DE29708565U1 - Multipurpose bike trailer - Google Patents

Description

Franz Josef Poss

Taunusweg 5
10

54595 Prüm-Dausfeld

1&dgr; Multi-purpose bike trailer

The present invention relates to a bicycle trailer with a chassis having two wheels, which supports a box-shaped structure, which has a rectangular transport platform attached to the chassis and box walls attached to the sides and to the front and rear of the transport platform, and with a drawbar attached to the front end of the chassis and which can be coupled to a bicycle.

Such bicycle trailers usually have fixed box walls and are used to transport small objects or goods. These bicycle trailers are not suitable for other purposes, especially for transporting people, and are not permitted in most countries.

Bicycle trailers are known for transporting small children. They are a kind of tent structure on a bicycle frame with wheels.

platform and are closed on all sides except for the rear entrance. This bicycle trailer is not suitable for transporting larger children or adults, nor for transporting goods.

One object of the present invention is to design a bicycle trailer of the type mentioned above in such a way that it can be used in a variety of ways, particularly in the leisure and travel sectors, and is also suitable for transporting people.

This object is achieved by the features of claim i. Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

In other words, the invention creates a bicycle trailer whose transport platform can be enlarged when the trailer is stationary and which can be converted into a seat or a bed when the trailer is in use. This variable multiple use of the bicycle trailer is achieved by the pivoting and, if necessary, detachable linkage of all four box walls to the transport platform and by the provision of support means for the box walls, which are designed in such a way that either the transport platform is enlarged when the box walls are folded horizontally or a seat or a bed is provided when the box walls are partially folded down. The measures according to the invention mean that the bicycle trailer can be used in many different ways, namely as a bed, for example, when the box walls are pivoted down to the level of the transport platform. The large support surface achieved in this way also allows the use of the

• i ·

Bicycle trailers can be used as sales areas, for example at weekly markets. On the other hand, the trailer can be converted into a seat when it is mobile and used like a rickshaw for transporting people or for transporting patients. Such use is of particular interest in so-called third world countries.

The bicycle trailer according to the invention can be used particularly advantageously in the leisure sector as a combined means of transport and lying or sitting in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner. For example, backpackers who use this bicycle trailer do not have to carry their backpacks. Since the bicycle trailer can be quickly and easily converted into a bed with a lying surface off the ground, if necessary using cushions or mattresses, it is ideal for comfortable and healthy sleeping, but also as a sun lounger. Several bicycle trailers converted into a bed can easily be placed side by side and connected to one another if necessary to form a multiple double bed. As an alternative to use in the leisure sector, such a bed can also be used as a spare bed at home.

Advantageously, when the bicycle trailer is used for the transport of people or as a bed, cushions are provided which are attached to the seating or bed surfaces, preferably using adhesives, such as Velcro fasteners, which allow the cushions to be easily removed from the box walls if the bicycle trailer is to be used for another purpose, such as for the transport of goods.

In order to protect the interior of the box structure that is open at the top from rain, for example, especially if the cushions are provided inside the box or sensitive goods are transported, a lid is advantageously provided to cover the open box. For this purpose, the box walls are provided with receiving profiles for the lid on the upper edges or in the corner areas defined by them.

The support means, which enable variable positioning of the pivoting box walls in relation to the transport platform, do not have to be provided for all box walls. Preferably, these support means are provided for the front or rear box wall in the direction of travel in order to ensure that the bicycle trailer can be converted into a seat or bed without any problems. Preferably, the opposite box wall is also provided with support means.

The support means can be designed differently depending on the intended use. For example, the support means are designed to support the respective box wall against a subsurface. In this case, the support means have at least one leg that can be pivoted between a rest position on or sunk into the outside of the box wall and a support position in which the leg supports the box wall with respect to the subsurface. In order to be able to set the desired inclination of the box wall, the length of this leg is preferably adjustable. The length of the leg is advantageously adjustable between at least one position in which the

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folded down box wall is essentially flush with the transport platform and another position in which the box wall is inclined upwards. In this case, the support leg serves to create a &dgr; seat backrest or a headrest for a recliner. The length-adjustable leg can be implemented in different ways. However, it is particularly preferably telescopic and made from several parts, since the leg then takes up little space when retracted and allows variable support heights to be implemented. Two laterally spaced legs are advantageously provided to support a box wall.

