Rear carrier and bicycle

Abstract

With its simple design, it achieves both cargo bed loading functionality and user-friendliness. [Solution] The rear carrier 1 includes a luggage rack that extends horizontally when attached to an upright bicycle. The luggage rack has a front section 1F, a rear wide section 1B located behind the front section 1F and wider in the left-right direction than the front section 1F, and a transition section 1T connecting the front section 1F and the rear wide section 1B.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear carrier and a bicycle.

Background Art

[0002] Various configurations of rear carriers for bicycles have been disclosed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-518413 (Patent Document 1) discloses an adjustable bicycle rack with variable height for a bicycle including wide tires. Japanese Patent No. 4924927 (Patent Document 2) discloses a carrier for a bicycle including a carrier body and a pair of left and right vertical members. A circular lock is provided on the pair of left and right vertical members. Japanese Patent No. 4789693 (Patent Document 3) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-146183 (Patent Document 4) disclose a configuration for attaching a child seat, i.e., a child seat, to a carrier. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-213308 (Patent Document 5) discloses a detachable storage type wide frame for easily widening a rear carrier of a bicycle. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-290278 (Patent Document 6) discloses a two-wheeled vehicle including a carrier and a gripping portion attached to the carrier. The gripping portion can project and be stored in the width direction of the vehicle body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventional bicycle rear carriers, as shown in the aforementioned prior literature, typically have a nearly constant width, often slightly narrower at the front. From the perspective of cargo capacity, a wider carrier is preferable. On the other hand, if the carrier is too wide, it can easily interfere with neighboring bicycles when parked side-by-side in a bicycle parking area. Furthermore, the carrier can easily interfere with operations such as deploying the kickstand and locking and unlocking the bicycle. Making the carrier width variable would complicate its structure.

[0005] Therefore, this invention discloses a rear carrier and bicycle that have a simple structure and can achieve both a cargo bed loading function and user operability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (Composition 1) An embodiment of the present invention includes a rear carrier that extends horizontally when attached to an upright bicycle. The carrier has a front section, a rear wide section located behind the front section and wider in the lateral direction than the front section, and a transition section connecting the front section and the rear wide section. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side view showing an example of the bicycle configuration in this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example configuration of the rear carrier 1 shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a top view showing an example configuration of the rear carrier 1 shown in Figure 2, viewed from above. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a top view showing an example configuration of the rear carrier 1 with a child seat attached, viewed from above. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a top view showing an example configuration of a rear carrier 1 with a child seat attached, viewed from above. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a side view of the child seat and rear carrier shown in Figures 4 and 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (Composition 1) An embodiment of the present invention includes a rear carrier that extends horizontally when attached to an upright bicycle. The carrier has a front section, a rear wide section located behind the front section and wider in the lateral direction than the front section, and a transition section connecting the front section and the rear wide section.

[0009] According to the above configuration 1, the wide rear section and transition section ensure the loading capacity of the cargo bed. Furthermore, the narrowing of the width at the front reduces interference with the outside of the cargo bed and prevents the cargo bed from interfering with user operation. Therefore, a simple configuration can achieve both cargo bed loading capacity and user operability.

[0010] When the rear carrier is attached to an upright bicycle, the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-and-down directions of the rear carrier coincide with the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-and-down directions of the bicycle, respectively. In configuration 1 above, the front, rear, and left-to-right directions are all the front, rear, and left-to-right directions of the rear carrier. The upright state of the bicycle is when the vertical axis (yaw axis) of the frame coincides with the vertical direction (direction of gravity).

[0011] The front section and the transition section are formed continuously, and the transition section and the rear wide section are also formed continuously. Viewed from above, the outer edge of the cargo bed is curved at the boundary between the front section and the transition section, and at the boundary between the transition section and the rear wide section.

