Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Specification:
This invention relates to an apparatus for carrying a clothing bag on abicycle or similar vehicle
It is common that devices for carrying articles on bicycles are either open
baskets or relatively small bags. Open containers cannot protect their
contents from dirt and water. Small bags require that clothing be folded or
rolled up in order to fit in. Devices of either type are also fixed to the
bicycle in such a way that they cannot be conveniently taken by the rider into
the workplaoe , but stay with the parked bicycle, and so can be stolen.
The prior art also includes rigid saddle bag type carriers for bicycles, such
as that disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,050,615. However, such
carriers are so mounted on the bicycle frame as to not be readily removable as
well as being mounted on the rear of the bicycle in such a way as to preclude
the use of the flat carrying deck of a standard bicycle carrier. Further, the
prior art (United States Patent No. 4,301,952; McNeill) does disclose an
article carrying bag which can be removably mounted on a bicycle or similar
vehicle and, as such, is more closely related to the subject matter of the
present invention. However, the carrying bag disclosed in the McNeill patent
utilizes two compartments which would necessitate the folding of a suit or
slacks, a problem which is intended to be overcome by the present invention.
Additionally, the mounting structure for the carrying bag in United States
Patent No. 4,301,952 is such as to tend to cause rotation of the bag about the
rigid mounting member unless an extremely tight grip is provided between the
"U" shaped channel member and the rigid mounting member, which would result in
problems when attempting to remove the carrying bag. This very problem would
appear to be even contemplated by McNeill when he provides a handle and
mounting arrangement for the handle which is rigidly secured to the U-shaped
clamping member in order to assist in mounting the carrying bag on the
bicycle. Apart from the above, the structure disclosed by McNeill prevents
the use of the conventional bicycle carrier in that the mounting structure for
the carrying bag is so secured to the frame of the bicycle as to not be
readily removable.
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This present invention overcomes a number of the drawbacks associated with
prior art bicycle carrying devices, by providing an apparatus which will
support a clothing bag or similar container on a bicycle or a similar vehicle.
The type of carrying bag accommodated by the apparatus allows a rider to carry
a much larger bag and one which does not require that clothing be rolled or
folded, thus minimizing wrinkling. The apparatus according to the present
invention is such that the rider can easily remove and carry the bag and its
underlying framework, leaving only the platform portion of the carrier
attached to the bicycle's carrier. Further, the apparatus is such that when
mounted on the bicycle, the bag is firmly supported in the shape of an
inverted "U", and when the support framework is removed from the attaching
device, the free movement of the support framework's hinges will allow the bag
to assume a "V" shape, which is more easily carried on the shoulder.
In drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the base or attaching section of the
invention;
Figures II and III are inside perspective views of the sides of the
support framework;
Figure IV is a perspective view of the support framework assembled;
Figure V is a perspective view of the support framework and bag; and
Figure VI is a rear view of the present invention fitted to a standard
bicycle carrier (shown in dotted lines) which itself is mounted on a
bicycle.
The apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is
comprised of a base and a framework to support the bag
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In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.
All components are to be made of plastic although other suitable materials,
such as aluminium, could be utilized for the component parts of the apparatus.
The apparatus includes a support structure or attaching device (Figure I)
consisting of two sections (10 and 12). Section 10 is flat, rectangular and
has tw~ parallel rows of unthreaded holes (14) which extend the length of the
section, equidistant from and in parallel with a line bisecting the width of
the section. Section 12 is also rectangular in shape and has tWD channels
(18), one on each of the outside upper edges of its length. Tw~ parallell rows
of unthreaded holes (16) are located in Section 12 so as to be aligned with
those (14) of Section 10: those holes allow Section 10 to be attached to
Section 12 using nuts and bolts (or other suitable devices) so that the flat
carrying deck of a standard bicycle carrier is contained between them. In
this way the base can be attached to a bicycle carrier.
The support framework consists of two side frames (as illustrated in Figures
II and III) and a rod which moveably connects the two sides. Each side frame
consists of a roughly rectangular plate (20) with a tubular channel (26) along
the length of the upper edge, and a raised ridge (22) which is located on the
inside face of the plate and which extends from the back of the plate, where
it has a stop (38), to slightly past the front edge of the plate, and ends in
a chisel-shaped point (24). These ridges (22) slide into the appropriate
channel (18) on the attaching device when the support framework is mounted on
the attaching device. Each side frame also features a rod (28) which is
inserted into the channel (26) and into two hinging devices (30) which are
roughly rectangular, with a hole at each end (40) large enough to allow the
rod (28) to pass throu~h freely. me rod (28) is threaded at one end (32) to
accept a nut (34). Each plate (20) also has a section of strap (36) which is
pivotably connected at the front inside edge of each plate. When the device
is mounted on a bicycle, these straps are connected around the seat tube to
prevent backward movement of the device. A third rod (42) is inserted through
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the unoccupied holes of the hinges (40) so that it lies between and in
parallel with the tubular channels of the side frames. Fully assembled, the
support framework appears (as in Figure rV) as an inverted U shape, with the
sides linked by the middle rod (42) and the ridges (22) on the inside
surfaces. The support framework is m~unted on the attaching device by the
insertion of the extended portion of the ridges (24) into the channel (18),
until further forward motion is halted by the stop (38).
Figure V illustrates the support framework with a garmient bag (46) attached to
it (by rivets, glue or by snaps or similar means whereby the bag and sup~ort
framew~rk may be removed from the attaching device). The hooking anchors (44)
which are oblong (or any other suitable shape) are located at the opposite
extremes of the rod (42) which connects the tw~ side sections. Each hooking
anchor (44) has a hole in its lower half through which this connecting rod
passes. In each anchor's upper half is an opening (50) which provides
an attachment point for a strap (48), so that the bag may be carried on the
shoulder. The means of attaching the belt to the anchor may be as illustrated
in Figure V, or any other suitable means.
The bag (46) should be made of a suitable material which is both flexible and
water lmperm,able. The bag should have a single interior compart~ent with a
means (hangers with proper anchors or some other suitable means) to allow
clothes to lay flat when the bag is flat, and to bend into the shape of an
inverted U when the bag and support framework are mounted on the attaching
device, Side pouches (52) may be located on the exterior of the bag (so that
they are on opposite sides of the device when it is mounted on the bicycle)
and serve to carry other items - such as shoes, a towel, facecloth, etc.
Figure VI illustrates the bag (46) and supporting framework (20) attached to
the attaching device (10 and 12) and amounted on the deck of a standard
bicycle carrier (54).
