Patent ID: 8091908
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: B60D,B62K,Y10T

Abstract:
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; and 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.