GB2496927A

GB2496927A - Cycle luggage system

Info

Publication number: GB2496927A
Application number: GB1201748.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Sellings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-01
Filing date: 2012-02-01
Publication date: 2013-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-01
Also published as: WO2013114119A1; GB2496927B; GB201201748D0

Abstract

A luggage system 10 for a bicycle 16 includes a wheeled luggage case 18, with a lockable lid, and a support rack 12 for attaching the luggage case 18 to the bicycle 16 and which is connectable to the bicycle 16. The luggage case 18 is attachable to the support rack 12 in a carrier position (figure 2), in which the luggage case 18 is stowed on the support rack 12, and in a trailer position. The luggage case 18 includes a locking device for releasably securing the case 18 to the rack 12 in the carrier position and which is releasable only from the interior of the luggage case 18. This ensures that, when in the carrier position, the case 18 may be removed from the rack 12 only by a person with access to the interior. The case 18 may comprise a lid (62, figure 18) which may be form an extended floor when used in an open position. Covers (92, figure 18, and 94, figure 19) may be provided to protect luggage when used in this configuration. An expandable carrier (96, figures 20-24) may also be provided.

Description

IJUGGAGE SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a luggage system. In particular, the present invention relates to a luggage system for a bicycle.

Conventionally, when it is desired to increase the luggage bearing capacity of a bicycle, a carrier may be fixed to the frame of the bicycle, or use may be made of a trailer towed behind the bicycle.

A known carrier is a rear-wheel luggage rack. This has a horizontal luggage supporting surface mounted to the frame of the bicycle. The rack has a plurality of supporting arms converging towards the ends of the rear forks of the bicycle frame where the supporting arms are connected to the rear forks by a bracket. Further known carriers include pannier bags, which are mounted at the front or rear wheels, and a lockable case which is fixed to the luggage supporting surface of the luggage rack.

Bicycle trailers provide greater luggage bearing capacity than conventional carriers and are typically formed from a wheeled luggage carrier body which is towed behind the bicycle from a hitch. Various configurations of hitch are known. Most commonly, the hitch is arranged to connect the body via a tow arm to either the bicycle seat stem or to the rear axle of the bicycle.

Since the addition of a trailer can affect the manoeuvrability of the bicycle and the effort required to ride it, the hitch is typically arranged to allow for easy removal of the trailer from the bicycle when it is not required.

However, conventional trailers can be bulky and significant storage space may be required to house the trailer when it is not connected to the bicycle.

Tn a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luggage system for a bicycle, the system comprising a wheeled luggage case, and a support rack for attaching the luggage case to the bicycle, the support rack being connectable to a frame of the bicycle, wherein the luggage case is attachable to the support rack in a carrier position, in which the luggage case is stowed on the support rack, and in a trailer position, in which the luggage case is towable behind the bicycle from the support rack, and wherein the interior of the luggage case is accessible in both the carrier and trailer positions.

With this arrangement, the luggage case can operate as either a rack-mounted carrier or as a trailer, depending on the usage requirements of the user. Further, the luggage system is conveniently stowable on the bicycle so that it does not require any storage space when it is not required as a trailer.

Preferably, the luggage case is attachable to the support rack in a releasable manner. Thus, the luggage case can be removed from the bicycle and used separately, or simply stored when not required.

Preferably, the luggage case is arranged to be used as a wheeled suitcase when separate from the support rack.

With this arrangement, the case can be used as a trailer, a carrier, or in the manner of a conventional wheeled suitcase.

Preferably, the luggage case is attachable to the support rack in the trailer position by means of a ball joint connection. Such a connection provides free rotation about the connection point, improving the handling of the bicycle when the case is in the trailer position.

Preferably, the luggage case is attachable to the support rack when in the carrier position by the ball joint connection. With this arrangement, the same connection is usable in two different configurations, reducing the number of connections required.

Preferably, the support rack comprises a ball-shaped pin for forming the bali joint connection.

Preferably, a case supporting surface of the support rack and the luggage case are co-operatively shaped. This ensures the case is properly supported by the rack.

