Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device equipped for mounting or mounted on a bicycle bag and arranged for releasable fastening of the bicycle bag onto a bicycle luggage rack.

State of the art

Such a device is well known by cyclists who seek to reliably increase the carrying load of their bicycles without the hassle of complicated fastening systems. DE 29 813 199 discloses a bicycle bag fastening rail for attaching bicycle bags to rails of luggage racks or the like, the rail being arranged on a side of the bicycle bag facing the rail and having hooks that grip over the rail, and wherein the hooks are arranged displaceable on the rail, and means are available to lock the hooks in a desired position. In order to adapt to the diameters of different types of bicycles, the hooks of DE 29 813 199 are provided with separate insert pieces with different inner diameters. Even though the aforementioned device may provide a solution that works for different types of bicycles, a drawback is that the user can eventually lose separate insert pieces.

US 2020/370576 discloses a bicycle pannier mounting arrangement for mounting a bicycle pannier to a bicycle. The bicycle pannier mounting arrangement of US 2020 370576 includes a locking device for locking the bicycle pannier to an element of the bicycle. The locking device includes a first hook member and a second hook member. The first hook member includes an inner seat surface configured to enclose a portion of the element of the bicycle. A drawback of that system is that it requires an additional action from the user to secure it to the luggage carrier. The bag is first hung on the luggage carrier by means of the hooks and then a lever is pushed to the right with a finger to allow the closure to connect to the bicycle carrier.

DE 100 14 291 A1 discloses a device for mounting a bicycle bag to a bicycle luggage rack, which comprises a hook-shaped element to receive the bicycle luggage rack. The hook shaped element is fixed relative to the back and comprises an undercut that project beyond the bicycle luggage rack. The device further comprises a locking element that is spring-loaded in a clamping position, which is configured to secure the bicycle luggage rack behind the undercut to prevent removal. In case a user intends to remove the bicycle luggage rack, the locking element may be pulled upwards into a released position until the bicycle luggage rack can pass the undercut. This device has the drawback that it cannot be adapted to a size of the bicycle luggage rack, as the size of the aperture between the locking element and the undercut cannot be adapted.

DE 100 14 291 A1 further discloses a device for mounting a bicycle bag to a bicycle luggage rack, which comprises a movable hook-shaped element that is configured to receive the bicycle luggage rack and that is configured to clamp the bicycle luggage rack under influence of a spring element. This device has the drawback that the bag eventually becomes suspended from a movable hook, which is prone to failure due to its complexity, thereby negatively influencing durability of the device. Furthermore, this device comprises a screw to limit a maximum rotation of the hook and to hold the bag in place on the luggage rack, thereby having all weight of the bag suspended on the adjustment element. Finally, this devices requires a user to push down a handle to lock the bag on the luggage rack, which makes the attachments less user friendly.

Object of the invention

It is an object of the current invention to provide a device equipped for mounting or mounted on a bicycle bag and arranged for releasable fastening of the bicycle bag onto a bicycle luggage rack that remedy the aforementioned drawbacks without any sacrifices on the practicality nor the reliability.

Detailed description

According to the invention the device comprises at least one first hook-shaped element, which is configured to be fixedly mountable or mounted on the bicycle bag and to support the bicycle bag on the bicycle luggage rack, the device, e.g. the at least one first hook-shaped element comprises at least one protrusion movable in a linear direction, for example a linear up-and-down direction, so as to arrange that a room delimited by the at least one first hook shaped element and the at least one protrusion can be tailored to the bicycle luggage rack to be clampingly received between the at least one first hook-shaped element and the at least one protrusion.

The at least one protrusion is configured to be arranged in a clamping position, which it assumes together with the at least one first hook-shaped element to secure the bicycle luggage rack. In this clamping position, it can be prevented that the bicycle luggage rack is removed out of engagement with the at least one first hook-shaped element, in order to allow the bicycle bag to be secured to the bicycle luggage rack.

