Abstract:
A fully-adjustable device that, when integrated into a backpack, etc., will allow the backpack to be both comfortably worn on the user&#39;s back and also hook to the rear rack of a bicycle in the manner of a pannier or saddlebag. By creating a device that allows quick and easy transition between carrying on-person and on-bicycle, while also providing the aesthetics and comfort-level of a typical backpack, the present invention combines the best features of the two carrying methods in a new and novel way.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/472,479 filed by the present inventor on Apr. 6, 2011. ON The aforementioned provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field Of The Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to backpacks and bicycle saddlebags or panniers and more particularly to a backpack adapted for attachment to a bicycle. 
         [0005]    2. Brief Description Of The Related Art 
         [0006]    While some users like riding with backpacks on their backs, many find that they bags are uncomfortable and cause unnecessary sweating. Some users get around this by using panniers (Ortlieb and Jandd are two major companies selling these). The problem that they find with panniers, however, is that they are often not easily removable/installable, nor are they easy to carry when not riding. A major reason against the use of panniers as determined through interviews is risk of theft: Imagine you&#39;re commuting to work, class, etc. via bicycle and want to stop at a store during your commute, say for breakfast. If you&#39;re using a pannier, you essentially have two options. First, you can leave the bags on your bike and hope for the best, or, you can remove them and carry them into the store. Both are unfavorable. 
         [0007]    The general trend is that companies making panniers update them to include carry straps similar to that of a messenger bag. I have taken a backpack (stock) and turned it into a bicycle pannier The three exemplary prior art products include the following: Ortlieb Vario Commuter Backpack Pannier, Arkell Switchback and Timbuk2 Shift Pannier Messenger. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is a fully-adjustable device that, when integrated into a backpack, etc., will allow the bag to be both comfortably worn on the user&#39;s back and also hook to the rear rack of a bicycle in the manner of a pannier or saddlebag. By creating a device that allows quick and easy transition between carrying on-person and on-bicycle, while also providing the aesthetics and comfort-level of a typical backpack, the present invention combines the best features of the two carrying methods in a way that no other product currently on the market does. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a plate assembly having a rigid plate, a pad, an upper hook assembly and a lower hook assembly. The rigid plate is formed of a rigid material having a first opening for receiving an upper hook and a second opening for receiving a lower hook. The pad has a back surface attached to the rigid plate and a front surface facing away from the rigid plate. The pad may be attached to the rigid plate is any known manner, including but not limited to being glued, sown, screwed or bolted. The pad having openings corresponding to the first and second openings in the rigid plate. The upper hook assembly is mounted to the rigid plate and has an upper hook and a pin. The pin is mounted to the rigid plate and the upper hook is rotatably mounted on the pin to have a first position in which the hook projects from the front surface of the pad and a second position in which the hook does not project from the front surface of the pad. The lower hook assembly has an elastic member connected to the rigid plate and a lower hook connected to the elastic member. The apparatus also may have a backpack connected the plate assembly, wherein the rigid plate is positioned between the pad and the backpack. The rigid plate further may have a plurality of vent openings, first and second openings through which the elastic member passes and a plurality of holes for attaching the elastic member to the rigid plate. The pad similarly may have first and second openings through which the elastic member passes and/or vent openings. 
         [0010]    The plate assembly may have a second upper hook assembly mounted to the rigid plate. The second upper hook assembly has a second upper hook and a second pin, wherein the second pin is mounted to the rigid plate and the second upper hook is rotatably mounted on the second pin to have a first position in which the second hook projects from the front surface of the pad and a second position in which the second hook does not project from the front surface of the pad. The pins in the first and second hook assemblies each may be comprises of a back plate attachment member attached to the back plate and a rod member on which the upper hook is rotatably mounted. The back plate attachment member and the rod member may be of unitary construction or may be connected to one another, such as by welding. Each the pin may have a plate portion having a plurality of holes for receiving bolts and a rod portion. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus comprised of a plate assembly. The plate assembly has a rigid back plate, a pad, first and second upper hook assemblies and a lower hook assembly. The rigid back plate is formed from a rigid material having first and second openings for receiving first and second upper hooks. The pad has a back surface attached to the rigid plate and a front surface facing away from the rigid plate, the pad having openings corresponding to the first and second openings in the rigid plate. The first and second upper hook assemblies each are mounted to the rigid plate. Each of the first and second upper hook assemblies have an upper hook and a pair of half pins, wherein each the half pin is mounted to the rigid plate and the upper hook is rotatably mounted on the pair of half pins to have a first position in which the hook projects from the front surface of the pad and a second position in which the hook does not project from the front surface of the pad. The lower hook assembly has an elastic member connected to the rigid plate and a lower hook connected to the elastic member. 
         [0012]    Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a preferable embodiments and implementations. The present invention is also capable of other and different embodiments and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combined backpack and rack assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a rack assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of a rigid plate of a rack assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of a rigid plate of a plate assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a front view of a foam back pad of a rack assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of a foam back pad of a rack assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of a top or upper hook of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5B  is a front view of a top or upper hook of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5C  is a top view of a top or upper hook of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of a top or upper hook of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of a hinge pin of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6B  is a front view of a hinge pin of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6C  is a top view of a hinge pin of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6D  is a perspective view of a hinge pin of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7A  is a rear perspective view of a top or upper hook assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7B  is a front perspective view of a top or upper hook assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8A  is a rear view of a top or upper hook assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8B  is a front view of a top or upper hook assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a plate assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a lower hook of a rack assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11A  is a side view of a second embodiment of a top or upper hook of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 11B  is a front view of a second embodiment of a top or upper hook of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11C  is a top view of a second embodiment of a top or upper hook of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 11D  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a hook of a rack assembly in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  is a front view of a second embodiment of a rigid plate of a rack assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is plate or rack assembly  200  comprised of a rigid plate  300  (for example, polycarbonate, ⅛″ thick), two hinged-hooks  500  for hooking onto the top section of a bicycle rack, and an elastic strap  910  connected to another hook  920  for securing the device to a lower point on the rack/bike. 
