WO2002080715A1

WO2002080715A1 - Multifunctional device particularly for motorcyclists

Info

Publication number: WO2002080715A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/010908
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gianni Zago
Original assignee: Spidi Sport S.R.L.
Priority date: 2001-04-03
Filing date: 2001-09-20
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: ITVR20010044A0; ITVR20010044A1

Abstract

A multifunctional device, particularly for motorcyclists, having a concave inner surface facing the back of the user, a covnex outer surface, and a means for removable retention of an apparatus on the outer surface.

Description

MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE PARTICULARLY FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a multifunctional device particularly for motorcyclists. Background Art

The use of aerodynamic devices, such as for example airfoils, in the motoring industry is well known, particularly in motor racing.

Generally, those devices generate a force that presses the vehicle against the ground, increasing its grip as the speed increases.

In the field of motorcycling, protective devices have been in use to protect the spine of the motorcyclist against impacts. Those devices, so called "back protectors" are generally constituted by a protective shield made of semirigid material, arranged in the leather suit or worn by the rider between his/her back and the suit, substantially along the spine and at the spinal area of the back.

Generally, protective shields of this type have a linear profile with a transverse width that increases along the main or longitudinal direction, starting from the cervical region, reaches its maximum value at the lumbar region and then tapers in the sacral region.

Commercially available protective shields are complicated to manufacture because of the relative great number of components to be assembled.

Also, those conventional shields perform only a protective function but do not allow to meet other requirements of the motorcyclist that may arise in individual instances, such as, for example, a reduced drag at high speed.

Professional riders have indeed been using a sort of "hump" embedded in the upper back portion of their motorcycle suit in order to improve the aerodynamic performance. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional device, particularly for motorcyclists, with several improved features over the prior art devices. An object of the invention is to provide a multifunctional device that may serve different uses, separately or at the same time, according to the rider's needs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multifunctional device that improves the aerodynamic performance. A further object of the invention is to provide a multifunctional device characterized by low manufacturing costs and that can be manufactured with traditional manufacturing plants and methods.

This aim and these and other objects, that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a multifunctional device, particularly for motorcyclists, characterized in that it comprises a concave inner surface facing the back of the user, a convex outer surface, and a means for removable retention of an apparatus on said outer surface.

The multifunctional device according to the invention may include an aerodynamic appendage comprising a wing and supporting means connecting the wing to the outer surface.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the multifunctional device comprises a supporting base that has a resting portion, facing the back of a user, and an engagement surface, characterized in that it comprises, at the engagement structure, means for the detachable retention of said at least one apparatus.

Brief description of the drawings

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of some currently preferred embodiments, given merely by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side view of the multifunctional device, according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the multifunctional device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device of the preceding figures; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a multifunctional device according to a further aspect of the invention;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of a multifunctional device provided with ventilation means;

Figure 6 is a side view of the device of Figure 4, taken from the side that lies upward during use;

Figure 7 is a view of a container for liquids;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a multifunctional device according to still a further aspect of the invention;

Figure 9 is a schematic view of a motorcyclist with a multifunctional device provided with an aerodynamic appendage;

Figure 10 is a schematic view of a motorcyclist with a device according to the invention provided with a luminous indicator;

Figure 11 is a view of a motorcycling suit provided with a multifunctional device according to the invention; Figure 12 is a sectional view, taken along the plane XII-XII of Figure

9, of a suit provided with a multifunctional device; and

Figure 13 is a schematic view of a motorcyclist wearing the suit shown in Figure 11. Ways of carrying out the invention With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the multifunctional device according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, constitutes an aerodynamic appendage which comprises a substantially concave inner surface 2 facing the back of the user when the device is worn by the user.

The surface 2 is shaped so as to cling to the back of a motorcyclist in optimum and comfortable manner. The device 1 has, opposite the inner surface 2, an outer surface 3, which is generally convex in order to reduce the drag generated by the notion of the user.

The appendage 1 has detachable retention means adapted to fasten the device to the body of the user.

As in the illustrated embodiment, the retention means can be constituted by one or more straps 4.

The device 1 has a wing 5 and a support member 6 connecting the wing 5 to a portion 7 of the outer surface 3. In particular, the support member 6, as shown more clearly in Figure

2, constitutes a vertical aerodynamic surface member which acts as a vertical stabilizer.

According to a further aspect of the invention, shown more clearly in Figures 4 to 12, the multifunctional device, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a supporting base 11 provided with a resting portion 12 facing the back of the user.

The multifunctional device has an engagement surface 13 which, during use, is directed away from the back of the motorcyclist and is provided with detachable retention means 14 adapted to retain an apparatus, at the engagement surface. The apparatus may be, for example, an aerodynamic appendage, such as the one described above and shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The detachable retention means may be constituted, for example, by strips or portions of adhesive material, such as the material commercially known as "Velcro" or any other type of conventional engagement/release devices.

