IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0887362
(2010-09-21)
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등록번호 |
US-8091908
(2012-01-10)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Wilson, Joel A.
- Spencer, Gwen E.
- Beese, Aaron P.
- Casler, Christoper L.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A trailer for towing by a bicycle is disclosed comprising a tow arm adapted for coupling by a hitch to the bicycle. The tow arm is pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the trailer frame and can be collapsed against the frame. The frame can comprise plural frame sections that can also pivot to a
A trailer for towing by a bicycle is disclosed comprising a tow arm adapted for coupling by a hitch to the bicycle. The tow arm is pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the trailer frame and can be collapsed against the frame. The frame can comprise plural frame sections that can also pivot to a collapsed position and a lower shelf foldable to a collapsed position as well. Locking elements can be provided for selectively locking the trailer components against relative pivoting motion. One or more actuators for selectively locking and unlocking the frame components can be provided. One such actuator can simultaneously unlock first and second transversely spaced apart hinge elements. The hitch can comprise a flexible coupling that provides torsional resistance against rolling motion of the trailer, particularly when the trailer is mounted to a seat post or other location above the rear wheel of the bicycle. The flexible hitch coupling can provide a progressively increasing torsional resistance to such rolling while allowing pivoting of the trailer relative to the bicycle as the bicycle is steered and flexing to accommodate variations in pitch between the bicycle and trailer.
대표청구항
▼
1. A bicycle hitch assembly for coupling a bicycle trailer tow arm to a bicycle, the bicycle having at least one rear wheel, a trailer comprising a first wheel positioned at one side of a center of the trailer and a second wheel positioned at the other side of the center of the trailer, the hitch as
1. A bicycle hitch assembly for coupling a bicycle trailer tow arm to a bicycle, the bicycle having at least one rear wheel, a trailer comprising a first wheel positioned at one side of a center of the trailer and a second wheel positioned at the other side of the center of the trailer, the hitch assembly comprising: a mount for coupling to the bicycle at a location above the rear wheel of the bicycle;a flex coupling comprising a body and first and second end portions, the first end portion being adapted for coupling to the mount and thereby to the bicycle at a location above the rear wheel of the bicycle, the second end portion being adapted for coupling to the tow arm of the trailer, at least one of the first and second end portions being pivotal about an upright pivot axis, the flex coupling pivoting in a first direction about the upright pivot axis during steering of the bicycle in a first direction and pivoting in a second direction about the upright pivot axis during steering of the bicycle in a second direction opposite to the first direction to thereby accommodate steering of the bicycle and trailer, the flex coupling being operable to twist in a first twist direction about a roll axis in the event one of the trailer wheels is elevated relative to the other of the trailer wheels and to apply a resistance force to the trailer that opposes the force arising from the relative elevation of the said one wheel, the flex coupling being operable to twist in a second twist direction about the roll axis substantially opposite to the first twist direction in the event the other of the trailer wheels is elevated relative to the said one of the trailer wheels and to apply a resistance force to the trailer that opposes the force arising from the relative elevation of the said other wheel; andthe flex coupling also being adapted for coupling to the bicycle tow arm and mount so as to flex transversely in the event the first and second wheels of the trailer lift up or drop down to thereby accommodate changes in elevation of the trailer relative to the bicycle. 2. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the mount comprises a clamp portion adapted for coupling to the seat post or frame member of the bicycle, the mount further comprising a base projecting rearwardly from the clamp portion and a pin projecting upwardly from the base, the first end portion of the flex coupling having an upright pin receiving opening sized for pivotally receiving the upright pivot pin, and a flex coupling retainer operable to selectively retain the flex coupling in a position receiving the upright pivot pin and permitting the selective removal of the flex coupling from the upright pivot pin to detach the trailer from the mount. 3. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 2 wherein the pin receiving opening is defined in part by fore and aft walls that diverge moving upwardly and downwardly from a central portion of the pin receiving opening, the fore and aft directions being opposite to one another, and the fore direction being in the direction or travel of the bicycle when the bicycle is traveling in a straight line. 4. