Abstract:
A rack for mounting on a bicycle, comprises a platform, having a top surface, and structure for removably mounting the platform with respect to the frame of a bicycle. A post is mounted on the platform so that it can extend above said top surface of said platform. Left and right skirts are also mounted on the platform, and are deployed position to inhibit grocery bags engaged on the post from engaging the rear wheel of the bicycle. The skirts are mounted on the platform so that they can be carried on the platform in a stored position. A storage back is positioned over the platform and skirts, the storage bag having inside facing pockets for accommodating at least a part of the skirts.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation in part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/907,678 filed May 31, 2013, now abandoned which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/592,956 filed Dec. 7, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,453,895, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the United States bicycles have always been used for transportation by a fraction of the population. Their use is increasing in some locations as a convenient means of transportation. Bicycles are used for many local activities such as going to the store for shopping. 
     Many devices are known for attachment to the bicycle for transportation of cargo. There are child seats, usually mounted over the rear wheel, for accommodating an infant or small child as a passenger. Saddle bags can be attached over the rear fender. Saddle bags have also been positioned on both sides of the front wheel. They are mostly used by bicycling tourists. Hard-shell storage compartments can be mounted over and/or on the sides of the bicycle at the rear wheel. A basket can be attached to the handlebars. These are all useful for various purposes. 
     The devices for permitting the transportation of cargo on a bicycle are not well-suited to carry the results of grocery shopping. Modern-day grocery stores bag groceries in sheet polymer or canvas or other type of material bags which have handles formed by punching out a hand-hold near the open top of the bag. The load in the bag can be of various different shapes, depending upon the grocery product. If one bag is not strong enough to be carried by the handle, the goods are usually double-bagged to secure the bagged grocery products. These grocery bags carry the grocery products sold by the store. There is need for a rear-mounted bicycle rack for carrying grocery bags and similar items. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a rear-mounted rack for mounting on a bicycle for supporting grocery bags and similar items. The bicycle rack has arms and clamps by which it is mounted on the bicycle. It has a platform on which is mounted a generally-upright post upon which the handles of grocery bags can be engaged. The platform has skirts on the side, which depend from the post and platform, which hold the grocery bags away from the rear wheel. When not carrying bags, the skirts can be folded up to be out of the way. By means of this structure, a plurality of grocery bags or the like can be carried on the rear of the bicycle. 
     It is thus an aspect of this invention to provide a rack, which can be mounted over the rear wheel of the bicycle which is configured for supporting grocery bags and similar items. 
     It is a further aspect of this invention to provide a rear-mounted bike rack which has a generally-upright post upon which the handles of grocery bags can be engaged. 
     It is another aspect of this invention to provide a rear-mounted bike rack which has a skirt on each side to hold grocery bags supported thereon away from the rear wheel of the bicycle. 
     It is a further aspect of this invention to configure the rack so that, when carrying bags, the skirts protect the bags from engagement on the rear wheel and, when not carrying bags, the skirts can be folded up to be out of the way. 
     It is a further aspect of this invention to provide a carrier box which can be removably attached to the rack platform with the carrier box configured to engage on the platform both when the skirts are folded and when the skirts are deployed. 
     It is another aspect of this invention to provide a rear-mounted bike rack which is configured for supporting grocery bags and similar items, which can be economically provided so as to enhance the convenience of using a bicycle for grocery shopping. 
     The features of this invention may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a bicycle, with parts broken away, with a rear-mounted bike rack for supporting grocery bags and similar items mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged rear elevational view, as seen generally along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , with parts broken away. With the skirts folded into the stored position. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged section taken generally along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bicycle rack with the skirts folded into the stored position and the supports broken away. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged section taken generally along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 , with parts broken away. 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , with the skirts in the deployed position. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged section taken generally along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 , with parts broken away. 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , on a somewhat reduced scale, showing the carrier box in exploded position, together with a load and netting in dashed lines. 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of a rack and box mounted on a bicycle in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of rack in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of a bicycle with a rack and bag mounted thereon; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view of a rack with lateral skirts and a bag thereover; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view similar to that shown in  FIG. 12  of the drawings, but with at least some of the panels forming the skirt inserted in a pocket of the bag; 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view similar to that shown in  FIG. 13  but with the panels of the skirt slightly angled; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the back of the rack fitting portion for the legs and latch button; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing the front legs of the box base; 
         FIG. 17  is a detailed view showing the front rack fittings for the legs; 
         FIG. 18  is a detailed perspective view of the rear legs and hook assembly; 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of the rack base in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 20  shows the underside of the rear of the rack with the latch button; 
         FIG. 21  shows an underside view including a latch button; and 
         FIG. 22  is an underside view of the box base. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The rear-mounted bike rack for supporting grocery bags and similar items of this invention is generally indicated at  10  in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  6  and  8 . The bike rack has a platform  12  for mounting on the bicycle above its rear wheel in the usual way. The platform  12  has a tongue  14  on its front end. The tongue is engaged by two halves of a clamp  16  which embrace the bicycle seat post. At its rear, the bicycle rack is supported by means of left and right struts  18  and  20 , which are seen in  FIG. 2 . At their lower end, the struts are mounted on or near the rear axle of the bicycle, as is seen in  FIG. 1 , and which is common for such struts. The two struts are strengthened by cross brace  22  which receives the upper end of the left and right struts. The cross brace is long enough in the direction of strut length as to provide significant structural rigidity. Left and right support legs  24  and  26  extend upward from the cross brace  22 . These legs are pivotally engaged in the rear outer corners of the platform  12 . Pin  28  engages through the rear flange of the platform and through the support leg  24 , see  FIG. 2 . This provides for proper angular support. 
