Abstract:
A bicycle capable of towing a skateboard rider. A hollow tow pole defining an attachment end and an extended end is attached at the attachment end to a bicycle frame of a bicycle. The first end of a stretchable tow rope is extended inside the hollow tow pole and is attached at or near the attachment end of the hollow tow pole. The second end of the stretchable tow rope is attached to a handle. The handle is positioned at or near the extended end of the hollow tow pole when the stretchable tow rope is in a relaxed or substantially relaxed state and the handle is extended at least two feet beyond the extended end when the stretchable tow rope is in a stretched state. In a preferred embodiment the hollow tow pole is collapsible. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow tow pole is pivotally attached to the bicycle frame. In a preferred embodiment, a stop bar is attached to the top of the hollow tow pole.

Description:
The present invention relates to bicycles and in particular to towing devices for bicycles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The history of the bicycle goes back many years. A crude two-wheeled vehicle propelled by the feet was popular as early as the second half of the 17 th  century. Extensive developments to the design of the bicycle were made during the 19 th  century. At the end of the 19 th  century, the bicycle had become a serious means of transportation. In 1899, the U.S. production of about 1,000,000 bicycles a year was valued at $31,000,000. However, by 1909 the bicycle industry in the U.S. was nearly nonexistent due to the advent of the motorcycle and automobile. Bicycle riding was generally confined to children and to small groups of devotees, such as members of the League of American Wheelmen, organized in 1880 and the Century Road Club Association, organized in 1899. 
     It was not until the 1960&#39;s and 1970&#39;s that bicycling once again began to enjoy strong popularity. There are several modern reasons that may have resulted in this strong resurgence. Air pollution, traffic congestion, and the high cost of automobile fuel are all reasons that it makes sense to use a bicycle for transportation. Personal fitness is also a modern trend that is very popular. The bicycle is an outstanding device to use for physical exercise. 
     As the bicycle has developed and has become firmly established as part of our modern culture, its use has expanded in recent years. For example, in addition to the traditional road bicycle, mountain bikes are now very popular. BMX racing is popular with young teenagers. 
     Skateboarding 
     Skateboarding is a form of recreation popular among youths, in which a person rides standing balanced on a small board mounted on wheels. A typical skateboard is about 3 feet long and 9 inches wide. Originally, they were made of wood, but they have also been made of aluminum, fiberglass, and plastic. The wheels usually are made of tough polyurethane plastic. A skateboard may either be stiff or flexible. 
     The skateboard first appeared in the early 1960s on paved areas along California beaches and become popular with local surfers. For the earliest designs, roller-skate wheels were attached to miniature surfboards. Skateboards were revived in the mid-1970s after the development of the faster and more maneuverable polyurethane wheel. As skateboarding became more popular, skateboard parks were built, providing a variety of slopes and banked surfaces for sudden turns and stunts. 
     The Use of a Bicycle to Tow 
     Shortly after skateboards became popular, it was discovered that a bicycle rider could tow a skateboarder. FIG. 1 shows a prior art bicycle. To be towed a skateboarded would usually mount his skateboard and then hold onto seat  5  while a bicycle rider pedaled the bicycle. This method, however, often resulted in injury to either the skateboarder or the bicycle rider. Because he would hold onto seat  5  with his hands, the skateboarded would ride dangerously close to the wheel and chain of the bicycle. Another prior art method of towing a skateboarder was to tie a rope to seat post  3 . Utilizing this method, a skateboarder could ride as far behind the bicycle as the rope permitted. However, this method was also dangerous because as the bicycle rider slowed, the tow rope became slack. It could then easily be tangled in the spokes of the wheel or in the chain of the bicycle, potentially causing serious injury. 
     What is needed is a better device for towing a skateboarder behind a bicycle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a bicycle capable of towing a skateboard rider. A hollow tow pole defining an attachment end and an extended end is attached at the attachment end to a bicycle frame of a bicycle. The first end of a stretchable tow rope is extended inside the hollow tow pole and is attached at or near the attachment end of the hollow tow pole. The second end of the stretchable tow rope is attached to a handle. The handle is positioned at or near the extended end of the hollow tow pole when the stretchable tow rope is in a relaxed or substantially relaxed state and the handle is extended at least two feet beyond the extended end when the stretchable tow rope is in a stretched state. In a preferred embodiment the hollow tow pole is collapsible. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow tow pole is pivotally attached to the bicycle frame. In a preferred embodiment, a stop bar is attached to the top of the hollow tow pole. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a prior art bicycle. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show a quick release lock. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a bicycle. 
     FIG. 9 shows the utilization of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 10-12 illustrate the pivoting feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 13-15 illustrate the locking feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 16-18 show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 20-21 show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention can be described by reference to FIGS. 2-21. 
