Abstract:
A carrier apparatus is disclosed for attachment to a bicycle to carry a number of items including sporting good items. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a receptacle suspended from a fixed rear support and a movable front support. The receptacle includes a panel having a rear end connected to the rear support and a front end connected to the front support to cause the receptacle to be suspended therefrom. The apparatus includes a resilient member connecting the front support to the rear support, wherein the front support is tetheringly movable toward and away from the rear support to vary the opening and closing of the receptacle to receive and thereafter secure therein a plurality of differently sized items.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application relates generally to the field of devices for carrying items, and in at least one embodiment to apparatuses and methods for carrying items on a bicycle. 
     SUMMARY 
     A carrier apparatus for attachment to a bicycle is disclosed, comprising a flexible receptacle including a flexible panel having a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to a first support and the second end connected to a second support. The panel is suspended from the first and second supports. The carrier apparatus also includes a resilient member connecting the second support to the first support, where the second support is tetheringly movable toward and away from the first support to vary an opening of the receptacle. 
     The receptacle may be configured to respond to motion of the bicycle so as to maintain the carrying of any items by the receptacle during use. The panel may include a net having a plurality of apertures where at least a portion of the apertures is smaller than a diameter of a golf ball. 
     The first support and the second support may each include a curved portion that connects a flange positioned at respective ends of the first support and the second support. The curved portion of the first support and the curved portion of the second support may be oriented outwardly and in opposite directions to one another. A minimum opening to the receptacle may be formed by the respective curved portions of the first and second supports when respective flanges of the first support are positioned adjacent to respective flanges of the second support via the resilient member. The curved portion of the second support may include a reflector positioned along an outer surface of the curved member for enhancing rider safety during use. The reflector may reflect light within at least a subtending angle corresponding to an arc length of the reflector on the curved member. 
     The carrier apparatus may include a second resilient member attached to each of the flanges of the first support for releasably and adjustably securing an item to and longitudinally along the first support. 
     The carrier apparatus may include at least one bracket cantileverly extending from and supporting the first support to provide clearance between the receptacle and the bicycle during use. The carrier apparatus may include a clamp releasably connected to and supporting the at least one bracket. The clamp may include a first quick-release mechanism for quickly mounting and demounting the at least one bracket, and a second quick-release mechanism for quickly mounting and demounting the clamp to and from the bicycle. The clamp may include a clamshell having a top portion and a bottom portion for securely mounting to the bicycle. 
     The carrier apparatus may include a slab of hook and loop fastener material movably positioned along adjacent side edges of the first and second panels of the receptacle. The slab of hook and loop fastener material may connect a side edge of the first panel with an adjacent side edge of the second panel to form a side wall portion of the receptacle. 
     In another embodiment, a carrier apparatus for attachment to a bicycle is disclosed comprising a first panel suspended from a first support that is adapted to be cantileverly connected to the bicycle, and a second panel suspended from a second support opposite the first support. The second panel is connected to the first panel. The first panel and the second panel comprise a receptacle for carrying an item. The carrier apparatus includes a resilient member connecting the second support to the first support, where the second support is tetheringly movable toward and away from the first support to variably open and close the receptacle. 
     The receptacle may move in tandem with the item being carried in response to motion induced by the bicycle during use so as to maintain the carrying of the item by the receptacle. The receptacle may include at least one substantially open side between the first panel and the second panel. The resilient member may include a cinch for selectively shortening and lengthening a position of the second support relative to the first support. 
     In another embodiment, a carrier apparatus for attachment to a bicycle is disclosed in which the carrier apparatus is configured to hold a plurality of items. The carrier apparatus includes a receptacle suspended from a fixed rear support and a movable front support. The receptacle includes a panel having a rear end connected to the rear support and a front end connected to the front support to cause the receptacle to be suspended therefrom. The carrier apparatus also includes a cord member connecting the front support to the rear support where the front support is tetheringly movable toward and away from the rear support. Owing to its flexibility and regardless of whether the receptacle has closed side ends, the receptacle moves in tandem with any items contained or held by the receptacle in response to motion of the bicycle so as to maintain the carrying of the items by the receptacle during use. 
