[001] The present invention relates to storage box and, more particularly to storage box used in two-wheeled vehicles such as scooters.

BACKGROUND

[002] Typically, in a storage box, a lid which is openable and closable is provided. In closed state, the lid covers an opening of the storage box. The lid can be locked with the storage box using suitable locking system when it is in the closed state. Though the locking system is provided, the storage box is prone to tampering, particularly, when the lid or body of storage box or the both are made of flexible material such as resin / plastic material.
[003] Since, the lid of the storage box is typically made up of flexible material, it can be pulled at least from sides even in the locked state of the storage box. In an event of pulling the lid of the storage box, opening area of the box gets exposed and exposed area can be used to take out items from the storage box even without tampering or unlocking the lid. This problem statement is described with reference to the Figure 6 of the present specification, where a storage box 115 with a body 118 and a lid 117 is shown. In the locked state of the storage box 115, a side edge of the lid (117) of the storage box (115) can be pulled, which might result in exposing an opening area (116) at interphase of the lid (117) and the body (118) of the storage box (115). In many scenarios, this exposed area is sufficient for any person to access the storage box (115) even without unlocking the lid (117) of the storage box (115).

SUMMARY

[004] In an embodiment a storage box for a two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The storage box comprises a storage body, wherein one side of the storage body comprises an opening. The storage box further comprises a lid swingably coupled to the storage body to assume an open position and a closed position. The lid is configured to cover the opening in the closed position of the lid and expose the opening in the open position of the lid. The lid comprises at least one rib structure protruding from an inner surface of the lid for reducing exposed area of the storage body.
[005] In an embodiment, the at least one rib structure comprises a first side rib structure and a second side rib structure. The first side rib structure protrudes substantially from a first edge portion of the inner surface of the lid and the second side rib structure protrudes substantially from a second edge portion of the inner surface of the lid. In an embodiment, the first edge portion and the second edge portion are lateral edge portions of the lid and the second edge portion is in opposite side of the first edge portion of the lid.
[006] In an embodiment, the at least one rib structure comprises a first side rib structure. The first side rib structure protrudes substantially from the first edge portion of the inner surface of the lid and from a first upper corner portion of the inner surface of the lid. In an embodiment, the at least one rib structure comprises the second side rib structure. The second side rib structure protrudes substantially from the second edge portion of the inner surface of the lid and from a second upper corner portion of the inner surface of the lid. In an embodiment, the at least one rib structure comprises a rib structure protruding substantially from an upper edge portion of the inner surface of the lid.
[007] In an embodiment, the lid comprises a hinge bracket configured on a lower edge portion of the lid for hingedly mounting the lid to a lower edge of the storage body.
[008] In an embodiment, a rib breadth of the at least one rib structure decreases in a tapered manner as the at least one rib structure extends towards the lower edge portion of the lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[009] The invention itself, together with further features and advantages, will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
[0010] Figure 1 illustrates a view of a two-wheeled vehicle with a storage box, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the storage box with a lid, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the lid of the storage box, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] Figure 4 illustrates a view of the storage box along with the lid, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] Figure 5 illustrates another view of the storage box with the lid, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] Figure 6 illustrates a view describing problem statement of the prior art.
[0016] The drawings referred to in this description are not to be understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted, and such drawings are only exemplary in nature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention.
[0018] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
[0019] The terms “front / forward”, “rear / rearward / back / backward”, “up / upper / upward”, “down / downward / lower / lowerward” that may be used therein represent the directions as seen from a vehicle driver sitting astride and these directions are referred by arrows Fr, Rr, U, Lr in the figures. Further, “left / leftward”, “right / rightward” that may be used herein represent the directions as seen from a vehicle driver sitting astride.
[0020] While the present invention is illustrated in the context of a two wheeled vehicle, however, storage box with a lid and aspects and features thereof can be used with other type of applications or vehicles as well. It is to be noted that terms such as “two wheeled vehicle” and “vehicle” are interchangeably used throughout the description. The other vehicle such as motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, mopeds, all terrain vehicles (ATV), three wheelers, auto rickshaw, car, four wheelers, automobiles and the like. In this invention a two- wheeled vehicle is used as a reference. The invention is applicable to all vehicles.
[0021] Figure 1 illustrates a view of a two-wheeled vehicle (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) comprises, inter-alia, a front fork (1), a front wheel (2), a front fender (3), a front cover (4), a leg shield (5), a steering handle bar (6), a handle bar cover (7), a storage box (15) comprising a lid (17), a mirror (31), a display meter (32), a side cover (33), a rear fender (34), a rear wheel (35), a muffler (36), a main stand (37), a tail light (38), a rear grip (39), a seat (12) and a step floor (10). Forward to the seat (12) of the vehicle (100), the low step floor (10) is formed for placing feet of a rider.
[0022] It may be noted that the vehicle is shown to have include above stated parts, however, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the vehicle includes other parts which may not be relevant for explaining the present invention and hence are not shown and described.
[0023] With reference to Figure 2, the storage box (15) with a lid (17) is described, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The storage box (15) includes a storage body (18) that is a box shaped structure having an opening (16) facing the rider’s legs, where opposite side of the opening (16) is formed by the leg shield (5) of the vehicle (100). The opening (16) of the storage body (18) is covered by the lid (17). The lid (17) is hingedly mounted to a lower edge (23) of the storage body (18) through a hinge bracket (22) and swingable to cover the opening (16) of the storage body (18) in openable and closable manner.
[0024] Figure 3 illustrates the lid (17) of the storage box (15). In an embodiment, an inner surface (19) of the lid (17) is provided with at least one rib structure. As depicted in Figure 3, the at least one rib structure includes a first side (e.g., left) rib structure (20L) and a second side (e.g., right) rib structure (20R). In a configuration, the lid (17) is configured to have four edge portions, an upper edge portion (24), a first edge portion (or left edge portion) (26), a second edge portion (or right edge portion) (25) and the lower edge (23). The lid (17) has a first upper corner portion (e.g., top left corner portion (28)) formed at point of contact of the left edge portion (26) with the upper edge portion (24), and a second upper corner portion (e.g., a top right corner portion (29)) formed at a point of contact of the right edge portion (25) with the upper edge portion (24). The first side rub structure (also referred to as "the left rib structure (20L)") protrudes substantially from a first edge portion (e.g., the left edge portion (26)) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17) and the second side rub structure (also referred to as "the right rib structure (20R)") protrudes substantially from a second edge portion (e.g., the right edge portion (25)) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17). The hinge bracket (22) is provided on the lower edge portion (30) of the lid (17) for the purpose of hingedly mounting the lid (17) to the lower edge (23) of the storage body (18).
[0025] It is understood that the at least one rib structure may be provided on one or more sides of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17). For example, in an embodiment, the at least one rib structure is provided substantially on the left edge portion (26) of the lid (17). Additionally or alternatively, the at least one rib structure is provided substantially on the right edge portion (25) of the lid (17). Additionally or alternatively, the at least one rib structure is provided substantially on the upper edge portion (24) of the lid (17). In an embodiment, the at least one rib structure can be provided substantially along the top left corner portion (28) of the lid (17). For example, as shown in Figure 3, the left rib structure (20L) extends such that it is also configured along the top left corner portion (28) of the lid (17). Additionally or alternatively, the at least one rib structure can be provided substantially along the top right corner portion (29) of the lid (17). For example, as shown in Figure 3, the right rib structure (20R) extends such that it is also configured along the top right corner portion (29) of the lid (17). In an embodiment, rib breadth ‘B’ decreases as the at least one rib structure extends towards the lower edge portion (30) in a tapered manner. For example, as depicted in the Figure 3, breadth of the left rib structure (20L) and breadth of the right rib structure (20R) are represented by rib breadth ‘B’. In an embodiment, the at least one rib structure can be provided at any suitable locations as mentioned hereinabove or in any combination thereof.
[0026] With reference to Figure 4, when the lid (17) is in the closed position, the left rib structure (20L) and the right rib structure (20R) lie inside the storage box (15) and are substantially parallel to lateral sides of the storage body (18) of the storage box (15).
[0027] In an use scenario, if the lid (17) is pulled from any corner when the lid (17) is in the closed position, (for example, see Figure 5 where the top right corner portion (29) of the lid (17) is pulled), the right rib structure (20R) creates a physical restriction in the opening (16) to reduce an exposed area of the storage body (18). Accordingly, due to presence of the right rib structure (20R), the exposed area of the storage body (18) of the storage box (15) is reduced. Hence, theft of items from the storage box (15) by pulling the lid (17) when the lid (17) is in the closed position, is prevented. In an embodiment, the at least one rib structure is such that it substantially covers the opening (16), here, the shape of the at least one rib structure is substantially congruent to the opening (16).
[0028] While few embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications may be appropriately made thereto within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0029] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the invention herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