[0012] The outer periphery of the cargo bed may be formed by pipes or rods. In this case, the pipes or rods forming the outer periphery may have a closed shape when viewed from above. That is, the outer periphery of the cargo bed may be formed by pipes or rods extending around its entire circumference. This increases the rigidity of the cargo bed and enhances its loading capacity while ensuring user operability. In this case, when viewed from above, the pipes or rods forming the outer periphery are bent at the boundary between the front and the transition section, and also bent at the boundary between the transition section and the rear wide section.

[0013] The outer peripheral portion of the loading platform may be formed by joining both ends of two bent pipes or rods respectively. Thereby, an outer peripheral portion having a closed shape can be formed with a simple structure.

[0014] The front portion may include a portion that extends in the front-rear direction with a constant width in the left-right direction. Thereby, the shape of the loading platform can be made into a shape that is less likely to interfere with the user's operation. For example, the width in the left-right direction may be constant throughout the entire front portion.

[0015] From the perspective of user operability, the ratio of the front-rear dimension of the front portion to the total front-rear length of the loading platform is preferably 1 / 5 or more, and more preferably 1 / 4. Also, from the perspective of the loading function of the loading platform, the above ratio is preferably 2 / 3 or less, and more preferably 1 / 2 or less.

[0016] The front-rear dimension of the rear widened portion can be made longer than the front-rear dimension of the front portion. Thereby, it becomes easier to ensure the loading performance of the loading platform. The front-rear dimension of the rear widened portion can be made longer than the front-rear dimension of the transition portion. Thereby, it becomes easier to ensure the loading performance of the loading platform. For example, the front-rear dimension of the rear widened portion can be made longer than either the front-rear dimension of the front portion or the front-rear dimension of the transition portion. The front-rear dimension of the transition portion can be made shorter than either the front-rear dimension of the front portion or the front-rear dimension of the rear widened portion in the front-rear direction. Thereby, it becomes easier to achieve both the loading function of the loading platform and user operability.

[0017] The luggage rack extends horizontally when attached to an upright bicycle. This configuration ensures that when a flat board is placed on the luggage rack of an upright bicycle, the inclination of the surface of the board in contact with the luggage rack relative to the horizontal plane is within 7 degrees. In other words, the direction in which the luggage rack extends when attached to an upright bicycle includes cases where it is exactly aligned with the horizontal plane, as well as cases where it is within 7 degrees relative to the horizontal plane. To put it another way, the luggage rack extends in a direction within 7 degrees of the horizontal direction when attached to an upright bicycle. Preferably, the angle of the direction in which the luggage rack extends relative to the horizontal plane when attached to an upright bicycle is within 5 degrees, and more preferably within 3 degrees.

[0018] (Configuration 2) In the above configuration 1, the rear carrier may further include a front support portion that connects the front portion to the bicycle frame and supports the front portion relative to the frame, and a rear support portion that is provided between the rear wide portion and the bicycle frame and supports the rear wide portion. As a result, both the front portion and the rear wide portion are connected to the frame by the support portions. Therefore, the loading capacity of the cargo rack is further enhanced.

[0019] (Composition 3) In the above configuration 1 or 2, the width of the transition section in the left-right direction may increase towards the rear. This makes it easier to balance the loading function of the cargo bed with the operability of the user.

[0020] (Composition 4) In any of the above configurations 1 to 3, the cargo bed may have an outer perimeter that forms a closed shape when viewed from above, and a connecting member that connects the right and left sides of the outer perimeter. This can further increase the strength of the cargo bed.

[0021] (Composition 5) In any of the above configurations 1 to 4, the rear wide portion of the cargo bed may include a narrowing portion where the width in the left-right direction narrows towards the rear. This ensures the functionality of the cargo bed while minimizing interference with the outside of the rear of the cargo bed and preventing the rear of the cargo bed from interfering with user operation.

[0022] (Composition 6) In the above configuration 5, the cargo bed may further have a narrow rear section that extends rearward from the narrowed section of the wide rear section and is narrower in the left-right direction than the front section. This makes it less likely for the rear of the cargo bed to interfere with the outside or for the rear of the cargo bed to interfere with user operation.

