Abstract:
A bicycle tow hitch comprises an apparatus to enable a master bicycle to tow a slave bicycle behind it. The apparatus comprises a plurality of tubular members which make up a master unit and a slave unit being joined using a plurality of bolts. The slave unit is installed onto the front wheel of the slave bicycle and prevents the front wheel of the slave bicycle from rotating. The master unit is installed onto the rear portion of the master bicycle and supports the slave unit in a way that suspends the front wheel of the slave bicycle above the ground while leaving the rear wheel of the slave bicycle in contact with the ground.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates to tow hitches and, more particularly, to a bicycle tow hitch that enable a master bicycle to tow a slave bicycle behind it. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern concerns over health and physical fitness have produced an abundance of people who religiously participate in a variety of exercise regimens in order to stay in shape. One (1) of the most popular exercise activities involves bicycle riding. However, with the typical bicycle being a “one” rider machine, problems and logistical difficulties quickly arise when using a bike to pick someone up or dropping someone off at a specific location while using a bicycle. One can have someone transport two (2) bicycles in a truck or other motor vehicle, but such a solution quickly defeats the purposes of exercise and energy savings provided by a bicycle. One can ride a bike while attempting to hold the other one alongside, but such a solution greatly compromises their safety as well as any other motorists or pedestrians who happen to be nearby. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a rider-less bicycle can be easily transported by another bike rider to another location. 
     There have been attempts in the past to provide such a means to tow a bicycle behind a master bicycle. U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2003/0080534 in the name of Freeman discloses an elongated apparatus attached to the bicycle seat frame for pulling a trailer device. Unfortunately, the Freeman apparatus doesn&#39;t support the front frame of the towed bicycle and does not fall under the scope of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,320 issued in the name of Creps et al. discloses an bicycle trailer hitch attached to the point between the seat stay and the chain stay of the master bicycle. The Creps et al. device also comprising a pivoting mechanism to provide attachment to the bicycle. This method has multiple moving parts and is much more complicated than the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,011 issued in the name of Beaudoin et al. discloses a bicycle trailer hitch attaching a bicycle trailer to a rear frame of a bicycle, particular at the seat stay and chain stay. The Beaudoin et al. Further comprises a flexible connecting means which does not fall under the scope of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,212 issued in the name of Mock et al. discloses a bicycle trailer hitch or accessory mount using a trailer tongue with a rotatable pin. The Mock et all device does disclose a device that supports a front frame of a towed bicycle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tow hitch for a bicycle to enable a master bicycle to tow a slave bicycle. 
     An aspect of the invention is to provide such a hitch having a master unit adapted to be attached to the master bicycle and a slave unit attached to the master unit. 
     The slave unit is adapted to be attached to the slave bicycle and the slave unit remains statically anchored to the master unit during transport of the slave bicycle. 
     An aspect of the invention is to provide such a master unit comprising a central frame support bar including a central frame front aperture, a central frame central aperture, and a plurality of central frame rear apertures; a left fork support bar including a left fork upper aperture and a left fork lower aperture; a central upright bar including a central upright right aperture, a central upright central aperture, and a central upright left aperture; a right upright bar including a right upright upper aperture and a right upright lower aperture; and, a left upright bar including a left upright upper aperture and a left upright lower aperture. 
