Abstract:
The present invention relates to a connection device for a pannier for a vehicle and a pannier having such a connection device. The connection device includes a pivotable support member having an attachment arrangement for attaching to the vehicle. The pivotable support member is adapted to be pivoted between an attachment position, in which the attachment arrangement is exposed for attachment to the vehicle, and a concealed position. The present invention provides a connection device having an attachment arrangement. The attachment arrangement can be displaced so as not to interfere with objects, e.g., getting snared or caught.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a connection device for a pannier, to attach the pannier top a vehicle such as a bicycle. The connection device comprises an attachment arrangement which can be positioned between an operable position and an inoperable position. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Panniers for bicycles, motorbikes or other vehicles are widely used and are attached to the vehicle using an attachment arrangement. When a pannier is removed from the vehicle, the attachment arrangement is usually considered to be more of a nuisance than an asset. 
         [0003]    The European patent No. EP 0,876,951 B1 discloses a device for attaching a bag to a bar. The device comprises two retaining clips which are rotatably mounted about an axis respectively, to enable attachment to the bar. The axes of rotation are arranged a distance from the bar which the bag is intended to be connected to. The retaining clips are relatively space consuming and run the risk being snared, or caught, in clothes or other accessories. There is also a need to improve the attachment mechanism. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pannier which at least reduces one or more of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative. The object is at least partly met by a connection device for a pannier adapted to be attached to an object such as a vehicle or a person, directly or indirectly via e.g. straps or the like. The vehicle could be a bicycle, snow scooter, motorcycle, jet ski, sailing boat, motor boat or the like. The connection device comprises a pivotable support member comprising an attachment arrangement for attaching to the vehicle. The pivotable support member is adapted to be pivoted between an attachment position, in which the attachment arrangement is exposed for attachment to the vehicle, and a concealed position in which the attachment arrangement is in a non-operable position. The term “pannier” is not by itself limited to any specific form or shape, as such, any bag could be considered to be a pannier in its broadest aspects. 
         [0005]    The connection device enables a pannier to be used as an ordinary bag, rucksack, messenger bag, or the like, without having the attachment arrangement exposed in an operable position, whereby the risk for clothes or other items getting snared or caught is reduced. A user can simply choose to displace the support member between the attachment position and the concealed position dependent on the intended use of the pannier. If a user would like to transport gods using the pannier, the user simply put the support member to the transport position, at which the attachment arrangement is exposed and can be used to attach the pannier to an object such as a bicycle, or any other vehicle or person. When the user arrives at the intended destination, the user can release the pannier from the object e.g. vehicle, and displace the support member and thus conceal the attachment arrangement. 
         [0006]    According to a second aspect, the object is to provide an improved connection device for a pannier for an object such as a vehicle or a person. The vehicle could be a bicycle, snow scooter, motorcycle, jet ski, sailing boat, motor boat or the like. The connection device comprises a support member comprising an attachment arrangement for attaching to the object. According to an aspect, the attachment arrangement comprises at least one attachment member. The at least one attachment member is adapted to attach to the object by a rotational movement between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the lock position, the attachment member engages the object in a retaining manner. In the unlocked position, the attachment member, and thus the connection device, can be removed from the object. The attachment arrangement can comprise one or more attachment members, e.g. two, or two or more, attachment members. According to an aspect, the connection device comprises a first and second attachment member, the first and the second attachment members are aligned along a first axis and adapted to attach to a rod, or any other elongated member, on the object, the rod being aligned with the first axis. 
         [0007]    The pivotable support member can be pivotally connected to a housing, in which the attachment arrangement is at least partly encompassed by the housing when the pivotable support member is in the concealed position. 
         [0008]    According to an aspect, the attachment arrangement comprises at least one attachment member. The at least one attachment member is adapted to attach to the vehicle by a rotational movement between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the lock position, the attachment member engages the vehicle in a retaining manner. In the unlocked position, the attachment member, and thus the connection device, can be removed from the vehicle. The attachment arrangement can comprise one or more attachment members, e.g. two attachment members. The attachment arrangement can be used to attach the pannier to an object such as a vehicle or a person. If the pannier is to be attached to a person, the attachment arrangement can be used to attach a carrier arrangement, such as rucksack straps or the like. 