[0023] (Composition 7) The bicycle in the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a rear carrier having any of the above configurations 1 to 6. The bicycle further comprises a child seat attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier. The luggage rack has an outer perimeter that forms a closed shape when viewed from above. The left and right ends of the mounting surface of the child seat to the rear carrier are located outside the inner edges of the portions that form the left and right sides of the outer perimeter of the luggage rack when viewed from above. This prevents the user from inserting their fingers between the mounting surface and the luggage rack from the left and right of the child seat.

[0024] When a child seat is attached to the rear rack of an upright bicycle, the mounting surface of the child seat to the rear carrier will have an inclination of 7 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0025] (Composition 8) The bicycle in the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a rear carrier of any of the above configurations 1 to 7. The bicycle further comprises a child seat attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier. The luggage rack has an outer perimeter that forms a closed shape when viewed from above. The rear end of the mounting surface of the child seat to the rear carrier is located inside the inner edge of the portion that forms the rear edge of the outer perimeter of the luggage rack when viewed from above. This allows the user to hold the rear edge portion of the outer perimeter of the luggage rack. Therefore, the user's operability is improved.

[0026] (Composition 9) In the above configuration 8, when viewed from above, a space is formed between the rear end of the mounting surface and the inner edge of the portion forming the rear edge of the outer periphery into which four fingers can be inserted. This makes it easier for the user to hold the rear edge of the outer periphery of the cargo bed. For example, it is preferable that the portion of the space with a length of 2 cm or more in the front-to-back direction is continuous for 8 cm or more in the left-to-right direction. It is also preferable that the maximum dimension of the space in the front-to-back direction is 5 cm or less.

[0027] The bicycle in the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a rear carrier of any of the above configurations 1 to 9. The bicycle further includes a child seat attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier. The child seat may be fastened to the front part of the luggage rack and the rear wide part of the luggage rack by fasteners. This allows the child seat to be efficiently attached to the luggage rack.

[0028] (Composition 11) The bicycle in the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a rear carrier of any of the above configurations 1 to 6. The bicycle further comprises a child seat attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier. When viewed from above, at least a portion of the seat surface of the child seat is positioned to overlap with at least a portion of the transition portion of the luggage rack of the rear carrier. As a result, both feet of a child sitting in the child seat are located near the front left and right, making it less likely for the child's feet to interfere with the rear carrier. Therefore, it is less likely for the child in the child seat to have their legs spread wide.

[0029] When viewed from above, the seat surface of the child seat may be positioned so as to overlap with the entire transition section of the luggage rack of the rear carrier.

[0030] When viewed from above, at least a portion of the footrest of the child seat may be positioned on the left and right sides of the front part of the cargo bed.

[0031] In a side view, the rear end of the child seat may be located behind the rear end of the rear carrier, and the rear end of the mounting surface of the child seat may be located in front of the rear end of the rear carrier.

[0032] The following describes a rear carrier and bicycle according to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of those parts will not be repeated. In this application, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the frame are the same as the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the bicycle including the frame. The front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the bicycle refer to the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions relative to the state in which the rider is seated on the seat and holding the handlebars. The left-right direction is the same as the vehicle width direction.

[0033] Figure 1 is a side view showing an example of the bicycle configuration in this embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 1, the bicycle 100 includes a rear carrier 1 and a child seat 30. The child seat 30 is attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier. The rear carrier 1 is attached to and supported by the frame of the bicycle 100. The frame of the bicycle 100 includes a main tube 41, a seat tube 42, a chainstay 43, a seatstay 44, and a head pipe 45. The main tube 41 connects the head pipe 45 and the seat tube 42. The seatstay 44 is a rear wheel support that supports the rear wheel, and the chainstay 43 connects the seat tube 42 or the main tube 41 to the rear wheel support.

