Abstract:
A bicycle trailer hitch employs an adjustably positioned universal hitch ball. The bicycle trailer hitch attaches to a hitch receiver mounted on the bicycle frame and encompasses the rear tire of the bicycle. The trailer hitch slides into the hitch brackets and is secured by clevis pins. Height adjustments between the hitch and the trailer are made with two “L” shaped brackets. The lower bracket has the ball joint attached. The trailer tongue is attached to the ball joint.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a trailer to a bicycle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Bicycle trailers have gained increased popularity over the years. One requirement for a bicycle trailer is that it articulate universally relative to the bicycle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,178 discloses a bicycle trailer hitch removably affixed to the chain stay portion of the bicycle frame. What is needed beyond the prior art is a trailer hitch that is rugged, that is adaptable to a variety of trailers using a universal trailer ball, that can be removed from the bicycle when not needed, and that can be quickly and easily reinstalled when required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs and solves the problems identified above by providing a bicycle trailer hitch employing an adjustably positioned universal hitch ball. The bicycle trailer hitch is generally “U” shaped and attaches to the a hitch receiver mounted on the bicycle frame and encompasses the rear tire of the bicycle. The trailer hitch slides into the hitch brackets and is secured by clevis pins. Height adjustments between the hitch and the trailer are made with two “L” shaped brackets. One of the brackets is attached to a mounting plate affixed to the hitch. The second bracket can then be lined up accordingly and connected using nut and bolt securement devices. The lower bracket has the ball joint attached. The trailer tongue of the trailer arm can be attached to the ball joint. A safety chain attached to the lower bracket and the trailer tongue provides a back-up connection between the trailer hitch and the trailer. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a left side view of the invention mounted on a bicycle frame. 
     FIG. 2 is a left perspective exploded view of the hitch mount. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a detail view of the hitch mounting plate. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along line  5 — 5  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view along line  6 — 6  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the left hitch bracket receiver. 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the hitch adjuster plate. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, bicycle  10  has tire  12 , frame  14 , wheel mounting socket  15 , and axle  18 . Left hitch bracket receiver  142  is connected to frame  14  by left mounting bracket  122 . Left hitch bracket  162  is connected to left hitch bracket receiver  142  by clevis pin  144  and hitch adjuster  180  is connected to left hitch bracket  162  by bolts  172 . Hitch adjuster  180  has first bracket  182  and second bracket  184 . Hitch ball  192  (not shown, see FIG. 6) is connected to second bracket  184  by hitch ball arm  190  and hitch ball nut  194 . Hitch adjuster first plate  182  is connected to hitch adjuster second plate  184 . Hitch adjuster first plate  182  is connected to mounting plate  170 . Trailer arm  20  has arm  24 , hitch ball dome  26  and chain  22 . In the preferred embodiment, left hitch bracket receiver  142  and right hitch bracket receiver  140  are made from 1 and ¼ inch square steel or aluminum tubing. In the preferred embodiment, left hitch bracket  162  and right hitch bracket  160  are made from 1 inch steel or aluminum tubing. Trailer tongue  26  is attached to ball joint  192  (not shown in FIG.  1 ). Safety chain  22  attaches to second hitch adjuster  184 . 
     In FIG. 2, right hitch bracket receiver  140  has right hitch bracket receiver first end  139  and right hitch bracket receiver second end  138 . Right hitch bracket receiver  140  has first right hitch bracket receiver hole  153  and second right hitch bracket receiver hole  152  for receiving clevis pins  144 . Right hitch bracket receiver  140  has right mounting bracket  120  fixedly engaged to right hitch bracket receiver  140 . In the preferred embodiment, right mounting bracket  120  is welded to right hitch bracket receiver  140 . Right mounting bracket  120  has right mounting bracket hole  121  for receiving clevis pin  144 . Right mounting bracket hole  121  is aligned with first right hitch bracket receiver hole  153  nearest right hitch bracket receiver first end  139 . Right hitch bracket  160  has first right hitch bracket hole  163  and second right hitch bracket hole  161  for receiving clevis pins  144  and slides within right hitch bracket receiver interior  146  until first right hitch bracket hole  163  is aligned with first right hitch bracket receiver hole  154  and second right hitch bracket hole  164  is aligned with second right hitch bracket receiver hole  152 . Correspondingly, left hitch bracket receiver  142  has left hitch bracket receiver first end  136  and left hitch bracket receiver second end  137 . Left hitch bracket receiver  142  has first left hitch bracket receiver hole  157  and second left hitch bracket receiver hole  156  for receiving clevis pins  144 . Left hitch bracket receiver  142  has left mounting bracket  122  fixedly engaged to left hitch bracket receiver  142 . In the preferred embodiment, left mounting bracket  122  is welded to left hitch bracket receiver  142 . Left mounting bracket  122  has left mounting bracket hole  122  for receiving clevis pin  144 . Left mounting bracket hole  122  is aligned with first left hitch bracket receiver hole  157  nearest left hitch bracket receiver first end  136 . Left hitch bracket  162  has first left hitch bracket hole  165  and second left hitch bracket hole  164  for receiving clevis pins  144  and slides within left hitch bracket receiver interior  146  until first left hitch bracket hole  165  is aligned with first left hitch bracket receiver hole  157  and second left hitch bracket hole  164  is aligned with second left hitch bracket receiver hole  156 . Hitch adjuster mounting plate  170  is affixed to right hitch bracket  160  and left hitch bracket  162  by bolts  172  and nuts  174  (not shown, see FIG.  4  and  6 ). 
     FIG. 3 depicts a cross sectional view along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . Clevis pin  144  is inserted through left hitch bracket receiver  142  and left hitch bracket  162  and held in place by cotter pin  158 . 
     FIG. 4 is a detail view of hitch adjuster mounting plate  170  affixed to right hitch bracket  160  and left hitch bracket  162  by a plurality of bolts  170 . Hitch adjuster  180  is affixed to hitch adjuster mounting plate  170  by bolts  172 . 
     In FIG. 5 connector  124  is positioned around frame  14  and affixed to right mounting plate  120  by bolts  172  and nuts  174 . Right hitch bracket  160  is shown locket into position within right hitch bracket receiver  140  by clevis pin  144  and cotter pin  158 . 
     In FIG. 6, hitch adjuster first plate horizontal section  181  has first top hole and second top hole for receiving bolts  172 . Hitch adjuster first plate vertical section  183  has a plurality of holes for receiving bolts  172 . Hitch adjuster second plate  184  has hitch adjuster second plate vertical section  185  and hitch adjuster second plate horizontal section  186 . Hitch adjuster second plate vertical section  185  has a plurality of holes for receiving bolts  172 . Hitch adjuster second plate horizontal section has hitch hole  198  for receiving hitch threaded post  194  for securement with hitch nut  196 . 
     In FIG. 7 a cross sectional view along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1 is shown. Left hitch bracket receiver  142  is further secured to frame  14  by screw  128  seated in countersunk hole  127  of bracket  15  of frame  14 . Screw  128  is tightened by screwdriver  11  which enters left hitch bracket receiver  142  through left hitch bracket receiver access hole. 
     In FIG. 8, a front view of hitch adjuster plate  184  is shown affixed to mounting plate  170 . In the preferred embodiment, mounting plate  170  is made of ¼ inch steel. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.