The at least one protrusion is further configured to be arranged a released position, in which it is configured to allow the bicycle luggage rack to be moved out of the hook-shaped element. The at least one protrusion may be brought in the released position by a user, in case it is desired to remove the bicycle bag from the bicycle luggage rack, The device further comprises an adjustment mechanism, configured to move the at least one protrusion, in its clamping position, relative to the at least one hook-shaped element in the linear direction. The movement of the at least one protrusion effected by the adjustment mechanism is carried out when the at least one protrusion is in its clamping position, so when the bicycle luggage rack is secured between the at least one protrusion and the at least one first hook-shaped element. This implies that the tailoring of the room delimited by the at least one first hook-shaped element and the at least one protrusion can be done while the bicycle luggage rack is clamped, without having the risk of losing the securing of the bicycle luggage rack. This enables that different bicycle luggage racks, having different sizes, i.e. diameters, and shapes, can all be clamped reliably by the present device.

In essence, the movement of the at least one protrusion effected by the adjustment mechanism can be a distinct and independent movement from the movement of the at least one protrusion between its clamping position and its released position. The movement of the at least one protrusion effected by the adjustment mechanism is a linear movement, whereas the movement of the at least one protrusion between its clamping position and its released position can be a rotational movement.

In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion is movable in a linear up-and-down direction, i.e. in a fastened position onto the bicycle rack. The up-and-down direction may at least have a component in a vertical direction, defined when the device is fastened on the bicycle luggage rack.

Suitably, the device may comprise at least a first rail that is mountable or mounted on the bicycle bag, wherein the at least one first hook-shaped element is configured to be locked onto the first rail. This rail is in practice essentially parallel to an upper surface of the bicycle bag, and makes it possible to adjust the device to the dimensions of the bicycle luggage rack on which the bicycle back is to be mounted.

To promote the adjustability of the device of the invention, the at least first hook-shaped element can be displaceable along the at least first rail. However, during use of the device for attacking the bicycle bag to the bicycle luggage rack, the least first hook-shaped element is configured to be fixed relative to the at least first rail.

Alternatively, the at least one first hook-shaped element is mountable or mounted on the bicycle bag directly, and configured to be locked onto the bicycle bag itself, i.e. in the absence of a rail. This direct attachment may offer less complexity, reduced weight and reduced cost, compared to mounting via a rail. Advantageously the device comprises at least a first latching portion, i.e. a rail latching portion. This enables that the at least rail latching portion can be suitably configured to lock the at least first hook-shaped element onto the at least first rail, whereas the at least rack latching portion can be suitably configured to lock the device onto the bicycle rack.

To make readjustment of the device of the invention easy, it is preferable that the at least rail latching portion comprises pin-hole locking elements for cooperation with pinholes in the first rail.

In an embodiment, the device further comprises a second latching portion, i.e. a rack latching portion, which is movably attached to the at least one first hook-shaped element, wherein the at least one protrusion is supported by the rack latching portion and wherein the at least at least one protrusion is configured to be moved between the clamping position and the released position upon movement of the rack latching portion relative to the at least one first hook-shaped element.

According to this embodiment, the movement of the protrusion between the clamping position and the released position is effected by a mutual movement between the at least one rack latching portion and the at least one first hook-shaped element. The movement, e.g. in the linear direction, of the at least one protrusion to tailor the room between the at least one first hook-shaped element and the at least one protrusion, to accommodate for bicycle luggage racks having different sizes, is effect upon mutual movement between the rack latching portion relative to the at least one first hook-shaped element. Both movement can thereby be carried out independently of each other.

Preferably the rack latching portion is rotatably mounted on the at least one first hook shaped element. This makes easy handling, i.e. placement and removing of a bicycle bag that is equipped with the device of the invention, quite easy as will be explained hereinafter.

In an embodiment, the rack latching portion comprises a linear guiding device, aligned parallel to the linear direction, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a tab, which is in engagement with the linear guiding device to guide linear movements of the at least one protrusion relative to the rack latching portion.

