WO2015189854A1

WO2015189854A1 - Luggage carrier for a two wheeler.

Info

Publication number: WO2015189854A1
Application number: PCT/IN2014/000749
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jose THAIKATTIL
Original assignee: Thaikattil Jose
Priority date: 2014-06-12
Filing date: 2014-12-02
Publication date: 2015-12-17

Abstract

This invention proposes a luggage carrier for a two wheeler, said carrier being provided with a seat fitted on to the hingedly attached movable jaw of the spring-loaded clamp of the luggage carrier.

Description

Luggage carrier for a two wheeler.

Technical field.

This invention relates to a luggage carrier for a two wheeler.

Background of the invention. Two wheelers such as bicycles and motorbikes are often provided with a luggage carrier in front or behind the driver seat. Luggage carriers with integrated spring-loaded clamp are popular as the spring-loaded clamp facilitates easy operation in loading and unloading the cargo. Usually means are provided for mounting a separate luggage carrier on to the body of the two wheeler but in many cases a two wheeler with a carrier integrated with the body of the two wheeler is provided.

Even though these luggage carriers are meant mainly for carrying cargo there are many instances where they are used for seating another passenger on the two wheeler. For bicycles it is common practice to attach a seat through detachable long non-rigid straps on to the platform of the luggage carrier to carry a pillion passenger. This seat is removed when one has to carry the luggage and refitted again when needed. This seat fitted on to the platform of the carrier cannot be lifted up in the fitted position.

Comfortable chair shaped child seats are also available for fitting on luggage carriers. These are often securely fixed to the platform of the carrier and cannot be lifted up in the fitted position. The changes in the seat fittings that have to be made on these carriers of the prior art when they are converted from a passenger carrier to a luggage carrier and vice versa have always been significant and irritating and consequently the two wheeler provided with this luggage carrier with seat is being used most of the time only as a passenger carrier.

There are many people who travel on the pillion luggage carrier (with an integrated spring-loaded clamp) of a bicycle even though the jaw of the spring-loaded clamp often hurts their buttocks. People all over the world have been daily experiencing the above difficulties for more than a century but no one has so far put forth a practical suggestion to simplify the change over from the luggage carrier to a passenger carrier and vice versa. This invention proposes a luggage carrier of a two wheeler that can carry out when provided on the two wheeler the two functions of cargo carrying and comfortable passenger seating separately without having to make troublesome changes on the seat fittings between the said two functional positions. The conventional bicycle carriers provided with a spring-loaded clamp have a short jaw ending in a terminal luggage gripping member disposed generally between one third to three fourth the length of the platform of the carrier measured from the hinged joint of the clamp. This has been found to be quite suitable for gripping most of the luggage usually carried by bicycles. A long seat at the carrier is preferred for maximum comfort. This invention also proposes for the carrier according to the invention a comfortable seat with durable attachment.

Disclosure of the invention.

This invention provides a luggage carrier for a two wheeler, comprising a platform (1), a spring-loaded clamp having a hingedly attached movable jaw (2) configured to act on the said platform, and means for providing the carrier to the front or rear of the driver seat of a two wheeler, characterized in that a seat (3) is provided for fitting on the carrier and means are provided for the fitting of the said seat on to the movable jaw of the said clamp such that said seat is exposed at the top for sitting in the closed position of the said clamp, said movable jaw along with the fitted seat capable of being lifted up together for holding the luggage within the clamp.

Preferably means are provided for the rigid fitting of the said seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp.

Preferably means are provided for fitting said seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp through rigid fasteners. Preferably the means for fitting the seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp includes screws, bolts, nails, rivets, rigid straps, wires, welding, brazing or soldering to be applied between the two. Preferably said means for fitting the seat on to the said jaw extends from said jaw for attachment to the adjoining portion of the seat close to the attachment site with the said jaw. Preferably said jaw comprises rigid limbs and the said means for attachment to the adjoining portion of the seat is provided close to the attachment site with the said limb(s). This enables a strong fit for the seat.

Preferably means are provided for fitting said seat on to the movable jaw of the said clamp through a strap(s) provided under the individual limbs (12) of the said jaw, said strap being fitted to the seat on the two sides of the said limb of the jaw close to the said limb.

