LUGGAGE HOOK ASSEMBLY FOR TWO WHEELERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scooter type motorcycle and particularly to a luggage hook assembly.

BACKGROUND

One of the major benefits that a scooter type motorcycle offers is that it provides a storage space to accommodate articles such as helmet, documents, bags etc. Generally, a utility box or a utility chamber is arranged below the seat assembly, wherein the utility box is coupled to the seat assembly by means of a hinge, such that the seat assembly serves as a cover for the utility box. Besides the utility box, luggage hooks are also provided in scooter type motorcycles to aid a rider in carrying handbags, shopping bags and the like. Typically, the luggage hook assembly is disposed either in the rear portion of the leg shield or below the front portion of the seat and above the floor board. In a known art, the luggage hook assembly is disposed below the seat in a manner such that it is directly mounted to a front wall of the utility box through a large cut out provided in the cover front of the scooter type motorcycle. Such an arrangement for the disposition of the luggage hook assembly leads to poor vehicle aesthetics, as the cut out provided in the cover front is visible externally.

Moreover, a metal plate is secured in luggage hook assembly provided in the utility box, where the luggage hook assembly is mounted, to provide structural support and to enhance the stiffness of the hook. However, in such an arrangement provided for the disposition of the luggage hook assembly there is a high possibility of the metal plate rusting, as water entry through the cut out provided in the cover front is inevitable. Thereby, the stiffness of the luggage hook assembly is affected. Also, the use of metal plate leads to increased part count, manufacturing cost and weight of the vehicle, which is undesirable. Moreover, there is known in the art other luggage hooks that are disposed below the seat and which project outwards. Such luggage hooks act as an obstruction for the placement of goods or articles on the floor board and between the rider's feet as the projecting luggage hook interferes with the goods, thereby increasing the chances of damage to the luggage hook.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a retractable luggage hook assembly for a scooter type motorcycle, which adds appeal to the vehicle aesthetics. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a durable luggage hook assembly with reduced number of parts. Thus, the present invention relates to a luggage hook assembly for a scooter type motorcycle. Pursuant to the present invention, the luggage hook assembly is disposed in a depression provided in a cover front of the scooter type motorcycle. The luggage hook assembly comprises a hook arm upper, a hook arm lower and a locking subassembly. In one aspect of the invention the locking sub assembly comprises an upper groove, a lower groove, a locking pin, a spring and a stopper. In another aspect of the invention, the locking subassembly comprises an upper groove, lower groove, a locking spindle, and a spring, wherein the locking spindle is integrally formed with hook arm upper.

Further, a slot is provided in the space between the upper groove and the lower groove to receive two projecting members provided on the hook arm lower, in order to enable movement of the hook arm upper and the hook arm lower with respect to the depression provided in the cover front. Thus, the hook arm upper and the hook arm lower of the luggage hook assembly can be pulled out at the time of use and are capable of being held in the pulled out position with the help of the projecting members provided in the luggage hook lower. When not in use, the two arms of the luggage hook assembly can be retracted, so that they rest parallel to the surface of the depression provided in the cover front. Thus, the luggage hook assembly, when not in use does not project outwards during vehicle running condition and remains in line with the cover front, thereby improving vehicle aesthetics.

Moreover, in such a condition, the luggage hook assembly does not act as an obstruction for the placement of other articles or goods to be placed between the rider's feet. Furthermore, since the luggage hook assembly is reliably secured to the cover front, no additional structural support in the form of the metal plate is required to be provided to the luggage hook assembly, thereby, eliminating use of metal plate and ensuring reduced part count of the vehicle assembly along with reduced manufacturing cost and vehicle weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a typical scooter type motorcycle with a luggage hook assembly in accordance to the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a front view of a cover front of the scooter type motorcycle.

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the luggage hook assembly as per the first aspect of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of the luggage hook assembly as per the second aspect of the present invention.

Figure 4a illustrates a perspective view of a lower groove as per the second aspect of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates side view of the hook arm lower.

Figure 6 illustrates the luggage hook assembly in a retracted condition.

Figure 7 illustrates the luggage hook assembly in a pulled out condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of a luggage hook assembly for a motorcycle, in accordance to the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various features of the luggage hook assembly in accordance to 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. It is to be noted that terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front", "rear", "downward", "upward", "top", "bottom" and like terms are used herein based on the illustrated state or in a standing state of the vehicle with a driver riding thereon. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis refers to a front to rear axis relative to the vehicle, while a lateral axis refers to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to the vehicle. 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. It is to be noted that although the present invention has been exemplified for a scooter type motorcycle, however, the present invention may not be restricted only to a scooter type motorcycle and is applicable to any two wheeled motorcycle.