The linear guiding device may comprise a groove, aligned in the linear direction, and the tab may have a shape corresponding to the groove. The groove and tab are configured to enable mutual movement between the rack latching portion and the at least one protrusion in directions parallel to the linear direction, whereas they are configured to prevent mutual movements between them in other directions. In a suitable embodiment of the invention, the adjustment mechanism comprises: at least one gear that is associated with the at least one protrusion, and at least one screw that is rotatably fitted in the rack latching portion, wherein the at least one screw engages with the at least one gear, and wherein the at least one screw is configured to axially move the at least one gear upon rotation of the at least one screw, in order to move the protrusion in the linear direction with reference to and in any position of the rack latching portion.. This provides effective and reliable tailoring of the clamping action between the protrusion and the at least one first hook-shaped element when applied to a particular baggage luggage rack.

According to this embodiment, the at least one screw is used to tailor the device to accommodate for bicycle luggage racks having different sizes, i.e. diameters, and shapes. The at least one screw is aligned parallel to the linear direction with its longitudinal axis and may allow for convenient adjusting by a user upon rotation around its longitudinal axis, which effects an axial movement of the at least one gear along the screw, i.e. in the linear direction.

Furthermore, as a result of the interlocking between the screw’s thread and the at least one gear, not prone significantly to movement of the at least one protrusion under influence of clamping loads exerted by the bicycle luggage rack.

Advantageously, the at least one gear comprises a rack, which is attached to the at least one protrusion, wherein the at least one screw acts as a pinion to form a rack and pinion gear. Alternatively, the at least one gear comprises a nut, which is attached to the at least one protrusion and which surrounds the at least one screw.

In an embodiment, the rack latching portion comprises a through passage towards the at least one protrusion, wherein the at least one screw extends through the passage and wherein a head of the at least one screw is located opposite to the at least one protrusion, seen with respect to the passage, which head abuts against the rack latching portion around the passage.

According to this embodiment, the at least one screw is configured to be loaded in tension upon clamping of the bicycle luggage rack between the at least one protrusion and the at least one first hook-shaped element. Accordingly, the head of the at least one screw is pulled against the rack latching portion to counteract the forces in the at least one screw resulting from the clamping.

It is further preferred that the rack latching portion is spring-loaded with reference to the first hook-shaped element by a spring urging the protrusion into its clamping position which it assumes in relation to and together with the at least one first hook-shaped element. Accordingly the protrusion that is mounted on the rack latching portion can automatically clamp the bicycle luggage rack between the protrusion and the first hook-shaped element when the user has placed the luggage bag thereon and released it.

The rack latching portion can be provided with an aperture for attachment of a bag handle.

When the bag handle is pulled and/or tilted so will the rack latching portion, and the spring will compress by the tilting movement of the rack latching portion that supports the protrusion. This releases the clamping engagement on the bicycle luggage rack, whereafter the bicycle bag can be lifted. Conversely the spring will decompress and the protrusion will return to its clamping engagement with the bicycle luggage rack when the bicycle bag is placed on the bicycle luggage rack and the bag handle is released.

Suitably, the device may comprise at least a second rail and at least a second hook shaped element which is displaceable along said second rail. The rotatable nut is provided with dentures for locking the at least second hook-shaped element with the at least second rail. With these features it is possible to mount the bicycle bag effectively to the bicycle luggage rack whilst avoiding undesired movability of the bicycle bag.

Preferably the at least second hook-shaped element is provided with a rotatable nut for locking engagement with the at least second rail. This promotes the ease of mounting the bicycle back on the bicycle luggage rack.

It is further preferred that the device comprises at least one rigid buffering element configured to be attached onto the bicycle bag, which serves to prevent that the lower part of bag contacts the moving parts of the bicycle.

The present invention further provides a method of fastening a bicycle bag onto a bicycle luggage rack, comprising the steps of: providing a device according to any of the preceding claims, mounted on a bicycle bag, supporting the bicycle bag on the bicycle luggage rack with the at least one first hook shaped element, and clamping the bicycle luggage rack between the at least one first hook-shaped element and the at least one protrusion, wherein the clamping of the bicycle luggage rack comprises moving the at least one protrusion, whilst being in its clamping position, by means of the adjustment mechanism in a linear direction relative to the at least one hook-shaped element so as to arrange that a room delimited by the at least one first hook-shaped element and the at least one protrusion is tailored to the bicycle luggage rack.

