Adjustable tour pack assembly

Abstract

An adjustable assembly attaches to the rear storage compartment of a motorcycle and can be positioned in different locations so as to make the rear seating area larger or smaller as desired.

1 . A sliding assembly for a motorcycle tour pack comprising:
 a first sliding apparatus, including a first sliding tube and a first sliding rod within the first sliding tube; the first sliding tube and first sliding rod configured to slide relative to one another in a direction, the direction being substantially parallel with their respective major axes;   a second sliding apparatus, including a second sliding tube and a second sliding rod within the second sliding tube; the second sliding tube and second sliding rod configured to slide relative to one another in the direction;   a support plate, wherein the first sliding apparatus is configured to couple with the support plate adjacent a first edge of the support plate, and wherein the second sliding apparatus is configured to couple with the support plate adjacent a second edge of the support plate, opposite the first edge;   a locking mechanism configured to realeasably hold the first sliding apparatus in one of a plurality of selectable positions; and   a first set of fasteners configured to couple the first and second sliding tubes with a motorcycle tour pack; and   a second set of fasteners configured to couple the support plate with a motorcycle frame.   
     
     
         2 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sliding rods are coupled with the support plate. 
     
     
         3 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first spacer, configured to accommodate a first portion of the first set of fasteners and positioned over the first sliding tube; and   a second spacer, configured to accommodate a second portion of the first set of fasteners and positioned over the second sliding tube.   
     
     
         4 . The sliding assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second spacers each includes a side opposite the first and second sliding tubes, respectively, shaped to complement a portion of the tour pack. 
     
     
         5 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the direction of the major axes is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the tour pack. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first sliding rod comprises a first piece and a second piece, each individually coupled with the support plate. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second sliding rod comprises a first piece and a second piece, each individually coupled with the support plate. 
     
     
         11 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of selectable positions includes a forward-most position, a middle position, and a rearward-most position. 
     
     
         12 . The sliding assembly of  claim 11  wherein a distance between the rearward-most position and the middle position is approximately two inches. 
     
     
         13 . The sliding assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a distance between the forward-most position and a rearward-most position is approximately four inches. 
     
     
         14 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fasteners includes a plurality of bolts, each bolt attached to one of the first and second sliding tubes and configured to extend through original mounting holes of the tour pack. 
     
     
         15 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of fasteners includes a plurality of bolts, each bolt configured to extend through holes in the support plate into original mounting holes of a motorcycle frame tube. 
     
     
         16 . A sliding motorcycle tour pack comprising:
 a first sliding apparatus, including a first sliding tube and a first sliding rod; the first sliding tube and first sliding rod configured to slide relative to one another in a direction, the direction being substantially parallel with their respective major axes;   a second sliding apparatus, including a second sliding tube and a second sliding rod; the second sliding tube and second sliding rod configured to slide relative to one another in the direction;   a support plate, wherein the first sliding apparatus is configured to couple with the support plate adjacent a first edge of the support plate, and wherein the second sliding apparatus is configured to couple with the support plate adjacent a second edge of the support plate, opposite the first edge;   a locking mechanism configured to realeasably hold the first sliding apparatus in one of a plurality of selectable positions;   a tour pack having a longitudinal axis substantially aligned in the direction and having a bottom coupled with the first and second sliding tubes;   a set of fasteners configured to couple the support plate with a motorcycle frame.   
     
     
         17 . The sliding motorcycle tour pack of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first spacer, positioned over the first sliding tube between the first sliding tube and the tour pack; and   a second spacer, positioned over the second sliding tube between the second sliding tube and the tour pack.   
     
     
         18 . The sliding motorcycle tour pack of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second spacers each includes a side opposite the first and second sliding tubes, respectively, shaped to complement a portion of an outside surface of the tour pack. 
     
     
         19 . The sliding motorcycle tour pack of  claim 16 , wherein the first sliding rod comprises a first piece and a second piece, each individually coupled with the support plate. 
     
     
         20 . A method of modifying a motorcycle including the steps of:
 coupling a first sliding apparatus with a tour pack, the first sliding apparatus including a first sliding tube and a first sliding rod; the first sliding tube and first sliding rod configured to slide relative to one another in a direction, the direction being substantially parallel with their respective major axes and substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the tour pack;   coupling a second sliding apparatus with the tour pack, the second sliding apparatus including a second sliding tube and a second sliding rod; the second sliding tube and second sliding rod configured to slide relative to one another in the direction;   coupling a support plate with a motorcycle frame, wherein the first sliding apparatus is coupled with the support plate adjacent a first edge of the support plate and the second sliding apparatus is coupled with the support plate adjacent a second edge of the support plate, opposite the first edge;   realeasably locking the first sliding apparatus in one of a plurality of selectable positions; and   wherein the first and second sliding tubes are coupled with the tour pack and the first and second sliding rods are coupled with the support plate.   
     
     
         21 . The sliding assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sliding tubes have one or more slots to accommodate the second set of fasteners. 
     
     
         22 . The sliding assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sliding rods are coupled with the support plate by the second set of fasteners. 
     
     
         23 . The sliding assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second sliding rod comprises a first piece and a second piece, each individually coupled with the support plate.