Abstract:
A trailing or tow cycle having a tubular frame member, at least two wheels in parallel alignment, a seat member, an independent propulsion system and a journaled connection to a front cycle to provide a stable cycling system for individuals with special needs.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND FIELD 
     The following relates to a bicycle trailing cycle and more particularly to a novel and improved trailing cycle that is designed to accommodate an individual with special needs. 
     Bicycling is a sport that can be accomplished individually, but also as a team. Bicycle manufacturers have designed tandem bicycles to accommodate more than one user. These types of cycles typically possess a front cycle having two wheels and a rear cycle having one to two wheels aligned in parallel, which requires balance on the part of both parties as well as stamina for pedaling. Children and individuals with special needs have a much more difficult time maintaining their balance on such cycles and therefore are often times reluctant to bicycle. 
     There is therefore a need for a trailing cycle that may be secured to any type of front cycle, having a stable frame that allows the rear rider to maintain their balance while also allowing the rear rider the ability to pedal at will. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a trailing cycle that allows the rider to sit in a recumbent position and utilize a hand or foot crank to propel the cycle. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following embodiments comprise an auxiliary carrier adapted to connect to a front cycling member, a main frame assembly having a rearwardly inclining extension member, a seat member and an independent propulsion system, at least two wheels aligned in parallel with an axle therebetween, and extending from opposite sides of said main frame assembly, and a journaled connection between the front cycling member and the extension member. 
     In addition to the article of manufacture described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in reference to Figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and Figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of trailing cycle and front cycle. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the trailing cycle and front cycle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a somewhat fragmentary, enlarged side view of a securing assembly connecting a front cycle with the trailing cycle. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view partially in section of the securing assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary side view of the trailing cycle and illustrated in more detail the chain assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the chain assembly of the trailing cycle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the trailing cycle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the securing assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged, fragmentary side view of the securing assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the securing assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a front cycle and trailing cycle. 
         FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a front cycle and trailing cycle. 
         FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a front cycle and trailing cycle. 
         FIG. 14  is a side perspective view of a further embodiment of a front cycle and trailing cycle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-11  there is shown a form of trailing cycle  11  having a main frame assembly  13  comprising an extruded tubular extension bar  15 , a generally U-shaped tubular frame member  17  with a seat  19  attached at one end  18  and the extension bar  15  secured at an opposite end  20 . Dual wheels  23  and  25  are mounted on an axle  29  and connected to a drive train assembly  31  that is connected to the frame member  17 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 . The extension bar  15  and the frame member  17  are made up of a form of metal such as aluminum, steel, carbon fibre or titanium and are hollow. The material used may also be any other metallic compositions that are lightweight yet durable and load-bearing. The extension bar  15  is connected at one end  22  with a securing or journaled assembly  47  to a lead cycle  39  and at the opposite end  20  to the frame member  17 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The extension bar  15  inclines rearwardly and handlebar post  27  is connected near the end  20  and supports handlebars  28 . The handlebars  28  are conventional and may have flat cruiser bars, mountain style handlebars or drop racing type bars. The handlebars may be oriented so that the rider may use them more for support and balance rather than as a steering mechanism. 
     In one embodiment the frame member  17 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , is generally U-shaped but may also take many other forms depending upon the needs of the rider. The modified U-shaped frame member allows a rider to easily mount and dismount the trailing cycle without having to lift their legs over a straight frame member. The seat  19  is attached at the end  18  of the frame member  17 , typically with a seat post, allowing the seat  19  to be adjustable. The seat  19  may be a standard form of bicycle seat as shown in  FIG. 1  but may also have a wider saddle to provide additional support. The frame member  17  forms a chassis with the wheel members  23  and  25 . There are several support bars connecting the frame member  17 , the wheel members  23  and  25 , as well as the drive train assembly  31 . The wheel members  23  and  25  are typically conventional bicycle wheels but may also be custom made to a specific hub size. The trailing cycle is supported by these dual wheels  23  and  25  which may be rotatably mounted with forks, are aligned in parallel or tandem and are located on opposite sides of the axle  30 . The wheels are mounted a specified distance apart and at a certain distance from the ground providing a low center of gravity and a wider wheel base which aids in preventing a rollover. See  FIGS. 2 and 6 . 
     The frame member  17  is connected along a lower portion with linking member  3  to the drive train assembly  31  shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 . The drive train assembly  31  consists of a power transmission, such as, a chain or belt drive  63  trained over a large sprocket  65  and a small sprocket  67 , a propulsion member such as foot pedals  37 , and frame support members  82 ,  83  and  84 . The small sprocket  67  is mounted on the axle  30 . Located at each end of the axle  30  are the wheel members  23  and  25 , which are typically bolted to the axle or secured with quick-release bolts. The chain  63  is trained over the large sprocket  65  and the small sprocket  67 . The pedals  37  are attached to crank  38 ,  38 ′ which are then attached to the large sprocket  65 . Rotation of the pedals  37  causes rotation of the drive chain  63  which in turn rotates the rear sprocket  67  housing a freewheel hub  94 . The freewheel hub allows the secondary rider to transmit a driving force to the rear wheels in one rotation direction. A preferred freewheel is the BMX Freewheel 16T Dicta Brand manufactured by Lida Company, Taiwan, China, but certainly other freewheels may be used as well. The freewheel allows the secondary rider the option of pedaling or coasting while riding. 