     FIG. 9 shows a bicycle rider towing a skateboarder while utilizing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Tow pole  24  is pivotally attached to the bicycle. The skateboarder is standing on his skateboard and is grasping handle  26 . Stretchable bungee cord  20  is connected to handle  26  at one end and is inserted inside tow pole  24  and is attached to bolt  22  at its other end. As the skateboarder rides behind the bicycle, bungee cord  20  will stretch so that the skateboarder can maintain a safe distance behind the bicycle. When the bicycle rider slows down or stops the skateboarder will coast in. As he coasts in, the tension on bungee cord  20  will decrease so that when the bicycle has stopped and the skateboarder has let go of handle  26 , the present invention will appear as shown in FIG. 8 with handle  26  flush against the back end of tow pole  24 . Tow pole  24  keeps bungee cord  20  and handle  26  away from the bicycle wheels and chain. 
     First Preferred Embodiment 
     Seat post  3  with seat  5  is removed from bicycle frame  2  after loosening bolt  4  (FIG.  1 ). After seat post  3  is removed from bicycle  2 , clamp  6  is slid over seat post  3 , as shown in FIG.  2 A. FIG. 4 shows a top view of clamp  6  with quick release lock  7  slid over seat post  3 . In a preferred embodiment, clamp  6  is aluminum and has guide tab  8  extending downward, as shown in FIG.  2 A. In FIG. 4, quick release lock  7  is in the unlocked position. 
     Pole support piece  10  is then slid over seat post  3 , as shown in FIG.  2 A. In a preferred embodiment, pole support piece  10  is metal with hollow extension  11  welded to pivot section  19  at weld  12 . A perspective top view of the upper portion of pivot section  19  is shown in FIG.  2 B. Pivot section  19  has large cutout section  17  and small cutout section  18 . 
     Bearing  13  is slide over seat post  3  and inside of pole support piece  10  and inside of clamp  6  (FIG.  2 A). Quick release lock  7  is then locked causing it to tighten clamp  6  onto bearing  13  and seat post  3  so that bearing  13  is held tightly against seat post  3 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Pole support piece  10  is free to rotate on bearing  13  and is prevented from sliding off of bearing  13  by bearing end piece  14  (FIG.  3 ). In a preferred embodiment, bearing  13  is cut from a PVC pipe. Preferably, the inner diameter of bearing  13  should be such that it can slide over seat post  3  with minimal hand force (FIG.  2 ). Preferably, bearing end piece  14  is a PVC washer with an inner diameter that is approximately equal to the outer diameter of bearing  13 . Bearing end piece  14  is preferably glued to bearing  13 . 
     Seat post  3  is then mounted back onto bicycle frame  2  by tightening bolt  4 , as shown in FIG.  6 . Bungee cord  20  is then inserted inside hollow tow pole  24  and is looped around bolt  22 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, hollow tow pole is PVC pipe and is approximately four feet long and has an outer diameter of approximately 1¼ inches. A bungee cord is an elasticized cord that is commonly used as a fastening device or as a shock-absorbing device. The opposite end of bungee cord  20  is looped through rubber stopper  28  and is attached to tow handle  26 , as shown in FIG.  7 . Preferably, bungee cord  20  is slightly stretched so that it is under tension and handle  26  is held flush against hollow tow pole  24 , as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     FIG. 9 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention being used to tow a skateboarder. To use the present invention, a skateboard rider first mounts his skateboard and then grabs handle  26 . A bicycle rider then begins to pedal his bicycle. As he pedals his bicycle, the bicycle rider will be towing the skateboarder. Because the skateboarder is grasping handle  26 , bungee cord  20  will begin to stretch. Bungee cords of varying elasticities are available. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the length of bungee cord  20  is approximately three feet eight inches long in its unstretched state and approximately ⅜ inch in diameter. It will stretch to a maximum of length of approximately ten feet, depending on the load. For example, by reference to FIG. 9, if tow pole  24  is four feet long, a typical skateboarder could grasp handle  26  and ride behind the bicycle stretching bungee cord  20  so that handle  26  is approximately six feet behind the back end of tow pole  24 . When the bicycle rider stops or slows down, the skateboarder will coast into tow pole  24 . As he coasts in, the length of bungee cord  20  will decrease so that if the skateboarder coasts all the way in, bungee cord  20  will be all the way inside tow pole  24 , as shown in FIG.  8 . As shown in FIG. 9, stop bar  28  is mounted to the top of tow pole  24 . As he coasts in, the skateboarder can maintain the same speed as the bicycle so that when the bicycle stops the skateboarder can stop with it by gripping stop bar  28 . 
     Pivoting Feature 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 show pole support piece  10  mounted to seat post  3 . Clamp  6  is held tight against bearing  13  by locking quick release lock  7 . In a preferred embodiment, pivot section  19  is approximately 1⅜ inches in diameter (FIG.  2 B). The circumferential distance between sides  17 A and  17 B is approximately 1¾ inches. Pole support piece  10  is free to rotate on bearing  13  until sides  17 A and  17 B abut guide tab  8 . Sides  17 A and  17 B abutting against tab  8  will prevent pole support piece  10  from fully rotating around bearing  13 . As shown in FIG. 12, as tow pole  24  pivots to the right, it will eventually cause guide tab  8  to abut side  17 A (FIG.  11 ). When guide tab  8  is abutted against side  17 A, pole  24  is at position A 2  (FIG.  12 ). Likewise, as tow pole  24  pivots to the left, it will eventually cause guide tab  8  to abut side  17 B (FIG.  11 ). When guide tab  8  is abutted against side  17 B, pole  24  is at position A 1  (FIG.  12 ). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the angle between position A 1  and position A 2  is approximately ninety degrees. 