         [0009]    According to an aspect, the at least one attachment member is displaceably arranged to the pivotable support member. By having displaceable attachment members with respect to the pivotable support member, the connection device can be adapted to be attached to many different vehicles and different vehicle sizes or models. This is especially the case if the support member comprises two attachment members and at least one of them are displaceably attached optionally both of them are displaceable attached. The attachment member(s) can be slideably displaceably attached, or being adapted to be attached at pre-selected positions. 
         [0010]    According to an aspect, the connection device comprises a first and second attachment member, the first and the second attachment members are arranged in a row, i.e. aligned along a first axis, and adapted to attach to a rod, or any other elongated object, on the vehicle, the rod being aligned with the first axis. It is of course possible that the first and the second attachment members are used to be attached at two individual sites or positions, and not to a rod on the object. Each of the attachment members can comprises a slot adapted for receiving the rod, or the elongated object. When the rod is aligned with the first axis, and the first and the second attachment members is positioned in the unlocked position, the slots are aligned with the first axis and the rod can thus be inserted into the slot of the first and the second attachment members. 
         [0011]    According to an aspect, the first and second attachment members are aligned along a first axis, and the pivotable support member is adapted to pivot about the first axis between the attachment position and the concealed position. A small and compact attachment arrangement is provided by aligning the first and the second attachment members with the pivot axis. Optionally or additionally, the first and second attachment members are adapted to rotate about a first and a second rotation axis respectively, the first and the second rotation points are positioned so that they substantially intersect with the first axis. 
         [0012]    According to an aspect, the first and second attachment members are connected by a string or handle, the string or handle is configured to impart the first and the second attachment members a rotational motion when being pulled. 
         [0013]    According to an aspect, one, or both of the first and the second attachment members, is/are adapted to be displaced between the unlocked position and a locked position using a rotational movement of the first and/or the second attachment member. For example, the first attachment member can be imparted with a rotational movement in a first direction, and the second attachment member can be imparted with a rotational movement in a second direction. The first direction is opposite of the second direction, e.g. the first direction can be clockwise and the second direction could be anti-clock wise, or vice versa. A wire, string, or handle, can be used to impart the rotational movement to the first and/or the second attachment members. Optionally the first and/or the second attachment member are biased, or at least spring loaded, back towards the locked position. 
         [0014]    According to an aspect, the pivotable support member comprises a first and a second side. The attachment arrangement is slideably arranged to the first side of the pivotable support member. The second side is advantageously a smooth flat surface. It is advantageous the second side of the pivotable support member is formed in accordance with the fashion of the pannier to which it is intended to be attached to. 
         [0015]    According to an aspect, the pivotable support member comprises at least one slide track, and the at least one attachment member is adapted to slide in the at least one slide track. The attachment member can be displaced by a sliding motion between a substantially infinite number of positions, or between a numbers of preselected, or predetermined positions. 
         [0016]    According to an aspect, the housing can be a rigid housing, i.e. formed by a rigid material. The housing can optionally in some cases be formed by a soft shell, i.e. a flexible material. 
         [0017]    According to an aspect, the pivotable support member is pivotally arranged to the housing so as to form a pivotable lid to a void defined by the housing. 
         [0018]    According to an aspect, the object is a vehicle such as a bicycle, snow scooter, motorcycle, Jet Ski, sailing boat, motor boat or the like. 
         [0019]    It is also within the boundaries that embodiments of the present invention includes a pannier comprising a connection device as described herein according to different aspects, or according to any one of the appended claims. 