Referring to Figure 1, the layout of a typical scooter type motorcycle 1 with a luggage hook assembly 10 according to the present invention is elaborated. In the present embodiment, the scooter type motorcycle 1 includes a body frame (not shown) supporting a power unit 4 in the rear portion, a front wheel 3 and a rear wheel 12. Further, the body frame (not shown) includes a head pipe (not shown) that pivotally supports a front fork 5, such that the front fork 5 is steer-able to the left and right. The front wheel 3 is journaled to a lower end of a front fork 5. A front fender 6 is arranged on the front fork 5 to cover an upper portion of the front wheel 3. Further, a steering mechanism such as a handle bar 11 is fixed to an upper end of the head pipe (not shown). The front portion of the body frame (not shown) is covered by a leg shield 15, which is positioned in front of the driver's legs to protect the driver's legs from wind or objects. A foot board 16, on which a rider can place his or her feet, is arranged between the leg shield 15 and a pair of left and right side covers 17. The pair of left and right side covers 17 are disposed below a seat 19 which is supported by a rear portion of the body frame (not shown).

Further, a cover front 8 is disposed below a front portion of the seat 19 and above the floor board 16. The luggage hook assembly 10 for suspending handbags, shopping bags and the like is disposed in the cover front 8. Figure 2 illustrates a cover front 8 of the scooter type motorcycle 1. As may be seen in the figure, a depression 101 is provided in an upper portion of the cover front 8, wherein the depression 101 is integrally formed in the cover front 8. In the present embodiment, the depression 101 is provided to receive the mounting of a luggage hook assembly. The construction of the luggage hook assembly 10 in accordance to the present invention will be elaborated with reference to Figures 3-7. Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the luggage hook assembly 10 as mounted to the cover front 8 of the scooter type motorcycle. As may be seen in the figure, the luggage hook assembly 10 comprises a hook arm upper 105, a hook arm lower 106 and a locking sub assembly 200, wherein the locking sub assembly 200 is disposed perpendicular to the surface of the depression 101 of the cover front 8. The hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 are secured to each other by means of the locking sub assembly 200.

In one aspect of the invention, as illustrated by Figure 3, the locking sub assembly 200 comprises an upper groove 201, a lower groove 202, a locking pin 203, a spring 204 and a stopper 205. The upper groove 201 and the lower groove 202 are disposed in the depression 101 of the cover front 8. In the present embodiment the upper groove 201 and the lower groove 202 are integrally formed in the depression 101, one below the other and with a space between the two. A slot 90 is provided in the space between the upper groove 201 and the lower groove 202. Further, the upper groove 201 and the lower groove 202 receive the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106. The hook arm upper 105 is provided with an aperture 105a at a top portion to receive the locking pin 203 from a top side. The hook arm upper 105, the locking pin 203 and the spring 204, jointly secured by a circlip (not shown) from the bottom side are inserted into the upper groove 201. The stopper 205, which is mounted to a slot 205a provided in an upper portion of the depression 101, secures the locking pin 203 firmly by pressing against the top of the locking pin 203 and prevents its upward movement.

Thus, the hook arm upper 105 is firmly secured in the upper groove 201 by means of the locking pin 203 and the stopper 205. Further, the hook arm lower 106 is secured between the upper groove 201 and the lower groove 202 through the locking pin 203, which gets inserted into an aperture 106b provided in a cylindrical stem portion 106a of the hook arm lower 106. Thus, the luggage hook assembly 10 is secured in the depression 101 of the cover front 8. In another aspect of the invention, as illustrated by Figure 4, the locking sub assembly 200 comprises an upper groove 201, a lower groove 202, a spring 204 and a locking spindle 206. In the present embodiment, the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 are secured to each other through the locking spindle 206 which is integrally formed with the hook arm upper 105. In the present embodiment, the hook arm upper 105 and the locking spindle 206 are preferably composed of a polymer material. The spring 204 is inserted from a bottom side of the locking spindle 206 and the upper arm of the spring is engaged in a slot (not shown) provided in the rear side of the hook arm upper 105. A similar slot (not shown) is provided in the cylindrical stem 106a of the hook arm lower to receive a lower arm of the spring 204.

Thus, the spring 204 is engaged between the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 through the locking spindle 206. Further, the locking spindle 206 is snap fitted into a slot 202a formed in the lower groove 202. Thus, since the locking spindle 206 gets snap fitted into the slot 202a of the lower groove 202, its upward movement is automatically restricted and the need for a stopper to restrict the movement is eliminated. Figure 4a illustrates a perspective view of the lower groove 202. As shown in the figure, the slot 202a is formed by a pair of flanges 202b provided in the lower groove 202. Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the hook arm lower 106. Two projecting members 106c and 106d are disposed on the cylindrical stem 106a of the hook arm lower 106. Further, the two projecting members 106c and 106d are disposed at an angle of 90° with respect to each other. While one projecting member 106c is disposed at a lower rear end of the cylindrical stem 106a, the second projecting member 106d is disposed on a side surface of the cylindrical stem 106a adjoining the hook arm lower 106. The two projecting members 106c and 106d are provided to enable the movement of the hook arm lower 106 and that of the hook arm upper 105 jointly with the hook arm lower 106, about the slot 90 disposed between the upper groove 201 and the lower groove 202 (shown in Fig.3).