Preferably said seat (3) has a rigid base and a non-rigid top, and means are provided for fitting said seat on to the movable jaw of the said clamp through the said rigid base, said means for fitting the seat on to the said rigid base passing through the said rigid base from above or from below. This again enables a strong fit for the seat.

Preferably the carrier is provided with the said seat fitted on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp. Preferably the seat (3) forms the said jaw of the clamp.

Preferably means are provided for fitting said carrier to the front or rear of the driver seat of a two wheeler such that the mouth of the jaw of the clamp faces towards the front of the vehicle and said jaw (2) has a handle provided at, close to (within reach of the fingers holding the seat at the front for lifting) or spaced to the front of the front edge (14) of the said seat (when fitted on the said jaw). This would enable lifting of the seat holding on to the said handle of the jaw.

Preferably means are provided for fitting said carrier to the front or rear of the driver seat of a two wheeler such that the mouth of the jaw of the clamp faces towards the front of the vehicle, said carrier has a jaw (2) with a downwardly extending luggage gripping member (9) located between the spokes of the platform of the carrier in the collapsed position of the clamp of the carrier, said gripping member being disposed under the said seat spaced behind the front edge (14) of the said seat in the fitted position of the said seat on the carrier, said jaw extending to the front beyond the said gripping member through the said handle supporting member (13) to form a handle (10) provided at, close to (within reach of the fingers holding the seat at the front for lifting) or spaced to the front of the front edge (14) of the said fitted seat.

Preferably said jaw (2) comprises a rigid wire configured to form the ring shaped portions (11) at the two ends of the said wire for taking part in the hinged joint of the clamp, the downwardly extending luggage gripping member (9) positioned spaced from the hinged joint of the clamp, the handle supporting member (13) extending from the said gripping member away from the said hinged joint and the handle (10) positioned spaced from the said gripping member.

Preferably the luggage carrier according to the invention further comprises a two wheeler for providing the said carrier.

Preferably the two wheeler mentioned above is a bicycle.

This invention provides a seat along with the means for fitting it on a luggage carrier ( having a platform (1) and an integrated spring-loaded clamp having a hingedly attached movable jaw (2) ) to be provided to the front or rear of the driver seat of a two wheeler characterized in that said means are provided for the rigid fitting of said seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the spring loaded clamp of the luggage carrier such that said seat is exposed at the top for sitting in the closed position of the said clamp, said movable jaw along with the said fitted seat capable of being lifted up together for holding the luggage within the clamp. Preferably the seat (3) has a flat shape.

Brief description of the drawings.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate the same or similar elements and in which: Fig.l: is the perspective view of the luggage carrier of a bicycle according to the invention, the spring-loaded clamp of the carrier being shown in an imaginary pulled up position; Fig.2: is the bottom view of the luggage carrier shown in Fig.l with the spring-loaded clamp in the collapsed position;

Fig.3: is the enlarged bottom view of a portion of the luggage carrier shown in Figs.l and 2.

Fig.4: is a pictorial view of the jaw of the spring-loaded clamp of another embodiment of the bicycle carrier according to the invention, the jaw being viewed from above and the side.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

The luggage carrier of a bicycle shown in the figures has a platform (1), an integrated spring-loaded clamp having a hingedly attached movable jaw (2) configured to act on the said platform and a seat (3) provided on the said jaw (2) of the clamp.

The embodiment according to Figs.l to 3.

Means for mounting the carrier at the rear of the bicycle is provided by the rigid connecting straps (4) and the front attachment bracket (5). The cut section of this connecting strap is being shown in the bottom view shown in Fig.2. The spring-loaded clamp has a spring (6) operating on the jaw (2) of the clamp. The seat (3) has a rigid base and a non-rigid top portion. The rigid metal straps (7) are provided on the under side of the seat embracing the jaw (2) as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The straps (7) fix the seat (3) to the jaw (2) of the clamp without displacement with the help of the screws (8) as shown in the figures. Here the means for fitting the seat on to the jaw extends upwards from said jaw for attachment to the adjoining portion of the seat close to the attachment site with the said jaw thus ensuring a strong fit. Non-rigid straps tightly fitted with screws, embracing the individual limbs of the jaw from below on to the seat (as shown in the figures) can also hold the seat to the jaw of the clamp. (9) is the luggage gripping member at the front end of the jaw (2) of the clamp that goes down into the gap between the spokes of the platform (1). It will be noted that the screws (8) that also form the means for fitting the seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp pass through the said rigid base of the seat from below. Instead bolts passed through the said rigid base from above and fitted through nuts can also fix the seat on to the jaw (2). The above means for providing a suitable seat on to the movable jaw of the spring-loaded clamp of a carrier is economical and sturdy.

