CO - mmuter
Bikeframe - Storage - Bikepacking
The - assignment
The lead topic is, to create a product that incorporates
expansion and reduction. Also, this product has to have
a practical use.
The - execution
As a team of two students, find a product that is useful
As a team of two students, find a product that is useful
for both of you and develop it using tools available to a
first semester student. Build a final working model of the
object and present it in a suited environment.
The - idea
After brainstorming for a while, my team decided
to pursue a common hobby: Biking.
Both of us has had issues with storage and carrying
more than what our backpacks could hold on a bike.
Therefore, we decided to tackle that problem by
designing a frame mounted, removable, collapsible
and conveniently placed storage bag.
The - sketches
Considering the placement of the added storage solution,
the team thought about a good way to collapse the
frames torage while still having it easily accessible. First
thoughts were about using an Accordion-like folding mechanism
This proved to be too soft to contain the cargo in a shape
that is acceptable on a bike.
The - placement
Both, the frame triangle and the area above it showed promise
in terms of accessibility and volume. Furthermore,
this placement would allow the user to easily take the bag off
the frame when commuting or entering the office, shop or home.
The - tests (Volume and ergonomics)
We tested the available width and length of the bag
with low density flexible foam to see how wide it could
be without intercepting the riders legs. Especially the
knees were a big factor. After testing with 4 different
individuals for comfort an ease of use, we decided on
a final width of 100 mm.
The - build
We then cut out a 1:1 scale model from cardboard and
fitted it onto the bike. With this model we also calculated
the final storage capacity. Depending on the expansion
of the later used rubber straps, it would have a capacity
of up to 15 liters. That is the equivalent of a small backpack.
As the material for the hard outer shell we decided to use
High-Density PVC foam board. It is rigid and lightweight
making it perfect for applications on a bicycle. Also,
PVC is a thermoplastic, enabling us to bend it to the desired
shape using a heat gun.
Another benefit of using the PVC foam board is that it is easy
to cut and glue onto because of its good chemical resistance.
We decided to use a high strength vulcanization glue for
attaching the zippers after we cut out the side panels.
The - product
Enjoy some pictures of the finished product.
The - expansion
We fitted the inner fabric liner with elastic straps, which we
sewed on to the fabric while stretched. Therefore, the bag
stays collapsed and flat until it is loaded with items.
It then expands into the bike frame triangle while staying
low profile and not colliding with the riders knees or legs.
Both sides can be equally filled and accessed by the side flap
and the zipper. The top compartment is accessible from the
back of the bag via another zipper. It holds up to 3 liters or a
milk carton and a bottle of water.
The strap on the top is self retracting with a rubber strap and
makes for a pleasant smooth look when it is not in use.
In cooperation with Lukas Gössl
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- Thank you -