Figure 6 illustrates the luggage hook assembly 10 in a retracted position. As may be seen in the figure, in a retracted position of the luggage hook assembly 10, the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 rest parallel to the surface of depression 101 provided in the cover front 8. Further, in the retracted position one projecting member say 106c (not shown) remains engaged in the slot 90 disposed between the upper groove 201 and the lower groove 202. The projecting members 106c and 106d aid in the movement of the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 about the slot 90. Figure 7 illustrates the luggage hook assembly 10 in a pulled out condition. As may be seen in the figure, in a pulled out condition, the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 are approximately perpendicular to the surface of the depression 101 provided in the cover front 8. At the time of use, a rider can manually pull the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 jointly, in order to suspend a handbag, shopping bag and the like.

While the hook arm lower 106 is capable of being moved from a first position to a second position in an anti clockwise direction up to 90°, the hook arm upper 105 is capable of being moved in an anti clockwise direction up to an angle substantially beyond 90°, wherein the first position includes the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 being disposed substantially parallel to the cover front 8, and the second position includes the hook arm upper 105 and the hook arm lower 106 disposed substantially perpendicular to the cover front 8.During the movement of the hook arm lower 106 from the first position to the second position, there is gradual disengagement of one projecting members say 106c from the slot 90 and gradual movement of the second projecting member say 106d towards the slot 90. At 90°, one projecting member say 106c gets completely disengaged and the second projecting member 106d gets completely engaged in the slot 90, thus locking the hook arm lower 106 at the 90° position. A motion vice versa to that described above is repeated when the hook arm lower 106 is to be brought back to its retracted position.

The hook arm upper 105 moves jointly with the hook arm lower 106 up to an angle of 90° due to motion of the projecting members 106c and 106d, as described above. Further, the hook arm upper 105 is capable of being moved beyond 90° due to the spring action of spring 204 and is further capable of being brought back to its original retracted position due to return spring action of the spring 204. Thus, a bag containing articles can be suspended from the luggage hook lower 106 by moving the hook arm upper 105 beyond the position of the hook arm lower 106, such that an opening gets created for suspending a bag from the hook arm lower 106.

Thus, the construction of the luggage hook assembly 10 as described in the above embodiments ensures that the luggage hook assembly is compact and is incorporated well within the cover front, thereby improving vehicle aesthetics. Also, since the luggage hook assembly is firmly secured to the cover front, no additional structural support in the form of metal parts is required, thereby durability of the hook assembly is ensured, without involving the use of additional parts. Moreover, since no metal parts are used, the weight of the hook assembly and thereby the weight of the vehicle is reduced. 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:

We Claim:

1. A luggage hook assembly (10) for a motorcycle (1), said luggage hook assembly (10) comprising: a hook arm upper (105); a hook arm lower (106); and a locking sub assembly (200) disposed substantially perpendicular to a cover front (8) of said motorcycle (1), wherein said luggage hook assembly (10) is disposed in a depression (101) of the cover front (8), and wherein said hook arm upper (105) and said hook arm lower (106) are capable of selectively moving from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position includes the hook arm upper (105) and the hook arm lower (106) disposed substantially parallel to the cover front (8), and the second position includes the hook arm upper (105) and the hook arm lower (106) disposed substantially perpendicular to the cover front (8).

2. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hook arm upper (105) and the hook arm lower (106) are secured to each other by means of the locking sub assembly (200).

3. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking sub assembly (200) comprises an upper groove (201), a lower groove (202), a locking pin (203), a spring (204), and a stopper (205).

4. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the hook arm upper (105) along with the spring (204) is secured in the upper groove (201) through the locking pin (203), and wherein the locking pin (203) is securely held inside the upper groove (201) by means of the stopper (205).

5. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stopper (205) is disposed substantially above the locking pin (203) to prevent an upward movement of the locking pin (203).

6. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the hook arm lower (106) is secured between the upper groove (201) and the lower groove (202) through the locking pin (203).

7. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking sub assembly (200) comprises a locking spindle (206), wherein the locking spindle (206) is integrated with the hook arm upper (105).

8. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the locking spindle (206) is snap fitted to a slot (202a) formed by a pair of flanges (202b) provided in the lower groove (202).

9. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the hook arm upper (105) is capable of being moved in an anti-clockwise direction from the first position to the second position and up to an angle substantially beyond 90° by means of gradual engagement and disengagement of projecting members (106c and 106d) disposed on a cylindrical stem (106b) of the hook arm lower (106) from and into a slot (90) disposed between the upper groove (201) and the lower groove (202).

10. The luggage hook assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 9, wherein the hook arm lower (106) is capable of being moved in an anti-clockwise direction from the first position to the second position and up to an angle of approximately 90° by means of gradual engagement and disengagement of the projecting members (106c and 106d) from and into the slot (90) disposed between the upper groove (201) and the lower groove (202).