Bicyclists hand-portable rack-mounting garment-pack w/panniers

Abstract

A specialized garment-bag particularly useful for commuting bicyclist's, wherein is provided a flexible canvas like envelope compartment suitably formed as to receive a suit-jacket folded spinewardly therein, and the slacks folded in half therewith, an edge-zipper closing the envelope-halves so as to enable the thus sealed compartment to be centrally draped laterally down upon a conventional bike carrier-rack fixture; preferably including an integral external convenience-compartment with zippered closure extending longitudinally above the said draped envelope portion; and, a pair of laterally disposed pannier compartments also made integrally with the outer envelope surfaces, each having a horizontal zipper closure set near the top of their confines so that the sides of the said convenience-compartment also forms the upper regions of the side panniers; plus, special dowel like longerons allow a substantial aftward extension of the pack assembly beyond a normal bike carrier-rack's support, and a special folding coat-hanger is provided which readily facilitates both the folded mode of usage as well as opening out as a normal closet-hanger; while an alternate hand-portable modality is also set forth, whereby dual opposed hand-grips may be readily deployed from the extreme ends of the pack assembly once the pack is detached via two lateral strap hold-downs whereupon the pack-assembly remains in the folded condition while simply inverted for instant satchel like carrying ease.

What I claim under U.S. Patent Grant is: 
     
