Saddle mounted bicycle water bottle carrier

A carrier for one or more water bottles attaches to the support rails of a bicycle saddle. A bracket, which can take several configurations, includes clamping structure at one end to attach to ends of the support rails and at the other ends has the structure to support one or more water bottles. The carrier positions the one or more water bottles rearwardly of the rider's buttocks and thighs so as to reduce aerodynamic drag while riding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention: 
This invention relates generally to water bottle carriers, and more 
particularly, to a water bottle carrier which is secured to the support 
frame of a bicycle saddle. 
2. Description of the Prior Art: 
Previous water bottle carriers for bicycles have been attached to the frame 
tubes or the handlebars of the bicycle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A support assembly for locating one or more water bottles behind the saddle 
of a bicycle is set forth herein. A standard bicycle saddle has support 
rails which provide support for a bracket assembly which in turn locates 
the one or more water bottles behind the rider's buttocks and thighs. This 
location provides an aerodynamic streamlining effect, by filling in and 
occupying a portion of the turbulent airspace behind the rider, which is 
created by the forward motion though the air. It also allows the bottles 
to be conveniently removed and replaced while riding, without excessive 
bending down. It is no longer necessary to carry the bottles in the 
traditional locations on the bicycle frame tubes, where they are exposed 
to air flow during riding, which results in an additional reduction in 
aerodynamic drag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A conventional bicycle saddle 12 includes support rails 9. These are used 
to support various items, including saddlebags, maps, or the like. Here a 
bracket 7, which is constructed of any suitable sheet, molded, or wire 
material, is attached to the support rails at the rear of the saddle 12 by 
a clamping means 8. 
The bracket extends from the rear end of the rails, and provides support 
for one or more water bottles in a manner to be described hereafter. The 
bracket extends from the clamp at one end and at the other end is "free" 
or unsupported, so as to be "cantilevered" from the support rails. The 
free end may be provided with mounting means, such as a standard water 
bottle cage 10 or the free end of the bracket itself maybe formed to 
support the bottles 11 directly. 
The bracket can be formed of aluminum sheet material and be bent into the 
appropriate configuration for supporting the one or more water bottles. In 
FIG. 1, the bracket 7 is generally rectangular, but expands outwardly away 
from the rear end of the saddle 12, and attaches at the clamping means 8 
to both support rails 9. FIGS. 2-4 and 6 illustrate other configurations 
for the bracket. 
In FIG. 2, the bracket 7 is rectangular and also attaches to the rear end 
of the support bars 9 at the clamping means 8. The bottles 11 are mounted 
one behind the other, as is seen in the Figure. 
In FIG. 3, the bracket 7 is U or channel shaped. Two arms of the bracket 7 
expand outwardly from each other and extend from the clamping means 8, 
which is attached to both support rails 9. 
In FIG. 4, the bracket 7 is configured as two separate brackets, one end of 
each attached at the clamping means to an end of one of the support rails 
9. As in the embodiment of FIG. 3, these brackets also expand outwardly 
from each other. 
In FIG. 6, the bracket 7 takes the form of a truncated triangle, wherein 
the truncated end supports the water bottle and the "base" of the triangle 
defines the clamping means 8 and is attached to the support rails 9.