Abstract:
A stable lightweight cargo trailer for a bicycle with a demountable bicycle type wheel having a collapsible frame assembly, the trailer including an upper elongate frame member defining an upper limit of a cargo compartment and a lower frame member having a portion defining a lower limit of the cargo compartment, the upper frame member and the lower frame portion being pivotally connected by intermediate end and side members such that the upper frame member is foldable from an extended position to a collapsed position allowing the upper frame member to collapse to overly said lower frame member into a compact configuration.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The background of the invention will be discussed in two parts. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to trailers for bicycles, and more particularly to a single wheel bicycle towed trailer assembly, which trailer is lightweight and collapsible for storage or transportation. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Trailers for use with bicycles are well known in the art. There are many varieties of such trailers, which have taken many forms. In some such trailers, infant or toddler carrying vehicles have generally taken the form of two-wheeled trailers configured with a conventionally seating area for the occupant. Other such devices are configured for transportation of miscellaneous cargo as may be desired by the bicycle rider. Whether configured for carrying small children or transporting cargo, such trailers are usually designed for towing behind the bicycle and attachable in some manner to the rear wheel of the bicycle. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a trailer towable from the rear wheel of a bicycle for transporting cargo, the trailer having a removable single wheel and a collapsible foldable frame for ease of storage or transportation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a compact, stable and lightweight trailer, configured and dimensioned to define a cargo enclosure, for attachment to the rear wheel of a bicycle and having a collapsible, or folding frame assembly. The frame assembly comprises a primary structural tubular frame assembly including an upper continuous generally rectangular frame member, a lower frame member having a continuous generally rectangular portion, a front and a rear H-shaped support frame formed of first and second upright articulated tubes with an interconnecting cross-bar pivotably coupled intermediate the upper and lower frame members at the front and rear thereof, left and right side folding support frame units pivotally coupled at the tops thereof to the left and right side, respectively, of the upper frame member and releasably connected at the bottoms thereof to the left and right side, respectively, of the lower frame member, and a lower base or floor member, all of which cooperatively define the cargo enclosure. 
     The front and rear support frame units are pivotally coupled to both the upper and lower frame members whereas the side units are pivotally coupled to the upper frame member and releasably connected to the lower frame member by suitable releasable couplers for enabling captive, yet releasable retention of the two side frame units. Upon release of the releasable couplers, the upper frame member folds rearwardly to collapse onto the lower frame member. 
     Also included is a pair of generally parallel fork members extending from the rear of the generally rectangular portion of the lower frame unit for supporting a removable wheel having a pneumatic tire, and a horizontally pivotable hitch arm assembly attached at the front of the primary frame assembly for attachment to the rear wheel of a bicycle. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the specification, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible folding trailer according to the invention with the bicycle wheel and mounting shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the collapsible trailer of FIG. 1 with the hitch arms removed and the trailer wheel and wheel mounting shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the trailer of FIG. 1 with the hitch arms and trailer wheel removed and showing the tubular sides of the trailer rotated to the folding position; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the sectional view of the collapsible trailer framing structure of FIG. 1 taken along the lines  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tubular framing structure of the trailer of FIG. 1 in the completion stage of folding for storage or transport with the hitch arms and wheel removed, the tubular sides of the trailer rotated to the folding position, and upper frame member rearwardly depressed by pivoting of the front and rear frame members. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trailer of the present invention, generally designated  10 , comprises an upper continuous frame member  20 , a lower frame member  30 , front and rear folding frame members  40  and  41 , left and right side folding frame members  60  and  61 , and flooring  63 . As will be described, the upper frame member folds rearwardly to collapse onto the lower frame member. The trailer further comprises pivotable hitch assembly  70 , and demountable trailer wheel  15 . Bicycle rear wheel  16  is shown in phantom. 
     Trailer  10  is configured for towing behind a bicycle in transport of general cargo. The framing structure assembly is configured of generally rigid lightweight tubular material, such as aluminum, and along with flooring  63 , forms a floored enclosure configured and dimensioned for generally surrounding and receiving therein the desired cargo. Although the trailer is intended for transport of general cargo, it could conveniently be employed otherwise, such as for transport of a pet as an occupant. 
     The upper part of the cargo compartment is defined by upper frame member  20 . Upper frame member  20  is planar, continuous, rigid and generally rectangular in configuration. It comprises a pair of substantially identical side rails  21 ,  22  and substantially identical end rails  23 ,  24 , formed continuously with the corners  25  of the rectangular configuration being rounded. 
     Lower frame member  30 , along with flooring  63 , defines the lower portion of the cargo compartment. As best shown in FIG. 2, the lower framework  30  has a continuous rigid frame including a generally rectangular portion for supporting flooring  63 , and a fork assembly  80  for supporting the demountable, or removable, wheel. 
     The generally rectangular portion of lower frame  30  includes substantially identical side members  31 ,  32 , front end member  33 , and a rear cross piece  34  intermediate members  31 ,  32 . End member  33   c  includes a first connector means, such as apertured stub  33   d,  for attachment of hitch assembly  70 . 