     The carrier may include a resilient member attached to the rear support. The resilient member may include a cinchable loop for releasably and adjustably securing a sporting goods item to the rear support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded front perspective view of an embodiment of a handlebar bag apparatus with the handlebar bag apparatus in a partially open position. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front perspective view of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top rear exploded detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom rear detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a rear perspective view of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a detail view of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a left side view of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2  in use. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a front perspective view of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2  in use. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a front perspective view of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2  in use. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side detail perspective view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a bottom detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2  including an anti-rotation strap. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a front perspective view of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2  in use. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a side detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a side detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a side detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a side detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a top detail view of a portion of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 20  illustrates a front perspective view of the handlebar bag apparatus of  FIG. 2  in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the figures and the instant disclosure describe one or more embodiments of a carrying apparatus for use on a bicycle, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the teachings of the instant disclosure would not be limited to these embodiments. 
     Turning now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, there is shown an exemplary handlebar bag apparatus  10  for use in carrying a variety of objects on a bicycle. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , handlebar bag apparatus  10  includes one or more arms  20  extending from one or more clamps  40 . Handlebar bag apparatus  10  further includes rear bracket  60 , front bracket  80 , bag  100 , and cord  110 . In one embodiment, clamps  40  may be configured to be secured to the handlebars of a bicycle. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill, certain aspects of handlebar bag apparatus  10  may be mounted to other aspects of a bicycle, such as the frame of the bicycle, instead of the handlebars. 
     Arms  20  may be removably mounted to and forwardly extend from clamps  40 . Arms  20  may be connected to clamps  40  via a quick release mechanism, such as a cam mechanism, or alternatively, by one or more threaded knobs  48 . The head of knobs  48  may be fabricated in any shape or style, and may include clamping knobs, star knobs, metal knobs, wing screws, rim knobs, and the like. 
     Arms  20  may be permanently or temporarily connected to rear bracket  60 . In one embodiment, arms  20  are connected to rear bracket  60  by welding the components together. In another embodiment, arms  20  are connected to rear bracket  60  by bolting the components together. In another embodiment, arms  20  are connected to rear bracket  60  by snapping the two parts together to enable quick disassembly of the components. In another embodiment, arms  20  are connected to rear bracket  60  using a quick-release mechanism to enable quick disassembly of the components. To streamline a bicycle or to minimize theft, a user may quickly remove arms  20  as well as all components attached or tethered to arms  20  from clamps  40 , leaving clamps  40  secured, for example, to the handlebars of a bicycle. Rear bracket  60  may be snapped into place onto arms  20  and held in place by a recess, detent, ledge, or other holding mechanism until such time as a user chooses to disassemble the components. In the embodiment shown in the  FIGS. 4-5 , each of arms  20  include protrusion  26  extending vertically from a forward end of each arm  20 . Protrusion  26  may be configured to be received by receptacle  76  on rear bracket  60 . Receptacle  76  may be disposed on arm  34 , which may cantileverly extend at least partially rearwardly from rear bracket  60 . In one embodiment, arm  34  extends from middle wall portion  64  of rear bracket  60 . Protrusion  26  may cantileverly extend from arm  20 . Receptacle  76  may include slot  78  to permit extension  28  of protrusion  26  to slidingly couple with receptacle  76 . 
     To detachably secure protrusion  26  to receptacle  76 , receptacle  76  may include a recess, detent, ledge or other feature for receiving and engaging protrusion  26 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , overhang  30  may be formed along the periphery of protrusion  26  for engaging ledge  32  formed in a wall of receptacle  76 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , slot  31  allows overhang  30  to deflect to permit protrusion  26  to be received by receptacle  76  and to permit overhang  30  to thereafter engage ledge  32 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , each of arms  20  may rotate inwardly and outwardly within the clearance formed by extension  28  and slot  78  to provide flexibility to a user to mount arms  20  to clamps  40  or to any other support mechanism. 