The present method offers an improvement over existing method of fastening a bicycle bag onto a bicycle luggage rack, since the room delimited by the at least one first hook-shaped element and the at least one protrusion is tailored done while the bicycle luggage rack is clamped. This enables that different bicycle luggage racks, having different sizes, i.e. diameters, and shapes, can all be clamped reliably without having the risk of losing the securing of the bicycle luggage rack.

It is noted that the tailoring of the position of the at least one protrusion relative to the at least one hook-shaped element only needs to be done once, e.g. every first time a new bicycle luggage rack is clamped. During subsequent clamping, the position of the at least one protrusion may already be accurate, In such cases, the clamping of the bicycle luggage rack may only involve bringing the at least one protrusion from the released position into the clamping position.

According to the present invention, the bicycle bag can be simply be lowered over the bicycle luggage rack with the at least one first hook-shaped element, after which the locking may take place automatically. This provides for an improved rigidity and convenience, compared to existing way of attaching bicycle bag to luggage racks, which required an additional act of a user to accomplish the clamping. In the absence of the clamping, the bicycle bag would remain loosely suspended on the luggage rack, allowing the bag to come loose undesirable during cycling over bumpy roads or off-road tracks.

Brief description of drawing

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a device equipped for mounting on a bicycle bag and arranged for releasable fastening of the bicycle bag onto a bicycle luggage rack according to the invention, that is not limiting as to the appended claims.

In the drawing: figure 1 shows respective parts of a device of the invention in a perspective view; figure 2 shows a zoomed-in view of the front side of the device of the invention; figure 3 shows a zoomed-in view of the back side of the device of the invention; figure 4 shows a zoomed-in view of an inner part of the device of the invention.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

Detailed description of embodiments

The upper part of figure 1 shows a first rail 2 of the device 1 comprising two hook-shaped elements 3. It is also possible to embody the rail 2 with a single hook-shaped element 3 that is provided with the features of the invention as will be discussed hereinafter. In the middle of figure 1 a second rail 9 is shown, and in the lower part of figure 1 a buffering element 12 is shown.

The first rail 2, the second rail 9, and the buffering element 12 are normally mounted or are part of a luggage bag (not shown), which is intended to be releasably fastened to a bicycle luggage rack.

To make mounting to a particular baggage luggage rack possible, a user of the device 1 displaces at least one of the first hook-shaped elements 3 to match the length of the bicycle luggage rack, and then locks the first hook-shaped element or elements 3 on said first rail 2. This is preferably done by shifting a rail latching portion 4 along the first rail 2, and then fixing the rail latching portion 4 in position with pinhole locking elements cooperating with the pinholes 7 in the first rail 2.

Figure 2 shows a front side view of parts of the device of the invention, to note a first hook-shaped element 3 and a rack latching portion 5 supporting a protrusion 6 protruding from said first hook-shaped element 3. The rack latching portion 5 is rotatably mounted on the first hook-shaped element 3. In figure 2, the protrusion 6 is arranged in the clamping position, to define a room 17 for receiving the bicycle luggage rack.

In figures 3 and 4 it is shown that the rack latching portion 5 is provided with a screw 13 which cooperates with a rack attached to the protrusion 6, in engagement with the screw 13. The screw 13 together with the rack form a rack and pinion gear so as to arrange for the protrusion 6 can be linearly moved up-and-down with reference to the rack latching portion 5.

It is best shown in figure 3 that the rack latching portion 5 comprises a through passage towards the protrusion 6, through which the screw 13 extends. The head 19 of the screw 13 is located opposite to the protrusion 6, seen with respect to the passage, which head 18 abuts against the rack latching portion 5 around the passage, in order to counteract forces in the screw 13 resulting from the clamping.

The rack latching portion 5 comprises a linear guiding device, which is embodied as a groove 19. The groove 19 is aligned parallel to the linear direction. The protrusion 6 comprises a tab (not visible in the figures), which is in engagement with the groove 19 to guide linear movements of the protrusion 6 relative to the rack latching portion 5.