     Locking Feature 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention allows for tow pole  24  to be locked in the position shown in FIG.  15 . It is preferable to lock tow pole  24  in the position shown in FIG. 15 when the present invention is not being utilized for towing. By locking tow pole  24  directly behind the bicycle rider, tow pole  24  will not pivot about the axis of seat post  3 , and will therefore be of minimal distraction to the bicycle rider. To lock tow pole  24 , clamp  6  is loosened by moving quick release lock  7  to the unlocked position (FIG.  4 ). Then, clamp  6  is rotated 180° from the position shown in FIG. 10 to the position shown in FIG.  13 . Quick release lock  7  is then locked (FIG.  5 ). Tab  8  is then between sides  18 A and  18 B (FIGS.  2 B and  14 ). Pole support piece  10  is prevented from pivoting about the axis of seat post  3  due to tab  8  abutting sides  18 A and  18 B. 
     Second Preferred Embodiment 
     A second preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 16-18. Tow pole  44  is split into first section  44 A and second section  44 B. In a preferred embodiment, first section  44 A is slid inside second section  44 B and is connected to second section  44 B via threads  46 . Bungee cord  20  is looped through spring  48 . Spring  48  is looped around bolt  22 . In a preferred embodiment, spring  48  is a metal coil spring. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, spring  48  and bungee cord  20  are both under tension, causing handle  26  to be held flush against first section  44 A. 
     Collapsibility 
     Another advantage of the second preferred embodiment is that it is collapsible. To collapse tow pole  44 , first section  44 A is unthreaded from second section  44 B at threads  46  and then rethreaded to second section  44 B via threads  56 , as shown in FIG.  18 . Because spring  48  and bungee cord  20  are still under tension in the collapsed position, handle  26  will still be held flush against the back end of first section  44 A. Tow pole  44  preferably will be collapsed when it is not being used to tow. In FIG. 18, clamp  6  has been moved so that tab  8  is preventing pivoting of tow pole  44 , as explained above. 
     Rack 
     In the second preferred embodiment, rack  50  is mounted to the back of second section  44 B, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Second section  44 B is preferably aluminum. Hollow tubes  54  are welded to the top of second section  44 B. Plate  52  is welded to the top of tubes  54 . Objects can then be mounted to the top of rack  50 . FIG. 18 shows a side view of skateboard  60  mounted to rack  50  via straps  57 . 
     Third Preferred Embodiment 
     A third preferred embodiment is shown in FIG.  19 . The third preferred embodiment is similar to the second preferred embodiment except that spring  48  has been removed and bungee cord  20  is looped directly around bolt  22 . In this preferred embodiment, after tow pole  44  has been collapsed, handle  26  is looped over hook  51  so that it does not dangle from the back end of first section  44 A. In this embodiment, bungee cord  20  can be made longer than it was in the second embodiment. 
     Fourth Preferred Embodiment 
     A fourth preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. Clamp  6  tightens pole support piece  70  against seat post  3  by moving quick release lock  7  to the locked position. In the fourth preferred embodiment, pole support piece  70  is rigidly attached to seat post  3  so that it does not pivot about seat post  3 . Tow pole  76  is pivotally connected to tow support piece  70  via bolt  72  and is free to pivot about bolt  72  in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG.  20 . Removable pin  74  may be inserted to lock tow pole  76  in the position shown in FIG.  20 . Bungee cord  20  is looped around bolt  72  and is under tension so that handle  26  is held flush against tow pole  76  when the fourth preferred embodiment is not in use. 
     Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the above preferred embodiments discuss utilizing the present invention for towing a skateboarder, it could also be used to tow other types of riders. Some other riders that could be towed utilizing the present invention are a roller skater or an inline skater. Also, although the above preferred embodiments showed the utilization of bungee cord  20 , other types of stretchable tow ropes could be used as well. For example, bungee cord  20  could be replaced with a metal coil spring. Also, although the above preferred embodiments disclosed utilization of the present invention with bicycles, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the present invention could be attached to a motorcycle frame as well. Also, although FIGS. 20 and 21 showed pole support piece  70  clamped via clamp  6  to seat post  3 , pole support piece  70  could be rigidly attached to seat post  3  utilizing other methods. For example, pole support piece  70  could be bolted to seat post  3 . Also, although a preferred diameter was given above for bearing  13 , one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that bearings of various inside and outside diameters could be utilized to accommodate varying seat post diameters. Also, although it was stated that bearing end piece  14  is preferably glued to bearing  13 , both could be molded from a single piece of plastic. Also, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that bungee cord  20  could be inserted through a protective metal thimble to prevent wear and chafing of the bungee cord by bolt  22 . Also, although it was stated that hollow tow pole  24  is made from PVC pipe, it could also be made from other plastics or metal. Also, bearing  13  could be made from other materials besides PVC, such as other plastics. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.