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bicycle comprises an angled seat post having a seat post axis, the mount comprises a clamp portion adapted for coupling to the seat post of the bicycle, the mount further comprising a base projecting rearwardly from the clamp portion and a pin projecting upwardly from the base, the base being supported by the clamp portion so as to be positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation when the clamp portion is mounted to the seat post, the first end portion of the flex coupling having an upright pin receiving opening sized for pivotally receiving the upright pivot pin, and a flex coupling retainer operable to selectively retain the flex coupling in a position receiving the upright pivot pin and permitting the selective removal of the flex coupling from the upright pivot pin to detach the trailer from the mount. 5. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tow arm comprises a hollow distal end portion, and wherein the first end portion is rounded with an upright pivot pin receiving opening there through and the second end portion is sized and shaped for insertion into the distal end of the tow arm, the second end portion defining a fastener receiving opening for receiving a fastener to connect the second end portion to the tow arm, the second end portion having a void formed therein. 6. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 5 wherein the first end portion comprises a first longitudinal axis and the second end portion comprises a second longitudinal axis, the first longitudinal axis being angled upwardly relative to the second longitudinal axis when the tow arm is coupled by the hitch assembly to the bicycle. 7. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the second end portion of the flex coupling comprises an upright pivot pin receiving opening, the bicycle hitch comprising a tow arm coupler comprising a flex coupling coupler and an upright pivot pin pivotally positioned in the upright pivot pin receiving opening to pivotally couple the second end portion of the flex coupling to the tow arm for pivoting about an upright axis. 8. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 7 wherein the tow arm coupler comprises a generally C-shaped coupler comprising upper and lower spaced apart flanges positioned to receive the second end portion of the flex coupling there between when the flex coupling is pivoted to the tow arm for pivoting about the upright axis. 9. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 7 wherein the mount comprises a transverse pivot pin and wherein the first end portion of the flex coupling comprises a transverse pivot pin receiving opening sized to receive the transverse pivot pin, the flex coupling being pivotal upwardly and downwardly about the transverse pivot pin when the tow arm is coupled by the flex coupling to the mount. 10. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the flex coupling applies a resistance force that progressively increases with increased twisting of the flex coupling. 11. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the flex coupling applies a resistance force that is in the range of from 0.75 inch pounds per degree of rotation to 2.1 inch pounds per degree of rotation. 12. A bicycle hitch assembly for coupling a bicycle trailer to a bicycle, the trailer comprising first and second spaced apart wheels, the hitch assembly comprising: a flex coupling comprising a body and first and second end portions, the first end portion being adapted for coupling to the bicycle and the second end portion being adapted for coupling to the trailer, the flex coupling being operable to twist in a first twist direction in the event one of the trailer wheels is elevated relative to the other of the trailer wheels and to apply a resistance force to the trailer that opposes the force arising from the relative elevation of the said one wheel, the flex coupling being operable to twist in a second twist direction substantially opposite to the first twist direction in the event the other of the trailer wheels is elevated relative to the said one of the trailer wheels and to apply a resistance force to the trailer that opposes the force arising from the relative elevation of the said other wheel, the degrees of twisting in the first and second direction varying at least in part with the relative elevation difference between the wheels, the flex coupling being operable to apply a resistance force that progressively increases with the degrees of twisting of the twist coupler in the first and second twist directions, the resistance force being in the range of 0.75 inch pounds per degree of rotation to 2.1 inch pounds per degree of rotation; andthe flex coupling being adapted for coupling to the bicycle or to the trailer so as to be movable in a first direction about an upright axis during steering of the bicycle in a first direction and so as to be movable in a second direction about the upright axis during steering of the bicycle in a second direction opposite to the first direction to thereby accommodate steering of the bicycle and trailer. 13. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 12 wherein the flex coupling is also adapted to flex about a transverse axis thereby accommodate changes in elevation of the trailer relative to the bicycle. 