[0001] The present invention relates to a top box, in particular for carrying obj ects on cycles and motorcycles . In particular, the obj ect of the invention is the system for closing the top box .

[0002] Top boxes for motorcycles having an electronic lock, which uses the vehicle battery, are already known . Top boxes for motorcycles having a mechanical lock, possibly in addition to an electronic lock, are also known .

[0003] The increasing di f fusion of electric bicycles has made it possible to install top boxes with electronic locks also on this type of vehicle , for example for keeping the helmet , when the bicycle is not in use , or for carrying obj ects . The use of the electronic lock is particularly advantageous in the case of electric bicycles for rent . In fact , in the case of a mechanical lock it is necessary to provide the user with a mechanical key capable of opening only the top box of the rented bicycle . The rental company must therefore have top boxes with di f ferent locks and as many keys . The electronic lock allows this drawback to be overcome , as the top box can be opened by sending an electric signal taken from the battery and through an electronic key, for example a code sent via smartphone . [0004] However, the use of the electronic lock alone is not without drawbacks . In particular, if the battery is missing or low, or i f the user is unable to send a command to the electronic lock control unit , the top box opening can not be guaranteed .

[0005] It would therefore be desirable to be able to install both an electronic lock and a mechanical lock on the top box, as is the case for motorcycles .

[0006] A di f ficulty that this choice exhibits is linked to the small si ze of the top boxes for bicycles , compared for example to those for motorcycles . The space to be obtained in the top box to allow the combined assembly of the current electronic and mechanical locks is therefore incompatible with the dimensions of the bicycle top boxes .

[0007] The obj ect of the present invention is to propose a top box, in particular for bicycles , which allows the aforementioned need to be met , and therefore which incorporates both an electronic lock and a mechanical lock, without causing an increase in the si ze of the top box .

[0008] Such an obj ect is achieved with a top box according to claim 1 . The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the top box .

[0009] The features and the advantages of the top box according to the invention shall be made readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiment examples thereof , provided purely by way of a non limiting example , with reference to the accompanying figures , wherein :

[0010] - Figure 1 shows a bicycle on which a top box is installed on the rear rack;

[0011] - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top box according to the invention, in a closed configuration;

[0012] - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the open top box ;

[0013] - Figure 4 is a perspective view of the base of the top box ;

[0014] - Figure 5 is a side view of the lid of the top box ;

[0015] - Figure 6 is a sectional view of the electronic lock and mechanical lock assembly, with the electronic lock in the lid locking position;

[0016] - Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to the previous one , with the electronic lock in the lid release position; and

[0017] - Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to the previous one , with the electronic lock in the lid locking position and with the mechanical lock in the lid release position . [0018] In said drawings , reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a top box for carrying obj ects , in particular for bicycles .

[0019] Figure 1 shows an example of a bicycle 2 on the rear rack 3 whereof the top box 1 is fixed .

[0020] In a general embodiment , the top box 1 comprises a top box body 10 formed of a base 12 and a lid 14 .

[0021] The base 12 is delimited by a bottom wall 122 and a side base wall 124 .

[0022] The lid 14 is delimited by a top wall 142 and a side lid wall 144 .

[0023] For example , the lid 14 is hinged to the base 12 so as to rotate between a closed position ( Figure 2 ) and an open position of the top box ( Figure 3 ) .

[0024] The case 1 is provided with a lock group 16 which locks the lid 14 to the base 12 in the closed position .

[0025] The lock group 16 comprises an electric lock 18 and a mechanical lock 20 .

[0026] The electric lock 18 comprises electric actuation means 22 incorporated into one of the base 12 and the lid 14 .

[0027] The mechanical lock 20 comprising manual actuation means 24 installed into the other of the base 12 and the lid 14 .

[0028] In the example shown, the electric actuation means 22 are incorporated in the base 12 , while the manual actuation means 24 are installed in the lid 14 .

[0029] In one embodiment , the electric actuation means 22 are housed in a box-like body 26 fixed to , or formed in, the inner side of the side base wall 124 .

[0030] According to an aspect of the invention, the electric lock 18 and the mechanical lock 20 share a single locking mechanism 30 which is electrically or mechanically operable for switching from a lid locking position to a lid release position .

[0031] In one embodiment , the locking mechanism 30 comprises a coupling member 32 belonging to one of the electric lock 18 and the mechanical lock 20 and a gripping member 34 belonging to the other of the electric lock 18 and the mechanical lock 20 . The gripping member 34 is suitable to be engaged by the coupling member 32 for locking the lid to the base .

[0032] In other words , the coupling member 32 forms the bolt of the lock group 16 , while the gripping member 34 forms the loop or groove of the lock group, into which the bolt is inserted .

[0033] The coupling member 32 is movable between a lid locking position and a lid release position .

[0034] According to an aspect of the invention, the gripping member 34 is also a movable member, and is movable between a lid locking position, wherein it is engagable by the coupling member 32 when the latter is in the lid locking position ( Figure 6 ) , and a lid release position, wherein it is disengaged from the coupling member 32 even when the coupling member 32 is in the lid locking position ( Figure 8 ) .