     In one embodiment, arms  20  and rear bracket  60  may be removably connected to one another by inserting protrusion extending from one component into a receiver in the other component and interlocking the protrusion with the receiver to releasably engage the two together. 
     Turning again to  FIGS. 1-3 , rear bracket  60  may be configured with flanges  62  for abutting or connecting with flanges  82  of front bracket  80 . Rear bracket  60  and front bracket  80  may include middle wall portion  64  and middle wall portion  84 , respectively. Middle wall portion  64 , 84  may be curved, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , to accommodate the carrying of relatively large and round items, such as a basketball, by bag  100 . To enhance safety of a rider of the bicycle, front bracket  80  may include reflective item  88  affixed to one or more forward facing surfaces of front bracket  80 . If affixed to middle wall portion  84  and if middle wall portion  84  is curved, reflective item  88  may provide reflective properties to viewers observing reflective item  88  at any of a variety of angles. 
     Cord  110  may be used to tether front bracket  80  to rear bracket  60  and to connect front bracket  80  to rear bracket  60 . In one embodiment, cord  110  is made from an elastic material. Cord  110  may be inserted through apertures  86  of flanges  82  of front bracket  80  and through apertures  66  of flanges  62  of rear bracket  60 . As shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-8 , respective ends  114  of cord  110  may be knotted or retained on the rear side of flanges  62  of rear bracket  60  to tether front bracket  80  to rear bracket  60 . Cinch  112  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ) may be used to shorten cord  110  to move front bracket  80  towards rear bracket  60  to help retain one or more items carried in bag  100  or to minimize movement of front bracket  80  relative to, for example, rear bracket  60 . 
     Bag  100  is configured to provide hands-free carrying and transport of one or more items by a rider of a bicycle, including ping pong balls, golf balls, tennis balls, lacrosse balls, softballs, baseballs, play balls, footballs, soccer balls, volley balls, basketballs, frisbees, tools, hardware, gear, groceries, and the like. Bag  100  may be configured as a bag, case, bin, basket, pannier, and the like, or any combination or portion of these. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , bag  100  includes at least one panel. Bag  100  is suspended by rear bracket  60  and front bracket  80  at respective ends of the at least one panel, thereby forming front panel  104  and rear panel  106 . Bag  100  may alternatively be formed from multiple panels, including by connecting front panel  104  with rear panel  106  along a bottom edge, and connecting an end of front panel  104  to front bracket  80  and an end of rear panel  106  to rear bracket  60 . Bag  100  may include a bottom panel or may have no bottom panel at all. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , to removably suspend bag  100  from front bracket  80  and rear bracket  60 , grooves  72  and  92  fabricated in flanges  62  and  82  of rear bracket  60  and front bracket  80 , respectively, may permit a portion of bag  100  to be looped around grooves  72  and  92  and secured on respective legs  74 ,  94  formed in flanges  62  and  82 . Other means for fastening or joining bag  100  to front bracket  80  and/or rear bracket  60 , such as by fasteners, may alternatively be employed. 
     Bag  100  may have one or more side panels or no side panels at all. Bag  100  having no side panels maximizes the opening of bag  100  when front bracket  80  is moved away from rear bracket  60 . When front bracket  80  is moved to the fullest extent permitted by cord  110 , bag  100  appears as a generally flat sheet or panel. If front bracket  80  is brought closer to rear bracket  60 , the bottom inflection formed at the interface of front panel  104  and rear panel  106  drops due to gravity. In this situation, cord  110  acts as a virtual side wall on both side ends of bag  100  to retain relatively large items in bag  100 , such as a basketball. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  9 , bag  100  includes partial side panels  102  positioned at or near the bottom of bag  100  to at least partially connect side edges of front panel  104  to respective side edges of rear panel  106  along the sides of bag  100  to help prevent small objects from exiting the sides of bag  100  during use. Partial side panels  102  allow bag  100  to generally be open on its sides to provide flexibility to bag  100  to accommodate a variety of differently sized and shaped items to be carried by allowing front bracket  80  to be movable toward and away from rear bracket  60  while front bracket  80  remains tethered to rear bracket  60 . 
