GB2514831A

GB2514831A - A pannier

Info

Publication number: GB2514831A
Application number: GB1310113.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Everett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-06-04
Filing date: 2013-06-04
Publication date: 2014-12-10
Also published as: GB201310113D0

Abstract

A pannier for a cycle having two panels 1 arranged either side of the cycle in use, with a bridge 2 flexibly arranged between them. The pannier further has a rigid platform 5 with a means to attach itself to the cycle, comprising an arm 3 and a collar 4, wherein the bridge 2 correlates with the rigid platform 5 in use. The platform 5 may be integrated into the bridge 2. The pannier may comprise a bag, which may be provided by the panels 1 and bridge 2. The panels 1 and bridge 2 may define a single compartment. The platform 5 may be hinged 7 on the arm 3 and the collar 4 may be easily detachable from the cycle in use. A handle 11 or a light 9 may also be provided. Examples of uses include carrying suits, shirts or other formal clothing easily on a bicycle without creasing or crumpling.

Description

A PANNIER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pannier, more particularly but not exclusively a pannier for a cycle for carrying garments.

Background

Riding to work is both pleasurable and sensible with overcrowded transport networks: When riding a bicycle, tricycle or motorcycle there is often a requirement to.carri items such as work equipment, clothing or a computer as for safety certain Clothing is preferable for a rider. Panhirs can be used for carrying a number of items, however when carrying garments of cbthing in a standard pannier the garments may become creased and therefore unsuitable for wearing when a final destination is reached. In particular if cycling to work where tailored clothing.such as suits or shirts may be required.

It can be impractical to carry a sUit carrier or similar garment carrier whilst on a bike as they are typically too bulky to carry safely and to maintain in a flat orientation that will prevent garments becoming creased. Therefore a user may need to foldtailored items in oçder to fit them into a pannier-or other carrier suitable for use on a bicycle.

This is undesirable. -* 25. . . PriorArt. . Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resdlve the problem or similar, including the following: Chinese utility model ON 201 923 249 involves one kind of multipurpose bicycle clothes rack, its structure after clothes rack chassis and outrigger, after stated clothes.

rack chassis two side distinguished the hinge to have the side to turn the pocket; Stated the side to turn the pocket to sew the soft cloth pouch o the frame. This model utility already may not have depending on the suspenders person may have depending on the suspenders person; Also may realize Shan Dcu, the double H: *. 1.,.

pockets 01 three ppckets after expansion carries the thing, may after receiving to realize the normal big-ticket item bundle to carry the thing. This model utility function is diverse, use is safe, carries the quantity to increase solved the existing, clothes rack to carry the thing to be limited the question that and use had to inconveniehce very much after well, satisfid the people to use the bicycle journey to have the human carried the use need.

United Kingdom patent apØlication GB 2 180 737 (LUXFCRD) discloses a bag which is adapted to be filled on a cycle, said bag having substantially the shape of an inverted U in cross-section and comprising a single compartment consisting of three interconnected chambers, a first relatively large chamber occupying the inverted base of said U-shape and two relétively small chambers each depending from one * side of the large chamber adjacent a respective end thereof, the inverted base of said substantially U-shaped bag having means for carrying the bag. * 15

European patent application EP 0 072 847 (ALLEN) discloses a carrier configured to be mounted on a bicycle, said carder comprising:(a) a frame having an upper member and a pair of side members; (b) a bg fitted to said frame, said bag having an upper compartment. and a pair of side compartments; and (sigma.) means for holding said frameand said bag to the bicycle, said frame operative to hold said upper compartment over a.wheel.of the bicycle and-each of said side compartments at eabh side of the wheel when said carrying bag is mounted to said bicycle.

Summary of the Invention

* Accordin to the present invention there is provided apannier for a cycle, comprising: two panels arranged in use to be located either side of the cycle; a bridge flexibly arranged therebetween; and a rigid platform with a cycle attachment means, said attachment means comprising an thm and collar, wherein the bridge correlates with.the rigid platform in use. * * . 1 In preferred embodiments the pannier comprises at least one bag. The at least one bag is made at least in part of flexible material or fabric, such as weatherproofed * . 35 cotton fabric or manmade fibre. The at least one bag may be provided art one Or 2 * more of the panels and/or the bridge In some embodiments flexibility may be provided between the panels and bridge.

The bag may further comprise a plurality of pockets, and a carrying handle.