Preferably, the case supporting surface is convex and the case has a co-operatively shaped concave surface for supporting the case in the carrier position. With this arrangement, when the luggage case is in the carrier position, the luggage supporting surface and the luggage case more closely follow the shape of the rear wheel, allowing the height of the system to be reduced.

Preferably, either the case or the support rack has an elongate channel for receiving a corresponding protrusion on the other of the case or the rack. This may Improve the level of support provided by the rack to the case when the case is In the carrier position and prevent sliding of the case on the rack in a direction transverse to the channel.

When the channel and protrusion are configured in the longitudinal direction of the bicycle, this arrangement may assist in lining up the case and the mounting pins when placing the case in the carrier position.

Preferably, the case comprises an extendible handle.

Preferably, the handle is arranged to attach the case to the rack when in the trailer position. This handle can be retracted when stowed for compactness and extended for use in the trailer configuration or when the case is used separately as a wheeled suitcase.

Preferably, the handle comprises an extension extending beyond a connection point between the handle and The support rack, when the case is in the trailer position.

Preferably, the extension is arranged to contact the support rack, when the case is in the trailer position and the case is upwardly rotated about a lateral axis of the bicycle relative to the support rack, such that upward rotation of the case about the lateral axis relative to the support rack is restricted. This prevents excessive bouncing of the trailing case, which Is of particular benefit when the case is empty or partially filled.

Preferably, the case comprises a locking device for releasably securing the case to the rack in the carrier position.

Preferably, the locking device is releasable only from the interior of the luggage case. This ensures that the case, when in the carrier position, may be removed from the rack only by a person with access to the case interior.

Preferably, the support rack comprises a support frame for directly connecting the support rack to a frame of the bicycle.

Alternatively, the support rack comprises a support frame for mounting the support rack on a conventional bicycle luggage rack. This allows the system to be used on a bicycle with an existing rack, without the need to remove the existing rack.

The support rack may have a hitch for connecting the support rack to a seat post of the bicycle when the support rack is mounted on the conventional bicycle luggage rack.

The support rack may also have a longitudinally extendible arm on which the hitch is disposed.

Preferably, the case comprises an extendible and/or flexible cover for closing the interior of the luggage case when the luggage case is in an open position to increase a luggage capacity of the case.

Preferably, the luggage case comprises an expandable carrier within the interior of the luggage case which is expandable when the luggage case is in an open position to increase a luggage capacity of the case.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bicycle comprising a luggage system as described above.

The present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a bicycle having a luggage system according to the present invention, with the luggage case in the trailer position; Figure 2 is a partial side view of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case in the carrier position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support rack of the luggage system of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of area A of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a connection between the luggage system of Figure 1 and the bicycle; Figure 6 is a top perspective view of the luggage case of the luggage system according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a side view of the luggage case of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a bottom view of the luggage case of Figure 6; Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the handle of the luggage case of Figure 6 taken in the direction of arrow B; Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connection between the luggage case and support rack of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case in the trailer position; Figure 11 is a rear perspective view of the luggage system of Figure 1; Figure 12 is a partial side view of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case being moved into the carrier position; Figure 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part of the luggage case and the rear mounting pin of The support rack of Figure 12; Figure 14 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the rear connection between the luggage case and support rack of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case being moved into the carrier position; Figure 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the front connection between the luggage case and support rack of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case being moved into the carrier position; Figure 16 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the front connection between the luggage case and support rack of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case in the carrier position and shown with the lid open; Figure 17 is a side view of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case in the carrier position and shown with the lid open; Figure 18 is a side view of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case in the trailer position and shown with the lid open and having a cover attached to the lid; Figure 19 is a side view of the luggage system of Figure 1, with the luggage case in the trailer position and shown with the lid open and having an alternative cover attached to the lid; Figures 20 to 24 are top perspective views of the luggage case of Figure 6 shown with the lid open and having an expandable carrier within; Figure 25 is an exploded rear perspective view of a first alternative support rack for the luggage system of the present invention; Figure 26 is a rear perspective view of the support rack of Figure 25; Figure 27 is a top perspective view of a second aiternative support rack for the luggage system of the present invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the luggage system comprises a support rack 12 connected to a frame 14 of a bicycle 16 and a wheeled luggage case 18. Tn the trailer position, as shown in Fig. 1, the luggage case 18 is rotatably mounted to the support rack 12 towards the rear of the rack 12 such that it may be towed behind the bicycle 16.

