bicycle luggage carrier system

Abstract

Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A), comprising two plates, namely - a luggage carrier plate (12) that can be permanently installed on a bicycle and - an adapter plate (14, 14A) which can be detachably attached to the luggage carrier plate (12) and locked to it, characterized in that the two plates (12; 14, 14A) are equipped with cooperating locking means, comprising - Interlocking means which, by placing the two plates (12; 14, 14A) on top of each other and twisting them, enter a locking position in which the adapter plate (14, 14A) cannot be lifted from the luggage carrier plate (12), and - manually releasable locking devices by which the plates (12; 14, 14A) are held in the locking position and prevented from rotating.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bicycle luggage carrier system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Bicycle luggage carrier systems are known in various designs. Besides the relatively simple luggage carriers that are a fixed structural component of the bicycle, there are systems that can be attached to or mounted on the permanently installed components of such carriers, allowing baskets, bags, or similar items to be securely attached to the bicycle yet easily removable. For this purpose, various adapter systems exist, for example, which can be detachably connected to the permanently installed components of the bicycle and may feature different locking and securing mechanisms.

[0003] Here, reliably securing the load to be transported and easily detaching it from the bicycle present a conflict of objectives. The more secure the attachment, the more complicated it often becomes to detach the load from the bicycle.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a bicycle luggage carrier system that allows for easy and secure attachment of the load to the bicycle, but is equally easy to remove by hand.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by a bicycle luggage carrier system with the features of claim 1.

[0006] The bicycle luggage carrier system comprises two plates: a luggage carrier plate that is permanently installed on the bicycle and an adapter plate that can be detachably attached to the luggage carrier plate and locked to it. Both plates are equipped with interacting locking mechanisms. These include engagement elements that, when the two plates are placed on top of each other and twisted relative to one another, lock the adapter plate into a position in which it cannot be lifted from the luggage carrier plate. Manually releasable safety devices further secure the plates in the locked position, preventing rotation.

[0007] While the luggage carrier plate is designed to form an integral part of the bicycle, the adapter plate should be easily detachable from the luggage carrier plate at any time. The adapter plate can be permanently attached to the base of a transport container, such as a basket or cargo box, thus serving to securely mount this container to the luggage carrier plate. However, the adapter plate itself can also form the base of a container that holds cargo. Furthermore, the adapter plate can be equipped with additional means for securing a transported load, such as snap fasteners, straps, or the like, which hold the load in place on the adapter plate. Such possibilities are freely configurable within the scope of the present invention.

[0008] The connection between the luggage carrier plate and the adapter plate is easily established by placing the adapter plate onto the luggage carrier plate and twisting it relative to the carrier plate, so that the two plates lock into a position from which they cannot easily separate. Accidental release of the lock is prevented by the locking mechanism, which can be easily released by hand.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the engagement means comprise at least one pin with an extended head projecting onto one of the two plates, and at least one elongated hole provided in the other plate for receiving the pin and extending in a circular arc around an axis of rotation, wherein the elongated hole has a wider end into which the head of the pin can be inserted by placing the two plates on top of each other, and an opposite narrower end from which the head cannot be pulled out of the elongated hole contrary to the insertion direction, wherein the pin inserted into the elongated hole is brought into the locking position by sliding along the extension direction towards the narrower end of the elongated hole.

[0010] The pins and slots are arranged in the two plates such that when the adapter plate is placed on the luggage carrier plate, the pins engage in the wider ends of the slots. The adapter plate can then be rotated relative to the luggage carrier plate, allowing the pins to slide to the narrower ends of the slots. Due to their enlarged heads, the pins cannot then be easily removed from the slots by simply lifting the adapter plate. The plates are thus locked against each other in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0011] In the context of the present invention, an "expansion" of the heads of the pins is understood to mean a radial expansion, i.e., a thickening in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the pins. The heads can therefore, for example, be essentially mushroom-shaped, such that their diameter is larger than the width of the elongated holes at their narrower ends.