CLAIMS
We claim:

1. A storage box (15) in a two-wheeled vehicle (100), the storage box (15) comprising:
a storage body (18), wherein one side of the storage body (18) comprises an opening (16); and
a lid (17) swingably coupled to the storage body (18) to assume an open position and a closed position, the lid (17) configured to cover the opening (16) in the closed position of the lid (17) and expose the opening (16) in the open position of the lid (17), the lid (17) comprising at least one rib structure protruding from an inner surface (19) of the lid (17) for reducing exposed area of the storage body (18).

2. The storage box (15) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one rib structure comprises a first side rib structure (20L) and a second side rib structure (20R), the first side rib structure (20L) protruding substantially from a first edge portion (26) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17) and the second side rib structure (20R) protruding substantially from a second edge portion (25) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17).

3. The storage box (15) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first edge portion (26) and the second edge portion (25) are lateral edge portions of the lid (17) and the second edge portion (25) is in opposite side of the first edge portion (26) of the lid (17).

4. The storage box (15) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one rib structure comprises a first side rib structure (20L), the first side rib structure (20L) protruding substantially from the first edge portion (26) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17) and from a first upper corner portion (28) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17).

5. The storage box (15) as claimed in claims 2 or 4, wherein the at least one rib structure comprises a second side rib structure (20R), the second side rib structure (20L) protruding substantially from the second edge portion (25) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17) and from a second upper corner portion (29) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17).

6. The storage box (15) as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the at least one rib structure comprises a rib structure protruding substantially from an upper edge portion (24) of the inner surface (19) of the lid (17).

7. The storage box (15) as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the lid (17) comprises a hinge bracket (22) configured on a lower edge portion (30) of the lid (17) for hingedly mounting the lid (17) to a lower edge (23) of the storage body (18).

8. The storage box (15) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rib breadth of the at least one rib structure decreases in a tapered manner as the at least one rib structure extends towards the lower edge portion (30) of the lid (17).

9. The storage box (15) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a side of the storage body (18) that is in opposite side of the opening (16) is formed by a leg shield (5) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100).