On pulling up the jaw (2) of the clamp or the seat (3) the jaw along with the fitted seat is lifted up for keeping the luggage within the clamp. In Fig.1 the pulled up seat along with the jaw of the clamp is being shown in an imaginary pulled up position, the luggage being left out of the figure.

When the luggage is removed the jaw (2) of the clamp along with the seat (3) collapses on the platform (1) and the additional passenger can use the carrier with seat as a pillion for riding. In this way the luggage carrier according to the invention can shift between the two functional positions without having to make any troublesome changes on the seat fittings in between.

The embodiment according to Fig.4.

The seat has to have maximum possible length for comfort. A defect of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is that the jaw of the carrier has to be lifted up against the spring of the clamp holding on to the seat. The hold on the seat at the front with the tips of the fingers against a strong spring may not be adequate and this pulling action may be uncomfortable. Repeated operations may also weaken the joint between the jaw and the seat over a course of time. The problem can be solved by providing a long jaw and a reasonably long seat with the terminal gripping member of the jaw provided at, close to (within reach of the fingers holding the seat at the front for lifting) or preferably spaced to the front of the front edge of the said fitted seat. But a gripping member disposed at the position of conventional bicycle luggage carriers is preferred for carrying the cargo usually carried by bicycles. In the embodiment according to Fig.4 means are provided whereby a long seat can be provided on the jaw of the spring-loaded clamp of the carrier, the gripping member being disposed at the conventional position (of a short jaw) and the seat capable of being lifted up holding on to the jaw of the carrier. A jaw made from a single rigid wire can also be used here as in conventional luggage carriers.

The jaw (2) of the spring-loaded clamp of the embodiment of the carrier according to the invention shown in Fig.4 is made from a single rigid wire and has the two limbs (12) of the jaw touching the seat. The ring shaped terminal ends (11) of the limbs of the jaw take part in the hinged joint of the clamp. The position of the seat (3) when kept fixed over the said jaw is shown by the rectangular enclosure marked by the phantom lines. The front edge of this seat is denoted as (14). The limbs (12) of the jaw (2) dip downwards and then inwards on the two sides to form the luggage gripping member (9). The limbs then ascend upwards to touch the seat. The gripping member (9) further extends forwards as the handle supporting member (13) that ends in the handle (10). In this embodiment the limbs (12), the handle supporting member (13) and the handle (10) are in the same horizontal plane in the collapsed position of the clamp, the contact edge of the luggage gripping member (9) being positioned at a lower level. The other features of this embodiment are the same as for the^' embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. The handle (10) positioned spaced from the front edge (14) of the seat would be located in the gap in the frame of the platform (1) in the collapsed position of the said clamp and can be grasped comfortably by the hand. The seat and the attached jaw are comfortably lifted up against the strong spring of the clamp holding on to the handle (10). There is no undue strain exerted on the joint between the seat and the said jaw during this lifting up. The luggage is adequately grasped by the gripping member (9). Since the gripping member (9) is provided spaced behind the front edge (14) of the seat the hold on the luggage is almost equal to that of conventional carriers (that usually have a short jaw). Gripping member of desired depth can also be provided as it dips down into the gap between the spokes of the platform (1) in the collapsed position of the clamp. The above configuration for the jaw permits seats of adequate length to be fitted over the carrier without interfering with the luggage holding function.

In another embodiment of the luggage carrier according to the invention the above described rigid base of the seat can replace the metal jaw (2) of the clamp shown in the figures. This can then act as the jaw of the spring-loaded clamp for holding the luggage.