       1. A .[.cyclist's hand-portable Commuter-pack.]. .Iadd.pack .Iaddend.apparatus of .[.sewn fabric construction.]. .Iadd.generally flexible lightweight material .Iaddend.configured to be readily adapted to mounting upon an existing conventional rear/front .Iadd.cycle .Iaddend.carrier-rack; comprising: .Iadd.a) .Iaddend..[.an envelope type first.]. .Iadd.a main .Iaddend.compartment .Iadd.which extends from a first end to a second end when in a first substantially planar formation, said main compartment is .Iaddend.formed from a blank layer defining a first substantially flat portion .[.folded in half.]. upon an opposite substantially flat portion and having the .[.outer edge closed.]. .Iadd.perimeter of said flat portions connected;   .Iadd.b) a primary opening to said main compartment with means for closing said primary opening, said primary opening extending substantially from said first end to said second end and thus will allow the main compartment to be completely opened by unfolding along an edge substantially parallel to a major axis which extends from said first end to said second end of the said main compartment .Iaddend..[.by a perimeter zipper except for the folding edge perimeter, the envelope compartment thus opening out by unzippering and unfolding the blank layer, the first and opposite flat portions.].;   .Iadd.c) said main compartment .Iaddend.being of substantial width .Iadd.and said primary opening of substantial size .Iaddend.so as to thereby receive the .[.cyclist's coat-jacket when the jacket is specially folded spinewardly.]. .Iadd.user's garments .Iaddend.so as to .[.lay.]. .Iadd.lie .Iaddend.substantially from .[.one.]. .Iadd.said first end to said second .Iaddend.end of .[.the envelope.]. .Iadd.said main .Iaddend.compartment .[.to the other along with a pair of slacks if desired and whereupon the first flat portion is folded over the opposite flat portion and closed as an envelope by the zipper, the arrangement thus serving to eliminate unsightly horizontal creases in the coat since the jacket is never folded 180-degrees over upon itself in a direction horizontal to the standing wearer:.]. .Iadd.when said main compartment is in said first substantially planar formation, and allow wrinkles to be removed from the user's garments before closing said opening.Iaddend.; .[.said apparatus being converted into a hand-carried modality by the provisions of a pair of satchel like hand-grips, one of which is retracted into each end of the zippered envelope, and capable of being manually extracted by provision of opposed/dual sliders on said perimeter zipper which allows only a limited length of the zipper to be opened simultaneously at each respective extreme end of the zipper and said apparatus being converted into a rack-carried modality wherein the said zippered ends are closed entirely and the envelope is adopted to be centrally draped transversely over a carrier-rack in an inverted-U formation, whereupon a pair of buckled straps are attached at the resulting underside of the draped envelope are secured around and beneath the carrier-rack, while another pair of mounting straps are attached at each side of the envelope where they may be immediately wrapped around a portion of the bike frame such as the dual/afttrailing seat-stay down-tubes so as to hold the envelope intimately thereto, plus a special support-rod is sewn into the inwardly facing surfaces of the envelope as extensions of each said seat-stay mounting-straps, each rod thus extending diagonally downward so as to lay against the carrier-rack's substantially vertical support-arms which attach near the wheel-axis and thereby prevent the envelope from becoming entangled into the wheel-spokes; plus two additional longitudinal/support-rods are sewn into the envelope and adopted to contact the right and left sides of the carrier-rack, the rods each extending substantially along the full width of the inward facing surfaces of the envelope which may extend aftward a few inches in cantilevered manner from the carrier rack so as to thereby effectively extend the useful length of the envelope without otherwise dropping down, the rods being sewn into the underside of the envelope via webbing like coverings; and further including optional means by which other compartmentation may be integrated with said envelope for still greater utility function..].   .Iadd.d) said pack apparatus is readily adapted to a second inverted-U formation when said main compartment is centrally draped transversely over a conventional cycle front/rear carrier-rack;   e) at least one supporting means attached to said main compartment comprising at least one rigid member supporting an upper aft portion of said main compartment beyond the aft extent of said conventional carrier-rack when in said inverted-U formation and for restraining each lower aft trailing edge of said inverted-U formation away from contacting the cycle wheel assembly   .Iadd.f) a plurality of fastening means compatible with said conventional cycle carrier-racks for retaining the upper portion of said inverted-U formation on said carrier-rack fore/aft and side-to-side and for retaining the sides of said inverted-U formation against a corresponding side of said carrier-rack while allowing said supporting means to restrain each said lower aft trailing edge away from said cycle wheel assembly. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. A .[.Commuter-pack.]. .Iadd.pack .Iaddend.apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said .[.first.]. .Iadd.main .Iaddend.compartment includes a special diagonal cut-back relief section .[.at opposite ends thereof along said outer edges for pedal-clearance, when used in said inverted-U formation, said cut-back being.]. .Iadd.along the leading edges of the lower extends of said inverted-U formation, .Iaddend.of about 20-degrees with respect to its longitudinal axis and thereby creating a downward tapering shape .[.where the perimeter zipper travels at the leading-edge, on both ends of said compartment while the lower ends are preferably formed in a rounded manner contiguous with said outer edges and said folding edge perimeter extending back up vertically at the portion of the envelope which forms the folded trailing-edge.]..Iadd., whereby adequate pedal clearance is provided.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. A .[.Commuter-pack.]. .Iadd.pack .Iaddend.apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said opposite substantially flat portion defines right, left and upward facing sides when in said inverted-U formation and includes a .[.convenience type.]. second compartment made with four flexible walls attached over said upward facing sides formed as contiguous upward extensions of said right and left sides of said .[.first.]. .Iadd.main .Iaddend.compartment .[.envelope.]., including .[.a flap like covering wall attached thereto.]. .Iadd.an opening .Iaddend.which facilitates access .[.via a longitudinal zipper member.].. 
     
     
       4. A .[.Commuter-pack.]. .Iadd.pack .Iaddend.apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said opposite substantially flat portion of said .[.first.]. .Iadd.main .Iaddend.compartment includes right and left oppositely facing outer walls when in said inverted-U formation and each are separately adapted to form the inside inner-wall of a third and forth longitudinally oriented side pannier compartments, the respective third and forth side panniers thus having a substantially full height compartment outer-wall extending from the lower ends of the draped envelope upward, and are .[.conveniently.]. closed via approximately horizontal .[.zipper.]. closure .Iadd.means .Iaddend.which each extend substantially the full width of the envelope .[.to which the separate compartments are identically formed.].. 
     