In the carrier position, as shown in Fig. 2, the luggage case 18 is fixedly mounted on top of the support rack 12, above the rear wheel of the bicycle 16.

As shown in Fig. 3, the support rack 12 comprises a luggage supporting surface 20 and a support frame 21. The luggage supporting surface 20 is formed from two outer struts 22 and two shorter, inner struts 24. The inner and outer struts 22, 24 extend parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction. The struts 22, 24 are connected by two cross-pieces 26, 27 which form part of the support frame 21. The rear cross-piece 26 is located across one end of the inner and outer struts 22, 24 and the front cross-piece 27 is located across the other end of the inner struts 24 and towards the other end of the outer struts 24. A cross-member 28 is located across the front end of the outer struts 22. The two cross-pieces 26, 27 are downwardly deformed in a central region to form a channel 30 between the two inner struts 24.

-10 -Fixed to the rear cross-piece 26 is a rearwardly extending plate 38 from which a rear mounting pin 40 extends upwardly. The rear mounting pin 40 has a ball-shaped head 42 and is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the rack 12.

An upwardly extending front mounting pin 44 is located on the upper surface of the front cross-member 28. The front mounting pin 44 is collinear with the rear mounting pin 40 along the longitudinal axis of the rack 12 and has a mushroom-shaped head 46 formed with spherical top and a flat underside.

In addition to the oross-pieces 26, 27, the support frame 21 includes two pairs of supporting arms 32 extending downwards from the ends of The cross-pieces 26, 27. Each pair of supporting arms 32 converges in a v-shape towards a mounting bracket 34 for securing the support rack 12 to the ends of the rear forks 36 of the bicycle in a conventional manner, as shown in Fig. 4. The rearmost supporting arms 32 include L-shaped members 48 for the attachment of lights/reflectors (not shown) to the rack 12. Such lights/reflectors may be fitted to the rack 12 whether the case is in the trailer or carrier positions, or when the case is absent entirely.

As shown in Fig. 5, two longitudinal members 52 extend parallel to each other and at a downward angle from the front cross-member 28. Each longitudinal member 52 has an eyelet 54 for securing the longitudinal member 52 to conventional mounting lugs 56 located on the rear forks 36 of the bicycle frame. When secured to the rack mounting -11 -lucjs 56, the longitudinal members 52 prevent rotation of the rack 12 about the axis of the rear wheel of the bicycle.

The rack 12 may be made from any suitable material.

For example, the rack may be formed from powder-coated aluminium or steel.

Tn this example, the outer and inner struts 22, 24 are arcuate such that the luggage supporting surface 20 is convexly shaped. Thus, the luggage supporting surface 20 more closely follows the shape of the rear wheel than an eguivalent flat surface would. By using a co-operatively shaped luggage case, the curved luggage supporting surface allows the height of the system 10, when the luggage case is in the carrier position, to be reduced. Alternatively, the outer and inner struts 22, 24 may be straight, such that the luggage supporting surface 20 is flat.

Referring to Fig. 6 to Fig. 8, the luggage case 18 comprises a hollow main body 60 with a hinged lid 62. Two wheels 64 are rotatably mounted on the main body 60, with one wheel 64 on each side. The main body 60 and the lid 62 are recessed in the region of the wheels 64 to reduce the overall width of the case 18 without significantly compromising the capacity of the case 18. The case 18 preferably also includes an extendabie stand 66 with an integral reflector 67 slideabiy mounted in a stand sleeve 68 disposed on the lid 62. The stand 66 can be extended to support the case 18 in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 7. A key-operated lock 70 is provided to securely close the lid 62 and prevent unauthorised access to the interior of the case 18.

-12 -The case 18 includes a handle 72 fixed to an extendable arm 74 which is slidabiy connected to the case 18 within a handle sleeve 76. In this example, the main body 60, handle 72 and handle sleeve 76 are shaped to conform to shape of the arcuate struts 22, 24 of the rack surface 20.