Moving the protrusion 6 up-and-down can thus be done to tailor the room 17 between the hook-shaped element 3 and the protrusion 6 to adjust to the size of the bicycle rack (not shown) regardless of the shape and diameter of said bicycle luggage rack. This operation is done once, and only needs to be repeated if the bicycle bag needs to be re-attached to a bicycle rack of a different diameter. An aperture 16, shown in figures 3, 4 and 5, is provided for attachment of a bag handle (not shown). Also shown is a spring 14. With this spring 14 the rack latching portion 5 is spring- loaded with reference to the first hook-shaped element, thus urging the protrusion 6 into its clamping position which it assumes together with the at least one first hook-shaped element 3.

This construction arranges that when the user pulls up and/or tilts the bag handle connected to the rack latching portion 5, the rack latching portion 5 and the protrusion 6 will release from their clamping engagement of the bicycle luggage rack. In this process the spring 14 compresses. The user can then easily take the bag and separate it from the bicycle rack.

In order to re-fasten the bicycle bag on the bicycle rack the user simply places the bag on the rack and releases the bag handle allowing the spring 14 to decompress and cause the rack latching portion 5 with the protrusion 6 to rotate back into clamping engagement of the protrusion 6 with the first hook-shaped element 3 onto the bicycle rack.

Turning back to figure 1, the middle part of figure 1 shows a second rail 9 comprising a second hook-shaped element 10 lockable with a rotatable nut 11 and configured to enable the user to further securely fasten the bicycle bag on a lower part of the bicycle luggage rack. The rotatable nut 11 is provided with dentures configured to lock the second hook-shaped element 10.

The lower part of figure 1 shows a rigid buffering element 12 configured to be attached onto the bicycle bag in order to prevent the lower part of bag from coming into contact with the moving part of the bicycle.

Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the device of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

The present invention can further be defined in relation to the following embodiments:

E1. Device (1) equipped for mounting or mounted on a bicycle bag and arranged for releasable fastening of the bicycle bag onto a bicycle luggage rack, said device (1) comprising at least one first hook-shaped element (3), characterized in that the device (1) comprises at least one protrusion (6) movable in a linear up-and-down direction so as to arrange that a room delimited by the at least one first hook-shaped element (3) and the at least one protrusion (6) can be tailored to the bicycle luggage rack to be clampingly received between the at least one first hook-shaped element (3) and the at least one protrusion (6).

E2. Device (1) according to embodiment 1 , characterized in that the device comprises a first rail (2).

E3. Device (1) according to embodiment 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least first hook shaped element (3) is displaceable along the first rail (2).

E4. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 3, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a first latching portion, i.e. a rail latching portion, (4) and a rack latching portion, i.e. a second latching portion, (5).

E5. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 4, characterized in that the first latching portion (4) is configured to lock the at least one first hook-shaped element (3) onto the first rail (2).

E6. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 5, characterized in that the first latching portion (4) comprises pin-hole locking elements for cooperation with pin-holes (7) in the first rail (2).

E7. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 6, characterized in that the second latching portion (5) supports the protrusion (6) and is rotatably mounted on the at least one first hook-shaped element (3).

E8. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 7, characterized in that the at least one protrusion (6) is provided with a worm gear engaging with a rotatable screw (13) fitted in the second latching portion (5).

E9. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 8, characterized in that the worm gear and the rotatable screw (13) form a worm drive configured to move the protrusion (6) in a linear up-and-down direction with reference to and in any position of the second latching portion (5). E10. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 9, characterized in that the second latching portion (5) is spring-loaded with reference to the first hook-shaped element (3) by a spring (14) urging the protrusion (6) into its clamping position which it assumes together with the at least one first hook-shaped element (3).

E11. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 10, characterized in that the second latching portion (5) is provided with an aperture (16) for attachment of a bag handle.

E12. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 11, characterized in that the device (1) comprises at least a second rail (9) and at least a second hook-shaped element (10) which is displaceable along said second rail (9).

E13. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 12, characterized in that the at least second hook-shaped element (10) is provided with a rotatable nut (11) for locking engagement with the at least second rail (9).

E14. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 13, characterized in that the rotatable nut (11) is provided with dentures for locking the at least second hook-shaped element (10) with the at least second rail (9).

E15. Device (1) according to any one of embodiments 1 - 14, characterized in that the device (1 ) comprises at least one rigid buffering element (12) configured to be attached onto the bicycle bag.