     
       5. A .[.Commuter-pack.]. .Iadd.pack .Iaddend.apparatus according to claim 4, wherein is included near the lower region of each said respective right and left outer compartment wall a gathered tuck .[.like.]. formation which is made inverted so as to not gather debris or water, yet able to substantially expand the internal volume of the lower compartment region as the horizontal tuck unfolds. .[.6. A Computer-pack apparatus according to claim 4, wherein are included downward facing flap like formations which serve to aid in sealing off said horizontal zipper-type fastener 
     
     
        closures from the weather..]. 7. A .[.Commuter-pack.]. .Iadd.pack .Iaddend.apparatus according to claim 3, wherein is included a flexible retro-reflective material of equilateral-triangle planar formation centered upon one of said four flexible walls and adapted to be disposed above the wheel of a .[.bicycle.]. .Iadd.cycle .Iaddend.when in said inverted-U formation and serving as a safety signal symbol to approaching 
     
     
        vehicles. 8. A .[.Commuter-pack.]. .Iadd.pack .Iaddend.apparatus according to claim 1, wherein .[.at least one.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.inside end of .[.the envelope.]. .Iadd.said main .Iaddend.compartment includes a .[.special multi-loop strap member sewn therein, and including a standard snag-hook device at its outermost end while the sewn loop formations are extended inward in a direction parallel to the folding end of the envelope; the snag-hook serving to receive a hook like hanger adapted to be engaged over the top of a door, or hooked directly to other convenient hanging places; the strap loops adapted to provide a hanging place for an envelope coat-hanger for example..]. .Iadd.clothes-hanger support means oriented perpendicular to the plane of said main compartment so as to 
     
     
        support conventional hangers engaged thereon. .Iaddend. 9. A .[.Commuter-pack.]. .Iadd.pack .Iaddend.apparatus according to claim 8, wherein is included a .[.special.]. folding coat-hanger formed of .[.wire-rod.]. .Iadd.semi-rigid .Iaddend.material .Iadd.comprising: a) a top hook, substantially question-mark shaped,   b) .Iaddend..[., and having.]. left and right shoulder supports.Iadd., .Iaddend..[.each having upper and lower support rods pivoted on upper and lower hinge joints and further including a vertical pivot axis formed by upper and a lower encircling loops as hinging joints which.].   .Iadd.c) a hinging means to .Iaddend.allow a nearly 180-degree .[.spineward.]. folding of .[.the coat to be attained without removal of the coat from its natural shoulder hanging condition; and including a special detention-paw made as an extension of the lower left shoulder support, to be engaged against the lower right shoulder support rod portion, whereby the user may manually pull axially upon the right and left lower support rods sufficiently as to cause a disengagement of the detention-paw which allows the respective hanger halfs to be thus folded axially, while the extreme opposite end of the detention-paw rod formation is routed upward near the upper hinge-joint of the left shoulder support so as to end in an approximate semicircle as a hanger-hook; the upper right shoulder high-joint having.]. .Iadd.said coat-hanger substantially along the vertical axis of said top hook, and adopted so as to allow the folding of said coat-hanger while the garment remains engaged over said right and left shoulder supports of the hanger,   d) a means to retain said coat-hanger in the open position,   e) .Iaddend.an upwardly extending .Iadd.rigid .Iaddend.continuation .Iadd.beginning near the top of said hinging means of one shoulder support and .Iaddend.which turns back down tightly to form a special coat/collar-stay entity.[., while the downward extension therefrom includes a convenient auxiliary hanger-loop entity to which a snag-hook or other coat-hanger may also be hung upon.]. .Iadd.which is specifically provided to retain the garment on the hanger when in the folded position while the hanger is hung from the hook.Iaddend.. .[.10. A Commuter-pack apparatus according to claim 9, wherein opening stop limits are provided at the said wire loop hinge-joints, whereby the lower loop hinge-joint reaches an interference limit stop against the said detention-paw extension, and the upper loop hinge-joint reaches a simultaneous interference limit stop against the said collar-stay extension member, thereby limiting the opening hinging action to a maximum of about 170-degrees from the flat folded condition..]. .Iadd.11. A pack apparatus according to claim 1, including a handle and means attaching said handle to said main compartment whereby said apparatus may be hand-carried. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A pack apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the main compartment are reduced to the extent where a conventional suit jacket is folded spinewardly before insertion and storage whereby the spineward folding substantially reduces the resulting wrinkles in the user's garments and allows reduced overall dimensions of the pack. .Iaddend.