     The platform  12  has a top panel  30  which has the top surface  32 . The top panel has flanges extending downward from the side edges. The left flange is seen in  FIG. 2 . The flanges extend all the way around the panel to provide strength to the top panel. The pin  28  is engaged through this flange. The platform  12  is thus supported with respect to the bicycle over the rear wheel thereof. 
     The purpose of the bicycle rack  10  is to permit the bicyclist to ride his bicycle to the grocery store and bring back groceries in bags. Grocery store bags are made, for example, of polymer film and are provided with handles. In order to permit the bags to be carried on the bicycle rack  10 , T-bar  36  is provided, see  FIGS. 3 and 6 . T-bar  36  has a shank  38  and a cross bar  40 . It is mounted on the bicycle rack to extend upward therefrom to be engaged by the handles of polymer grocery bags  42  and  44  are shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 3 . It is not necessary that the T-bar be extended to the upper position at all times. When groceries are not being carried, it can be folded down to a recess  46  in the lateral center of the platform  12 , see  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 3  shows pocket  48  in which the shank  38  is mounted, and pivot pin  50  which is engaged through the pocket and the shank  38 . The T-bar  36  is shown in its raised position in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . When in its lowered position, it completely lies in the recess  46 . 
     Another necessity when carrying grocery bags on a bicycle is to keep them out of engagement with the rear wheel. To accomplish this, left and right skirts  52  and  54  are provided. In  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the skirts are shown in their folded, storage position and, in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , they are shown in their unfolded, deployed position. Each of the skirts is formed of three identical panels. The panels in the left and right skirt are identical also. The left skirt is formed of panels  56 ,  58  and  60 , which are shown in their folded position in  FIG. 5  and in their deployed position in  FIG. 6 . The right skirt  54  is formed of panels  62 ,  64  and  66 . Each of the panels has a flat surface and has flanges extending downward from the surface around the edges thereof to enhance strength. Additionally, as seen in  FIG. 6 , each panel has two longitudinal intermediate flanges extending downward to increase strength. 
     Hinging the panels together is accomplished by hinges which are illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The down-turned edge flanges  68  and  70  are shown in  FIG. 7 . At the hinges, slots  72  and  74  are formed so that the portions of the edge flange are left as hinge pins over a short portion of the flange. Hinge  76 , preferably made of metal, is formed in a figure-eight shape so that it can be closed into the figure-eight shape after it is installed, as shown. This hinge permits the panels to move between the stored position and the deployed position because of the freedom of the hinges to permit swinging in either direction. For example, the swinging hinges permit this freedom as the panel  62  is folded in the counterclockwise direction with respect to panel  64 . With these hinges, the panels can be folded back and forth between the deployed and the stored positions. 
     When in the stored position shown in  FIG. 4 , the edge notches  78  and the edge flange of each of the panels line up to form a pocket  80 , see  FIG. 4 , which is sized to permit the T-bar to stand out if desired. Normally when the panels are in their stored position, shown in  FIG. 4 , the T-bar is in the down position. When the panels are in the deployed position and the T-bar  36  is up, the bags  42  and  44  can be engaged over the T-bar for carrying on the bicycle rack. 