Claims

Claims. 1 claim:

1. A luggage carrier for a two wheeler, comprising a platform (1), a spring-loaded clamp having a hingedly attached movable jaw (2) configured to act on the said platform, and means for providing the carrier to the front or rear of the driver seat of a two wheeler, characterized in that a seat (3) is provided for fitting on the carrier and means are provided for the fitting of the said seat on to the movable jaw of the said clamp such that said seat is exposed at the top for sitting in the closed position of the said clamp, said movable jaw along with the fitted seat capable of being lifted up together for holding the luggage within the clamp.

2. The luggage carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for the rigid fitting of the said seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp.

3. The luggage carrier as claimed in in claims 1 or 2, wherein means are provided for fitting said seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp through rigid fasteners.

4. The luggage carrier as claimed in in claims 1 or 2, wherein said means for fitting the seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp includes screws, bolts, nails, rivets, rigid straps, wires, welding, brazing or soldering to be applied between the two.

5. The luggage carrier as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said means for fitting the seat on to the said jaw extends from the said jaw for attachment to the adjoining portion of the seat close to the attachment site with the said jaw.

6. The luggage carrier as claimed in claim 5, wherein said jaw comprises rigid limbs and the said means for attachment to the adjoining portion of the seat is provided close to the attachment site with the said limb(s).

7. The luggage carrier as claimed in claims 5 or 6, wherein means are provided for fitting said seat on to the movable jaw of the said clamp through a strap(s) provided under the individual limbs (12) of the said jaw, said strap being fitted to the seat on the two sides of the said limb of the jaw close to the said limb.

8. The luggage carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said seat (3) has a rigid base and a non-rigid top, and means are provided for fitting said seat on to the movable jaw of the said clamp through the said rigid base, said means for fitting the seat on to the said rigid base passing through the said rigid base from above or from below.

9. The luggage carrier as claimed in in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the carrier is provided with the said seat fitted on to the movable jaw (2) of the said clamp.

10. The luggage carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat forms the said jaw of the clamp.

11. The luggage carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein means are provided for fitting said carrier to the front or rear of the driver seat of a two wheeler such that the mouth of the jaw of the clamp faces towards the front of the vehicle and said jaw (2) has a handle provided at, close to or spaced to the front of the front edge (14) of the said seat (when fitted on the said jaw).

12. The luggage carrier as claimed in in any one of claims 1 to 9 or 11, wherein means are provided for fitting said carrier to the front or rear of the driver seat of a two wheeler such that the mouth of the jaw of the clamp faces towards the front of the vehicle, said carrier has a jaw (2) with a downwardly extending luggage gripping member (9) located between the spokes of the platform of the carrier in the collapsed position of the clamp of the carrier, said gripping member being disposed under the said seat spaced behind the front edge (14) of the said seat in the fitted position of the said seat on the carrier, said jaw extending to the front beyond the said gripping member through the said handle supporting member (13) to form a handle (10) provided at, close to or spaced to the front of the front edge (14) of the said fitted seat.

13. The luggage carrier as claimed in in any one of claims 1 to 9 or 11, wherein said jaw (2) comprises a rigid wire configured to form the ring shaped portions (11) at the two ends of the said wire for taking part in the hinged joint of the clamp, the downwardly extending luggage gripping member (9) positioned spaced from the hinged joint of the clamp, the handle supporting member (13) extending from the said gripping member away from the said hinged joint and the handle (10) positioned spaced from the said gripping member.

14. The luggage carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a two wheeler for providing the said carrier.

15. The luggage carrier as claimed in claim 14, wherein said two wheeler is a bicycle.

16. A seat along with the means for fitting it on a luggage carrier ( having a platform (1) and an integrated spring-loaded clamp having a hingedly attached movable jaw (2) ) to be provided to the front or rear of the driver seat of a two wheeler characterized in that said means are provided for the rigid fitting of said seat on to the movable jaw (2) of the spring loaded clamp of the luggage carrier such that said seat is exposed at the top for sitting in the closed position of the said clamp, said movable jaw along with the said fitted seat capable of being lifted up together for holding the luggage within the clamp.

17. A luggage carrier for a two wheeler or a two wheeler provided with a luggage carrier or a seat along with the means for fitting it on a luggage carrier substantially as herein described and illustrated.