Alternatively, the main body 60, handle 72 and handle sleeve 76 could be shaped to conform to a flat, or otherwise shaped, rack surface 20.

The handle 72 is moveable between an extended position, as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig.7, and a retracted position, as shown in Fig. 8. A conventional locking mechanism (not shown) is provided to prevent the handle 72 from moving from the extended position to the retracted position when the locking mechanism is in a locked state. A burton 78 is provided at the top of the handle 72 to unlock the locking mechanism and enable the handle 72 to move between the extended and retracted positions.

With reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the base of the handle 72 has a circular hole 80 extending therethrough for mounting the handle 72 on the rear mounting pin of the rack, when the case is in the trailer position, as discussed below. Aligned with the circular hole 80 is a lug 82 with a keyhole slot 84. The lug 82 Is slidably mounted to the handle 72 and the narrow end of the keyhole slot 84 is held adjacent to the circular hole 80 by a spring (not shown) acting on the lug 82. The lug 82 is fixedly connected to a pull lever 83 for releasing the handle 72 from the rear mounting pin, as described below. The pull lever 83 has a circular hole 85 which Is aligned with a circular hole 88 -13 -provided through the underside of the body 60 when the handle 72 is in the retracted position. A further keyhole slot 86 is provided at the end of the handle sleeve 76 opposite to that at whioh the handle 72 is boated. The keyhole slot 86 and the ciroular hole 88 are arranged to mount the case 18 on the rear and front mounting pins when the case 18 is in the carrier position, as described below.

The case 18 may be made from any suitable material.

For example, the main body 60 and lid 62 may be formed from polycarbonate or polyethylene, and the extendible arm 74 and handle sleeve 76 formed from 2.5mm thick aluminium box section. In this example, the extendible arm 74 has a section of approximately 45mm x 25mm and the handle sleeve 76 has a section of approximately 50mm x 30mm with 8mm radius corners. The wheels 64 have pneumatic tyres of approximately 260mm in diameter. This provides the wheels 64 with good bump absorbing characteristics and ruggedness.

Alternatively, the wheels 64 may be sized differently and/or may be provided without pneumatic tyres.

Since the case 18 Is provided with wheels 64 at one end and an extendible handle 72 at the other, the case 18 is usable as a conventional suitcase when it is not attached to the bicycle. Preferably, the case 18 Is large enough to store a cycle helmet, along with a laptop and accessories.

Suitable dimensions for the case 18 are approximately 610mm from the front end of the main body 60 to the rearmost part of the wheels 64, 330mm from the bottommost part of the wheels 64 to the uppermost part of the main body 60 or lid 62, and 450mm at the widest part, i.e. between the outer side of each wheel 64. The terms "front", "rear", -14 - "uppermost" and 1bottommost" refer to the case 18 when in the carrier position on the rack 12.

With reference to Fig. 10 and Fig. II, the attachment of the case 18 in the trailer position is described.

Tc place the case 18 in the trailer position, the button 78 on the handle 72 is depressed and the handle 72 moved to the extended pcsiticn. The circular hole 80 in the handle 72 is lined up with the rear mounting pin 40 and the pull lever 83 is pulled in the direction away from the case 18 to align the wide end of the keyhole slot 84 of the lug 82 with the circular hole 80. The head 42 of the rear mounting pin 40 is placed through the circular hole 80 and the wide end of the keyhole slot 84. The pull lever 83 is then released to align the narrow end of the keyhole slot 84 with the circular hole 80, as shown in Fig. 10. The narrow end of the keyhole slot 84 fits around the body of the pin at the base of the head 42 and is narrower than the bead 42 such that removal of the head 42 from the circular hole is prevented.

Due to the spherical shape of the head 42, the case 18 is free to rotate relative to the bicycle 16 about all axes when in the trailer position, as shown in Fig. 11. Further, since the circular hole 80 is situated away from the top of the handle 72 and the handle 72 broadly follows the contour of the luggage supporting surface 20 of the rack 12, the top of the handle 72 rests on the luggage supporting surface 20 to prevent excessive bouncing of the case 18 along the ground. This is particularly useful when the case 18 is unloaded, or part-loaded.