     In another embodiment, bag  100  include a slab of hook and loop fastener material, such as Velcro®, movably positioned along adjacent side edges of the front panel  104  and rear panel  106 . The slab of hook and loop fastener material may connect a side edge of front panel  104  with an adjacent side of rear panel  106  to form at least a partial side wall of bag  100  to aid in retaining small items within bag  100 . 
     Bag  100  having generally open sides and with or without partial side panels  102  can hold and retain relatively small objects during use, such as something as small or smaller than a golf ball or ping ball, because bag  100  may tend to move or shift from side to side or up and down along with the objects being carried, as when the bicycle enters and exits a turn or when the bicycle is jostled by the roadway. For example, bag  100  may be flexible to accommodate items having a variety of different sizes and to move with the carried items during use. Flexibility of bag  100  may also permit one or more panels to move side-to-side, forwardly, rearwardly, and/or torsionally as dictated by a user&#39;s movements of a bicycle. As such, items carried therein may remain upright, remain seated, or otherwise captured within respective panels  104 , 106  and  102  (if present) of bag  100  according to the sum of forces acting upon bag  100  and/or such items. 
     Although bag  100  is shown in the figures as fabricated from a netting material, which may vary in form, geometry, and density of the mesh, one or more panels of bag  100  may alternatively be fabricated in the form of a sheet, such as a fabric. If bag  100  includes net or net-like material having openings in the one or more panels, the openings may include any geometrical shape. In one embodiment, bag  100  includes a mesh having generally square openings, each having an area of between 0.1 square inch and approximately 2 square inches. In another embodiment, bag  100  includes a mesh having generally diamond openings, each having an area of between 0.1 square inch and approximately 2 square inches. 
     Bag  100  may be fabricated from organic or inorganic materials, including a nylon or other plastic or a composite. Bag  100  may include wound or interwoven fibers, including composite fibers. If configured in the form of netting, bag  100  may provide reduced aerodynamic drag during use to minimize wind-induced movement of bag  100  and its contents. Bag  100  may have elastic properties to provide additional flexibility and resiliency of bag  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , when cord  110  is extended to a longer length by releasing cinch  112 , front bracket  80  may be allowed to move away from rear bracket  60  to permit a user to place one or more items in or remove one or more items from bag  100 . Upon releasing cinch  112 , because front bracket is not rigidly supported by cord  110 , front bracket  80  naturally moves away from rear bracket  60  under its own weight and the weight of any items already carried in bag  100 . To secure the item or items in bag  100 , a user may shorten cord  110  using cinch  112  to bring front bracket  80  towards rear bracket  60 . Depending on the volume or size of items carried in a particular instance by bag  100  relative to the volume or size of bag  100 , flanges  82  of front bracket  80  may or may not fully mate with flanges  62  of rear bracket  60  but may still carry and retain the item in bag  100  during use. As shown in  FIG. 9 , carrying relatively large objects, such as a basketball, may cause front bracket  80  to be disposed away from rear bracket  60  while retaining the object. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-8 , rear bracket  60  of handlebar bag apparatus  10  may include one or more cords  68  looped through apertures  70  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 4-6 ) positioned on a side of respective flanges  62  or on middle wall portion  64  and tied or secured on another side of flanges  62  or middle wall portion  64 . Apertures  70  are through holes positioned through flanges  62 . Cord  68  may be made from an elastic material. As best shown in  FIG. 10 , the loop of cord  68  may be configured to hold relatively long items such as baseball bats, golf clubs, tennis rackets, lacrosse rackets, and skateboards (by looping around the wheels, for example). 
