Improvements in Parcel Carriers for Bicycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1891--Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Parcel Carriers for Bicycles.
1, MAURICE EUGENE BLOOD of Kalamazoo, County of Kalamazoo, and State
of Michigan, United States of America, Inventor and Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PARCEL CARRIERS
FOR BICYCLES," to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a parcel carrier which can be con-
structed of the fewest possible pieces to receive and safely carry articles thrown
loosely into it when it is set for use and still adapted to be closed up or folded
together in a small compass when not in use, and to so arrange the parts that it can
be set for use or folded up instantly, either while the rider is off his bicycle or
riding it.
And also to provide a double carrier to be used when there are more articles to
be carried than a single one will carry, also to provide a way to carry the carrier
when it is folded up and not in use, behind and under the handle bar where it will
be out of the way.
I attain these objects by the devices described as follows.
The frame work of the carrier, is made in a square form and is composed of the
casting, side arms or supports, and front rod or support.
The casting is made in the form of a straight piece running parallel with the
handle-bar and supports the rear part of the net or bag which is attached at its
upper edge to the casting.
This casting has an arm or portion extending at right angles from it rearwardly,
and from near its center, to connect it with the handle-bar.
At the rear end of said portion or arm there is an opening to receive the
handle-bar.
This opening is formed by a curved part on the top, to hook over the handle-bar,
and a part to come around on the opposite side of the handle-bar.
There is a thumb screw in the latter part made to screw up against the handle-
bar opposite the said curved part to hold the casting securely to the handle-bar.
The opening above referred to large enough to receive the handle-bar when the
thumb screw is turned back.
The stop finger constitutes a part of the casting and is made to project from the
arm portion to come in front of and against the handle-bar post, and to prevent the
casting from twisting on the handle-bar and swinging downward when there is a
heavy load in front of the handle-bar.
At each end of the casting there is an eye or hole to receive a vertical portion of
the side arms.
Stops are formed on a lower side of a part of said arms and arranged in such
relation to the lower end of the side arms, as to allow the said arms to swing almost,
but not quite, a half a circle.
Just before the side arms in swinging around to the front on the rear of the
casting come at right angles with said casting, the lower ends of the side arms will
strike the stops, which action will arrest the further movement of the side arms
except as they are sprung outwardly, the side arms being made of material that
will spring and allow said arms to swing around at right angles with the casting.
The side arms may be made of spring wire, and have a long straight portion
which supports each side of the net or bag, then they are bent downward near their
rear ends when they pass through the eye or hole in the ends of the casting, and
then they are bent back again to lie horizontally close to the bottom of the eye or
.

page_text: hole through which they are passed in the casting, and at an angle to come in
contact with the stops at the proper tinie, as before mentioned.
The forward ends of these side arms are bent first downward a little, then upward,
and then off to one side to form a hook at the extreme end, the hollow part of the
hook being on the under side, and the hook being nearly at right angles with
the arm.
There is a front rod made of wire, which has an eye made on each end to receive
the side arms, one of said arms passing through each eye.
The eyes in the first rod should be the same distance apart from center to center
as the eyes or holes in the ends of the casting, and the front rod will drop into
the downward curve of the arms and be prevented from going further by the
hooks.
At the rear end of the side arms a rod runs over on a vertical portion of the said
arms, which portion rises up from the casting high enough to receive said rod and
this rod will then lie flat on top of the casting.
When this rod is in that position the side arms will be free to swing around from
one side of the casting to the other, but when the rod is out to the forward end of
the side arms, said arms will then be sprung outward and hooked in that position
with the rod.
When it is desired to fold the frame the rod is moved backward to lie on top of
the casting, then the side arms are swung around to lie in the same position on top
of the rod.
The hook of one of the side arms is hooked over said rod, and the hook of the
other side arm is hooked over the first arm, thus locking the frame again in that
position.
When the frame is to be set to the rear of the handle-bar or its casting, the side
arms are unhooked and swung out in that direction from the casting and the rod is
moved out to the hooks, where the frame will be locked the same as in the front
position.
The stops might be arranged in such a way as to allow the side arms to swing
outwardly from the carrier, and in that case a cord might be used in place of the
front rod as the side arms would have to be pulled toward each other instead of
being pushed apart.
The receptacle consists of a net or bag suspended from the frame-work just
described, by having its upper edges on all sides attached to the straight portions of
the casting, side arins and rod.
On the rods and side-arms the connection can be made by running these parts
through the upper meshes of the net, when the net is used, and the connection can be
made to the casting by running a cord of the same material as the net through the
upper meshes of the net on that side, and each time it goes through a mesh, winding
it around the casting.
