Rigid saddle bag type carrier for bicycles

Claim 1

A rigid saddle bag type carrier for a bicycle, the carrier comprising: an elongated case secured to the rear portion of the bicycle and disposed above the rear wheel axle, the case having a front portion, a rear portion, an open top portion, a bottom portion, and two side portions with each side portion positioned adjacent to a side of the wheel, the bottom portion including two horizontal surfaces with each horizontal surface positioned adjacent a side of the wheel and a concave surface in the center thereof and extending therethrough for receiving a top portion of the rear bicycle wheel therebetween, the side portions of said case positioned on both sides of the rear bicycle wheel and open to one another via an open inner portion positioned above the top portion of the rear bicycle wheel, the front portion and rear portion of said case angled upwardly and forwardly toward the front of the bicycle; an elongated case lid hingedly mounted on the top of the open portion of said case, said case lid having a rear portion angled upwardly and forwardly toward the front of the bicycle; a "U" shaped front mounting bracket attached to the front portion of said case, said front mounting bracket secured to the bicycle frame by a threaded bolt and nut attached to a mounting plate disposed adjacent the bicycle frame, the bolt received through an aperture in said bracket and said plate; a pair of inclined, elongated mounting braces, one of said mounting braces positioned on one side of the rear wheel and having a horizontal upper end portion attached to one of said horizontal surfaces of the bottom portion adjacent to one of said side portions of said case and a lower end extending downwardly and bolted to one side of the rear wheel axle, and the other of said mounting braces positioned on the other side of the rear wheel and having a horizontal upper end portion attached to the other of said horizontal surfaces of the bottom portion adjacent to the other of said side portions of said case and a lower end extending downwardly and bolted to the other side of the rear wheel axle and; flange portions extending outwardly around the periphery of said case lid, said flange portions overlapping flange portions extending outwardly around the periphery of the open top portion of said case, said flange portions of said case lid disposed against the flange portions of said case when said case lid is disposed adjacent said case.