         [0040]    When in “backpack” mode, the device is almost completely flat on the exposed side. At the shoulder blades, the only protrusions are eight (8) #4-40 screw heads (could also be larger screws, i.e. #6-32, or smaller screws), which are easily covered by a foam pad  400 . The foam pad  400  may have any of a variety of configurations, for example, a body  410  with openings  420  to accommodate the upper hooks  500  and an opening  430  to accommodate the lower hood  920 . The foam pad additional may have other openings such as vents or holes to attachment means such as bolts or screws the pass through. Nearer the bottom section, the greatest protrusion is a 0.25″ elastic bungee cord  910  that is placed such that it will minimally affect carrying comfort. Again, this interference is reduced to none when a 0.25″ foam pad  400  is placed over this face of the device. Since overall thickness was minimized by design, the interior exposed face (the side that would be inside the bag) has a maximum of 0.25″ protruding parts, thus maximizing both comfort and interior volume. 
         [0041]    The rigid plate  300 , as in any pannier, is meant to ensure that the contents of the bag do not bulge and interfere with the rotation of the tires. The exterior shape of the plate is based on a taller and thinner cycling/climbing-style backpack  110  (such as ones by Osprey and GoLite) for functionality and aesthetic reasons. The backpack  110 , of course, has shoulder or other carrying straps  120  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The taller style allows for similar interior volume with more heel clearance when cycling, and it also provides a sleek look that panniers, especially those that convert to carried bags, just do not provide. 
         [0042]    The plate  300 , shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , has a body  310  having two large holes  320  near the top to allow clearance for the hooks  500  and therefore minimize the thickness of the assembled device. The top hooks  500 , shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D , have a body  510  and are shaped with a hook part  520  that incorporates an extra 0.25″ clearance to anticipate that a foam cover may be placed permanently in the bag, an interior hole  532  for a custom hinge-pin  600 , and two cut-away sections  530 ,  540 . The cut-away section  540  at the top of the hinge  530  keeps the hook  520  from wobbling around when on the bicycle, and the one at the bottom  530  stores the hook in the flattened position for carrying. 
         [0043]    The pins  600  on which the top hooks  500  rotate are halved to aide assembly. Each half pin  600  is designed preferably as a single cut-away of 0.125″ 304 or 316 Stainless Steel shaped to include a wide connection tab  610  and a 0.125″ extended pin section  620 . Each half-pin  600  is screwed to the interior face (bag-side) of the plate  300  by, for example, bolts  710  placed through holes  612  in the tab  610  and holes  330  in the plate  300  and secured with nuts  720 , with the hooks fitted in sequence. A preferred embodiment uses #4-40 Truss-Head machine screws (extra-wide pan head) to reduce the need for washers and Nylock low-profile locking nuts for resistance to vibration. Other attachment means such as screws, studs or glue may be used to attached or secure the half pins  600  to the back plate  300 . The half pins shown in  FIG. 6  are of unitary construction, but other embodiments such as a pin welded to or otherwise connected to a flat plate will be apparent to those of skill in the art. 
         [0044]    The lower half of the plate  300  includes holes  340  and spacing for an elastic bungee cord  910  or other elastic strap to be attached to the plate  300  and can be fitted, for example, with a slender bent-rod hook  920 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the bent-rod  920  may hook may have a ring portion  922  or other means for attaching the lower hook  920  to the bungee cord  910  and a hook portion  924 . The triangular hole  350  in the plate  300  is provided so that the user can store this lower hook  920  on the interior of the bag when carrying the assembly on-person. The back plate also may have additional openings through which the bungie cord may pass and vents. The lower hook  920  is designed to minimize the profile of both the interior and exterior faces during storage. A 0.060″ stainless steel rod is bent to fit around the elastic, bent at the opposite end to make the hook shape, and may be bent twice more near the center to provide that the hook sits flat on both faces during storage. 
         [0045]    Adjustability is designed into the entire device: At the top, multiple connection holes  330  allow the user to customize the position of the hooks  500  to their liking. At the bottom, the elastic strap  910  can be adjusted for different rear rack heights, and the lower hook  920  is free to move side-to-side along the elastic, thus providing a third level of adjustability for lower-hook placement. 
         [0046]    An alternative embodiment for an upper hook of the present invention is shown in 
         [0047]      FIGS. 11A-11D . The alternative upper hook has a body  1110 , a hook portion  1120  and a tab  1130  through which there is a hole  1132  for securing the hook to a half pin  600 . 
         [0048]    An alternate embodiment for a back plate in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 12 . The plate has a rigid body  1210  having two large holes  1220  near the top to allow clearance for the hooks  500  and therefore minimize the thickness of the assembled device. Holes  1230  are provided to attach the half pins  600  to the back plate. The lower half of the alternate back plate includes holes  1240  and spacing for an elastic bungee cord  910  or other elastic strap to be attached to the plate and can be fitted, for example, with a slender bent-rod hook  920 . When assembles, the bungee cord passes through openings  1260  and is secured to the back plate through holes  1240  by securing or attaching means such as a bolt/nut, a screw, or stud. The triangular holes  1250  in the plate  300  is provided so that the user can store the lower hook  920  on the interior of the bag when carrying the assembly on-person. The alternate back plate additionally has a variety of vent holes  1270  for providing comfort when the backpack is carried. 
         [0049]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.