-15 -With reference to Fig. 12 to Fig. 16, the attachment of the case 18 in the carrier pcsition is described.

As shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, the case 18 is placed over the rack 12 with the wide end of the keyhcle slot 86 aligned with the rear mounting pin 40 and with the handle 72 retracted. The case 18 is then moved downward onto the rear mounting pin 40, so that the head 42 of the rear mounting pin 40 passes through the wide end of the keyhole slot 86, and rearward, so that the body of the pin 40 is positioned in the narrow end of the keyhole slot 86, as shown in Fig. 14. This prevents removal of the pin 40 from the keyhole slot 86. As shown in Fig. 14, the handle sleeve 76 fits comfortably within the channel 30 in the rack supporting surface 20. This improves the stability of the case 18 when in the carrier position.

Placing the handle sleeve 76 within the channel 30 also aligns the front mounting pin 44 with the circular hole 88 in the body 60, as shown in Fig. 15. To secure the case 18 on to the rack 12, the front mounting pin 44 is passed through the circular hole 85 in the pull lever 83 and through the circular hole 88 in the body 60 and into the interior the case 18 where it is clipped into a releasable catch 90 inside the case 18, as shown In Fig. 16. The catch retains the head 46 of the pin 44 to prevent withdrawal of the pin 44 from the hole 88. The clipping of the catch to the pin 44 Is made more secure by the flat underside of the mushroom-shaped head 46. The case 18 can only be released by releasing the catch 90 and the catch 90 can only be accessed and released from within the interior of the -16 -case 18. Thus, the case 18 is securely fastened co the rack 12 and can only be removed from the rack 12 by a person with access to the Interior of the case 18.

when in the carrier position, the lid 62 of the case 18 can be opened to provide access to the case interior, as shown in Fig. 17.

With reference to Fig. 18 and Fig. 19, a variety of expandable inner bags or covers can be attached to the case 18 so that the capacity of the case 18 may be increased when in the trailer position. Fig. 18 shows a breathable mesh cover 92 which can be used to transport pets. Fig. 18 shows a larger cover 94 which can be used to further increase the luggage capacity of the case 18. To deploy the cover 92, 94 it is folded out from within the body 60 and secured to a skirt (not shown) around the lid 62 in a conventional manner. For example, the cover 92, 94 can be secured using press studs or eyelet fixings so that It can be easily interchanged or removed for cleaning. The cover 92, 94 may be adjustable by a drawstring or other suitable means to secure the contents while in transit.

Alternatively, an expandable carrier 96 can be provided with the case 18, as described with reference to Fig. 20 to Fig. 24.

As shown in Fig. 20, the carrier 96 is held in a contracted position behind a sleeve 98 with an elastic web.

The sleeve 98 is clipped to the underside of the lock 70 to prevent expansion of the carrier 96 when not required.

-17 -To enable the carrier 96 to expand, the sleeve 98 is unclipped and raised, as shown in Fig. 21.

The sleeve 98 is then clipped to the static half of the lock 70 and the carrier 96 can be fully opened by lifting up the fold, as shown in Fig. 22.

Tn the fully cpen position shown in Fig. 23, the carrier 96 is kept semi-rigid by piping (not shown) across the top folds. Once expanded, the carrier 96 can be used to hold up to three standard sized shopping bags. In this example, the carrier 96 is approximately 43cm high 30cm wide and 40cm in depth when expanded.

As shown in Fig. 24, a rain and/or security cover 99 is fixed to the underside of the sleeve 98 and can be pulled out and secured to the expandable carrier 96 to protect the contents of the carrier 96.

The cover 92, 94 or carrier 96 may be made from any suitable materials. For example, from ripstop nylon with double stitch seams.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

For instance, the extendible stand 66 may be replaced by a protrusion at the rear of the case 18 which is offset from the wheels 64 when the case 18 is upright to prevent the case from toppling over.

