Patent Abstract:
A bicycle mountable storage container is disclosed that includes mounting means for attaching the storage container to a bicycle, and a pair of doors on a top portion of the storage container. The storage container has an internal volume defined in party by opposing side walls, wherein the doors are movable from a closed position to an open position by generally moving away from each other, and subsequently down along the opposing side walls of the storage container.

Full Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/877,455 filed Sep. 13, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The invention generally relates to storage containers and relates in particular to storage containers that are mountable on a bicycle. 
         [0003]    As bicycle use becomes more popular and more people use bicycles not just for commuting but also for shopping and other activities, it would sometimes be convenient to leave materials with the bicycle. Although baskets may be attached to the front of the bicycle, they may not be used to secure items within the basket. Bicycle panniers are also popular, but are easily removed from the bicycle, and thus do not provide a secure storage container. 
         [0004]    There is a need, therefore, for a securable storage container that is secured to a bicycle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with an embodiment, the invention provides a bicycle mountable storage container that includes mounting means for attaching the storage container to a bicycle, and a pair of doors on a top portion of the storage container. The storage container has an internal volume defined in part by opposing side walls, wherein the doors are movable from a closed position to an open position by generally moving away from each other, and subsequently down along the opposing side walls of the storage container. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another embodiment, the invention provides a bicycle mountable storage container that includes a pair of doors on a top portion thereof, wherein the doors are configured to be opened to an open position alongside opposing sides of the storage container, collapsible pockets that are formed between each open door and its associated side of the storage container, and mounting means for attaching the storage container to the bicycle. 
         [0007]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the invention provides a bicycle mountable storage container that includes mounting means for attaching the storage container to the bicycle, and a pair of doors on a top portion thereof, wherein the doors are configured to be opened to an open position alongside the opposing sides of the storage container, and wherein movement of said doors is not obstructed by any of a set of the bicycle, an fender or the bicycle or a wheel of the tire of the bicycle. 
         [0008]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the invention provides a bicycle mountable storage container that includes mounting means for attaching the storage container to the bicycle and a pair of doors on a top portion thereof, wherein the doors are movable from a closed position in which a first storage volume is provided, to an open position alongside opposing sides of the storage container, and wherein the doors, when in the open position, permit additional storage volumes to be provided in addition to the first storage volume. 
         [0009]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the invention provides a bicycle mountable storage container that includes mounting means for attaching the storage container to the bicycle, and a pair of doors on a top portion thereof, wherein the doors are movable from a closed position to an open position alongside opposing sides of the storage container, and wherein said doors each include posts that travel along tracks within the storage container, said tracks guiding the path of the doors via the tracks as the doors are moved between the open and closed positions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The following descriptions may be further understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative diagrammatic front perspective view of a bicycle mounted storage container in a closed position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows an illustrative diagrammatic rear perspective view of the bicycle mountable storage container of  FIG. 1  in a opened position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows an illustrative diagrammatic perspective view of the inner wall of the rear portion of the bicycle mountable storage container of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows an illustrative diagrammatic closer up view of the locking mechanism of the bicycle mountable storage container of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows an illustrative diagrammatic side perspective view of the left side of the bicycle mountable storage container of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows an illustrative diagrammatic bottom perspective view of the bicycle mountable storage container of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows an illustrative diagrammatic exploded side view of a mounting arrangement in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows an illustrative diagrammatic exploded view of track subassemblies for use in a bicycle mountable storage container in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows an illustrative diagrammatic exploded view of a track subassembly of the bicycle mountable storage container of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a secure storage container that is mountable to a bicycle is shown at  10 . The storage container  10  includes a pair of doors  12 ,  14  on a top portion of the container, and each door  12 ,  14  has a handle  16 ,  18  respectively. The container also includes left and right sides  20 ,  22  as well as front and rear sides  24 ,  26  as discussed below. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the doors  12 ,  14  are opened, they are positioned along the opposing sides  20 ,  22  of the container, providing access to a storage volume  114  within the container, as well as access to additional storage volumes  116 ,  118  within collapsible pockets that are suspended between each door  12 ,  14  and the respective side wall  20 ,  22 . With reference again to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that since the doors open alongside the opposing sides  20 ,  22  of the container  10 , the movement of the doors  12 ,  14  is not obstructed by any of the seat  120 , the fender  122 , and the wheel  124  or the tire  126  of the bicycle  112 . Because of this, the doors may remain open while the bicycle is being ridden, and may include parcels such as a package that stands within the storage volume  114  yet extends above the top of the container  10 . When the container is in the open position therefore, it may be used to carry large items such as grocery bags, as well as more narrow items in the collapsible pockets. The doors may also include gasket material along the edges of that each door that contacts the other door (as well as on the inner surface of each door that contacts the tops of the walls of the container, thereby sealing the interior from moisture outside of the container when the doors are locked. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the doors  12 ,  14  may be unlocked by turning a key  28  within a lock  30  on the rear side  26  of the container. When the key  28  turns the lock  30  into the open position, the doors  12 ,  14  first lift up from the container a short distance, and then may be moved away from each other to provide an opening. This movement is caused by the cam mechanism  50  releasing locking posts  130  on arms  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . The door  12  is attached to arms  32  and  34 , and the door  14  is attached to arms  36  and  38 . When the cam mechanism  50  releases the locking posts  130  on the arms  32  and  36 , guide posts  40  are then permitted to move upward along guide tracks  42 ,  46 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , drive linkages  52  and  56  are attached to the cam mechanism  50 , and move with the cam mechanism. When in the unlocked position, opposing ends of the drive linkages are coupled to rods  132 ,  134  via spring biased offset drive linkages  136  and  138 , which cause the rods  132 ,  134  to rotate. When the rods  132 ,  134  rotate, offset follower linkages  140 ,  142  on the inside of the front side  24  of the container urge follower linkages  54 ,  58  to rotate a follower cam  60  that engages locking posts  130  on the arms  34 ,  38 . This provides that the doors, when locked, are locked on both the forward and rear ends of the container. Note also that the rods  132 ,  134  are also used to suspend the pockets  70 ,  72 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 , when the doors are opened, a pocket  70 ,  72  is formed between each door  12 ,  14  and a respective side  20 ,  22  of the container. The pockets  70 ,  72  are formed by fabric  74 ,  76  that is attached to both the underside of each door  12 ,  14  and to the rods  132 ,  134  on each respective side  20 ,  22 , as well as to the underside of each door  12 ,  14 . The container also includes elastomeric straps  80 ,  82  that are fixed to the interior floor  84  of the container. The elastomeric straps  80 ,  82  may be pulled over items within each pocket  70 ,  72 , and secured around a respective handle  16 ,  18  on a door. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 , the fabric  74 ,  76  of each pocket  70 ,  72  may be removed from the container  10  to facilitate cleaning. In particular, a hook and loop fastener (Velcro®)  90 ,  92  may be provided on the fabric along each side  20 ,  22  of the container, and zippers  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  may be provided on the underside of each door  12 ,  14  as well as on the bottom  100  of the container along each side  20 ,  22 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the floor  84  of the container may include openings through which threaded screws  102 ,  104  may be provided. A fastening bar  106  is then placed below the top portion of the bicycle rack, and the threaded screws  102 ,  104  are then tightened into threaded openings on the fastening bar  106 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , in addition to the fastening bar  106 , in accordance with another embodiment, an additional inner fastening bar  150  may be used to sandwich the rack  110  and the bottom floor  100  of the container using the screws  102 ,  104 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in accordance with a further embodiment, the invention may employ a different type of track system to guide the movement of the doors, and may include track subassemblies that conceal the tracks within inner walls. In particular, track subassemblies  200 ,  202  may be used that each include a track portions  204  along which guide posts  206  on arms  208  are guided. The track assemblies  200 ,  202  are mounted within the body  210  of the container as shown in  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , a cam plate  212  captures the arms  206 ,  208  between the cam plate  212  and the container bulkhead  214 . Note that the guide posts in this embodiment are provided on the lower end of the arms as shown in more detail in the exploded view of  FIG. 9 . The remaining portions and features of a bicycle mountable storage container in accordance with this embodiment may be the same as provided in connection with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         [0029]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications and variations may be made to the above disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1