         [0020]    The attachment arrangement of the pivotable support member can be pivoted into the pannier and out from the pannier. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Non limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying figures in which; 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a pannier comprising a connection device according to an embodiment, the pivotable support member being in a concealed position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the pannier of  FIG. 1 , the pivotable support member being in an attachment position; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   b  show the pivotable support member being pivoted from the concealed position to the attachment position; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   b  show the pivotable support member being pivoted from the attachment position to the concealed position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4   a - 4 b show the connection device during attachment of a pannier to the rod of a bicycle rack; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows the connection device in greater detail, the pivotable support member being in the attachment position and attached to a rod of e bicycle rack and; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the connection device shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a pannier  10  for a bicycle (not shown). The pannier  10  can be attached directly to the vehicle, such as a bicycle or, as will be shown and described herein, attached to a bicycle rack, which in turn is attached to a bicycle. The vehicle can be a bicycle, motorcycle, snow scooter, Jet Ski, kayak, sailing boat, motor boat, or similar vehicles may require additional load carrying capabilities. The pannier  10  is preferably a bicycle pannier. 
         [0030]    The pannier  10  can be attached to the bicycle via a connection device  100  comprising an attachment arrangement  20  arranged on a pivotable support member  11 .  FIGS. 2   a - 3   b  show how the pivotable support member  11  can be pivoted and positioned in an attachment position, at which the attachment arrangement  20  is exposed and in an operable position as seen in  FIG. 3   a , and a concealed position as seen in  FIG. 2   a , in which the attachment arrangement  20  is concealed from view and in a non-operable position. The pivotable support member  11  is pivotally connected to a housing  12  as will be described in greater detail below. The attachment arrangement  20  can thus be concealed and will not suffer from the risk of getting snared or caught when not in use. The pannier  10  can further be carried as a rucksack for example, as no protruding parts will interfere with a user while carrying the pannier  10  on his/hers back. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4   a  shows the pannier  10  with the pivotable support member  11  in the attachment position, the attachment arrangement  20  is in an operable position and ready to be attached to a bicycle rack. The pivotable support member  11  can be pivoted at least 180 degrees about an axis A (shown in  FIG. 5 ), or at least 360 degrees. In the shown embodiment, the pivotable support member  11  can be pivoted 180 degrees about the axis A. The attachment arrangement  20  comprises a first and a second attachment member  21 ,  22  which provides for a first and second attachment point to the bicycle rack. The first and the second attachment members  21 ,  22  are operated via flexible member  23 , in this case a wire  24 , which upon being pulled rotates the first and the second attachment members  21 ,  22  counter clock-wise and clock-wise respectively, which is illustrated with arrows in  FIG. 4   b . When the wire  24  is released the first and the second attachment members  21 ,  22  are biased towards their original position. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows the attachment arrangement  20  in greater detail and parts of the bicycle rack  30  to which the pannier  10  is attached. Each attachment member  21 ,  22  comprise an insertion slot  25  through which a rod  31  of the bicycle rack  30  can be inserted through. The insertion slots  25  of the first and the second attachment members  21 ,  22  are in the shown embodiment aligned when pulling the flexible member  23 , in  FIG. 5  aligned with an axis A. The insertion slot  25  is formed between a first and a second protruding member  26 ,  27 , which each comprises a lock flange  28 . When the flexible member  23  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) is pulled, the insert slots  25  are aligned with the axis A, enabling the rod  31  to be inserted into the insertion slots  25 . As the flexible member  23  is released, the first and the second attachments members  21 ,  22  rotates back to substantially their original position, a lock position, at which the lock flanges  28  grips about the rod  31  and intersects with the axis A in an locking manner. Each attachment member  21 ,  22  comprises a rotation axis  21 A,  22 A about which the first and the second attachment member  21 ,  22  is adapted to rotate. As is noted, the rotation axes  21 A,  22 A are positioned so that they substantially intersect with the axis A. Advantageously, the rotation axes  21 A,  22 A are substantially perpendicular to the axis A and substantially intersecting with the axis A, or intersecting with the axis A. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the pivotable support member  11  and the housing  12  in greater detail. The housing  12  forms a cartridge like structure, which can be inserted and attached to the pannier  10  as a cartridge or separate module.  FIG. 6  shows the pivotable support member  11 , the housing  12 , parts of the pannier  10  in the form of a pannier wall  15  comprising an opening  16 , a rim  17  for connecting the housing  12  to the wall  15  of the pannier  10 . A support member end piece  18  is arranged at each end  11   a ,  11   b  of the pivotable support member  11 . The support member end pieces  18  are arranged with a pivot pin  40  about which the pivotable support member  11  is configured to pivot between the operable position and the concealed position. A lock pint  41 , biased by a spring  42 , locks the pivotable support member  11  at the operable position and the concealed position. 