The net can be made flat and straight, but when suspended in this manner, the
upper edges will be gathered in and the central portion will hang lower down, thus
forming a bag with a square opening at the top.
Another frame might be made that would be circular in form or oval, thereby
giving the net or bag a circular or oval opening at the top, but such a form to the
net or bag, would not be as convenient for carrying all kinds of articles as the
square form, besides it would be difficult to fold such a frame in a desirable
manner.
A bag made of cloth, leather or other material could be attached to the frame by
means of hoops, metallic rings or hooks, going through the upper edges of the bag
and sliding ever the frame.
The net could also be attached to the frame by means of metallic rings or
hooks.
The net or bag can be folded or closed up to be carried when not in use.
To do this, when the net or bag is set for use, it is only necessary to slide the
front rod along on the side arms, and let it lie on top of the casting, then swing the

page_text: side arms around and hook them over each other and the front rod, and the net or
bag will be closed up together and hanging down from the casting.
To make the folding still more complete, the front rod is first moved back to lic
on top of the casting and the net or bag as it is then doubled up, is wound around
the front rod, and the casting, and then the side arms are swung around and hooked
on top of the net.
The carrier will then be in a small compact form and can be carried either in
front on the handle-bar or hanging down under the handle-bar.
All that is required to place it in the latter position is to loosen the thumb-screw,
swing the carrier over the handle-bar, and around until it comes to the position, and
then tighten up with the thumb-screw again.
The side arms are bent in such a manner in relation to their pivot points in the
casting, that there will be a downward tension to the arms when they are folded
that will cause the hooks to have a firm hold on the arms and net, or bag, which
makes the carrier secure in the folded position and keeps the parts so there can be
no looseness or rattling.
To make a double carrier the casting must have two eyes or holes at each end in
part for them.
Two more side arms are pivoted in these and another front rod like that before
described.
This second carrier can be set for use and folded the same as the first one, and it
can be entirely detached from the single carrier, when desired, by making the eye
or holes in the casting large enough, or in such a shape that the side arms can be
taken out.
To remove the whole carrier from the handle-bar turn the thumb-screw back until
the casting will slip off the handle-bar.
Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A, February 10th 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Parcel Carriers for Bicycles.
I, MAURICE EUGENE BLOOD, in the City of Kalamazoo, and State of Michigan,
U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
The object of this invention is to provide a parcel-carrier that can be constructed
of the fewest possible pieces to receive and safely carry articles thrown loosely into
it, when it is set for use, and still adapted to be closed up or folded together in a
small compass when not in use, and to so arrange the parts that it can be set for
use or folded up instantly either while the rider is off his bicycle, or riding it; and
also to provide a double carrier to be used when there are more articles to be
carried than a single one will carry; also, to provide a way to carry. the carrier
when it is folded up and not in use, behind and under the handle-bar, where it will
be out of the way. I attain these objects by the devices illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1, is an end elevation of the single carrier, showing it attached to the handle-
bar of a bicycle and projecting in front of the handle-bar, which would be over the
forward wheel of the bicycle. The dotted lines show the carrier as used in another
position behind the handle-bar.
Fig. 2, is a, top view of the single carrier.

page_text: .
189; 15 2 op view of it when Joшed or closed up and not in use.
Fig. 4, is an end elevation of the double-carrier frame with dotted out lines of
the net or bag.
Fig. 5, is a sectional top view of one end of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6, is a front elevation of Fig. 3, with the net or bag removed.
Fig. 7, is an end view of the carrier when folded or closed up and hanging down
behind and under the handle-bar.
Fig. 8, is an end view of the carrier with the frame work folded or closed up,
but the net or bag hanging down in the position it would occupy before it is wound
around the carricr-frame.
Fig. 9, is a detail of one end of the rod, which is the front support of the net
or bag;
Fig. 10, a detail being a sectional view of the bottom of one end of the single
carrier, showing the lower end of the side arm or support and stops with which it
engages; and
Fig. 11, an enlarged detail being a frout elevation of one end of the carrier
when folded, showing the relation of the net and cord to the frame when in that
position.