[0034] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example configuration of the rear carrier 1 shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top view showing an example configuration of the rear carrier 1 shown in Figure 2 viewed from above. The rear carrier has a cargo bed for carrying items. The cargo bed is formed to extend horizontally when the rear carrier is attached to a bicycle in an upright position. As shown in Figure 3, the cargo bed includes a front section 1F, a transition section 1T, and a rear wide section 1B. The rear wide section 1B is located behind the front section 1F. The rear wide section 1B is wider in the lateral direction than the lateral width WF of the front section 1F. The transition section 1T connects the front section 1F and the rear wide section 1B. The rear carrier 1 expands the loading capacity of the cargo bed with the rear wide section 1B while saving width at the front to improve user operability.

[0035] In the example shown in Figure 3, the outer perimeter 11 of the cargo bed, as viewed from above, is formed of a pipe. When viewed from above, the outer perimeter 11 is bent at the boundary between the front section 1F and the transition section 1T, and at the boundary between the transition section 1T and the rear wide section 1B. In other words, the first bend in the outer perimeter 11 that widens from the front is the boundary between the front section 1F and the transition section 1T, and the second bend from the front is the boundary between the transition section 1T and the rear wide section 1B. At least a portion of the outer perimeter 11 may be formed of a solid rod instead of a pipe. The outer perimeter 11 is formed to extend in a direction within 7 degrees of the horizontal plane when attached to an upright bicycle. That is, the direction of extension of the outer perimeter 11 is within 7 degrees of the horizontal plane. For example, the direction of extension of the outer perimeter 11 may coincide with the horizontal plane. Alternatively, the outer perimeter 11 may be inclined to become lower as it goes forward, and the angle of this inclination with respect to the horizontal plane may be within 7 degrees. Furthermore, the outer periphery 11 is preferably formed to extend in a direction within 5 degrees of the horizontal plane when attached to a bicycle in an upright position, and more preferably to extend in a direction within 3 degrees of the horizontal plane.

[0036] In the example shown in Figure 3, the width in the left-right direction is constant throughout the entire front section 1F. As a variation, the width in the left-right direction of the front section 1F may increase towards the rear. In such a case, the portion of the front section 1F that has a width wider than the maximum width in the left-right direction of the front section 1F becomes the rear wide section 1B.

[0037] In the example shown in Figure 3, the width of the transition section 1T in the left-right direction increases towards the rear. When viewed from above, the left and right outer peripheral sections 11 of the transition section 1T extend linearly, moving away from each other as they move towards the rear. In the rear wide section 1B, the outer peripheral sections 11 extend linearly in a different direction from that of the transition section 1T.

[0038] In the example shown in Figure 3, the rear wide section 1B includes a narrowing section where the width in the lateral direction narrows as it approaches the rear. Viewed from above, the left and right outer periphery portions 11 of the narrowing section of the rear wide section 1B extend linearly, approaching each other as they approach the rear. In the example shown in Figure 3, the entire rear wide section 1B is a narrowing section, but only a part of the rear wide section 1B may be a narrowing section. The rear wide section 1B improves loading capacity by widening the overall width, while narrowing the width in the narrowing section reduces interference with the outside and hinders user operation, thereby improving operability. The rear wide section 1B may also have a shape without a narrowing section. In this case, the width of the rear wide section 1B in the lateral direction remains constant throughout the entire front-to-rear direction.

[0039] In the example shown in Figure 3, the cargo bed of the rear carrier 1 extends rearward from the narrowed section of the rear wide section 1B and further has a rear narrow section 1SB that is narrower in the lateral direction than the front section 1F. The rear end of the cargo bed of the rear carrier 1 is included in the rear narrow section 1SB. In other words, the rear narrow section 1SB is the rear end of the cargo bed. Alternatively, the rear end of the rear carrier may also be included in the rear narrow section 1SB. This narrows the width of the rear end of the rear carrier, which is prone to interference with the outside and hinders user operation. Therefore, user operability can be further improved. It is preferable that the front-rear dimension of the rear narrow section 1SB is shorter than the front-rear dimension of the rear wide section 1B. This makes it easier to balance the cargo bed's loading function with user operability. For example, if a rear wheel lock (e.g., the circle lock 5 in Figure 1) is located under the rear carrier, providing a rear narrow section 1SB on the cargo bed of the rear carrier makes it easier to unlock and lock the lock. The rear carrier may also have a shape without a rear narrow section. In this case, the width of the rear end of the rear carrier in the lateral direction is the same as or greater than the width of the front 1F in the lateral direction.

