bracket 55a as an elongated U bracket, allows the anchor member 55b, the accessory holding device 55c and the luggage hook 55d to be supported thereto without difficulty. Moreover, providing the integrated support bracket 55a as a metal or as an alloy member allows the anchor member 55b, the accessory holding device 55c and the luggage hook 55d to be supported thereto without involving the danger of yielding due to load. Thus, providing the integrated holder structure 55 as disclosed above aids in eliminating the need for providing individual mounting brackets for the anchor member 55b, the accessory holding device 55c and the luggage hook 55d, thereby aiding in reducing part count and increasing overall productivity in manufacturing. Since multiple mountings to the frame are also eliminated in the present invention, strength of the frame also remains unaffected.
[0038] FIG.4 is an exploded view depicting mounting of the accessory holding device 55c to the integrated support bracket 55a. In the present embodiment, said accessory holding device 55c is a lock device. For example, as per an aspect of the present invention, the lock device is adapted to securely hold accessories such as a protective helmet through its strap. Further, the lock device can also secure other accessories such as hand bags and other luggage carrying bags through their respective straps/handles.
[0039] The accessory holding device 55c is firstly located in a locating hole 55al provided in the integrated support bracket 55a by means of a locating pip 55ca, and subsequently fastened by means of a fastener to the integrated support bracket 55a at a mounting hole 55am. Besides facilitating placement of the accessory holding device 55c on the integrated support bracket 55a, the locating pip 55ca also serves as an anti-rotatory member which aids in preventing rotation of the accessory holding device 55c about the locating hole 55al during handling/usage. An access hole 55ab is provided in a second arm 55as of the integrated support bracket 55a, and disposed parallel to the mounting hole 55am provided in a first arm 55af of the integrated support bracket 55a. The access hole 55ab serves to provide access to a tool used for tightening the fastener used to fasten said accessory holding device 55c.
[0040] FIG.5a and FIG.5b illustrate the working of the accessory holding device 55c. The accessory holding device 55c includes a spring loaded plunger 55cb. Said spring loaded plunger 55cb serves as an active locking member of the accessory holding device 55c and projects into a receiving bore 55cc provided at a top portion of said holding device 55c, when manually pushed from a bottom portion of said plunger 55cb. FIG.5a illustrates the accessory holding device 55c with said plunger 55cb in an open/unlocked condition. Further, said plunger 55cb is retracted from the receiving bore by operation of a key 56. FIG.5b depicts the accessory holding device 55c with said plunger 55cb in a closed/locked condition.
[0041] A strap of the protective helmet or that of a hand bag or luggage bag may be held around a portion of the plunger 55cb when the same is in unlocked condition and is secured by locking said plunger 55cb. Thus, the accessory holding device 55c serves as an anti-theft device and aids in ensuring that valuables such as the protective helmet are secured.
[0042] The present invention therefore aids in securely accommodating one or more accessories without involving a higher part count and with minimal design changes to the motorcycle, thereby improving freedom of design.
[0043] While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes in form, connection, and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
,CLAIMS:I/We Claim:
1. An integrated holder structure (55) for a motorcycle (10), said motorcycle (10) comprising a body frame (11), wherein said body frame (11) includes a pair of rear tubes (15), and a pair of side tubes (16) extending downwardly and forwardly from said pair of rear tubes (15);
characterized in that, said integrated holder structure (55) includes an integrated support bracket (55a) adapted to be detachably mounted to a rigid portion of said motorcycle (10), and an accessory holding device (55c) adapted to be detachably attached to a portion of said integrated support bracket (55a).
2. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid portion includes a suspension mounting bracket (31a) supported between each rear tube of the pair of rear tubes (15) and each side tube of the pair of side tubes (16).
3. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated support bracket (55a) is an elongated U bracket.
4. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said integrated support bracket (55a) is sandwich mounted to the suspension mounting bracket (31a) together with a rear suspension (31).
5. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder structure (55) includes a luggage hook (55d) rigidly supported to said integrated support bracket (55a).
6. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said accessory holding device (55c) is a lock device for securing accessories including a protective helmet.
7. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said accessory holding device (55c) includes a spring loaded plunger (55cb) as an active locking member.
8. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated holder structure (55) includes an anchor member (55b) rigidly supported at one end of said integrated support bracket (55a).
9. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in 1, wherein said integrated support bracket (55a) includes a mounting hole (55am) for receiving said accessory holding device (55c), and an access hole (55ab) for allowing access to a tool used to fasten said accessory holding device (55c) at the mounting hole (55am).
10. The integrated holder structure (55) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said accessory holding device (55c) includes a locating pip (55ca) for location of said accessory holding device (55c) in a locating hole (55al) and for preventing rotation of said accessory holding device (55c) about said locating hole (55al).