     To secure an item within the loop of cord  68 , an end of cord  68  may include cinch  112  to permit a user to lengthen or shorten the length of cord  68  to suit a particular item. In another method of use, as shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , a loop of cord  68  may be passed through, for example, strings of a tennis racket and looped around cinch  112 . In this way, handlebar bag apparatus  10  may hold and retain one or more items in bag  100  and one or more items laid along at least a portion of rear bracket  60  to free a bicycle rider from having to carry the item or items in an arm or hand. 
     Turning again to  FIG. 10 , when mounted to clamps  40 , arms  20  may extend beyond any brake cables to avoid interference with the bicycle&#39;s braking system. In addition, bag  100  may be configured to avoid interference with the front tire of the bicycle by sizing bag  100  appropriately and by shortening cord  110  to the extent possible using cinch  112 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , to secure handlebar bag apparatus  10  to a bicycle handlebar, clamps  40  may include top portion  42  and bottom portion  44  configured in the form of a clamshell and arranged on opposite sides of a portion of the handlebar tube. In another embodiment, clamps  40  may include a single clamp to support arms  20 , rear bracket  60 , front bracket  80 , and bag  100 . In one embodiment, an embodiment of clamps  40  may be installed on a horizontal section of the handlebars. In another embodiment, an embodiment of clamps  40  may be installed on a vertical section of the handlebars. 
     Although top portion  42  is shown in the figures as being a separate component from bottom portion  44 , these items may alternatively be configured as a single component that wraps around or is otherwise secured to the handlebar tube. Top portion  42  and bottom portion  44  may be releasably connected together around the handlebars using a quick-release mechanism. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 1 , threaded fasteners  50  and nuts  52  may be used together to connect top portion  42  with bottom portion  44 . Fasteners  50  may be passed through apertures  54 , 55  in top portion  42  and bottom portion  44 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , nuts  52  may be positioned in respective recesses  58  on the bottom surface of bottom portion  44  to receive and secure fasteners  50  to help a user install clamps  40  to a handlebar tube. Recesses  58  may be configured in any geometrical shape, such as a hexagon, to approximate the geometrical shape of nuts  52  to provide anti-rotation functionality to nuts  52 . In other embodiments, a quick release mechanism, such as a cam mechanism, may be used to join top portion  42  with bottom portion  44 . In another embodiment, to avoid requiring nuts  52 , threaded apertures may be fabricated in bottom portion  44  to receive fasteners  50  if fasteners  50  are installed first through top portion  42 . Alternatively, top portion  42  may be fabricated with threaded apertures to receive fasteners  50  installed first through bottom portion  44 . 
