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US-20260125134-A1 - TANDEM BICYCLE TRAILER

US20260125134A1US 20260125134 A1US20260125134 A1US 20260125134A1US-20260125134-A1

Abstract

A trailer coupling a towing bicycle to a towed bicycle comprises an arcuate member connected to the frame of the towing bicycle and extending behind the towing bicycle to terminate in a wheel retainer for releasably retaining the front wheel of the towed bicycle above the ground. The trailer further comprises struts depending from the arcuate member, the struts connected to the frame of the towing bicycle so as to provide support for the weight-bearing arcuate member. In embodiments, the wheel retainer is hinged to fold for clearance and storage when the trailer is not used for towing a towed bicycle.

Inventors

  • Karl Paulsen

Assignees

  • Karl Paulsen

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241102

Claims (9)

  1. 1 . A tandem bicycle trailer, comprising a connecting member having a first end and a second end, a fastener affixed to the first end, the fastener adapted to attach to a towing bicycle, at least one support strut depending from the connecting member intermediate the first end and the second end, the at least one support strut adapted to attach to the towing bicycle, and a wheel retainer affixed to the second end, the wheel retainer adapted to releasably retain a front wheel of a towed bicycle above a ground level.
  2. 2 . The tandem bicycle trailer according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is arcuate.
  3. 3 . The tandem bicycle trailer according to claim 2 , wherein the arc of the connecting member is in the range of 70 degrees to 90 degrees.
  4. 4 . The tandem bicycle trailer according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel retainer has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion hingedly connected to the upper portion and configured to fold up with the upper portion when the tandem bicycle trailer is not in use.
  5. 5 . A towing bicycle, a tandem bicycle trailer and a towed bicycle in combination, comprising a connecting member having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the towing bicycle; at least one support strut depending from the connecting member, the at least one support strut attached to the towing bicycle; the second end extending behind the towing vehicle and affixed to a wheel retainer, the wheel retainer with a means of releasably retaining a front wheel of the towed bicycle above a ground level.
  6. 6 . The combination of claim 5 , wherein the means of releasably retaining the front wheel of the towed bicycle comprises at least one strap with a fastener, the fastener selected from the group consisting of a buckle and a hook-and-loop closure.
  7. 7 . The combination of claim 5 , wherein the means of releasably retaining the front wheel of the towed bicycle comprises a selection from the group consisting of clamps and brackets.
  8. 8 . The combination of claim 5 , wherein the wheel retainer has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion hingedly connected to the upper portion and configured to fold up with the upper portion when the front wheel of the towed bicycle is not retained therein.
  9. 9 . The combination of claim 5 , wherein the towing bicycle has a seat post to which the first end of the connecting member is attached; and the towing bicycle has at least one seat stay to which the at least one support strut is attached.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to bicycles and specifically to trailers or the like specially adapted to be attached to bicycles. Description of the Related Art Adult bicyclists often have need to transport younger children on bicycle trips. One ubiquitous method of transportation is the child's bicycle seat, a small, often contoured seat that is attached to the rear of the adult bicycle, typically behind the adult bicycle seat and above the rear bicycle wheel such as disclosed in Chinese patent CN113767047A. The principal limitation of the child bicycle seat is that it is practical only for transportation of smaller, lighter-weight passengers. As the weight of the bicycle seat's occupant increases, the added weight above ground level is such that balance becomes precarious. Further, an additional desirable functionality, not provided by the child bicycle seat, is the ability to transport an older child actually riding a bicycle. Related art has provided tandem towing solutions to enable the transport of another bicycle rider in tandem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,358 to Phillips provides a device for connecting bicycles in tandem. Phillips'device comprises a horizontal telescoping linking bar connected between a first connector on the seat post of a lead bicycle and a second connector on the head post or frame of the trailing bicycle. Phillips' arrangement may not be suitable for towing smaller bicyclists, however. Phillips relies on the trailing bicyclist to maintain balance and appropriate trailing trajectory for normal operation, capabilities that may be beyond those of younger riders. Phillips indeed contemplates that the trailing bicycle may deviate from the trajectory of the leading bicycle or even simply fall, unacceptable outcomes for younger riders. Another example of a tandem towing solution is provided by Snobl in U.S. patent application publication number 2003/0025295. Snobl's solution is an apparatus comprising a first hitch which connects the apparatus to the first bicycle and a second hitch which connects the apparatus to the second bicycle. The second hitch includes a stem which is slid through and secured to the head tube of the second bicycle after the front fork and wheel have been removed from the second bicycle. While Snobl's solution provides stability for the towed bicycle, it entails considerable modification to the configuration of the towed bicycle, requiring disassembly of the towed bicycle prior to towing and reassembly after towing. Yet another example of tandem towing in the related art is that of Bourbeau in U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,582. Bourbeau's solution, specifically directed to coupling a child's bicycle to an adult's bicycle, is an s-shaped contrivance connected between the towing bicycle and the towed bicycle by way of a first attachment means on the towing bicycle and a second attachment means attached to the towed bicycle. The contrivance elevates the front wheel of the towed bicycle, leveraged by torque supplied by the first attachment means on the towing bicycle. Bourbeau's solution also provides stability for the towed bicycle, but has several limitations. Elevating the towed bicycle's front wheel without additional support has the effect of applying considerable torque to the first attachment means, presenting substantial risk of mechanical failure at the first attachment means. Further, to provide for necessary horizontal swiveling of the towed bicycle, the second attachment means requires an additional hinged component affixed to the towed bicycle, shown as a vertical stem and sleeve arrangement in the preferred embodiment. What is needed is a solution for a bicycle to tow another bicycle, particularly suitable for towing a child's bicycle, which affords stability for a rider of the towed bicycle. What is needed further is such a solution that is mechanically rugged. Further yet, what is needed is a solution in which the towed bicycle may be attached and detached from the towing configuration without modification or additional components. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An apparatus for coupling a towed bicycle to a towing bicycle comprises an arcuate member with a first and a second end. Disposed at the first end of the arcuate member is a fastener fashioned to attach to a portion of the frame of the towing bicycle. Distending from the arcuate member are support struts adapted to fasten to the frame of the towing bicycle and support the arcuate member. Disposed at the second end of the arcuate member is a wheel retainer, adapted to receive and retain the wheel of a towed bicycle. In embodiments, the wheel retainer comprises a curved channel. In such embodiments, the curvature of the wheel retainer roughly matches the curvature of a portion of the front wheel of a bicycle to be towed, and the width of the wheel retainer channel is large enough to receive a towed bicycle's front wheel. The wheel retainer further comp