Attachment facilitating device for a bicycle

Abstract

An attachment facilitating device and a pet carrier for a bicycle are disclosed. The attachment facilitating device is an elongate support for a bicycle-mounted carrier that mounts between the saddle and the handlebars of a bicycle. The support includes first and second ends. A first clamp is associated with the first end for gripping a tubular member of the bicycle adjacent to the handlebars. A second clamp is associated with the second end for gripping a tubular member of the bicycle rearwardly of the first clamp. First and second elongate arms are slideably engageable with each other. The first and second arms each have a proximal end region opposite their respective distal end regions associated with the clamps. The first arm is for supporting the carrier and is fastenable thereto. The second arm includes a linear region extending from the distal end of the second arm towards the proximal end of the second arm. An angled region is adjacent the linear region. At least two fasteners enable fastening of the first and second arms together in either of at least two orientation-differing relationships. In one of the two relationships, angling out from the linear region is in one direction. In the other of the relationships, angling out from the linear region is in a different direction.

1 . An elongate support for a bicycle-mounted carrier that mounts between the saddle and the handlebars of a bicycle, the support comprising: 
 i) first and second ends;    ii) a first clamp associated with said first end for gripping a tubular member of said bicycle adjacent to said handlebars;    iii) a second clamp associated with said second end for gripping a tubular member of said bicycle rearwardly of said first clamp;    iv) first and second elongate arms slideably engageable with each other, said first and second arms each having a proximal end region opposite their respective distal end regions associated with said clamps, said first arm for supporting said carrier and fastenable thereto, said second arm including: 
 a) a linear region extending from the distal end of said second arm towards the proximal end of said second arm; and  
 b) an angled region adjacent said linear region; and  
   v) at least two fasteners enabling fastening of said first and second arms together in either of at least two orientation-differing relationships,    wherein in one of said two relationships angling out from said linear region is in one direction, and in the other of said relationships angling out from said linear region is in a different direction.    
   
   
       2 . A support as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first arm includes opposed side walls, a web spanning said side walls and an interior space between said side walls.  
   
   
       3 . A support as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said side walls each define a slot sized to receive one of said fasteners.  
   
   
       4 . A support as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said second arm defines a plurality of holes alignable with the slots.  
   
   
       5 . A support as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second clamp can be pivoted with respect to said second arm.  
   
   
       6 . A support as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second arm is substantially shorter than said first arm.  
   
   
       7 . A support as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second clamps each comprise openable opposed regions for gripping a bicycle tubular member therebetween, and a fastener for closing said regions together.  
   
   
       8 . A support as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second arm further includes a pair of spaced-apart bars and at least one rigid spacer spanning said bars and engaged thereto for maintaining said spacing.  
   
   
       9 . A support as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said pair of bars are metal and strip-like in shape.  
   
   
       10 . A support as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second arms are both slideably and pivotably engageable with each other.  
   
   
       11 . An elongate support for a bicycle-mounted carrier that mounts between the saddle and the handlebars of a bicycle, the support comprising: 
 i) first and second ends;    ii) a first clamp associated with said first end for gripping a tubular member of said bicycle adjacent to said handlebars;    iii) a second clamp associated with said second end for gripping a tubular member of said bicycle rearwardly of said first clamp;    iv) an elongate member for supporting said carrier and fastenable thereto, said member including opposed sidewalls, a web spanning said sidewalls, an interior space between said sidewalls, and a joining end region opposite a clamp end region associated with said first clamp;    v) a pair of bars each having a linear region and an angled region, each of said bars for fastening to one of said sidewalls, said linear region associated with said second clamp, said angled region adjacent said linear region; and    vi) at least two fasteners enabling the fastening to the sidewalls in either of at least two orientation-differing relationships,    wherein in one of said two relationships angling out from said linear region is in one direction, and in the other of said relationships angling out from said linear region is in a different direction.    
   
   
       12 . A support as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said one of the two relationships may be selected if the bicycle is characterized by having a top end of its seat tube substantially below the handlebars, and the other of said relationships may be selected if said bicycle is characterized by having a normal seat tube.  
   
   
       13 . A support as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said bars are made of metal and are strip-like in shape.  
   
   
       14 . A support as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of said side walls define a slot sized to engaged one of said fasteners.  
   
   
       15 . A support as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said bars have a plurality of holes also sized for receiving said fasteners.  
   
   
       16 . A support as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said bars are roughly the same length and are sufficiently long to permit gripping a portion of the bicycle adjacent a bottom bracket of the bicycle.  
   
   
       17 . A support as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said first and second clamps each include openable opposed regions for gripping a bicycle tubular member therebetween and a fastener for closing said regions together.  
   
   
       18 . A support as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of said bars is slideably engageable with either of said side walls.  
   
   
       19 . A support as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of said bars is both slideably and pivotably engageable with either of said side walls.  
   
   
       20 . A support as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said bars are roughly the same length and are both substantially shorter than said elongate member.