-18 -Either or both of the mounting pins 40, 44 could be arranged on the case 18 rather than the rack 12, with a corresponding socket on the rack 12.

The wheels 64 could be replaced with a single wheel, or three or more wheels.

Other forms of rack 12 can be used in place of the rack 12 described above. With reference to Fig. 25 and Fig. 26, a first alternative rack 112 comprises a luggage supporting surface 120 and a support frame 121 for use with a conventional luggage rack 123 already mounted at the rear of a bicycle.

The luggage supporting surface 120 of rack 112 is formed in the same manner as that cf rack 12.

The support frame 121 of rack 112 comprises two straight longitudinal frame members 133 that are parallel to each other and extend in a longitudinal direction between short arms 132 extending downwardly from the ends of the cross-pieces 126. The longitudinal frame members 133 are joined by two cross-pieces 135 to which a first pair of longitudinal mounting plates 137 is fixed.

To secure the rack 112 to the conventional luggage rack 123, the longitudinal frame members 133 are placed onto the luggage supporting surface 125 of the luggage rack 123. A second pair of longitudinal mounting plates 139 is positioned underneath cross-pieces 129 of the rack 123. The first and second pairs of longitudinal mounting plates 137, -19 - 139 are then bolted together through mounting holes in the plates 137, 139, as shown in Fig. 26.

With reference to Fig. 27, a second alternative rack 212 comprises a support frame 221 corresponding to that of the first alternative rack 112. The luggage supporting surface 220 of rack 212 differs from that of rack 112 in that the outer struts 222 are shorter than the Inner struts 224. The Inner struts 224 protrude beyond front cross-piece 227 and are connected at their front ends by a short cross-member 228. A telescopic arm 247 with a hitch 249 is slldably mounted in a tubular housing 251 fixed to the front cross-piece 227 and to the short cross-member 228. Rather than being located on the cross-member 228, the front mounting pin 244 is located on the upper surface of the tubular housing 251.

To secure the rack 212 to a bicycle (not shown) , the hitch 249 is used to fixedly connect the rack 212 to a seat post (not shown) of the bicycle. The telescopic arm 247 may be adjusted to position the rack 212 as required. The rack 212 can be cantilevered from the hitch 249. Alternatively, a support arm (not shown) may be provided on the underside of the rack 212 at a position rearward of the hitch 249 to support the rack 212 on an existing luggage rack or rear wheel cover/mudguard (not shcwn)