[0040] In the example shown in Figure 3, the outer perimeter 11 of the cargo bed of the rear carrier 1 has a closed shape when viewed from above. This increases the rigidity of the cargo bed and improves its load-bearing capacity. The cargo bed also has connecting members 12a, 12b, and 12c that connect the right and left sides of the outer perimeter 11. The connecting members 12a, 12b, and 12c extend in the left-right direction. Both ends of the connecting member 12a are directly connected to the inner surface of the outer perimeter 11, for example, by welding. That is, the connecting member 12 connects the left side of the right side of the outer perimeter 11 and the right side of the left side. This allows for a more efficient improvement in the rigidity of the cargo bed compared to connecting members 12b and 12c that are connected to the lower surface of the outer perimeter 11. In the example shown in Figure 3, the connecting member 12 is provided in the rear half of the front section 1F. By providing the connecting member 12a in the narrow front section 1F, rigidity can be improved efficiently in terms of material efficiency.

[0041] In the example shown in Figure 3, the rear carrier 1 includes a front support section 13F that connects the front part 1F of the cargo bed to the bicycle frame, and a rear support section 13B that connects the rear wide section 1B to the bicycle frame. The cargo bed is supported by the frame, i.e., supported on the frame, by the front support section 13F and the rear support section 13B. The narrow front part 1F and the wide rear wide section 1B are fixedly supported to the frame by the support sections 13F and 13B, respectively. This efficiently improves the strength of the frame's support for the cargo bed.

[0042] One end of the front support 13F is directly connected to the front half of the front 1F by, for example, welding. The other end of the front support 13F is directly connected to the bicycle frame (e.g., seat stay 44, see Figure 6) by fasteners (e.g., bolts, etc.) or welding. The front support 13F is, as an example, a member formed by bending a plate.

[0043] One end of the rear support section 13 is directly connected to the rear wide section 1B, for example, by welding. The other end of the rear support section 13B is directly connected to the bicycle frame (for example, the rear wheel support section, see Figure 6) by fasteners or welding. The rear support section 13B is, as an example, a member formed by bending a pipe.

[0044] In the example shown in Figure 3, a plate 15 extending in the front-to-rear direction is placed on a connecting member 12b provided on the front section 1F and a connecting member 12c provided on the rear wide section 1B. Two child seat mounting plates 14F and 14B are placed beneath the plate 15. The front plate 14F is positioned to be in contact with the underside of the front section 1F. The rear plate 14B is positioned to be in contact with the underside of the rear wide section 1B. Holes are provided in plates 14F and 14B for fasteners to pass through. The child seat is fastened to the cargo bed of the rear carrier 1 by fasteners that pass through plates 14F and 14B. In the example shown in Figure 3, the carrier seat is fastened to the front section 1F and the rear wide section 1B of the cargo bed by fasteners.

[0045] Figure 4 is a top view showing an example configuration of a rear carrier 1 with a child seat attached. In Figure 4, the portion of the outer circumference 11 of the rear carrier 1 that is hidden under the child seat 30 is shown with a dashed line. In Figure 4, the area of ​​the seat surface 32 of the child seat 30 is shown with dot hatching.

