GB2048659A

GB2048659A - Saddle bags

Info

Publication number: GB2048659A
Application number: GB8009898A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MIDLAND GEAR CASE CO Ltd
Current assignee: MIDLAND GEAR CASE CO Ltd
Priority date: 1979-05-25
Filing date: 1980-03-24
Publication date: 1980-12-17
Also published as: GB2048659B

Abstract

A cycle saddle bag of flexible material is stiffened by a steel rod 30 on the inside of the bag threaded through transverse apertures in posts 42 moulded integrally with a plastics part 32 located on the outside of the bag with the posts projecting to the inside of the bag. The part 32 provides eyes 38 to receive straps for suspending the bag below the saddle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to saddle bags This invention relates to saddle bags for cycles of the kind comprising a container of flexible' material provided with a fastenable closure flap, intended to be supported for example below and at the rear of the cycle saddle.

It is known, frdm Patent 1378933 to provide a pair of reinforcing bars, for example as metal pressings, which extend along the length of the bag and generally transversely of the saddle, one on the inside of the bag and one on the outside, these two bars being held together by rivets or like fixing expedients. The suspension straps which fix the bag to the saddle are then passed between the bars, and in fact through slots in the fabric of the bag and this ensures that the straps are fixed along the length of the bars.

In practice, with the bags shown in the said Patent, it has been necessary to use additional fixing rivets or the like to secure the bars together, and in orderto obtain a desired rigidity of the bars they have been made as metal pressings for example of hollow box like shape as shown in Figure 3 of the said patent, and this has made the construction and assembly of the bars relatively expensive.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements.

In accordance with the invention, a saddle bag comprises a flexible bag with a fastenable closure flap, and the reinforcement for the bag cdmprises a bar on the inside of the bag which is connected to suspension eyes (by means of which the bag may be suspended from the cycle or like saddle) by the bar extending through transverse apertures in posts which are unitary with said eyes.

Hence the reinforcement or stiffening effect is provided by the bar on the inside of the bag, and conveniently this can be a length of steel rod.

Preferably the eyes are formed in a plastics' moulding which' may extend over the length of the bag co-extensive with the rod, on the outside of the bag, so that only the posts project through to the bag interior.

One presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is perspective and exploded view of a saddle bag; Figure 2 is a part assembled fragmentary perspective view; Figure 3 shows the assembly in a further stage; Figure 4 is again a view of the same part of the bag as seen in Figures 2 and 3 but showing the assembly completed; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view.

Referring now to Figure 1, the bag comprises a base provided with end walls 10 12 a curved rear wall 14 and a flat front wall 16. A lid flap 18 forms an extension of the rear wall 14 and has a peripheral skirt 20 on three sides, so that the lid' may be swung from the Figure 1 position to close the bag. All ofthe bag parts' may be made frdm fabric with a fibre or board lining over the parts 10121416 and the base. The fabric seåms may be stitched and reinforced with plastic, leather or the like, and the fabric and fibre' may be secured together by rivetting as at 20.

The lid has straps 22 to be engaged with buckles 24 provided on the wall 16.

The suspension and reinforcement will now be more particularly described. Rod 30' may be of circu lar cross section steel wire, and lies on the inside of the bag. A bar, conveniently made of a plastics moulding and indicated by the reference numeral 32 lies on the outside of the bag parallel to the rod 30.

The bar 32 is locally thickened at 34 36 and provided with slots 38 in each thickened portion, and these are to enable short straps to be threaded through the slots, and through the suspension loops on the underside of the rear of the saddle, so that the bag will hang from those loops. An additional strap may be provided generally centrally along the length of the curved rear wall 14 to fasten the bag to the saddle pillarorthe like.

In the vicinity of the thickened portions 34 36, the bar is locally recessed at 40 and a post 42 projects from the recess. The two posts are transversely and coaxially apertured, so that after moving the bar 32 from the Figure 1 position so that the posts pass through corresponding circular apertures 4446 in the bag, the rod 30 can be threaded through the two apertures in turn to lie closely adjacent to the bag on its inside, as seen in Figure 3. Each post may be threaded through a corresponding washer48 before the post is passed through, and the washers will then be trapped by the rod 30, and these washers may be of a slightly Smaller external diameter than the corresponding dimension of the recess 40, so that the washers lie in the recesses, with the fabric of the bag trapped between the washers and the recesses.

The washers48 are arranged as face cams and can be turned angularly so as to take the fabric into the recesses and take up clearance of the rods through the ports so as to' make all firm and secure. The cam effect also allows for variation in thickness of the fabric, and helps to exclude rain.

Each end of the bar 32 is formed with a lug com- prising a thickened pad 50 connected to the bar by a thinner web 52. Each end of the rod is provided with a lug 54 formed integrally with a socket 56 which is dimensioned to receive an end of the rod 30. The socket may be C shaped rather than completely annular, so that the lugs can be snap engaged with the rod by a' movement in a direction laterally of the rod, so as to take the end of the rod between the ends of the C formation. When one of the lugs 34 has been applied to each end of the rod, as in Figure 3, the pad 50 is folded to lie parallel to the lug 54 and the two are rivetted together with the fabric and lining of the bag trapped between, and this serves to prevent axial' movement of the rod out of its assembled position.

It will be appreciated that by choosing a suitable plastics material of appropriate cross sectional dimensions, the bar 32' may provide sdme reinforcement effect additional to that provided by the rod 30 to prevent the bag sagging out of shape when loaded.

Claims

1. A saddle bag comprising a flexible bag with a fastenable closure flap, and reinforcement for the bag comprising a bar on the inside of the bag which is connected to suspension eyes (by means of which the bag may be suspended frdm the cycle or like saddle) by the bar extending through transverse apertures in posts which are unitary with said eyes.

2. A saddle bag as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the bar is a length of steel rod.

3. A saddle bag as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the eyes are formed in a plastics moulding which extends over the length of the bag.

4. A saddle bag as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the plastics moulding is coextensive with the rod.

4. A saddle bag as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plastics moulding is coextensive with the rod.

5. A saddle bag as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plastics moulding is provided with end pads to overly the respective end walls of the bag, and the bar is provided with lugs at each end which' may be fastened to the pads with the end walls there between.

6. A saddle bag as claimed in any preceding claim wherein washers are trapped around the ports by the bar, and the washers have cam faces so that by rotation they can take up play in the assembly.

7. A saddle bag substantially as described with reference to the accdmpanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 11 Sept 1980.

Superseded claims 1 to 4.

New or amended claims:

1. A saddle bag cdmprising a flexible bag with a fastenable closure flap, in which a stiffening bar extends along the length of the bag externally, and a stiffening rod extends along the length of the bag internally, the two being fixed together by integral posts provided on the external bar and which extend through the bag wall, the rod being threaded through transverse apertures in said posts.

2. A saddle bag as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the internal stiffening is a steel rod.

3. A saddle bag as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the external stiffening is a plastics moulding which extends over the length of the bag, having eyes for suspension traps.