The bag(s)'may be releasable from the pannier. For example, the bag may be used as a standalone container for receiving for example a plurality of goods. In preferred embodiments the bag may contain a pocket that stretches from, or for example.

extends between, one panel to the other panel across the bridge. The bag or pocket may provide a large elongate region which can be. arranged in a planar arrangement when the panels and bridge are coplanar. The bag and/or, pocket(s) may be openable in order to' insert a suit or dress, for example. The bag may subsequently be hung over the platform and/or the region, such as for example the panels and/or the bridge, folded into at least three substantially orthogonal planes.

In order to aid in such hanging the. bridge in preferred embodiments may be substantially planar. The, bridge may be appropriately dimensioned and bounded pocket for acceptance of the platform. . The pannier may further.comprise at least one securement means arranged in use to 20' secure the bridge or bag to the platform. . In preferred embodiments the arm and platform may be hinged to one another. For reduction in size for storage and transport the arm may be folded towards the platform. AdvantageousI, the,arm and collar may be separable or the collar may be quick release or otherwise arranged to be detachable from the cycle. some preferred embodiments the collar stays attached to the cycle and the arm is slid or clipped onto it. . . . . In use in preferred embodiments the bag is arranged to,be slid onto the platform.: 30, The platform may be attached to the cycle by the collar. The arm may extend, cantilever or support the platform and consequently the bag away from or at a distance from the cycle.. The platform and attachment means may comprise a brapket for the bag in ue. ..

The pannier may comprise: a bracket and a foldable bag for containing garments without requirement of said garments to be folded, wherein the panels are arranged to hang subordinate to the platform and draped over either side of the cycle.

The cycle may be a roofless and/or two wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle or motorcycle.

It may be envisaged that the garments are able to be laid flat in the bag so that creasing is limited during transportations. In this way the.garments are ready to wear * 10 on arrival at the destination. For example tailored clothing such as suits or shirts may * be laid in the bag without being folded so as to be un-creased and ready for donning when removed from the bag.

In some embodiments the bag may comprise a relatively rigid strengthening strUcture or skeleton, enabling.the bag to minimise creasing and maintain garments flat: In.

some embodiments the panels and bridge may comprise relatively rigid plates with * flexible or live hinges therebetween. The hinges may include limitations in movement, for example td minimise chances of the panels touching in use, wherein hinging beyond 90 degrees is prevented or discouraged.

In preferred embodiments the bracket is for attachment to the cycle frame. The bracket may be accepted about a part of the cycle frame such as a seat post, more particularly the collar is arranged to fit around a tubular part. Preferably the collar may comprise an adjustable clamp, clips, ratchet, strap or buckle thét can be readily fitted to the èycle, typically about a cylindrical part of the frame..

In some embodiments the collar is hingeably attached to the arm at or in a manner that includes a pivot. In this way the arm is advantageously displaceable in respect * * * *of the collarand may be moved and fixed at a range of positions, typically being locked when the desired position is reached so as to prévént movement in use. For example, the attachment means may include a lever, latch or grub screw mechanism to lock the pivot. * * : * . Advantageously in preferred embodiments the arm and platform are hinged to allow relative displacement and minimisation for transport or storage: ** * : Preferably the bracket is arranged to maintain the platform horizontal in use ri relation to the ground so as to support the bag in a balanced manner with the panels creating an equal amount of the bag draped either side of the wheel. For example whereib hinging exists between the arni and platform hinging may be limited.

In some embodiments the collar is displaceable on at least one axis so as in use to be moved up and down about the pivot. In this way the collar may be arrarged at different orientation on the cycle, so as to always be capable of maintaining the plafforni arranged horizontally independent of how and to what the bracket is attached, In preferred embodiments the arm may be removable from the bollar so that the coflar may remain attached'to the cycle and the arm removed, for example whenthe bag is not required for use, but enabling ready attachment for when the bag is needed,' For example the bag may only be required for one leg of a journey.

In preferred embodiments the arm is elongate wherein thearrn in use extends from behind where a user is seated, to the platform, and the platform is suspended over a rear wheel. In this way the bag is not liable to interfere with steering and the bag is elevated sufficiently to not touch the ground in use.

Iypically'the arm is formed from a strong, durable lighseight material o asto readily support the bag without adding substabtial weight to the cycle. For example the arm may be formed from metal such as aluminium or a metal alloy, synthetic 25. plastic or carbon, *Preferably.the arm may include cutaway portions so as to reduce weight. . In preferred embodiments the bag is adapted to be received on the platform at a sleeve that receives the platform. In such embodiments.for exémple the, sleeve may be slid onto the platform and a further consolidation stage such as press studs or hook and loop may be available.. . . Preferably the sleeve is located on an outer face of the bag so that in uäe the bag is subordiate'th sleeve and thereby the platform, . In other embodiments the bag may be arranged.to drape over the platform wherein'the sldeve located on a lower face of the bag, in order to minimise chances of bontact with subordinate surfaces such as the wheel.