[0012] The term "axis of rotation" here refers to an axis that is perpendicular to the surface plane of the plate in which the elongated holes are provided. The term "axis of rotation" describes a rotation of the two plates relative to each other, during which the pins slide along the elongated holes.

[0013] The number of slots and pins can be selected according to the specific application. For example, two such arc-shaped slots can be arranged opposite each other with respect to the axis of rotation, with the arc segments that the slots follow having the axis of rotation as their center point. It is understood that the pins are then provided on the other plate at intervals corresponding to the intervals of the slots, allowing for a precise fit of the pins within the slots. The dimensions of the pins and slots can be coordinated to ensure that insertion and rotation into the locking position are as simple and frictionless as possible, while the locking mechanism, which can be independent of the geometry of the pins and slots, secures the pins in the locked position.It is also conceivable to have an arrangement with only a single elongated hole and only one pin that is assigned to this elongated hole and can be inserted into it.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the engagement means comprise at least a pair of pins arranged opposite each other with respect to the axis of rotation, and a pair of correspondingly arranged elongated holes, each of which is arranged to receive a pin of the pair of pins.

[0015] Preferably, the locking means are arranged on at least one elongated hole and are designed such that a pin inserted into the wider end of this elongated hole can pass the locking means while sliding into the locking position and, in the locked position, is prevented from sliding in the opposite direction by the locking means in their unlocked locking position.

[0016] If necessary, the locking devices must be released so that a pin can move along the elongated hole to its narrower end, i.e., into its locking position. Once there, the locking devices can be engaged, preventing the pin from sliding back and ensuring the plates are locked together. An asymmetrical design of the locking devices is also possible, allowing a pin to pass through them with relatively little resistance in the direction of the locking position, but blocking it in the opposite direction. This blockage must be released manually.

[0017] The safety devices can, for example, be designed so that they can be released manually with a certain amount of force and automatically return to their locked position when no force is applied. Various designs for the safety devices are conceivable within this framework, such as spring-loaded detents or similar mechanisms.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking means comprise a spring leaf which is attached at one of its ends to the plate in which the at least one elongated hole is provided, which spring leaf rests against this plate in its unreleased locking position, extends over the elongated hole and its free end can be lifted from the plate against the spring tension.

[0019] This spring leaf can, for example, be designed as a resilient strip of sheet metal, screwed to the plate near the axis of rotation and extending over the edge of the plate so that its free end is easily accessible by hand. Without force being applied, the spring leaf rests against the plate. If the spring leaf is slightly lifted by hand, the head of the pin can slide under the spring leaf into the locking position. When the spring leaf is then released, it rests against the plate again and assumes a locking position in which the pin cannot pass the spring leaf from the other side, i.e., from the locked position.

[0020] Preferably, the locking means comprise a lug attached to a side edge of the spring leaf facing away from the locking position. This lug is chamfered such that the head of the pin can slide under the spring leaf when it comes into contact with the lug. The lug thus facilitates the pin sliding into the locking position without the need to lift the spring leaf. The side edge opposite the lug is not equipped with such means, so that the pin is prevented from sliding out of the locking position through the spring leaf in the opposite direction, unless the spring leaf is manually lifted and thus released.

[0021] Preferably, the luggage carrier plate is the plate that has elongated holes, while the adapter plate carries the pins.

[0022] Furthermore, the luggage rack plate is preferably round.

[0023] According to another preferred embodiment, the adapter plate is round.

[0024] According to an alternative embodiment, the adapter plate is rectangular. In this case, the luggage carrier plate can also be round.

[0025] Preferably, the adapter plate includes connecting means for attaching it to the base of a container. This container can hold a transported item. The connecting means could, for example, be screw holes.

[0026] Preferably, the adapter plate forms the bottom of a container.

