Prior Art Bicyclecases are today available in different embodiments depending on whether they are to be placed over the front wheel of the bicycle or on the luggage carrier of the bicycle. Conventional cases to be placed on luggage carriers mainly comprise two side cases joined by a intermediate section which is placed on the luggage carrier with the two side cases hanging one on each side of the luggage carrier. Sometimes the intermediate section can be manufactured of a more rigid material than the cases and/or be provided with a stiffening plate or ribs to strengthen the suspension of the cases.

In order to make the bicyclecase portable the intermediate section can be provided with a handle. If not, one is forced to hang it over an arm or possibly on the shoulder. Both ways are uncomfortable, especially if the intermediate section is made of a rigid material, arduous and can even be harmful.

Summary of the Invention The object of the invention is to produce a case unit of the art mentioned above for mounting on a bicycle or the like, which by dismounting from the bicycle can be easily

transformed into a case that can be carried comfortably by hand, on the shoulder or on the back.

This object is achieved with a case unit of the kind referred to, which according to the invention is characterized in that the intermediate section after or before dismounting of the unit from the luggage carrier allows folding of the side cases by bringing two flat sides together, and that attachment means are provided for connecting the side cases when brought together.

By providing a case unit according to the invention the following advantages are achieved: the case unit can be used as at least two different kinds of cases, a bicycle- case or a hand carried bag of a briefcase-like type, which eliminates the need of a possible additional bag when bicycling; the case unit also reduces the problem of a carrying position that is tiresome for the body, uncomfortable and harmful to the back when a cumbersome bicyclecase is carried to and from the bicycle.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be explained in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a case unit according to the invention to be mounted on a luggage carrier, FIG 2 is a corresponding perspective view of the case unit in FIG 1 but in another state, FIG 3 is a perspective view of the case unit in FIG 1 before, alternatively, after dismounting from the luggage carrier, FIG 4 is a perspective view of the case unit in FIG 3 in a later stage, FIG 5 is a perspective view of the case unit in FIG 4 assembled to be carried comfortably,

FIG 6 is a perspective view of the case unit in FIG 5 from another angle, FIG 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a case unit according to the invention to be mounted on a luggage carrier, FIG 8 is a perspective view of the case unit in FIG 7 after having been removed from the luggage carrier, and FIG 9 is a perspective view of the case unit in FIG 8 completed to be carried.

Detailed Description of the Invention FIGS. 1-6 show an embodiment of a case unit 10 according to the invention before or after mounting on a luggage carrier. The case unit could be made of a relatively rigid material or as a rigid structure, such as reinforced plastic, leather or metal sheet on a frame or the like, but preferably is made of a flexible material, such as thick, water repellent fabric, e g plastic coated nylon or polyester. The case unit 10 comprises two essentially parallelepipedic side cases 11 which are interconnected along a side edge 12', 12''on each side case by an intermediate section 12. The section 12 can be made of a rigid plate, which is inserted between flexible layers of fabric, and is attached to the side cases 11 by means of seams.

The case unit is provided with a middle section 13 which is pivotally connected with the intermediate section 12 by a seam along a front edge 13'which extends between the side edges 12', 12''and is perpendicular thereto. The length of the middle section corresponds to the length of the longitudinally extending sides 15 at the bottom of the side cases 11.

Advantageously, the middle section 13 can be designed as an additional case, as shown here, which in the empty state can be flattened as shown in FIG 1, so that it does

not occupy a large volume when it is empty. It is kept in the flattened state by way of a zipper 16. Straps, buttons or Velcro fastens can instead be provided for this purpose.

To achieve a more rigid and stronger suspension of the side cases the middle section 13 may be provided with a stiffening plate or ribs.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the case unit 10 mounted on the luggage carrier. The side cases 11 are placed or hang with flat sides 17 facing inwardly against each other and flat sides 17'facing outwardly, one on each side of the luggage carrier. The middle section 13 is placed over and between the side cases and covers the intermediate section 12. In this state the unit bears on the luggage carrier with the intermediate section as a suspension area. In this position the unit may be attached to the luggage carrier by elastic rods or the like at the lowerside of the middle section, which are hooked onto the luggage carrier. The flat sides 17 may also be detachably connected with suitable cords or the like on the bicycle.

The middle section is shown in the flattened state in FIG 1 where a child seat can be used together with the unit at the same time. Due to the fact that the middle section can be flattened and kept in this state by a zipper 16 there is room for the case unit in the limited space between the child's seat and the luggage carrier. In FIG 2, the middle section is shown in its raised state when it is used as an additional stowing space.

FIG 3 illustrates the first step when dismounting the case unit 10 from the luggage carrier. Here, the middle section 13 and the side cases 11 are detached from the luggage carrier and the bicycle, respectively, after their attachment means having been released. In the next step, the middle section is folded or turned about 90° from the intermediate section 12, FIG 3. Then, the two side cases 11

are folded or turned, according to FIG 4, about 180° towards the intermediate section, so that the flat sides 17 of the side cases are turned outwards. Then, the side cases are connected to the middle section by zippers, one half of which is attached to the side cases and designated 19, while the other half is attached to the longitudinally extending edges of the middle section and along a part of one of the short sides and extends in parallel with the zipper 16. The final step, before the unit is assembled to be carried, involves interconnection of the side cases by means of one or more buckles 20. Then, the case unit forms a case unit, which is solidly kept together as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The middle section 13 then covers the bottom of the unit 10, while handles 21 are provided on the side cases at the opposite side of the case unit.