     To further secure handlebar bag apparatus  10  to the handlebars of a bicycle and to add redundancy to clamps  40 , anti-rotation strap  49  may be positioned under the “chin” or “knuckle” formed at the junction between the handlebars and the stem of the fork of the bicycle. In one configuration, the respective ends of anti-rotation strap  49  may be sandwiched between top portion  42  and bottom portion  44  of respective clamps  40  while the center portion of anti-rotation strap  49  is configured to lie underneath and in close proximity with the handlebar/stem “knuckle” along the front face of the stem. To secure anti-rotation strap  49  to clamps  40 , anti-rotation strap  49  may include spaced apart through-holes to adjustably position the strap underneath the handlebar/stem “knuckle” and to receive a fastener  50  therethrough in each of the two clamps  40 . Anti-rotation strap  49  may be configured to be cinched snuggly against the “knuckle.” When mounted underneath the “knuckle” in front of the stem and secured to clamps  40 , anti-rotation strap  49  provides a redundant means to secure handlebar bag apparatus  10  to the handlebars of a bicycle, particularly in the event of a failure of one or both of clamps  40  to prevent rotation of handlebar bag apparatus  10  when loaded with items. Anti-rotation strap  49  also provides a secondary means to counteract torque induced by cantileverly carrying a load in bag  100  and promotes load sharing with clamps  40 . Anti-rotation strap  49  additionally may assist a user to align respective clamps  40  when mounting handlebar bag apparatus  10  to the handlebars of a bicycle. Anti-rotation strap  49  may comprise a reinforced or heavy duty fabric, a rubber, a plastic, a composite, a metal, or any combination of these. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , clamps  40  may be positioned along a generally horizontal section of the handlebars, such as on opposite sides of the handlebar stem of the bicycle. In some situations, the width of the horizontal section of the handlebar tube may not be as wide as may be desired to accommodate a desired spacing of arms  20 . In this case, clamps  40  may be configured to include additional internal clearance between fasteners  50  in apertures  54 , 55  to permit significant angular adjustment of top portion  42  relative to bottom portion  44  of clamps  40 . When secured to the handlebars, clamps  40  are each configured to resist all rotational forces generated by cantileverly carrying a load in bag  100 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 16-18 , to help ensure that clamps  40  may be secured to a handlebar, clamps  40  may include grip  46  positioned on inside surfaces of top portion  42  and bottom portion  44 . Grip  46  is configured to increase friction against the handlebars to enable clamps  40  to counteract and/or resist any torque generated by cantileverly carrying a load in bag  100 . Grip  46  may be formed from a rubber or any material that reduces the likelihood for relative motion between clamps  40  and the handlebar tube. Grip  46  may be positioned under and captured by lip  57 . 
     Arms  20  may be positioned on a top surface, for example, of top portion  42  of clamps  40  and connected to clamps  40 . As discussed above, arms  20  may be optionally connected to clamps  40  via threaded knobs  48 , which permit removal of arms  20  from clamps  40  as desired by a user without requiring removal of clamps  40  from their mounted location on a handlebar. Knobs  48  may be inserted through clearance apertures  24  in arms  20  and threaded into respective threaded apertures  43  in top portion  42  of clamps  40 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , arms  20  may include clearance apertures  22  to provide clearance to the heads of fasteners  50  in the event top portion  42  does not include a counterbore for the heads to account for angular or orientational differences of clamps  40  positioned on a handlebar tube and to ease assembly of arms  20  with rear bracket  60 . In one embodiment, arms  20  may extend forwardly from clamps  40  to support rear bracket  60 , front bracket  80 , and bag  100 . In another embodiment, arms  20  may extend forwardly or rearwardly from a support connected to a portion of the frame of the bicycle to support rear bracket  60 , front bracket  80 , and bag  100 . In addition to the embodiments shown in the figures, in another embodiment, a support structure may permit a flexible bag of construction similar to bag  100  to be suspended from a structure extending rearwardly from, for example, the seat post. 
     Turning to  FIG. 20 , handlebar bag apparatus  10  may be configured to carry a beverage container, such as a water bottle. In one embodiment, a base may be positioned between and below respective arms  20  to form a base for supporting the beverage container and for nesting the beverage container between arms  20 . The base may be connected to respective arms  20  or to rear bracket  60 . In one embodiment, the beverage container may be nested between arms  20  and rear bracket  60 . 
     Handlebar bag apparatus  10  may be fabricated to minimize weight, maximize strength and rigidity, and minimize cost to the consumer. One or more of the components of handlebar bag apparatus  10 , such as arms  20 , rear bracket  60 , and/or front bracket  80  may be made from one or more types of materials, such as polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, nylon, recycled polymers including post-consumer resin (PCR), fiberglass, and composites, among others. In one embodiment, the material used to fabricate one or more components of handlebar bag apparatus  10  may include approximately 10% glass filled fiber. Glass filled fiber or other additives may be included in varying amounts depending on the balance of cost and desired rigidity of the finished product. 
     While specific embodiments have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure herein is meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to its scope and should be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.