     The extension bar  15  is secured to a lead cycle  39  by means of a journaled connection, such as, a rotation clamp assembly  47 . The clamp assembly includes but is not limited to bolt member  59  threadedly engaged with the extension bar  15 . See  FIGS. 3 ,  8 , and  10 . The bolt member  59  includes a rotation cup  53  having an open circular form adapted to encircle ball member  51 . The ball member  51  has a circular throughbore  52  running completely through the ball member  51  that accommodates bolt member  58 , such as a lag bolt. Clamp member  49  includes dual arcuate sides  50  and  50 ′ in facing relation to one another. The clamp side  50 ′ has spaced extension brackets with threaded openings to threadedly engage the bolt member  58 , and the brackets define a notched opening therebetween to accommodate the rotation cup  53  and the ball member  51 . 
     The rotation cup  53  is journaled on the bolt member  58  so as to be freely rotatable about the bolt member  58 , and the rotation cup  53  has an inner bearing so as to be freely rotatable with the ball member  51  about the bolt member  58  as well as being able to rotate or process through a limited angle between the brackets. The rotation cup  53  is normally at an acute angle to the a longitudinal axis through the bolt member  58 . The clamp side  50 ′ also includes a pair of diametrically opposed threaded adjustment members or bosses  55 ′ which match with diametrically opposed threaded adjustment members or bosses  55  on the second clamp side  50 . Prior art typically has a single rear adjustment clamp that does not allow a clamp to be linked to the new, larger seat posts commonly used with mountain or hybrid bicycles. The dual adjustment members allow for adjustment of the clamp assembly  47  to accommodate a variety of seat posts. In the present embodiment, there is a seat post holder  97  and a seat post tube  99  having a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of the seat post holder. 
     Once the trailing cycle  11  is secured to the lead cycle  39 , the rotation clamp assembly  47  effectively achieves a universal connection or joint and allows a degree of rotation along a plane parallel to the ground surface, optimally to be greater than 180 degrees and up to 230 degrees. The swivel action relative to the seat post  43  connection on the lead bike  39  is around 270 degrees. The trailing cycle  11  touches the lead bike  39  only when turned beyond 90 degrees in either direction from a vertical plane to the lead bike  39 . In this way, the journaled connection assembly  47  enables the trailing cycle to rotate via rotation cup  53  about the ball  51 . 
     Alternate Embodiments 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 through 14  there are shown several alternate embodiments of the previously described trailing cycle. These are offered for example only and not by way of limitation. The seat member may also consist of a full support seat  19 ′ having a back support  62  such as in a recumbent bicycle, including arm rests  64  and a shoulder/seat harness  66  or simply have a back support  62 ′ and arm rests  64 ′, as shown in  FIG. 14 . The seat may also be convertible to a wheel chair, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , whereby the trailing cycle  11 ′ may be disconnected from the front cycle and adapted for use as a wheelchair. The extension bar  15 ′ could be telescoping so disengagement from the lead cycle  39  allows the extension bar  15 ′ to be reduced in size. Wheel covers or rims  69  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  may be used for the protection of the rear rider. 
     If a recumbent seat is used, the frame member  17 ′ may have a different form, such as a modified L-shape as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  to accommodate the lowered seat member. The handlebars  28 ′ may include handhold features  70  with a strap  71  to secure the riders hands to a handgrip as shown in  FIG. 14 . Further, if a recumbent seat is used, the handlebars may be replaced with the arm rests  64 ′, as previously discussed, to provide more of a resting place as shown in  FIGS. 11-14 . 
     Another embodiment includes a hand crank assembly  86 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , that includes a fully encased chain guard  88 , preventing possible injuries from the chain assembly. The stationary foot rests  89  are to include straps  90  to secure the feet of the rear rider. This design allows the rider to participate in propulsion of the cycle through upper body or lower body pedaling. A further embodiment includes collapsible rear wheels that enable the device to be easily transported as well as a convertible trailing cycle that may be used as separate transport when disengaged from a lead cycle. 
     A number of other modifications may be included without departing from the scope of the trailing cycle. For example, rear basket  9  may be included for storage of items, foot rests and hand rests may be added when required to aid in balance. A remote control device, similar to walkie-talkies or a headset may be used to facilitate conversation between the lead and rear riders. Rear view mirrors may also be added as an additional safety device. 
     It is therefore to be understood that while different embodiments or aspects are herein set forth and described, the above and other modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and reasonable equivalents thereof.