When mounting the case unit 10 on a luggage carrier of a bicycle, a moped or the like according to FIG. 5 and 6, the assembled unit is placed with the intermediate section 12 on the luggage carrier. After that, the unit is divided by first opening the buckle or the buckles 20, which hold the two side cases 11 together, followed by opening of the zipper 19. Then the two side cases are moved outwards while being folded down one on each side of the bicycle, until their flat sides 17 turned outward in the assembled case unit face each other inwards on opposite sides of the luggage carrier. After that, the middle section 13 is turned or folded until it bears on the intermediate section 12 ontop thereof, which rests on the luggage carrier, and is attached to the luggage carrier. In the last step, the side cases are attached to suitable parts of the bicycle, after which they are fixed without any risk of getting stuck in, e g a bicycle wheel.

In FIGS 7-9 another embodiment of a case unit 10 according to the invention is shown before or after being mounted onto a luggage carrier.

The case unit 10 comprises two essentially parallel- epipedic side cases 11, which can be of the same structure as in the embodiment first described and are interconnected along a side edge 12', 12''on each side case by an intermediate section 12. In this case, the section 12 is made of one or more flexible layers of fabric and is attached to the side cases 11 by way of seams.

The unit is equipped with a stiffening plate 14, which has a size substantially corresponding to the intermediate section 12, and is placed under the section for the purpose of stiffening this section. The stiffening plate is pivotally connected to one of the side cases 11 at the side edge 12'. The side cases hang with their flat sides 17 facing inwards to each other on opposite sides of the luggage carrier. The unit bears on the luggage carrier at the stiffening plate and the intermediate section, which form a common suspension area. The stiffening plate is attached to the lowerside of the intermediate section over the half of its width, so that at dismounting of the unit from the luggage carrier it enables folding down against the flat side 17 of one of the side cases.

A separate detachable case 18 can be provided on top of the unit for increasing the stowing volume. In that case, attachment means 22 and 23 are provided on the case 18 and the side cases 11, respectively.

In FIG. 8 the case unit 10 is shown after dismounting from the luggage carrier just before it is completely assembled to be carried. Here, the flat sides 17 of the two side cases are moved a distance towards each other, the intermediate section 12 at the same time being folded towards the flat sides, a central fold 12a being formed therein. This operation initiates folding down of the stiffening plate 14 until it bears on the flat side of one of the side cases, when the side cases are put together according to FIG. 9. Then, the case unit is assembled but

not ready to be carried. First, it has to be held together by way of attachment means so that it is sufficiently solid and thus provides a comfortable and secure carrying position, which can be done in the same manner as described in connection with the first embodiment, by way of one or more zippers 24. The zippers extend along at least two or more edges on each side case, one or more buckles 25 or the like. These attachment means are placed on the sides of the case unit so that they are easily accessible for both separation and interconnection of the side cases.

Advantageously, the case unit is equipped with carrying handles 26, carrying straps or a shoulder strap.

These carrying devices can be placed on any position or side of the unit that is suitable from a carrying point of view, allowing the unit to be carried as a handbag or briefcase, over the shoulder or as a rucksack.

When mounting the case unit 10 according to FIG. 9 on a luggage carrier of a bicycle, moped or the like, the unit is first divided by opening the attachment means 24 or 25 that hold the two side cases 11 together. Then, the side cases are moved or folded out from each other a distance corresponding to the width of the intermediate section 12, which corresponds substantially to the width of the luggage carrier. At the same time the stiffening plate 14 is folded up until it bears on the lowerside of the intermediate section and stiffens said section. Subsequently, the unit is placed with the carrying handles 26 pointing upwards and with the stiffening plate and the intermediate section on the luggage carrier, the stiffening plate and the intermediate section constituting a suspension area for the unit. The unit is then attached to the luggage carrier in the same manner as has been described for the first embodiment. In the last step, the side cases 11 are attached to a suitable part of the bicycle, whereupon they

are firmly fixed without risk of getting stuck in, e g a bicycle wheel.

The case unit 10 according to the invention can advantageously be designed also as modules, i e with connections, accessories and parts designed so that more cases, e g more and/or bigger side cases, middle sections and accessories can be hooked on or connected. Furthermore, it does not matter if the case unit is mounted at the front or the back of the bicycle when it is designed with symmetrical modules. It is then conceivable that it is easier to place a case unit with bigger modules at the back of the luggage carrier and one with smaller modules at the front of the vehicle. The module system has another advantage in that the case unit easily can be adapted to the need of stowing space and the way it is used, e g no extra modules are needed during a short bicycle ride; they can be dismounted in order to be mounted at a longer bicycle ride.