A whole bicycle is not shown in the drawings, only enough-viz-a broken
section of the handle-bar and handle-bar post to show the relation of the carrier to
the bicycle.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
At
The frame-work of the carrier is made in a rectangular form, and is composed of
the casting E, side arms or supports D-D, and front rod or support F. The
casting E is made in the form of a straight piece running parallel with the handle-
bar H and supports the rear part of the net or bag, which is attached at its upper edge
to the casting. This casting has an arm or portion B extending at right angles from
it rearwardly and from near its center to connect it with the handle-bar H.
the rear end of the portion B there is an opening y, as shown in Fig 4, to receive
the handle-bar. This opening is formed by the curved parts on the top to hook
over the handle-bar, and a part P to come around on the opposite side of the
handle-bar. There is a thumb-screw d in the part P, made to screw up against
the handle-bar opposite the curved part s, to hold the casting securely to the
handle-bar.
The opening y must be large enough to receive the handle-bar when the thumb-
screw is turned back. The stop-finger A is a part of the casting, and is made to
project from the portion B, to come in front of and against the handle-bar post, and
to prevent the casting from twisting on the handle-bar and swinging downward
when there is a heavy load in front of the handle-bar. At each end of the
casting E there is an eye or hole in the part to receive the vertical portion of
the arms D-D. The stops - (shown in Fig. 10) are formed on the lower side
of the part n, and arranged in such relation to the lower end of the side
arms D D as to allow the side arms to swing almost but not quite a half
circle. Just before the side arms D-D, in swinging around to the front or
the rear of the casting E, come at right angles with the casting E, the lower
ends, of the side arms D-D, will strike the stops t-t, which will arrest
the further movement of the side arms D-D, except as they are sprung outwardly,
the side arms D-D being made of material that will spring and allow the arms to
swing around at right angles with the casting E. The side arms D-D, as shown
in Fig. 4, are made of spring-wire, and have a long, straight portion, which supports
each side of the net or bag. Then they are bent downward near their rear ends
when they pass through an eye or hole in the ends of the casting E, and then
they are bent back again to lie horizontally close to the bottom of the eye or
hole through which they have passed in the casting E, and at an angle to come in
contact with the stops t-, at the proper time, as before mentioned. The forward
ends of these arms D-D are bent first downward a little, then upward, and then off
to one side to form a hook at the extreme end, the hollow part of the hook being on

page_text: the under side, and the hook being nearly at right angles with the arm.
The front
rod F is also made of wire, and has an eye made on each end to receive the
arms D-D, an arm passing through each eye.
The eyes in the rod F should be the same distance apart from centre to centre as
the eyes or holes in the ends of the casting E, and the rod F is made to slide the
whole length of the straight portion of the arms D-D. At the front
end of the arms, the rod F will drop into the downward curve of the
arms, and be prevented from going farther by the hooks i-i. At the rear
end of the arms, the rod F will run over on the vertical portion of the
arms, which portion rises up from the casting E high enough to receive the
rod F, and the rod F will then lic flat on top of the casting E. When the
rod is in that position, the side arms will be free to swing around from one side
of the casting, E, to the other; but when the rod F is out to the forward end of the
arms D-D, the arms will then be sprung outward and locked in that position with
the rod F.
When it is desired to fold the frame, the rod F is moved backward to lie on
top of the casting E. Then the arms D-D are swung around to lie in the same
position on top of the rod F. The hook i, of one of the arms D-D, is hooked
over the rod F; and the hook of the other arm D is hooked over the first arm,
thus locking the frame again in that position. When the frame is to be set to the
rear of the handle-bar or casting E, the side arms D-D are unhooked and swung
out in that direction from the casting and the rod I moved out to the hooks i-i, where
the frame will be locked the same as in the front position. The stops t-t
might be arranged in such a way as to allow the side arms D-D to swing
outwardly from the carrier, and in that case a cord might be used in place of the
front rod F, as the side arms would have to be pulled toward each other instead of
being pushed apart.
The receptacle is a net or bag G, suspended from the frame-work just described,
by having its upper edges on all sides attached to the straight portions of the
casting E, side arms D-D and rod F. On the rods and side arms the connection
can be made by running these parts through the upper meshes of the net when the
net is used, and the connection can be made to the casting by running a cord of the
same material as the net through the upper meshes of the net on that side, and each
time it goes through a mesh, winding it around the casting. The net G can be
made flat and straight, but when suspended in this manner, the upper edges will be
gathered in and the central portion will hang lower down, thus forming a bag with
a rectangular opening at the top. Another frame might be made that would be
circular in form, or oval, thereby giving tlie net or bag a circular or oval opening
at the top but such a form to the net or bag would not be as convenient for
carrying all kinds of articles as the rectangular form, besides it would be difficult
to fold such a frame in a desirable manner.
A bag made of cloth, leather, or other material could be attached to the frame
by means of loops, metallic rings, or hooks going through the upper edges of the
bag and sliding over the frame. The net could also be attached to the frame by
means of metallic hooks or rings.