     Another aspect of the invention is to provide such a slave unit comprising a right fork support bar capable of receiving a front wheel of the slave bicycle; a lower fork clamp bar including a loop receptacle, a lower fork clamp left aperture, a plurality of lower fork clamp central apertures, and a lower fork clamp right aperture; an upper fork clamp bar including an upper fork clamp aperture and a fork clamp retaining bolt including a threaded end and a handle. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention is wherein the lower fork clamp bar is adapted to be inserted through the front wheel and behind a wheel fork of the slave bicycle so that the loop receptacle is adapted to be positioned on a left side of the slave bicycle, the upper fork clamp bar is adapted to be inserted through the front wheel in front of the wheel fork of the slave bicycle and secured by the loop receptacle, and wherein the threaded end of said fork clamp retaining bolt attaches the right fork upper aperture to the upper fork clamp aperture and the lower fork clamp right receptacle. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention is where the right upright lower aperture is removably connected to the right fork lower aperture and the right receptacle, the left fork upper aperture is attached to the lower fork clamp left aperture, and the central frame rear apertures are attached to the lower fork clamp central apertures, respectively. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bicycle tow hitch  10  installed on a master bicycle  140  and a slave bicycle  150 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the bicycle tow hitch  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a master unit  20  of the bicycle tow hitch  10  installed on the master bicycle  140 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the master unit  20  of the bicycle tow hitch  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a slave unit  21  of the bicycle tow hitch  10  installed on the slave bicycle  150 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the slave unit  21  of the bicycle tow hitch  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bicycle tow hitch  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
       
           
           
             
                 10  bicycle tow hitch 
                 20  master unit 
                 21  slave unit 
                 30  central frame support bar 
                 31  central frame front aperture 
                 32  central frame central aperture 
                 33  central frame rear aperture 
                 50  left fork support bar 
                 51  left fork upper aperture 
                 52  left fork lower aperture 
                 60  central upright bar 
                 61  central upright right aperture 
                 62  central upright central aperture 
                 63  central upright left aperture 
                 70  right upright bar 
                 71  right upright upper aperture 
                 72  right upright lower aperture 
                 80  left upright bar 
                 81  left upright upper aperture 
                 82  left upright lower aperture 
                 90  right fork support bar 
                 91  right fork upper aperture 
                 92  right fork lower aperture 
                 100  lower fork clamp bar 
                 101  loop receptacle 
                 102  lower fork clamp left aperture 
                 103  lower fork clamp central aperture 
                 105  lower fork clamp right aperture 
                 110  upper fork clamp bar 
                 111  upper fork clamp aperture 
                 120  fork clamp retaining bolt 
                 121  threaded end 
                 122  handle 
                 130  bolt 
                 140  master bicycle 
                 141  seat post aperture 
                 142  frame fender bracket 
                 143  right receptacle 
                 145  left receptacle 
                 150  slave bicycle 
                 151  front wheel 
                 153  wheel fork 
                 154  rear wheel 
             
           
         
      
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 7 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the present invention describes a bicycle tow hitch (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means for a master bicycle  140  to securely tow a slave bicycle  150 . The master bicycle  140  comprises a seat post aperture  141  and a frame fender bracket  142 . The frame fender bracket comprises a right receptacle  143  and a left receptacle  145 . The slave bicycle  150  comprises a front wheel  151 , a rear wheel  154 , and a wheel fork  153 . 
     Once installed, the apparatus  10  supports the front wheel  151  of the slave bicycle  150  so that the front wheel  151  is suspended above the ground and prevented from rotating. In this way, the rear wheel  154  of the slave bicycle  151  remains in contact with the ground and allows the master bicycle  140  to safely and securely tow the slave bicycle  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded perspective view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a master unit  20 , a slave unit  21 , and a plurality of bolts  130 . The apparatus is primarily composed of a sturdy material, such as steel, that has been coated with a corrosion preventing material. 
     The master unit  20  comprises a central frame support bar  30 , a left fork support bar  50 , a central upright bar  60 , a right upright bar  70 , and a left upright bar  80 . The central frame support bar  30  comprises a central frame front aperture  31 , a central frame central aperture  32 , and two (2) central frame rear apertures  33 . The left fork support bar  50  comprises a left fork upper aperture  51  and a left fork lower aperture  52 . The central upright bar  60  comprises a central upright right aperture  61 , a central upright central aperture  62 , and a central upright left aperture  63 . The right upright bar  70  comprises a right upright upper aperture  71  and a right upright lower aperture  72 . The left upright bar  80  comprises a left upright upper aperture  81  and a left upright lower aperture  82 . 