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the bicycle luggage carrier system according to the invention, taken obliquely from above; Fig. 2 is a top view of the bicycle luggage carrier system made of Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bicycle luggage carrier system. Fig. 1 diagonally from below; Fig. 4 is a view of the bicycle luggage carrier system from Fig. 1 from the bottom; Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are detailed views of areas C and D from Fig. 4; and Fig. 6A is a view of area C from Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 from the front; and Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bicycle luggage carrier system according to the invention.

[0028] Fig. Figure 1 shows a bicycle luggage carrier system 10, which represents an embodiment of the present invention. This bicycle luggage carrier system 10 is designed to be mounted on structural components of the bicycle, such as a permanently installed bicycle luggage structure, which is not shown here and is not the subject of the present invention.

[0029] The present bicycle luggage carrier system 10 comprises two plates: a luggage carrier plate 12, which is to be permanently installed on the bicycle, and an adapter plate 14, which is detachably attached to the luggage carrier plate 12 and lockable to it. The locking mechanism is described in more detail below.

[0030] As especially in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the luggage carrier plate 12 has mounting elements 16, 18 on its underside, which clamping jaws (in Fig. 3 (example, designated by 20) for clamping onto two parallel struts of a bicycle luggage carrier. The clamping jaws 20 can be screwed tight so that the luggage carrier plate 12 is firmly installed on the bicycle. As in Fig. As can be seen in the top view, the mounting elements 16, 18 can be moved laterally relative to each other along elongated holes 22 and their distance from each other can be adjusted laterally. They can be fixed at this distance by clamping screws 24.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the luggage carrier plate 12 is round, while the adapter plate 14 is rectangular and is dimensioned and arranged such that it only protrudes slightly beyond the edge of the luggage carrier plate 12 at its corners.

[0032] The luggage carrier plate 12 and the adapter plate 14 are equipped with cooperating locking means, which are secured by the Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 will be described in more detail. These include means of engagement which, by placing the two plates—the luggage carrier plate 12 and the adapter plate 14—on top of each other and twisting them relative to each other, are locked into a position in which the adapter plate 14 cannot be lifted from the luggage carrier plate 12. This locking position is described in the Fig. Figures 1 to 6 are shown. Furthermore, manually releasable locking devices are provided, by which plates 12 and 14 are held in the locked position and prevented from rotating.

[0033] According to Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 6A The adapter plate 14 is provided on its underside with pins 30, which are perpendicular to the plane of the plate and have enlarged heads 32 at their free ends. The term "enlarged" here means that the heads 32 have a larger diameter than the shafts of the pins 30, which are not visible in the figures. Overall, the pins 30 are thus approximately mushroom-shaped. In the present embodiment, two such pins 30 are provided, which are arranged opposite each other with respect to the center point 34 of the luggage carrier plate 12 and at the same distance from the center point 34.

[0034] The luggage carrier plate 12 is provided with two elongated holes 40, which serve to receive the pins 30. The elongated holes 40 extend as arc segments around the center 34 of the luggage carrier plate 12, i.e., the center 34 of the luggage carrier plate 12 simultaneously forms the midpoint of these arc segments. Like the pins 30, the elongated holes 40 are also arranged exactly opposite each other with respect to the center 34 and are equidistant from it.

[0035] Details of the in Fig. 4 upper elongated holes 40 are in Fig. 5 shown, which is a section of the Fig. The area designated "D" in section 4 is represented. The following details of slot 40 are described as representative of both slots.

[0036] According to Fig. Figure 5 shows that the elongated hole 40 represents a complete penetration of the luggage carrier plate 12. The elongated hole 40 has a wider end 42, which is machined into a circular hole whose diameter in the transverse direction is larger than that of the remaining section of the elongated hole 40. The opposite end 44 of the elongated hole 40 is therefore narrower than the wider end 42. In this narrower end 44 lies Fig. 5 one of the pins 30. It is clearly evident that the diameter of the head 32 of the pin 30 is larger than the width of the narrower end 44 of the elongated hole 40. In contrast, the shank of the pin 30, which is not shown in detail, is so thin that it can pass through the elongated hole 40 lengthwise and be guided within it. The diameter of the head 32 is smaller than the width of the wider end 42. Thus, the pin can be inserted into the wider end 42 of the elongated hole 40 in an insertion direction perpendicular to the plane of the luggage carrier plate 12 and then pushed along the elongated hole 40 to its narrower end 44, as shown in Fig. Figure 5 shows this position. This position represents a locking position of the two plates 12 and 14.