[0046] The child seat 30 comprises a seat surface 32, a back support 33, side supports 34, a headrest 35, and a footrest 37, a seat belt (not shown), and a buckle 39. The buckle 39 fastens the seat belt. The back support 33 extends upward from the rear end of the seat surface 32. The side supports 34 extend upward from both the left and right ends of the seat surface 32. The headrest 35 is supported above the back support 33. A saddle portion 36 extends forward from the seat surface 32. The buckle 39 and grip bar 38 are provided on the saddle portion 36. The upper surface of the saddle portion 36 is at approximately the same height as the seat surface 32. The footrests 37 are provided on the left and right sides of the saddle portion 36, in front of and below the seat surface 32.

[0047] In the example shown in Figure 4, when viewed from above, at least a portion of the seat surface 32 of the child seat 30 is positioned so as to overlap with at least a portion of the transition section 1T of the rear carrier 1's cargo bed. This allows the lower part of the seat surface 32, which bears the weight of a child sitting in the child seat, to be supported near the transition section 1T where the width of the rear carrier 1 widens. In addition, since the child's feet are positioned near the left and right sides of the front section 1F, interference between the child's feet and the cargo bed of the rear carrier is reduced. From this viewpoint, it is preferable that the seat surface 32 of the child seat 30 is positioned so as to overlap with the entire transition section 1T of the rear carrier 1's cargo bed.

[0048] It is preferable that the child seat 30 be mounted on the cargo bed such that the widest part of the rear wide section 1B of the cargo bed, when viewed from above, overlaps with the seat surface 32. This allows the child's weight to be supported by the widest part of the cargo bed. Furthermore, the ratio of the maximum width WBm of the rear wide section 1B in the lateral direction to the width WZ of the seat surface 32 in the lateral direction is not particularly limited, but for example, 0.4 or more (WBm / WZ ≤ 0.4) is preferable, and 0.5 or more (WBm / WZ ≤ 0.5) is more preferable. This allows the child's weight to be supported efficiently on the cargo bed.

[0049] The ratio of the maximum width WF of the front section 1F in the lateral direction to the maximum width WBm of the widest rear section 1B is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 to 0.85 (0.5 ≤ WF / WBm ≤ 0.85). This makes it easier to balance the loading function of the cargo bed with the operability of the user.

[0050] It is preferable that the front end 32f of the seat surface 32 is at least in front of the rear wide section 1B, and more preferably in front of the transition section 1T. This makes it less likely for a child's feet to interfere with the cargo bed. The front end 32f of the seat surface 32 is the part that forms the boundary between the footrest 37 and the seat surface 32 when viewed from above. In the example in Figure 4, the saddle section 36 extending forward from the seat surface 32 overlaps with the front part 1F of the cargo bed when viewed from above, but does not overlap with the transition section 1T or the rear wide section 1B. Therefore, the width of the saddle section 36 in the left-right direction can be narrowed. As a result, it is possible to prevent a child from sitting with their legs too far apart when sitting on the seat surface 32.

[0051] The rear end 37b of the footrest 37 is preferably in front of the rear wide section 1B. This makes it less likely for a child's feet to interfere with the cargo area. The rear end 37b of the footrest 37 is the rear end of the surface on which the feet are placed. In the example in Figure 4, when viewed from above, the front section 1F is positioned between the left and right footrests 37, but the rear wide section 1B is not between the left and right footrests 37.

[0052] Figure 5 is a top view showing an example configuration of a rear carrier 1 with a child seat attached, viewed from above. The configuration in Figure 5 is the same as in Figure 4. In Figure 5, the area of ​​the mounting surface 35A of the child seat, viewed from above, is indicated by dot hatching. The mounting surface 35A is the bottom surface of the child seat 30 and is the surface facing the luggage rack. When the child seat is attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier of an upright bicycle, the mounting surface 35A is a surface that has an inclination of 7 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal plane (see also Figure 6). As an example, in an upright bicycle, the mounting surface 35A may be parallel to the horizontal plane. As another example, in an upright bicycle, the mounting surface 35A may be inclined so that it becomes lower towards the front, and the angle of that inclination with respect to the horizontal plane may be 7 degrees or less.