     The slave unit  21  comprises a right fork support bar  90 , a lower fork clamp bar  100 , an upper fork clamp bar  110 , and a fork clamp retaining bolt  120 . The right fork support bar  90  is shaped to receive the front wheel  151  of the slave bicycle  150  and comprises a body with three (3) portions: a first section, a second section angled toward a first side extending from an end of the first section, and a third section extending outwardly from an end of the second section generally parallel to the first section. The right fork support bar  90  further comprises a right fork upper aperture  91  and a right fork lower aperture  92 . The lower fork clamp bar  100  comprises a loop receptacle  101 , a lower fork clamp left aperture  102 , two (2) lower fork clamp central apertures  103 , and a lower fork clamp right aperture  105 . The upper fork clamp bar  110  comprises an upper fork clamp aperture  111 . The fork clamp retaining bolt  120  comprises a threaded end  121  and a handle  122 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , perspective views of the master unit  20  of the apparatus  10  both installed on the master bicycle  140  and without the master bicycle  140 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The central frame front aperture  31  of the central frame support bar  30  is adapted to attach to the seat post aperture  141  of the master bicycle  140  with a bolt  130 . The central frame central aperture  32  attaches to the central upright central aperture  62  with a bolt  130 . A bolt  130  connects the right fork lower aperture  92 , the right upright lower aperture  72 , and the right receptacle  143  in that order (please see  FIG. 7 ). The right upright upper aperture  71  attaches to the central upright right aperture  61  with a bolt  130 . The left upright upper aperture  81  attaches the central upright left aperture  63  with a bolt. A bolt  130  connects the left fork lower aperture  52 , the left upright lower aperture  82 , and the left receptacle  145  in that order. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a perspective view of the slave unit  21  of the apparatus  10  both installed on the slave bicycle  150  and without the slave bicycle  150 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The lower fork clamp bar  100  is adapted to be inserted through the front wheel  151  and behind the wheel fork  153  so that the loop receptacle  101  is on the left side of the slave bicycle  150 . The upper fork clamp bar  110  is adapted to be inserted through the front wheel  151  in front of the wheel fork  153  and secured by the loop receptacle  101 . The threaded end  121  of the fork clamp retaining bolt  120  attaches the upper fork clamp aperture  111 , the right fork upper aperture  91 , and the lower fork clamp right receptacle  105  in that order. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a perspective view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. A bolt  130  connects the right fork lower aperture  92 , the right upright lower aperture  72 , and the right receptacle  143  in that order. The left fork upper aperture  51  attaches to the lower fork clamp left aperture  102  with a bolt  130 . The central frame rear apertures  33  attach to the lower fork clamp central apertures  103  with two (2) bolts  130 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the apparatus  10 ; installing the lower fork clamp bar  100  into the front wheel  151  of the slave bicycle  150  behind the wheel fork  153 ; installing the upper fork clamp bar  110  into the front wheel  151  of the slave bicycle  150  in front of the wheel fork  153  and into the loop receptacle  101  of the lower fork clamp bar  100 ; positioning the right fork support bar  90  in front of the lower fork clamp bar  100  and behind the upper fork clamp bar  110 ; installing the threaded end  121  of the fork clamp retaining bolt  120  into the upper fork clamp aperture  111 , the right fork upper aperture  91 , and the lower fork clamp right aperture  105  in that order; attaching the central frame front aperture  31  to the seat post aperture  141  with a bolt  130 ; attaching the central frame central aperture  32  to the central upright central aperture  62  with a bolt  130 ; attaching the central frame rear apertures  33  to the lower fork clamp central apertures  103  with two (2) bolts  130 ; attaching the right upright upper aperture  71  to the central upright right aperture  61  with a bolt  130 ; attaching the left upright upper aperture  81  to the central upright left aperture  63  with a bolt  130 ; attaching the left fork upper aperture  51  to the lower fork clamp left aperture  102  with a bolt; attaching the left fork lower aperture  52 , the left upright lower aperture  82 , and the left receptacle  145  with a bolt  130  so that the left fork bar  50  is on the outside of the left upright bar  80 ; attaching the right fork lower aperture  92 , the right upright lower aperture  72 , and the right receptacle  143  with a bolt  130  so that the right fork bar  90  is on the outside of the right upright bar  70 ; and, securely and safely towing the slave bicycle  150  with the master bicycle  140  while using the bicycle tow hitch  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.