[0037] In this locking position, the heads 32 of the pins 30 prevent the adapter plate 14 from being lifted off the luggage carrier plate 12, since the heads 32 cannot be pulled out of the narrower end 44 of the elongated holes 40 in the opposite direction to their insertion direction.

[0038] The locking position can thus be achieved by placing the adapter plate 14 precisely onto the luggage carrier plate 12, so that the heads 32 of the pins 30 enter the wider ends 42 of the elongated holes 40, and then the adapter plate 14 is rotated about a pivot axis that coincides with the center 34 of the luggage carrier plate 12, relative to the luggage carrier plate 12, so that the pins 30 slide along the elongated holes 40 into the locking position during this rotation.

[0039] The pins 30 and the elongated holes 40 thus constitute cooperating engagement means which, by placing the two plates 12 and 14 on top of each other and rotating them relative to one another, move into their locking position, in which the adapter plate 14 cannot be lifted from the luggage carrier plate 12. Within the scope of the present invention, the arrangement of the engagement means can be reversed such that the pins 30 project vertically onto the luggage carrier plate 12 and the elongated holes 40 are provided in the adapter plate.

[0040] In addition to the intervention means described above, the present bicycle luggage carrier system includes 10 locking devices that can be released by hand and by which the plates are held in the locking position shown, preventing rotation.

[0041] In the present embodiment, these securing means comprise a spring leaf 50, which is screwed at one of its ends to the underside of the luggage carrier plate 12 by two screws 52, which is particularly in Fig. 4 is clearly visible. The spring leaf 50 is very narrow and extends approximately from the center 34 of the luggage carrier plate 12 radially outwards (albeit not geometrically exactly) over the edge of the luggage carrier plate 12. The free outer end 54 of the spring leaf 50 can be grasped by hand, and the spring leaf 50 can thereby be lifted from the luggage carrier plate 12 against the spring force (or, in the mounting position of the bicycle luggage carrier system 10, pushed downwards away from the underside of the luggage carrier plate 12). When the free end 54 of the spring leaf 50 is released, it automatically returns to the underside of the luggage carrier plate 12. The spring leaf 50 can, for example, be made of metal.

[0042] The leaf spring 50 extends across the in Fig. 4 elongated holes shown below, 40 across, as detailed in Fig. 6 is shown, which represents the area “C”. Fig. Figure 4 is shown enlarged. In the inset position, the spring leaf 50 thus extends over the area of ​​the elongated hole 40 between a wider end 42 and its narrower end 44. The pin 30 inserted into the wider end 42 can be moved with its head 32 along the elongated hole 40 towards the narrower end 44 by its head 32 engaging a chamfered lug 51, which is attached laterally to the spring leaf 50 and whose underside facing the plate 12 is angled at approximately 45° relative to the underside of the spring leaf 50 (see Fig. 6A). The edge of the head 32 is itself chamfered so that it can slide under the chamfered nose 51 and further under the spring leaf 50 and finally slide under the spring leaf 50 into the locking position, which is in Fig. Figure 6 illustrates this. In the locked position, the spring leaf 50, which rests against the luggage carrier plate 12, prevents the pin 30 from being returned from the narrower end 44 along the elongated hole 40 towards the wider end 42 by its side edge opposite the nose 51. Thus, the spring leaf 50 acts as a locking device, preventing the plates 12 and 14 from rotating to release the locked position. To release this locking device, the spring leaf 50 is lifted from the luggage carrier plate 12 as described (or, in the mounting position of the bicycle luggage carrier system 10, pressed down slightly) so that the head 32 of the pin 30 can slide back towards the wider end 42, passing over the spring leaf 50.

