Fuel tank assembly, motorcycle accessory, and method of attachment

Abstract

A fuel tank assembly for a motorcycle. The fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank defining a fuel containment volume. The fuel tank has an upper wall. A fuel cap is operable to selectively open and close the fuel containment volume. A motorcycle accessory is attachable to the fuel tank via a connection structure including first and second connection portions that are complementary and inter-engageable together to positively define a fully-secured state. The first connection portion is secured to an exterior surface of the upper wall of the fuel tank, and the second connection portion is secured to the motorcycle accessory. The connection structure defines a finite position and rotational orientation of the motorcycle accessory upon relative rotation of the motorcycle accessory with respect to the fuel tank to the fully secured state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A motorcycle accessory assembly for attachment with a motorcycle fuel tank, the motorcycle accessory assembly comprising:
 an accessory including:
 an outer end defined by a cover for viewing and/or handling, 
 an inner end opposed from the outer end along a central axis, and 
 a connection portion provided at the inner end, wherein the connection portion of the accessory is devoid of screw threads and forms part of a bayonet connection, 
   wherein the connection portion includes at least one structure of the group consisting of: bayonet slots and locking tabs, and   wherein the cover extends radially outward beyond the connection portion to cover the connection portion.   
     
     
         2 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover defines an uninterrupted surface completely covering the connection portion. 
     
     
         3 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motorcycle accessory is a battery powered or solar powered electrical device having a display at the outer end. 
     
     
         4 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional connection portion cooperating with the connection portion of the accessory to define the bayonet connection, wherein the additional connection portion is adapted for securement with the fuel tank. 
     
     
         5 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the additional connection portion fits radially between first and second walls that extend from the inner end of the accessory. 
     
     
         6 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an axially-compressible resilient member extending outwardly from the inner end of the accessory and adapted to be compressed between the accessory and the fuel tank when the bayonet connection is secured. 
     
     
         7 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the resilient member is positioned radially inward of the connection portion and fits at least partially into the inner end of the accessory. 
     
     
         8 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the resilient member is in the form of a hollow cylinder or a closed cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connection portion includes three circumferentially-spaced locking tabs positioned at even intervals, each of the locking tabs having a prong that extends radially outward. 
     
     
         10 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the cover has a convex shape. 
     
     
         11 . A motorcycle accessory assembly for attachment with a motorcycle fuel tank, the motorcycle accessory assembly comprising:
 an accessory including:
 an outer end defined by a cover for viewing and/or handling, 
 an inner end opposed from the outer end along a central axis, and 
 a connection portion provided at the inner end; and 
   an axially-compressible resilient member positioned radially inward of the connection portion and fitting at least partially into the inner end of the accessory,   wherein the cover defines an uninterrupted surface completely covering the connection portion, the surface extending radially outward beyond the connection portion.   
     
     
         12 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the motorcycle accessory is a battery powered or solar powered electrical device having a display at the outer end. 
     
     
         13 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the connection portion forms part of a bayonet connection and includes at least one structure of the group consisting of: bayonet slots and locking tabs. 
     
     
         14 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising an additional connection portion cooperating with the connection portion of the accessory to define the bayonet connection, wherein the additional connection portion is adapted for securement with the fuel tank. 
     
     
         15 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the additional connection portion fits radially between first and second walls that extend from the inner end of the accessory. 
     
     
         16 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member extends outwardly from the inner end of the accessory to be compressed between the accessory and the fuel tank when the accessory is attached to the fuel tank with the connection portion. 
     
     
         17 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member is in the form of a closed cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member is in the form of a hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the connection portion includes three circumferentially-spaced locking tabs positioned at even intervals, each of the locking tabs having a prong that extends radially outward. 
     
     
         20 . The motorcycle accessory assembly of  claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of the cover has a convex shape.