The net or bag can be folded or closed up to be carried when not in use in the
manner shown in Fig. 8. To do this when the net or bag is set for use it is only
necessary to slide the front rod F along on the side arms D-D, and let it lie on
top of the casting E. Then swing the side arms D-D around and hook them over
each other and the front rod F, and the net or bag will be closed up together and hang
down from the casting E. The net or bag as it is then doubled up is wound around
the front rod F and the casting E, and then the side arms D-D are swung around
and hooked on top of the net, as shown in Fig. 3. The carrier will then be in a
small, compact form and can be carried in front of the handle-bar or hanging down
under the handle-bar, as shown in Fig. 7. All that is required to place it in the
latter position is to loosen the thumb-screw d swing the carrier over the
handle-bar and around until it comes to that position, and then tighten up

page_text: with the thumb-screw again. The side arms D-D are bent in such a manner
in relation to their pivot-point in the casting E that there will be a downward
tension to the arms when they are folded that will cause the hooks i-i to have a
firm hold on the arms and net or bag which makes the carrier secure in the folded
position and keeps the parts so there can be no looseness or rattling.
To make a double carrier, the casting E must have two eyes or holes at each end
in the part n-n. Two more side arms are pivoted in these, and another front rod F
and net or bag is used, as shown in Figs. 4 & 5. This second carrier can be set for
use and folded the same as the first one, and it can be entirely detached from the
single carrier, when desired, by making the eye or hole in the part n of the
casting E large enough or in such shape that the arms D-D can be taken out.
To remove the whole carrier from the handle-bar, turn the thumb-screw d back
until the casting will slip off the handle-bar.
I am aware that carrier attachments for bicycles have been used before, cou-
sisting of straps and spring-clamps attached to the handle-bar and bags tied to
different parts of a bicycle; but I do not know that a bag has ever before been
suspended on arms projecting from the handle-bar. One great advantage of having
a bag suspended in this manner is that the bag is carried steadily along and cannot
swing around with its contents and strike against the rider or different parts of the
bicycle, and a bag suspended in this manner has advantage over any strapping or
clamping device on account of being able to hold and carry many articles thrown
in loosely that it would be almost impossible to hold with straps or clamps, and by
making the sides of the bag square or rectangular instead of round, there is a
better chance to carry books, long, straight packages, and such articles, than there
would be in a round bag.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, to be attached to the handle-bar of a
bicycle, the main part of the frame formed of a single metallic piece of casting
having a long, straight portion running parallel with the handle-bar to support one
side of the receptacle and the side arms of a receptacle, and an arm portion
extending from the straight portion to connect with the handle-bar, the arm
portion having a forked or Y-shaped opening to receive the handle-bar, substantially
as specified.
2nd: In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, to be attached to the handle-bar of a
bicycle, the part which composes the main support of the carrier formed of a
single metallic piece or casting having a straight portion running parallel with the
handle-bar to support one side of the receptacle, an arm portion extending from
the straight portion to the handle-bar, having a forked or Y-shaped opening to
receive the handle-bar, and a portion extending from the arm portion to rest against
the handle-bar post, substantially as specified.
3rd In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, to be attached to the handle-bar of a
bicycle, the part which composes the main frame and support of the carrier, formed
of a single metallic piece or casting having a long, straight portion running parallel
with the handle-bar and arms pivoted in each end, and an arm portion extending
from the straight portion to the handle-bar, having a forked or Y-shaped opening
to receive the handle-bar, and a portion extending from the arm portion to
rest against the handle-bar post, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4th-In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, to be attached to the handle-bar of a
bicycle, the main supporting frame E and B, hooks, extension P, and projection a,
all being integral with each other, substantially as specified.
5th: In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, to be secured to the handle-bar of a
bicycle, the main supporting frame E and B, end portions n-n, stops t―t, Y-shaped
portions and P, and finger a, all formed of a single metallic piece of casting,
substantially as specified.

page_text: 6th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, velocipedes, or other like vehicles, the
receptacle being a bag having a rectangular-shaped opening at the top, each side
of the bag connected to a corresponding side of a rectangular-shaped frame, the
said frame adapted to be folded together, substantially as specified.
7th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, the main supporting frame E and B,
having side arms pivoted in the ends -, and the stops -t to engage the side
arms, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
8th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, the combination, with pivoted side-arm-
supports, of a front rod or support having an eye or hole at each end to receive
the side arms, the front rod or support adapted to slide along on the side supports,
substantially as specified.