         [0034]    The pivotable support member  11  is in the shown embodiment formed by extruded aluminum but could of course be manufactured in other materials such as wood, plastics or the like. It could be transparent or made partly, or non-transparent. Independently of the transparency of the pivotable support member it would still be considered to conceal the attachment arrangement. The pivotable support member  11  comprises a C-shaped cross section in which the first and the second attachment members  21 ,  22  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) can be slidably displaced. A number of apertures  45  in one of the flanges  46  at the opening of the pivotable support member  11  provides for a number of preselected positions for the first and the second attachment members  21 ,  22  so that the pannier  10  can be attached to a wide variety of sizes and models of bicycles and bicycle racks. The pivotable support member  11  can be formed by a transparent material, such as a transparent plastic material, and still conceal the attachment arrangement. If the pivotable support member is formed by a non-transparent material, the attachment arrangement  20  will be fully concealed, unless there are apertures in the pivotable support member  11  or if the housing  12  or the pannier  10  itself permits viewing of the attachment arrangement  20 . Independently of whether the attachment arrangement is concealed or fully concealed, the attachment arrangement  20  is removed from the outer surface of the pannier  10  and thus positioned in a non-operable position. 
         [0035]    As is noticed, the housing  12  comprises a radially curved wall  12   a  permitting the pivotable support member  11  to rotate. The housing  12  is advantageously manufactured in substantially rigid material, such as aluminum, wood or wood based materials, theimoplastics e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane or mixtures thereof. 
         [0036]    In the shown embodiment, the attachment arrangement comprises a first and a second attachment member  21 ,  22 . Only the first attachment member  21  will be described herein, the second attachment member  22  is however of the same type as the first attachment member  21 , although in some embodiments it is possible that the first and the second attachment members are of different types. As mentioned, each attachment member  21 ,  22  comprise an insertion slot  25  through which an elongated element, such as a rod of a bicycle rack can be inserted. 
         [0037]    The pivotable support member comprises a first and a second side  11   c ,  11   d . The attachment arrangement is slideably arranged to the first side  11   c  of the pivotable support member. The second side  11   d  is advantageously a smooth flat surface. It is advantageous is the second side of the pivotable support member is formed in accordance with the fashion of the pannier to which it is intended to be attached to as is shown in  FIG. 1  for example. The second side  11   d  can be substantially aligned with the outer surface of the pannier for example. 
         [0038]    The first attachment member  21  is rotateably attached to a sliding member  60  which is slideably attached to the pivotable support member  11 , in this case in the slide tracks  47  formed by the C-shaped cross section of the pivotable support member  11 . A spring member biases the first attachment member  21  towards a first position, in which the lock flanges  28  are adapted to grip about an elongated element in a locking manner. A disc  61  comprising a stop flange  62  arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane of the disc  61 . The stop flange  62  slides in a track  63  in the sliding member  60  as the flexible member  23  is pulled, and provides to a distinct stop the to the rotation of the first attachment member  21  as the track  63  of the sliding member  60  ends. At the mentioned stop position, the insert slots  25  are aligned enabling an elongated element to be inserted into the insertion slots  25  and thus attached to the first and the second attachment member  21 ,  22 . 
         [0039]    The insertion slots  25  of the first and the second attachment members  21 ,  22  are in the shown embodiment aligned when pulling the flexible member  23 . As the flexible member  23  is released, the first and the second attachments members  21 ,  22  rotate back to substantially their original position, a lock position.