     As an additional utility for the bicycle rack, carrier  82  is also provided, see  FIG. 8 . Carrier  82  has a bottom floor  84  on which are mounted walls to define an open-top box. Left and right walls  86  and  88  and front and back walls  90  and  92  define the open top box portion of the carrier. Platform  12  has sockets  94 ,  96 ,  98  and  100 , see  FIG. 6 . The bottom of bottom floor  84  has corresponding legs. Legs  102  and  104  are shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 8 . They are sized to fit into sockets  94  and  96 . Leg  106  is also seen in  FIG. 8 , and it is sized and configured to fit into socket  100 . A corresponding leg fits into the socket  98 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the carrier  82  is shown in projected position with respect to the top surface  32  of the platform. When the side panels are deployed, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the carrier fits directly onto the platform. When the side panels are in their stored condition, shown in  FIG. 4 , it is seen that the sockets are exposed. The legs are sufficiently long so that the carrier can be placed over the stored panels and the legs engage into the sockets. In this way, the carrier can be carried on the platform with the panels in their stored position.  FIG. 8  shows a package  108  in dashed lines which can be held in place by means of a netting  110 . The netting is elastic or has elastic connections. The netting has connections configured to engage under the flanges on the edges of the platform to resiliently hold the netting, package and carrier in place. If desired, the netting can be used without the carrier  82 , but simply engage over the folded panels to hold the skirts in place in their folded position. In this way, great versatility is achieved. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9  of the drawings, there is shown a further embodiment of a rear mounted bicycle rack  150 . The bicycle rack  150  includes a rack base  152  mounted on supports  154  and  156 , attached to the wheel of a bicycle. A basket  158  having a base  160  is shown mounted on the rack base  152 . Left and right side panels  166  and  168  form lateral skirts, as described above. A bag  170  is mounted over the rack base  152 , and depends downwardly therefrom on each side of the bicycle, adjacent the skirts defined by the side panels. The bag  170  includes a pocket  172  having an open upper end  174 , and the lateral skirts defined by the panels can be fitted in the pockets  172  to further stabilize the bag  170  with respect to the bicycle rack  150 . 
     The bag  170  provides additional storage space. Its pockets allow it to be attached in a releasable manner to the skirts formed by the panels, so that the bag is held in a more stable condition. 
       FIG. 10  of the drawings shows the top of the bicycle rack with the bag on each side, and suspended over the upper surface.  FIG. 11  of the drawings shows a rear view of a bicycle with the bicycle rack mounted over the rear wheel, and the bags mounted over the rack. The basket or box shown in a previous figure has been removed.  FIG. 11  shows the side panels inserted in the pocket of the bag. 
       FIG. 12  of the drawings shows an under view of the central bicycle rack portion, and the side skirts each comprised of three hinged panels. The rack and side panels are mounted over a bag, which can be seen beneath the skirts.  FIG. 13  of the drawings shows a view similar to that in  FIG. 12 , but wherein at least some of the side panels have been inserted into a pocket formed on the inside of the bag, on the surface adjacent the bicycle wheel.  FIG. 14  shows a similar view to that shown in  FIG. 13 , but with the panels angled upward, illustrating how the panels are able to work and adapt with the bag design. 
       FIG. 15  shows a detail of the back of the bicycle rack, including the fittings for the leg, as well as the latch button for the release thereof. The front legs of the box base are illustrated in  FIG. 16  of the drawings, including projections which engage in corresponding apertures.  FIG. 17  shows the front of the rack with appropriate fittings or receivers for the legs, to releasably hold them, and any box or other device to which they are attached, stable and secure relative to the rack.  FIG. 18  shows the detail of the rear legs and the hook assembly. 
       FIG. 19  of the drawings shows a top view of the rack base with the various apertures for the legs, as well as the central portion where the pivotable bar is accommodated, the pivotable bar preferably being extendable between a position in which it extends above the surface of the rack base, and a position in which it is below or substantially below the surface thereof. In this way, the pivotable bar can be extended when needed, and stored out of the way when not needed. 
       FIG. 20  shows an under side view of the back of the rack, and the latch button.  FIG. 21  also shows an underside view, with further details of the latch button assembly.  FIG. 22  of the drawings shows an underside view of the box base, showing several of the features and the legs therefor. 
     With respect to the latch button, the drawings illustrate two selectively sized springs that may be loaded into two holes, seen in  FIG. 21  of the drawings. The latch assembly is then inserted into the cavity on the rack base. Once the latch is pushed all the way in, two wing like structures on each side engage two slots built into the latch cavity to hold the button in place. 
     In this way, the user will hold the box at a slight angle, with the front end down to engage the front two legs with the front two sockets or fittings. Thereafter, the rear of the box is lowered to align the rear legs on the box base with the rear sockets or fittings on the rack base. At this point, the spring-loaded latch button which moves a slot built into the latch in line with the hook assembly is pushed, and when the button is released, the slot moves back and locks with a hook assembly on the box base. Removal of the box can be effected by performing the above steps in reverse. 
     This invention has been described in its presently contemplated best modes and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.