The device 10 has a means 15 for detachable coupling to a dorsal portion of an item of clothing, such as a motorcyclist leather suit.

In particular, said means 15 can be constituted by one or more straps or strips or portions of "Velcro", arranged mutually opposite and respectively at the engagement surface and at the apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, as shown more clearly in Figure 9, the supporting base is provided at a dorsal portion of a motorcycling suit. The supporting base has a protective shield, extending substantially in the region of the spine of the user.

The protective shield may be constituted by a body made of substantially rigid or semirigid material and shaped appropriately.

The supporting base has at least one seat adapted to be coupled to one or more apparatuses, according to the requirements of the user.

For example, the seat is constituted by a cavity or, equally, by a recess 18 adapted to internally accommodate an apparatus such as a container for liquids 19, as shown in Figure 4.

The container for liquids 19 has a connecting element, such as for example a tube 20, which connects the container to the mouth of the user, so as to allow, for example a motorcyclist, to drink without having to take his/her hands off the controls of the motorcycle.

The device 10 according to the invention also has an additional apparatus that can be coupled to the supporting base by means of the already described removable retention means.

As shown in the figures, another apparatus that can be used and coupled to the supporting base, independently of the other elements described above, is constituted by a luminous indicator 20, which is adapted to be arranged, when necessary, at a portion of the supporting base that is directed outward.

The supporting base 2 has ventilation means 21 which connect portions 21a, which are arranged externally during use, generally at the lateral edge, to portions 21b, which during use are in contact with the back of the motorcyclist. The use of a multifunctional device according to the invention is as follows.

Referring to the embodiment of the device which can be detachably coupled to a suit, the supporting base may be coupled, by using the detachable coupling means, externally to a motorcycling suit. It is also possible to insert the supporting base between the back of the motorcyclist and the suit, using for example adjustable straps or elastic bands, as shown in the above cited figures.

After putting on the supporting base, the motorcyclist can couple one or more apparatuses to the supporting base, according to his or her requirements.

In particular, if one expects the need to drink liquids during travel, it is possible to couple a container for liquids to the supporting base. As described above, the container for liquids is provided with a flexible rube in order to allow the motorcyclist to draw the liquid from the container. If the user wishes to increase his or her visibility, for example in case of adverse weather conditions, such as fog or heavy rain, it is possible to apply the luminous indicator to the base, in order to allow the motorcyclist to be seen more easily by other motorists.

Moreover, if necessary, it is possible to rigidly couple the aerodynamic appendage to the supporting base, thus allowing to reduce the turbulence generated at the motorcyclist's back.

If one uses the suit for many hours and at high temperatures, as is often the case, one can use a device according to the invention which is provided with ventilation means so as to allow to remove heat from the back of the motorcyclist.

In practice it has been found that the multifunctional device according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since they are capable of meeting various requirements of a motorcyclist.

The multifunctional device according to the invention, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, within the scope defined by the appended claims.

The materials and the dimensions may be various according to requirements.

All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2001A000044 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A multifunctional device, particularly for motorcyclists, characterized in that it comprises a concave inner surface facing the back of the user, a convex outer surface, and a means for removable retention of an apparatus on said outer surface.

2. The multifunctional device according to claim 1, characterized in that said detachable retention means comprises at least one strap.

3. The multifunctional device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an aerodynamic appendage comprising a wing and a supporting means that connect said wing to said outer surface.

4. The multifunctional device according to claim 3, characterized in that said supporting means comprises a vertical aerodynamic surface.

5. The multifunctional device, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a means for detachably coupling the device to a back portion of a motorcycling suit.

6. The multifunctional device according to claim 5, characterized in that said detachable coupling means comprises at least one strap.

7. The multifunctional device according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting base is formed at a back portion of a motorcycling suit.

8. The multifunctional device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises an aerodynamic appendage.

9. The multifunctional device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting base comprises a protective shield, which is at least partially made of a substantially rigid material.

10. The multifunctional device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one seat located at said supporting base and adapted to be detachably engaged by at least one second apparatus.

11. The multifunctional device according to claim 10, characterized in that said second apparatus comprises a container.

12. The multifunctional device according to claim 11, characterized in that said container comprises a container for liquids and an element for connection between an internal portion of said container for liquids and a region which can be accessed, during use, by the mouth of a user.

13. The multifunctional device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detachable retention means comprises strips of "Velcro" arranged so that during use they are mutually opposite, respectively at said apparatus and at said supporting base.

14. The multifunctional device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detachable retention means comprises engagement/release devices.

15. The multifunctional device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a third apparatus which can be detachably coupled to said supporting base by said detachable retention means.

16. The multifunctional device according to claim 14, characterized in that said third apparatus comprises a luminous indicator.

17. The multifunctional device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises ventilation means.