[0035] Therefore , irrespective of the actuation and position of the coupling member 32 , the lid 14 can also be opened by acting only on the gripping member 34 .

[0036] In one embodiment , the electric lock 18 comprises an electrically operated actuator 36 commandable for switching the coupling member 32 from the lid locking position to the lid release position .

[0037] In one embodiment , the mechanical lock 20 comprises a manually operated actuator 38 commandable to switch the gripping member 34 from the lid locking position to the lid release position .

[0038] For example , the coupling member 32 is commandable to rotate between an advanced lid locking position ( Figure 6 ) and a retracted lid release position ( Figure 7 ) . In other words , the coupling member 32 , in one embodiment , is in the form of a lever pivoted to the boxlike body 26 .

[0039] In one embodiment , the gripping member 34 is commandable to rotate between an advanced lid locking position, wherein it is engaged by the coupling member 32 when this is in the advanced pos ition ( Figure 6 ) , and a retracted lid release position, wherein it is disengaged from the coupling member even when the coupling member 32 is in the advanced position ( Figure 8 ) .

[0040] In one embodiment , the coupling member 32 is normally retained in the advanced lid locking position by an elastic member 40 , such as a spring .

[0041] In one embodiment , the electrically operated actuator 36 comprises a pusher 42 operated by a solenoid 44 . For example , when the solenoid is energi zed, the magnetic field variation causes a translation of the pusher 42 from an inactive retracted position to an advanced position wherein it acts on a thrust portion 32 ' of the coupling member 32 , thus causing the rotation thereof to a retracted lid release position .

[0042] The solenoid 44 is operatively connected to an electronic control board 46 . The control board 46 is configured to send an electrical signal to the solenoid 44 in the presence of a control signal received from the user . The electronic control board 46 can be powered by a battery, for example the same battery that powers the motor in the case of an electric bicycle .

[0043] The control signal can be sent by the user by means of a switch, a radio control or by means of an application residing on a user ' s smartphone .

[0044] In one embodiment , the mechanical lock 20 comprises a pawl 50 rotatably operable by means of a mechanical key . The gripping member 34 is integral with the pawl 50 , so as to rotate therewith following the insertion and rotation of the key in the pawl 50 .

[0045] In one embodiment , the coupling member 32 forms a coupling beak 32 ^{, f} . For example , the coupling beak 32 ' ’ is obtained at the opposite end with respect to the thrust portion 32 ' .

[0046] The gripping member 34 forms an eyelet 342 into which the coupling beak 32 ' ’ is inserted .

[0047] In one embodiment , the coupling beak 32 ' ’ forms an inclined surface 322 facing the lid 14 and acting as a cam engagable by the lower end of the gripping member 34 for pushing the coupling member 32 from the advanced coupling position to the retracted release position .

[0048] Therefore , to lock the lid 14 on the base 12 starting from the open position of the top box, it is not necessary to activate the electronic lock to rotate the coupling member 32 to the retracted position, since the gripping member 34 itsel f , with its lower end, in its descent movement towards the coupling member 32 (which is in an advanced position) , mechanically causes it to rotate to a retracted position . Consequently, when the top box 1 is opened by means of the electric lock 18 , the electric control signal which activates the electrically operated actuator 22 ( for example by energi zing the solenoid 44 ) can be maintained only for the short time necessary to cause disengagement of the coupling member 32 from the gripping member 34 . By removing the electrical signal , the coupling member 32 is brought back to an advanced position by the action of the elastic element .

[0049] In one embodiment , the box-like body 26 forms , on an upper wall thereof facing the lid 14 , a window 262 through which the gripping member 34 can be inserted and rotated .

[0050] In one embodiment , an elastic pin 60 extends from the lid 14 towards the base , which is suitable to move the lid 14 away from the base 12 when the coupling member 32 or the gripping member 34 is in the retracted lid release position . The elastic pin 60 , that is a pin stressed by a spring positioned inside a spring seat 62 embedded in the lid, therefore carries out a pushing action between the lid and the base .

[0051] The top box described above allows the intended obj ects to be achieved .

[0052] The top box can be opened in two di f ferent ways : using a traditional mechanical key or by means of to an electri fied release . In particular, the latter can be operated remotely by using a remote control or by direct impulse from a control unit located on board the vehicle . The top box can therefore benefit from the advantages of fered by both the use of an electric lock and the use of a mechanical lock .

[0053] Innovatively, the two electric and mechanical locks are housed on two distinct parts of the top box, the base and the lid respectively, or vice versa, and share the locking mechanism . In this way, a considerable reduction in the overall dimensions occupied by the lock group is obtained, to the benefit of the si ze of the top box .

[0054] Advantageously, a reduction in the number of components of the lock group is also obtained, with evident benefits in terms of production, management and storage of the parts of the top box .

[0055] A man skilled in the art may make several changes , adj ustments , adaptations and replacements of elements with other functionally equivalent ones to the embodiments of the top box according to the invention in order to meet incidental needs , without departing from the scope of the following claims . Each of the features described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be obtained independently of the other described embodiments .