* In some embodiments there may be plural platforms provided each accepted by separate sleeves and/or separate bags, for example wherein platforms are arranged vertically in use.

* Prefrably the sleeveis arranged at a midpoint along the bag length so as to allow an * equal portion of the bag, comprising the panels to hang either side of the wheel when arranged on the arm and in preferred embodiments a handle is advantageously provided at the bridge so that the bag may be readily carried when removed from the bracket and so asto aid in fitting and removal of, the bag and platform.

In some embodiments the bag may be adapted for fitting to an existing pannier rack. * 15

Ideally the bag may include at least one connector so as to enable the bag. to be removably secured to the arm. In this way the bag can be secured to the arm s as to limit movement in use and to ensure thebag remains attached during transit.

The connector may comprise a clip, buckle, toggle, push, fitting, strap or hook and loop nieans such as Velcro (Trade Mark) that connects to part of the arm, *bracket and/or cycle frame so as to secure the bag to the arm.

Preferably the connectors are integral to the bag, for example stitched to the ba,' fitted through eyelets or riveted to the bag. , ., In preferred embodiments the bag is substantially rectangular, Ideally the bag comprises at least two rectangular layers, a lower and an upper layer arranged in use one atop another, wherein edges of the lower layer are joined to the upper layer so as to form the bag in which garments may be sandwiched between the layers.

In this way a garment such as shirt, jacket or trousers may be laid flat in the bag. * * Preferably the layers are displaceable so as to allow items such as garments to be positioned within the bag. Typically the bag may includefastening mean for the * garments within the bag. For example the bag may include loops, hoops or clips for.

arrangemeit about garments, such as for arranging a clothing hanger upon which thegarment is hung.

Ideally at least one side of the bag includes a closeable opening wherein the edges of the upper and lower may be. separated so as to gain access within the bag. For example one.of more of the sides may include a zip, sealable flap or hook and loop means such as Velcro (Trade Mark) so as to close the opening.

In preferred embodiments the bag is flexible or at least capable of bending so.as to hang either side of the cycle. Ideally the bag may be waterproof and formed from durable material so as to protect garments even in wet or damp weather conditions, and from damage through being rUbbed or becomin caught for example the bag * may be formed from rip-stop nylon or Gore-Tex (Trade Mark).

Furthermore the bag may include more than one pocket to allow plural garments or * items to be held within separate pockets within the beg for superior protection.

It may be envisaged that in use the bag may serve as a mudguard. In some embodiments the bag may include a* shield to aid with mud and water deflection.

Typically the shield may extend from the bag over the wheel.

Additionally the bag. may include waterproof closure, means such as a waterproof zipper or sealable flaps may be provided. , , . . . Ideally at least part of the bag is serrii rigid so' as to aid the garments to remain un-creased. Preferably the semi-rigid portions are adjacent to the wheels in use and at the sleeve. In this way the bag remains fiat in use so does not interfere with th! wheel, for example by flapping in use and potentially become caught in a spoke.

Furthermo're the regions of the bag at the sleeve can be shaped to be arcuaté so that 30, the garments are'hot folded where the bag bends. . * . In some'embodiments a rigid insert may be inserted in use or permanently into the sleeve or bridge to minimise sagging of'the bridge. Tightenable and/or elasticated strapping may be provided to further minimise sagging when the bag is empty by strappIng the bridge'against the insert as well as aiding the bag to be attached to the' platform by fastening the bridge'.and insert to both the platform and arm. * * * . 7 * deafly the semi rigid portions may be provided by resiliently deformable inserts such as cellular structures such as foam.

Alternatively the bag may include inflatable portions to provide same rigidity and shaping to the bag.

n preferred embodiments the bag includes more than one compartment. For example. the bag may inckide side pockets on an outer face in use of the bag in which other items such as a laptop, tablet or files may be held. Preferably the side pockets may be expandable so as to be capable holding larger items such as shoes.

In somepreferred embodiments the pannier includes a light mounted rearwardlyso as to ihiprove visibility of the user and cycle. In this way the light is clearly visible and a separate attachment is not required for attachment of the light to the cycle frame.

Preferably the light may be removable for example by being attached by hook and loop means such as Velcro (Trade Mark) or push fittings so that the batteries can be changed and the light may be removed when the pannier is unattended.