:
9th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, the receptacle being a net supported on
three sides by inetallic rods or arms which pass through the outside meshes or loops
or rings in the outside meshes of the net, one of the side supporting rods
adapted to move and carry that side of the net bodily, while the net slides along
on the other two rods lengthwise of the rods, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
:
10th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, the receptacle being a bag hanging from
rods on three sides, the bag adapted to slide lengthwise of the rods on two sides
and be carried squarely along by the third rod, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
11th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, to be attached to a handle-bar of a
bicycle, a parcel-carrier adapted to be folded together and swung around the
handle-bar from its position when carrying the load to a position hanging down
from the handle-bar and behind the handle-bar post when not in.use, substantially
as specified.
12th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, the carrier adapted to be set in front of
the handle-bar to carry the load and to be folded under the handle-bar when not
in use, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
:-
13th In combination with the handle-bar of a bicycle, velocipede, or like
vehicle and a carrier frame or support secured to the handle-bar or handle-bar post,
the arrangement of the carrier-receptacles one on each side of the carrier-support,
whereby the load to be carried can be divided and made to balance itself on its
support, substantially as specified.
14th-In combination with the handle-bar of a bicycle, velocipede, or like.
vehicle, and a carrier frame or support secured to the handle-bar or handle-bar
post, two separate bags and their arrangement, said arrangement being one on each
side of the handle-bar and support, whereby the load can be divided and one part
made to balance the other, substantially as specified.
:-
15th The combination in a parcel-carrier, of the support E, with two side-
supporting-arms D-D projecting forward from the handle-bar and two like arms
projecting to the rear of the handle-bar, and two bags, one on each side of the
handle-bar, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
16th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, the manner of locking the side arms
when the carrier is folded by means of hooks on the ends of the side arms,
which are held in place by the spring or tension of the side arms, substantially
as specified.
'
17th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, the manner of locking the side arms,
when the carrier is set for use, by means of the spring or tension of the side
arms acting against the front rod or support of the carrier, substantially as
specified.
18th A parcel-carrier for bicycles, consisting of a rectangular frame projecting
from the handle-bar or handle-bar post of a bicycle, and a bag hanging down from
the said frame and attached at its upper edges to the said frame in such a
manner as to make a rectangular opening to the bag, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
19th-
-A parcel-carrier for bicycles, the receptacle being made of netting and

page_text: of a form to have a bottom, and sides rising up all around and from the bottom to
form a rectangular opening at the top, the upper edges of the net being supported
by a frame which projects from the handle-bar or handle-bar post of the bicycle,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
20th In a bicycle, the combination of a handle-bar of a bicycle, a parcel-
carrier attached to said handle-bar, and a stop a, resting against the post of the
handle-bar to prevent the carrier from abnormal displacement, substantially as
specified.
21st A parcel-carrier for bicycles, the receptacle being made in the form of a
bag, in combination with a frame projecting from the handle-bar or handle-bar
post, to which frame the upper edge of the bag is attached, substantially as
specified.
22nd A parcel-carrier for bicycles, the receptacle made in the form of a bag,
in combination with the side supports D-D, adapted to be set to project out
forward from the handle-bar or to lie parallel with the handle-bar, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
23rd A parcel-carrier for bicycles, the receptacle of which is made in the
form of a bag, in combination with the side supports D-D, said supports being
adapted to project out forward from the handle-bar, or rearwardly from said
handle-bar, or to lie parallel with the handle-bar substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
24th A parcel-carrier for bicycles, made to be secured to the handle-bar or
handle-bar post of a bicycle, adapted to be rolled up and folded together to lie
close to and parallel with the handle-bar, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
25th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, velocipedes, or other like vehicles, the
receptacle being a bag having a rectangular-shaped opening at the top, each side
of the bag connected to a corresponding side of a rectangular-shaped frame, the
said frame adapted to be folded together, having all four sides parallel with cach
other when folded, and the bag adapted to be wound around two or more of the
side pieces of the frame, substantially as specified.
:-
26th In a parcel-carrier for bicycles, the side arms having a long, straight,
horizontal portion D, vertical portion a to pivot on, and short, horizontal portion >
to engage with a stop to limit the swinging movement of the arm at the proper
time, substantially as subscribed.
:-
27th A parcel-carrier for bicycles made to be secured to the handle-bar or
handle-bar post of a bicycle, the receptacle being made in the form of a bag and
adapted to be set either in front or at the rear of the bicycle handle-bar, substan-
tially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 94th day of October 1891
MAURICE EUGENE BLOOD,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.