[0053] In the example shown in Figure 5, the mounting surface 35A has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the outer perimeter 11 of the cargo bed of the rear carrier 1. That is, when viewed from above, the portion of the mounting surface 35A that overlaps with the transition portion 1T and the rear wide portion 1B is wider in the left-right direction than the portion that overlaps with the front portion 1F. This allows the child seat to be efficiently supported on the cargo bed. In the example in Figure 5, when viewed from above, the mounting surface 35A includes a front portion, a rear wide portion located behind the front portion and wider in the left-right direction than the front portion, and a transition portion between the front portion and the rear wide portion. When viewed from above, at least a portion of the front portion of the mounting surface 35A overlaps with at least a portion of the outer perimeter 11 of the front portion 1F of the cargo bed. At least a portion of the transition portion of the mounting surface 35A overlaps with at least a portion of the outer perimeter 11 of the transition portion 1T of the cargo bed. At least a portion of the rear wide portion of the mounting surface 35A overlaps with at least a portion of the outer perimeter 11 of the rear wide portion 1B of the cargo bed.

[0054] The left and right ends 35AR and 35AL of the mounting surface 35A are located outside the inner edges 11iR and 11iL of the pipes that form the left and right sides of the outer perimeter 11, when viewed from above. That is, when viewed from above, the right end 35AR of the mounting surface 35A is located outside, i.e., to the right, of the inner edge 11iR of the pipe that forms the right side of the outer perimeter 11. When viewed from above, the left end 35AL of the mounting surface 35A is located outside, i.e., to the left, of the inner edge 11iL of the pipe that forms the left side of the outer perimeter 11. The outer perimeter 11 of the cargo bed can efficiently support the child seat. In addition, there is no gap between the left and right ends of the mounting surface 35A and the outer perimeter 11 that would allow a user to insert their fingers. Furthermore, the outer perimeter 11 of the cargo bed can protect the child seat from impacts by obstacles.

[0055] The rear end 35AB of the mounting surface is located inward, or forward, of the inner edge 11iB of the pipe that forms the rear edge of the outer perimeter 11 of the cargo bed, when viewed from above. In other words, when viewed from above, there is a gap between the rear end 35AB of the mounting surface and the inner edge 11iB of the pipe that forms the rear edge of the outer perimeter 11. As a result, when a child seat is attached to the cargo bed, the rear end portion of the outer perimeter 11 of the cargo bed is exposed. Therefore, the user can grasp the rear end portion of the outer perimeter 11. The rear end portion of the outer perimeter 11 functions as a handle.

[0056] When viewed from above, it is preferable that a space is formed between the rear end 35AB of the mounting surface 35A and the inner edge 11iB of the tube that forms the rear edge of the outer periphery 11, allowing four fingers to be inserted. This makes it easier for the user to hold the rear end portion of the outer periphery 11. For example, it is preferable that the portion between the rear end 35AB and the inner edge 11iB with a length L1 in the front-to-back direction of 2 cm or more is continuous for 8 cm or more in the left-to-right direction. However, if the front-to-back length L1 of this space is made longer, the child seat mounted on the luggage rack will be positioned further forward, reducing the space in front of the child. Therefore, it is preferable that the front-to-back length of this space is not too long, allowing just enough room for fingers to fit. For example, it is preferable that the front-to-back length L1 of the space is 5 cm or less.

[0057] Figure 6 is a side view of the child seat and rear carrier shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 6 also shows the frame of the bicycle in an upright position. In Figure 6, the area of ​​the child seat 30 is indicated by dot hatching. As shown in Figure 6, the front part 1F of the rear carrier's luggage rack and the bicycle frame (for example, the seat stay 44) are connected by the front support part 13F. The rear wide part 1B of the rear carrier's luggage rack and the bicycle frame (for example, the rear wheel support part 46) are connected by the rear support part 13B. As a result, the rear carrier's luggage rack is firmly supported against the bicycle frame.