Additionally the bag may include retroreflective. or fluorescent portions so as to improve visibility of the user in particular in low light or darkness.

In some embodiments the inner face of the bag may include clips, loops, straps or hooks for attachment to the seat sthy and/or chain stay so as to prevent flapping of the bag. Furthermore these meansrnay be used to cohnect to one another when the bag is removed from the éycle so that the bag can be readily cariled by hand in this arrangemeni without flapping of the bag and ensuring any mud built up on the bag * from the vheel is pot exposed to the user. H lb yet further embodiments th bag may be capable of. being rolled and Secured when removedfrom the arm. In this way the bag may be more readily carried by the user and any mud accumulated on the bag may be contained during carrying * preventing the uler becothing soiled by the bag. For example the bag may be secured in the rolled.arrangement by hook and loop means, a clip, clasp buckle, : * toggle, strap, push fitting or mating parts. * * * .

H H

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the pannier; * Figures 2 show views from below and above respectively of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 Figure a shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figures 4 show end views f the eñibocjiment shown in Figure 1; * Figure 5 shows an isometric exploded view of the embodimentshon in Figure.1; t5.

Figure 6showsan isometric view Of a second preferred eriibodiment of the pannier; * Figure 7 show an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 6; 2OAncj Figures 8 show thp and bottom-views of the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

Detailed Description of Figures

25. ..

Wth reference th the figures two panels 1 are joined by a bridge 2, at hinges 16. The bridge includes a handle 11 and arm support for when the am-i 3 is folded over on the * . hinge 7. ** . . The hinge 7 connects the arm 3 to the platforms. lh the some ernbodiments the platform 5 may be integrated into the bridge 2 or in the pictured ethbodiment removable when not required, and has cutaway portions to reduce weight. Press * studflapè 14 are provided to fasten Cver the hin9ed arm.

The other end of the arm 3 cOmprisesthe collar 4, which comprises two hinged parts * * hinged ala pkiot-12 and capable of Closure with an-arm 10. * -* * -. : * * * H. The bag also includes a light 9, two side pOckets 6, with zippers 8,' and a central garment carrying compartment with a zipper 15 for closure.

In the second embodiment the bridge 2 includes displaceable structural strengthener 18 which is a rigid plate, held in place by strapping 17. Said plate is splayed to act as a mudguard, and/or enable easy removal.

Said strapping 17 is tightened at adjustment buckles 19,. in order that the usercan * 10 ensure no sagging of the bridge 2 no matter contents.

In addition or the alternative said strapping and buckle may serve to fasten the bridge to the platform, such as by passing through over or around the hinge.

In some embodiments the zipper 15 may be provided along the opposing edge in addition or the alternative. In this way the user is enabled to undo the buckles and release the strapping sufficient to open the zipper.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the sdope of invention. . . . With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimUm dimeAsional reationshpè for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materiajs, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use; are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, a?d all equivalent relationship's to those illustrated in e-drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. . Therefore, the foregding is considered as illustrative only of the principles, of the invention. Further, since numerous-modifications an'd changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invertion to' the etact construction and operation shown and described and.accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to; falling within the scope of the invention. . --10 --

Claims

Claims 1. A pannier for a cycle, comprising: two panels arranged in use to be located either side of the cycle; a' bridge flexibly arranged therebetween; and a rigid platform with a cycle attachment means; said attachment means comprising an arm and collar, wherein the bridge correlates with the rigid platform in use.
2. A pannier according to claim 1 further cornprising a bag, wherein said bag is made at least in part of flexible material br fabric.
3. A pannier a claimed in claim 2, in which the panels and bridge provide the * bag. . * 15
4. A pannier according to any preceding claim wherein the panels and bridge define a single internal compartment.
5. A pannier according to preceding claim, wherein the arm is elongate and in use extends from behind where a user is seated.
6. A pannier according tp any preceding claim, hereih the, bridge is adapted to * be received on the platform at a sleeve that receives the platform.
7. A pannier according to any preceding ólairn wherein a handle is provided at * 25 the bridge for carriage.6. A pannier according to any of the preceding claims wherein the bridge is adapted for fitting to an existing pannier rack providing the platform 9: A pannier according to claim 1 wherein the platform is integrated into the bridge. l * . 1 o: A pannier according to claim 1 wherein the platform is hinged on the arm.11. A pannier according to claim 1 wherein the platform is separable from the arm. * : * 12. A pannier according'to claim I wherein the arm is separable from the collar. * 11. * * *. H :13 A pannier with reference to the figures, and substantially as described.