     A pair of identical parallel members  39 ,  42  run continuously the length of the generally rectangular portion and extend rearwardly therefrom to form a fork assembly for supporting the demountable wheel  15 . Members  31  and  32  extend from the generally rectangular portion and are curved to connect to members  39 ,  42 , respectively, thereby providing support arms, designated  31   a,    32   a,  for the fork assembly. The ends of parallel members  39 ,  42  include wheel attachment means such as axle-receiving stub members  39   a,    42   a.    
     Side folding support members  60 ,  61  are substantially identical and pivotally connected to side rail portions  21 ,  22 , respectively, by substantially identical angle-shaped clamps  49 , and releasably secured by suitable releasable couplers  62 , such as thumb screws, to flooring  63  and lower frame portions  31 ,  32  respectively. Each side member is comprised of a length of tubing bent into a generally right angle configuration having a rounded right angle portion and substantially equal adjacent sides, or legs. The rounded right angle portion is connected at its center thereof by couplers  62  to flooring  63  and the adjacent legs are pivotally connected at the ends thereof by angle-shaped clamps  49  to its respective side rail portions  21 , 22 . Side members  60 ,  61  are restrained from sliding longitudinally on rails  21 ,  22 , by appropriate stops such as welded beads  21   a,    22   a.  The configuration of angle-shaped clamps  49  is discussed in more detail hereinbelow. 
     H-shaped front folding support frame  40  is pivotally coupled intermediate upper frame member  20  and lower frame  30 , and includes a main support formed of first and second upright side tubes with an interconnecting cross-bar. The top two free arms  40   a  of the side tubes are pivotally connected by T-shaped clamps  50  to upper frame front rail portion  23 . The bottom two free arms  40   b  are pivotally connected by T-shaped clamps  50  one to lower frame portion  33  between rounded corner  33   a  and lower frame member  39 , and the other to frame portion  33  between rounded corner  33   b  and frame member  40 . Interconnecting cross-bar  40   c  includes a second connector means, such as apertured stub  40   d,  for attachment of hitch assembly  70 . 
     Likewise, the generally identical rear H-shaped support member  41  is pivotally coupled intermediate upper frame member  20  and lower frame  30  at the rear of the cargo enclosure. The top two arms  41   a  are pivotally connected by T-shaped clamps  50  to upper frame rear rail portion  24 , and its bottom two arms  41   b  pivotally connected by T-shaped clamps  50 , one to lower frame portion  34   a  and one to frame portion  34   b.    
     FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of T-shaped clamp  50 . The clamp  50  is formed of two mirror image parts, each having crossbar, or in-line portions  50   a,    50   b  and stem portions  50   c,    50   d.  In-line portions  50   a,    50   b  are configured for matingly enclosing tubing therethrough, the inside diameter of the mated portions being slightly greater that the enclosed tubing to permit pivoting of the clamp about the enclosed tubing. Stem portions  50   c,    50   d  are configured for matingly receiving tubing  41   b  therein, portions  50   c  and  50   d  fixedly retaining tubing  41   b  by attachment means such as screw and nut  50   e,    50   f,  respectively. Angled clamps  49  are similarly constructed except that the stem portion is angled from the in-line portion. 
     FIGS. 3 and 5 show the frame structure in two positions during collapse, or folding, the wheel and hitch assembly having been removed. As best shown in FIG. 3, the couplers  62  (one shown) have been released and the side support members  60 ,  61  folded inwardly and upwardly by pivoting of clamps  49  in the directions shown about rails  21  and  22 . As shown in FIG. 5, the front and rear H-shaped members  40 ,  41  have been pivoted by means of T-shaped clamps  50  to fold the upper frame member  20  rearwardly and downwardly in the directions shown to fully collapse the trailer with the upper frame member  20  generally overlying the lower frame member  30 . 
     Hitch assembly  70  is formed of tubular material and includes a hollow portion  70   a  configured for fitting between the apertured stubs  33   d,    40   d,  portion  70   a  configured for receiving therethrough a rod (not shown) having thumb screw head  70   b  and a threaded end for threadable attachment to threaded stub  33   d.  Portion  70   a  has welded thereto U-shaped member  70   d  proximate the top end thereof and member  70   c  proximate the bottom thereof, the open ends of member  70   d  attached to a respective side of the axle of the bicycle rear wheel, and the open ends of member  70   c  welded to member  70   d  as support arms. 
     The construction of the trailer is substantially of aluminum tubing, primarily of one diameter, thus effecting economies of assembly. Furthermore, with the primary exception of the hinge assembly and rounded corners of the upper and lower frames, the other tubular stock consists of straight lengths of material. In use, the trailer  30  is stable and efficient. 
     While the description of the trailer  10  has utilized directional references, such as up, down, right, left, clockwise, rearwardly, etc., is it to be understood that these terms are utilized with reference to the orientations in the figures and are not intended to be limiting. The construction of the trailer  10  is of aluminum tubing which, with the exception of angle-shaped interconnectors  49  and T-shaped interconnectors  52 , are all of the same diameter, thus effecting economies of fabrication. In addition, the pivotal interconnectors  49 ,  50  are formed of injected plastic of wall thickness sufficient to provide stability at the points of connection, and as pivot axes are dimensioned and configured for providing support in the lengthwise direction of the tubes connected. 
     While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment, other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.