14. A bicycle hitch assembly for coupling a bicycle trailer tow arm to a bicycle, the bicycle having at least one rear wheel, a trailer comprising a first wheel positioned at one side of a center of the trailer and a second wheel positioned at the other side of the center of the trailer, the hitch assembly comprising: a mount for coupling to the bicycle;a flex coupling comprising a body and first and second end portions, the first end portion being adapted for coupling to the mount and thereby to the bicycle at a location above the rear wheel of the bicycle, the second end portion being adapted for coupling to the tow arm of the trailer, at least one of the first and second end portions being pivotal about an upright pivot axis, the flex coupling pivoting in a first direction about the upright pivot axis during steering of the bicycle in a first direction and pivoting in a second direction about the upright pivot axis during steering of the bicycle in a second direction opposite to the first direction to thereby accommodate steering of the bicycle and trailer, the flex coupling being operable to twist in a first twist direction about a roll axis in the event one of the trailer wheels is elevated relative to the other of the trailer wheels and to apply a resistance force to the trailer that opposes the force arising from the relative elevation of the said one wheel, the flex coupling being operable to twist in a second twist direction about the roll axis substantially opposite to the first twist direction in the event the other of the trailer wheels is elevated relative to the said one of the trailer wheels and to apply a resistance force to the trailer that opposes the force arising from the relative elevation of the said other wheel;the flex coupling also being adapted for coupling to the bicycle tow arm and mount so as to flex transversely in the event the first and second wheels of the trailer lift up or drop down to thereby accommodate changes in elevation of the trailer relative to the bicycle;wherein the flex coupling applies a resistance force that progressively increases with increased twisting of the flex coupling, the resistance force being in the range of from 0.75 inch pounds per degree of rotation to 2.1 inch pounds per degree of rotation;wherein the mount comprises a clamp portion adapted for coupling to a seat post or a frame member of the bicycle, the mount further comprising a base projecting rearwardly from the clamp portion and a pin projecting upwardly from the base, the first end portion of the flex coupling having an upright pin receiving opening sized for pivotally receiving the upright pivot pin, and a flex coupling retainer operable to selectively retain the flex coupling in a position receiving the upright pivot pin and permitting the selective removal of the flex coupling from the upright pivot pin to detach the trailer from the mount. 15. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 14 wherein the pin receiving opening is defined in part by fore and aft walls that diverge moving upwardly and downwardly from a central portion of the pin receiving opening, the fore and aft directions being opposite to one another, and the fore direction being in the direction or travel of the bicycle when the bicycle is traveling in a straight line. 16. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 14 wherein the bicycle comprises an angled seat post having a seat post axis, the mount comprises a clamp portion adapted for coupling to the seat post of the bicycle, the mount further comprising a base projecting rearwardly from the clamp portion and a pin projecting upwardly from the base, the base being supported by the clamp portion so as to be positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation when the clamp portion is mounted to the seat post, the first end portion of the flex coupling having an upright pin receiving opening sized for pivotally receiving the upright pivot pin, and a flex coupling retainer operable to selectively retain the flex coupling in a position receiving the upright pivot pin and permitting the selective removal of the flex coupling from the upright pivot pin to detach the trailer from the mount. 17. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 16 wherein the tow arm comprises a hollow distal end portion, and wherein the first end portion is rounded with an upright pivot pin receiving opening there through and the second end portion is sized and shaped for insertion into the distal end of the tow arm, the second end portion defining a fastener receiving opening for receiving a fastener to connect the second end portion to the tow arm, the second end portion having a void formed therein. 18. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 17 wherein the first end portion comprises a first longitudinal axis and the second end portion comprises a second longitudinal axis, the first longitudinal axis being angled upwardly relative to the second longitudinal axis when the tow arm is coupled by the hitch assembly to the bicycle. 19. The bicycle hitch assembly according to claim 14 wherein the flex coupling applies a resistance force that is about 1.8 inch pounds per degree of rotation.
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