[0043] The spring leaf 50 thus represents a simple and reliable, yet easily removable by hand, locking device which holds the plates 12 and 14 in their locking position.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the adapter plate 14 is provided with screw holes, which serve, by way of example, as connecting means for attaching it to the base of a transport container (not shown), which can be screwed to the top of the adapter plate 14. However, the adapter plate 14 itself can also form the base of a container for holding goods to be transported, such as a basket, a box, or the like. Finally, the present adapter plate 14 can be provided with additional means (not shown) for securing a transport load to its top surface, such as straps, snap fasteners, or the like.

[0045] Fig.Figure 7 represents a further embodiment of the bicycle luggage carrier system 10A, which includes a round adapter plate 14A that has a smaller diameter than the luggage carrier plate 12. The locking means, including the engagement means comprising the described pins 30 and the elongated holes 40, and the securing means in the form of a spring leaf 50 are the same as in the first embodiment of the bicycle luggage carrier system 10 and will therefore not be described in detail here.

Claims

[1] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A), comprising two plates, namely - a luggage carrier plate (12) that can be permanently installed on a bicycle and - an adapter plate (14, 14A) which can be detachably attached to the luggage carrier plate (12) and locked to it, characterized by , that the two plates (12; 14, 14A) are equipped with cooperating locking means, comprising - Interlocking means which, by placing the two plates (12; 14, 14A) on top of each other and twisting them, enter a locking position in which the adapter plate (14, 14A) cannot be lifted from the luggage carrier plate (12), and - manually releasable locking devices by which the plates (12; 14, 14A) are held in the locking position and prevented from rotating. [2] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the intervention measures include: - at least one pin (30) with an extended head (32) projecting from one of the two plates (12; 14, 14A), and - at least one elongated hole (40) which is provided in the other plate to receive the pins (30) and extends in a circular arc around an axis of rotation, wherein the elongated hole (40) has a wider end (42) into which the head (32) of the pin (30) can be inserted by placing the two plates (12; 14, 14A) on top of each other, and an opposite narrower end (44) from which the head (32) cannot be pulled out of the elongated hole in the opposite direction to the insertion direction, and that the pin (30) inserted into the elongated hole (40) slides into the locking position along the direction of extension towards the narrower end (44) of the elongated hole (40). [3] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to claim 2, characterized by, that the engagement means comprise at least a pair of pins (30) arranged opposite each other with respect to the axis of rotation, and a pair of correspondingly arranged elongated holes (40), each of which is arranged to receive a pin (30) of the pair of pins (30). [4] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that the locking means are arranged on at least one elongated hole (40) and are designed such that a pin (30) inserted into the wider end (42) of this elongated hole (40) can pass the locking means while sliding into the locking position and is prevented from sliding in the opposite direction by the locking means in the locking position. [5] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to claim 4, characterized by, that the locking means comprise a spring leaf (50) which is attached at one of its ends to the plate (12) in which the at least one elongated hole (40) is provided, which spring leaf (50) in its unreleased locking position rests against this plate (12), extends over the elongated hole (40) and its free end (54) can be lifted from the plate (12) against the spring tension. [6] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the locking means comprise a nose (51) attached to a side edge of the leaf spring (50) facing away from the locking position, the nose (51) being chamfered such that the head (32) of the pin (30) can slide under the leaf spring (50) when it runs onto the nose (51). [7] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by, that the luggage carrier plate (12) is the plate which is provided with the elongated holes (40), while the adapter plate (14, 14A) carries the pins (30). [8] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the luggage carrier plate (12) is round. [9] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10A) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the adapter plate (14A) is round. [10] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the adapter plate (14) is rectangular. [11] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the adapter plate (14, 14A) includes connecting means for connection to the bottom of a container. [12] Bicycle luggage carrier system (10, 10A) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that the adapter plate (14, 14A) represents the bottom of a container.

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