[0058] The fasteners TB for securing the child seat 30 to the luggage rack are provided on the rear wide section 1B and the front section 1F, respectively. That is, the child seat 30 is fastened by the fasteners TB at both the front section 1F and the rear wide section 1B of the luggage rack. This allows the child seat 30 to be fastened to the luggage rack in the appropriate position. Furthermore, the fasteners TB at the rear wide section 1B are located behind the rear wheel axle J1, and the fasteners TB at the front section 1F are located in front of the rear wheel axle J1. This allows the child seat 30 to be supported more efficiently on the bicycle.

[0059] In the example shown in Figure 6, in a side view, the rear end 30b of the child seat 30 is located behind the rear end 1b of the rear carrier 1, while the rear end 35AB of the mounting surface 35A of the child seat 30 is located in front of the rear end 1b of the rear carrier. This allows the child seat to be positioned appropriately on the cargo area of ​​the rear carrier 1.

[0060] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the embodiments described above are examples for carrying out the present invention. This is merely an illustration. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, nor does it deviate from its spirit. It is possible to implement the above-described embodiments by appropriately modifying them within the limits that do not deviate from the original design. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 1: Rear carrier, 1F: Front section, 1T: Transition section, 1B: Wide rear section, 11: Outer perimeter section, 30: Child seat

Claims

1. It is a rear carrier for a bicycle. Includes a luggage rack that extends horizontally when attached to an upright bicycle, The aforementioned cargo bed is Front and, A rear section located behind the aforementioned front section and having a wider width in the left-right direction than the aforementioned front section, A rear carrier for a bicycle, having a transition section connecting the aforementioned front section and the aforementioned rear wide section.

2. A rear carrier according to claim 1, A front support portion connects the front part to the bicycle frame and supports the front part relative to the frame, A rear carrier further comprising a rear support portion provided between the rear wide portion and the frame of the bicycle, which supports the rear wide portion.

3. A rear carrier according to claim 1 or 2, The width of the transition section in the left-right direction increases towards the rear, resulting in a rear carrier.

4. A rear carrier according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned cargo bed is The outer periphery forms a closed shape when viewed from above, A rear carrier having a connecting member that connects the right and left sides of the outer perimeter.

5. A rear carrier according to claim 1 or 2, The rear wide section of the cargo bed includes a narrowing section where the width in the left-right direction narrows towards the rear, forming a rear carrier.

6. The rear carrier according to claim 5, The cargo bed is a rear carrier that extends rearward from the narrowed portion of the wide rear portion and further has a narrow rear portion that is narrower in the lateral direction than the front portion.

7. A bicycle equipped with a rear carrier according to claim 1 or 2, The rear carrier further includes a child seat that is attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier, The aforementioned cargo bed has an outer periphery that forms a closed shape when viewed from above, A bicycle in which the left-right ends of the mounting surface of the child seat to the rear carrier are located outside the inner edges of the left and right sides of the outer perimeter of the luggage rack, as viewed from above.

8. A bicycle equipped with a rear carrier according to claim 1 or 2, The rear carrier further includes a child seat that is attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier, The aforementioned cargo bed has an outer periphery that forms a closed shape when viewed from above, A bicycle in which the rear end of the mounting surface of the child seat to the rear carrier is located inward from the inner edge of the portion forming the rear edge of the outer perimeter of the luggage rack, when viewed from above.

9. A bicycle according to claim 8, A bicycle in which, when viewed from above, a space is formed between the rear end of the mounting surface and the inner edge of the portion forming the rear edge of the outer circumference, into which four fingers can be inserted.

10. A bicycle equipped with a rear carrier according to claim 1 or 2, The rear carrier further includes a child seat that is attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier, The child seat is fastened to the front and rear wide sections of the luggage rack of a bicycle.

11. A bicycle equipped with a rear carrier according to claim 1 or 2, The rear carrier further includes a child seat that is attached to the luggage rack of the rear carrier, A bicycle in which, when viewed from above, at least a portion of the seat surface of the child seat is positioned to overlap with at least a portion of the transition portion of the luggage rack of the rear carrier.

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