Abstract:
An apparatus for attaching an accessory to a bicycle includes a plug, a socket and a quick release. The plug is attached to the bicycle or the accessory. The socket is attached to the remaining one of the bicycle and the accessory. The socket is used to receive the plug. The quick release is used to retain the plug in the socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to a bicycle and, more particularly, to an apparatus for attaching an accessory to a bicycle. 
   2. Related Prior Art 
   There are various bags such as knapsacks, shoulder bags and hand bags. It is generally inconvenient and dangerous for a rider to carry a knapsack, a shoulder bag or a hand bag. 
   A rider may tie a bag to a luggage carrier of a bicycle. However, the rider might lose the bag while turning, since the bicycle is tilted, and the area of the luggage carrier is small. The rider has to pay attention to the bag tied to the luggage carrier while turning. This is a distracting and dangerous practice. 
   Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,327 is a conventional apparatus for carrying luggage on a bicycle. The conventional apparatus includes a bag  50  for containing the luggage, a fixing plate  10  secured to the bag  50 , a clipping plate, a pin  40  for pivotally connecting the clipping plate to the fixing plate  10  and a spring  20  for closing the fixing plate  10  and the clipping plate. Thus, the fixing plate  10  and the clipping plate together form a clamp for clamping a rear rod  611  of a backseat  61  installed on the bicycle. As the bicycle is ridden, the bag  50  pivots about the rear rod  611 . That is, the bag  50  rattles on the backseat  61 . Hence, the fixing plate  10  and the clipping plate could be opened and disengaged from the rear rod  611  so that the bag  50  could be removed from the backseat  61 . 
   Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   According to the present invention, an apparatus is provided for attaching an accessory to a bicycle. The apparatus includes a plug, a socket and a quick release. The plug is attached to the bicycle or the accessory. The socket is attached to the remaining one of the bicycle and the accessory. The socket is used to receive the plug. The quick release is used to retain the plug in the socket. 
   An advantage of the apparatus according to the present invention is firm attaching of the accessory to the bicycle for using the quick release. 
   Another advantage of the apparatus according to the present invention is quick removing of the accessory from the bicycle by pivoting the quick release. 
   Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a bicycle equipped with an apparatus for attaching an accessory to the bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is another cross-sectional view of the apparatus in another position than shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is another cross-sectional view of the apparatus in another position than shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is another cross-sectional view of the apparatus in another position than shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is another cross-sectional view of the apparatus in another position than shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view of a bicycle equipped with an apparatus for attaching an accessory to the bicycle according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  for attaching a bottle holder to the bicycle. 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  for attaching a battery case to the bicycle. 
       FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  for attaching a lamp to the bicycle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1  though  9 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for attaching an accessory to a bicycle. The accessory may be a case  22 ,  32  for containing luggage. The apparatus includes a carrier  20 ,  30  for carrying the case  22 ,  32  and a connector  10  for detachably attaching the carrier  20 ,  30  to the bicycle. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the connector  10  includes a ferrule  12  wound around and connected to a saddle post of the bicycle, a socket  11  connected to the ferrule  12  and a quick release  14  pivotally connected to the socket  11 . The ferrule  12  defines a screw hole  121 . 
   The socket  11  includes a closed end  111  and an open end  114  opposite to the closed end  111 . The socket  11  defines a space  115 , an upper aperture  118  in communication with the space  115  and a lower aperture  116  in communication with the space  115 . The socket  11  includes two ears  112  formed on opposite sides of the upper aperture  118 . 
   A fastener  13  is used to connect the socket  11  to the ferrule  12 . The fastener  13  is preferably a threaded bolt driven into the screw hole  121  through the closed end  111 . 
   The quick release  14  includes a cam  141  and a handle  144  extended from the cam  141 . The cam  141  includes a lobe  142  and a flat portion  143  next to the lobe  142 . The cam  141  can be inserted in the space  115  through the upper aperture  118 . The cam  141  can be pivoted by operating the handle  144 . 
   Another fastener  113  is used to pivotally connect the quick release  14  to the ears  112 . The fastener  113  is preferably a pin. 
   The carrier  20  includes a frame  24 , a plug  21  secured to the frame  24  and a positioning device  23  connected to the plug  21 . The frame  24  is used for supporting the case  22 . The plug  21  can be inserted into the socket  11 . The positioning device  23  is used for positioning the plug  21  within the socket  11 . The carrier  30  includes a plug  31  secured to the case  32 . The plug  31  is adapted to be used for engagement with the socket  11  of the connector  10 . 
   The case  22  includes a plurality of hooks  221  formed thereon. The hooks  221  are used to hook the frame  24  so that the case  22  is firmly mounted on the frame  24 . 
   The plug  21  defines a recess  211  on an upper side, a cavity  212  on a lower side and a groove  214  around the cavity  212 . A boss  213  is formed on the lower side of the plug  21  within the cavity  212 . 
   The positioning device  23  includes an elastic element  231 , a detent  232  and a restraint  233 . The elastic element  231  is preferably a helical spring. The elastic element  231  includes an end provided around the boss  213 . The detent  232  is like an inverted cap. That is, the detent  232  includes a concave upper side  2321  for receiving another end of the elastic element  231  and a convex lower side  2322  inserted through an aperture  2331  defined in the restraint  233  and an annular flange  2323  for abutment against the restraint. The restraint  233  is fit in the groove  214  for retaining the elastic element  231  and the detent  232  within the cavity  212 . The convex lower side  2322  is formed with a slope  2324 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the detent  232  is inserted in the lower aperture  116  so that the plug  21  is positioned within the socket  11  by the positioning device  23 . The lobe  142  is disposed in the recess  211  so that the plug  21  is retained within the socket  11 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the lobe  142  is removed from the recess  211 , and the detent  232  is removed from the lower aperture  116 . Hence, the plug  21  can be removed from the socket  11 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the plug  21  can be inserted into the socket  11  again. The slope  2324  can slide on a portion of the socket  11 , thus pushing the detent  232  so that the plug  21  can easily be inserted into the socket  11 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , according to a second embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for attaching an accessory to a bicycle. The accessory may be the case  22 . The apparatus includes a carrier  20 ′ for carrying the case  22  and a connector  110 ′ for detachably attaching the cater  20 ′ to the bicycle. The connector  10 ′ includes the ferrule  12  wound around and connected to the saddle post of the bicycle, the plug  21  secured to the ferrule  12  by the fastener  13  and the positioning device  23 . The carrier  20 ′ includes the socket  11  for receiving the plug  21  and the quick release  14  for retaining the plug  21  within the socket  11 . The socket  11  is secured to the case  22  so that the frame  24  and the hooks  221  used in the first embodiment are omitted. The second embodiment is otherwise identical to the first embodiment and hence will not be further described in detail. 
   Referring to  FIG. 12 , the accessory may be a holder  44  for holding a bottle  42 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 13 , the accessory may be a holder case  52  for containing batteries. 
   Referring to  FIG. 14 , the accessory may be a lamp  62 . 
   The apparatus according to the present invention exhibits several advantages. Firstly, the accessory is firmly attached to the bicycle for using both of the positioning device and the quick release. Secondly, the accessory can quickly be removed from the bicycle by pushing the positioning device and pivoting the quick release. 
   The present invention has been described through the illustration of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.