WO2002038436A2

WO2002038436A2 - Bicycle luggage carrying system

Info

Publication number: WO2002038436A2
Application number: PCT/GB2001/004989
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward Brophy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-11
Filing date: 2001-11-12
Publication date: 2002-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2003-05-11
Also published as: GB0027604D0; AU2002223794A1; WO2002038436A3

Abstract

There is described a bicycle luggage carrying system which comprises a mainframe (2) adapted to be removably attached to the underside of a saddle of a bicycle. The mainframe (2) is formed of bent steel rod and is attached to the underside of the saddle by means of a clamping means (1) and has a generally horizontal support surface (13) for receiving bicycle luggage (3).

Description

BICYCLE LUGGAGE CARRYING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a bicycle luggage carrying system, and in particular, but not exclusively, to saddlebag fixtures.

When cycling, cyclists find it necessary to have at their disposal certain essential equipment e.g. clothing, tools etc. A convenient means of carrying such equipment takes the form of a saddlebag which is attached to the back of the bicycle on the saddle. Whilst providing storage for the aforementioned equipment, it is often found that current saddlebags have a tendency to unbalance the bicycle or obstruct pedalling and restricts the potential of carrying weight safely at speed. These factors also contribute to the reduced lifetime of the saddlebag.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bicycle luggage carrying system which obviates or mitigates some of the aforementioned problems. According to the present invention, there is ^' provided a bicycle luggage carrying system comprising a mainframe adapted to be removably attached to the underside of a saddle of a bicycle, the mainframe having a generally horizontal support surface for receiving bicycle luggage.

Preferably, a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mainframe is formed of bent steel rod and is attached to the underside of the saddle by means of a clamping means .

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a bicycle luggage carrying system made in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of clamping means of the system of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mainframe; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bag; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail attached to the outside of the bag; and Fig. 6 is a rear view of a detail attached to the inside of the bag;

Referring to the drawings, a bicycle luggage carrying system made in accordance with the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. The bicycle luggage carrying system comprises a clamping means 1, a mainframe 2 and a bag 3.

The clamping means 1 is clamped to the underside of a bicycle saddle, the mainframe 2 which protrudes from the rear of the saddle is attached to the clamping means 1 and the bag 3 is attached to the protruding mainframe 2 at the rear of the bicycle.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the clamping means 1 comprises a lower clamp 4 and an upper clamp 5 which are clamped to conventional saddle rails 6a, 6b by a fastener 7. The lower clamp 4 and upper clamp 5 have grooves 8a and 8b to allow the lower clamp 4 and upper clamp 5 to come together encompassing respective ones of the saddle rails 6a, 6b.

The lower clamp 4 is also provided with apertures 9a and 9b adapted to receive respective mainframe ends 17a, 17b of the mainframe 2, the mainframe ends 17a, 17b being held in place within the lower clamp 4 by means of respective side release screws 10.

The upper clamp 5 is provided with a protruding attachment member 11 with a quick release insert 12 which is adapted to receive a complimentary locking stud 23 fitted to the bag 3. Insertion of the locking stud 25 into the quick release insert 12 serves to hold the bag 3 firmly in position against the rear of the saddle. Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the mainframe 2 comprises a generally horizontal bag support 13 connecting two vertical members 14a and 14b at one end, with respective horizontal members 15a and 15b at the other end, and corresponding locating flats 16a and 16b located on the horizontal members 15a and 15b. The mainframe ends 17a and 17b are inserted into apertures 9a and 9b located on the lower clamp 4 and held in place by the side release screws 10 which are tightened against the locating flats 16a and 16b.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, the bag 3 is provided with a sleeved under pocket 18 which encompasses the bag support 13. The profile of the sleeved under pocket 18 corresponds to the perimeter of the bag support 13 of the mainframe 2. The sleeved under pocket 18 which encompasses the bag support 13 is held in place by a zip 19 around the periphery of the sleeved under pocket 18. The bag 3 is further provided with a front attachment 20 to locate the bag 3 against the vertical members 14a and 14b of the mainframe 2 to provide further support. A transparent flap 21 is located on top of the bag 3 which displays personal or medical details pertaining to a cyclist. A mount plate 22 is attached to the bag 3 adjacent to the top rear surface as will be described more fully below.

As best seen in Fig. 5, the mount plate 22 is provided with an outer mount plate 23 comprising mounting fixings 24 to secure it to the bag 3, a locking stud 25 which is held in place with a retainer 26 and which is inserted into the quick release insert 12 for attachment of the bag 3 to the clamping means 1. Lugs 27 are also provided which engage the attached member 11 of the upper clamp 5 which prevents the bag 3 from moving about and holds the bag 3 firmly in place.

As can be seen in Fig. 6, a corresponding inner mount plate 28 is fitted to the inside of the bag 3 which is provided with a locking stud release 29 which when turned releases the locking stud 25 from the quick release insert 12 detaching the bag 3 from the clamping means 1 with ease.

In use, the bicycle luggage carrying system is assembled by firstly clamping the clamping means 1 to the saddle rails 6 using the fastener 7 to hold the clamping means firmly in place. Next, the mainframe ends 17a and 17b of the mainframe 2 are inserted into the respective apertures 9a and 9b and secured with side release screws 10. Then, the bag 3 is attached to the mainframe 2 by way of securing the sleeved under pocket 18 to the bag support 13 and the front attachment 20 to the vertical members 14a and 14b of the mainframe 2. For extra rigidity, the locking stud 25 located on the outer mount plate 23 is inserted into the quick release insert 12 located on the clamping means 1.

In order to detach the bag 3 from the mainframe 2, the sleeved under pocket 18 and the front attachment 20 are detached from the mainframe 2. Located in the bag 3 on the inner mount plate 28 is a locking stud release 29 which quickly detaches the bag 3 from the quick release insert 12 of the clamping means 1.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing within the scope of the present invention. For example, the mainframe may be formed from different materials e.g. metals, plastics, polymers or other strong, light materials.

The clamping means may be forged, extruded, cast, machined, moulded and finished in any desired colour.

The fastener for holding the clamping means can either be a quick release CAM or Allen key fitting to ensure rigidity and security as well as ease of fitting.

Referred to within as a sleeved under pocket, this may incorporate a number of designs from being sleeved, Nelcro® or zipped, to being moulded from light strong composite materials which could even then act as a mudguard for the back bicycle wheel.

Claims

1 A bicycle luggage carrying system comprising a mainframe adapted to be removably attached to the underside of a saddle of a bicycle, the mainframe having a generally horizontal support surface for receiving bicycle luggage.

2 A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the mainframe is formed of bent steel rod and is attached to the underside of the saddle by means of clamping means .

3 A system as claimed in Claim 2 and including means for releasably fixing the luggage to the clamping means.

4 A system as claimed in either preceding claim wherein the clamping means releasably fixes the mainframe to the saddle.

5 A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the luggage is in the form of a bag and is provided on its lowermost surface with means for locating the bag on the mainframe.

6 A system as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said locating means is in the form of a sleeved under- pocket formed integrally with the bag.