Claims

<claim-text>-20 -CLAIMS1. A luggage system for a bicycle, the system comprising: a wheeled luggage case; and a support rack for attaching the luggage case to the bicycle, the support rack being connectable to the bicycle; wherein the luggage case is attachable to the support rack in a carrier position, in which the luggage case is stowed on the support rack, and in a trailer position, in which the luggage case is towable behind the bicycle from the support rack; and wherein the interior of the luggage case is accessible in both the carrier and trailer positions.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A luggage system according to claim 1, wherein the luggage case is attachable to the support rack in a releasable manner.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A luggage system according to claim 2, wherein the luggage case is arranged to be used as a wheeled suitcase when separate from the support rack.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the luggage case is attachable to the support rack in the trailer position by means of a ball joint connection.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A luggage system according to claim 4, wherein the luggage case is attachable to the support rack when in the carrier position by the ball joint connection.</claim-text> <claim-text>-21 - 6. A luggage system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the support rack comprises a ball-shaped pin for forming the ball joint connection.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein a case supporting surface of the support rack and the luggage case are co-operatively shaped.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A luggage system according to claim 7, Taherein the case supporting surface is convex and the case has a co-operatively shaped concave surface for supporting the case in the carrier position.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A luggage system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein either the case or the support rack has an elongate channel for receiving a corresponding protrusion on the other of the case or the rack.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the case comprises an extendible handle.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A luggage system according to claim 10, wherein the handle is arranged to attach the case to the rack when in the trailer position.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A luggage system according to claim 11, wherein the handle comprises an extension extending beyond a connection point between the handle and the support rack, when the case is in the trailer position.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A luggage system according to claim 12, wherein the extension is arranged to concact the support rack, when the -22 -case is in the trailer position and the case is upwardly rotated about a lateral axis of the bicycle relative to the support rack, such that upward rotation of the case about the lateral axis relative to the support rack is restricted.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the case comprises a locking device for releasably securing the case to the rack in the carrier position.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A luggage system according to claim 14, wherein the locking device is releasable only from the interior of the luggage case.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the support rack comprises a support frame for directly connecting the support rack to a frame of the bicycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A luggage system according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the support rack comprises a support frame for mounting the support rack on a conventional bicycle luggage rack.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A luggage system according to claim 17, wherein the support rack further comprises a hitch for connecting the support rack to a seat post of the bicycle when the support rack is mounted on the conventional bicycle luggage rack.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A luggage system according to claim 18, wherein the support rack comprises a longitudinally extendible arm on which the hitch is disposed.</claim-text> <claim-text>-23 - 20. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the case comprises an extendible and/or flexible cover for closing the interior of the luggage case when the luggage case is in an open position to increase a luggage capacity of the case.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the luggage case comprises an expandable carrier within the interior of the luggage case which is expandable when the luggage case is in an open position to increase a luggage capacity of the case.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. A bicycle comprising a luggage system according to any preceding claim.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. A luggage system substantially as descrtbed herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS: 1. A luggage system for a bicycle, the system comprising: a wheeled luggage case comprising a lockable lid; and a support rack for attaching the luggage case to the bicycle, the support rack being connectable to the bicycle; wherein the luggage case is attachable to the support rack in a carrier position, in which the luggage case is stowed on the support rack, and in a trailer position, in which the luggage case is towable behind the bicycle from the support rack; wherein the interior of the luggage case is accessible in both the carrier and trailer positions; r 15 wherein the case comprises a locking device for releasably securing the case to the rack in the carrier position; and wherein the locking device is releasable only from the interior of the luggage case.
2. A luggage system according to claim 1, wherein the luggage case is arranged to be used as a wheeled suitcase when separate from the support rack.
3. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the luggage case is attachable to the support rack in the trailer position by means of a ball joint connection.
4. A luggage system according to claim 3, wherein the luggage case is attachable to the support rack when in the carrier position by the ball joint connection.
5. A luggage system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the support rack comprises a ball-shaped pin for forming the ball joint connection.
6. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein a case supporting surface of the support rack and the luggage case are co-operatively shaped.
7. A luggage system according to claim 6, Taherein the case supporting surface is convex and the case has a co-operatively shaped concave surface for supporting the case in the carrier position.
8. A luggage system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein r 15 either the case or the support rack has an elongate channel LU for receiving a corresponding protrusion on the other of the case or the rack.LU9. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the case comprises an extendible handle.10. A luggage system according to claim 9, wherein the handle is arranged to attach the case to the rack when in the trailer position.11. A luggage system according to claim 10, wherein the handle comprises an extension extending beyond a connection point between the handle and the support rack, when the case is in the trailer position.12. A luggage system according to claim 11, wherein the extension is arranged to concact the support rack, when the case is in the trailer position and the case is upwardly rotated about a lateral axis of the bicycle relative to the support rack, such that upward rotation of the case about the lateral axis relative to the support rack is restricted.13. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the support rack comprises a support frame for directly connecting the support rack to a frame of the bicycle.14. A luggage system according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the support rack comprises a support frame for mounting the support rack on a conventional bicycle luggage C'J rack.15. A luggage system according to claim 14, wherein the support rack further comprises a hitch for connecting the support rack to a seat post of the bicycle when the support rack is mounted on the conventional bicycle luggage rack.16. A luggage system according to claim 15, wherein the support rack comprises a longitudinally extendible arm on which the hitch is disposed.17. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the case comprises an extendible and/or flexible cover for closing the interior of the luggage case when the lid is in an open position to increase a luggage capacity of the case.18. A luggage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the luggage case comprises an expandable carrier within the interior of the luggage case which is expandable when the luggage case is in an open position to increase a luggage capacity of the case.19. A bicycle comprising a luggage system according to any preceding claim.20. A luggage system substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings. (4 rLIDLU</claim-text>