In the case of two support legs, these can be formed by the vertical legs of a U-shaped support, which is pivotably mounted with its horizontal connecting part on the outside of the box wall.

The support means for the box walls can also be designed as support means that act independently of the ground, namely as trailer-fixed or trailer-supported, lockable/releasable locking means in order to be able to provide several inclination positions for these box walls. Such locking means are known, for example, in the field of inclination-adjustable loungers, especially garden loungers, but also in the field of ladders.

In order to be able to use the bicycle trailer converted into a seat or a bed, the support means are designed to lock the respective box wall of a transport platform in an upright or inclined position. In other words, the support means in this case require

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not the subsoil, but instead e.g. the transport platform to support the corresponding box wall.

&dgr; In particular, in order to be able to use the bicycle trailer as a mobile seat, both side box walls are preferably detachably connected to the transport platform. This ensures that the side box walls can be removed from the bicycle trailer in this form of use and stored in a suitable place so as not to hinder the use of the bicycle trailer as a mobile seat. Alternatively, the side box walls can also be folded inwards onto the transport platform or removed from it and stored and held on the transport platform so that they are always available for converting the bicycle trailer into another form of use.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, at least the side box walls are formed from two parts that can be pivoted about a longitudinal axis, the width of which is such that the folded-down outer parts of these box walls form a support for the inner parts, which in this position are essentially aligned with the transport platform and the enlargement of the support surface provided by it. This means that the upper box wall parts in this case form support means for the lower box wall parts,

Advantageously, the drawbar is detachably connected to the chassis to enable the front box wall to be folded horizontally into the horizontal position for

Enlargement of the support surface of the transport platform or to form a bed should not be hindered.

Finally, additional support elements are provided on the underside of the transport platform &dgr; to support it or relieve the load on the chassis when the trailer is stationary, which rest on the ground.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the drawing as an example; in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the box-shaped bicycle trailer according to the invention equipped with inner padding with the box walls folded up,
15

Fig. 2 is a side view of the bicycle trailer of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 the bicycle trailer from Fig. 1 into a bed with

sloping head and foot sections,
20

Fig. 4 the bicycle trailer of Fig. 1 converted into a bed with a continuous horizontal lying surface,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the structure of Fig. 3, 25

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the structure of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of two beds arranged sideways against each other and obtained from the bicycle trailer according to the invention, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the bicycle trailer converted into a chair with the sides folded down.

The bicycle trailer shown in Fig. 1 to 8 has a chassis that supports a box-shaped structure. The box-shaped structure has a rectangular transport platform 1, to the underside of which the chassis is attached, which consists of two wheels, of which only a single wheel 2, the left wheel in the direction of travel, is shown in the figures, which are attached to the underside of the platform 1 via wheel supports (a single wheel support 3 for the wheel 2 is shown) and are rotatably connected to these wheel supports via a shaft. The wheels are attached to the side of the transport platform 1 at a mutual distance. At the front of the platform 1, on its underside, there is a connection socket 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of the platform 1 or in the direction of travel for the detachable plug-in receptacle of a drawbar 5, which has a cylindrical end 6 at the lower end or on the vehicle trailer side for insertion into the connection socket 4, starting from this it runs diagonally upwards in the forward direction and ends in a front pulling and coupling end 6 of a type known per se, with which the bicycle trailer can be pulled or erected by hand and coupled to a corresponding coupling counterpart at the rear end of a bicycle.

The box-shaped structure of the bicycle trailer has, in addition to the transport platform 1, four box walls 8 to 11, namely a front box wall 8, a rear box wall 9 and two side box walls 10 and 11. Each of the box walls 8 to 11 can be pivoted on the transport

Platform 1 is hinged. For this purpose, swivel connection means are provided between the respective lower edge of the respective box wall 8 to 11, with which this lower edge is connected to the corresponding edge on the circumference of the transport platform 1. This swivel connection can be hinges, for example. Fig. 1 shows the hinge 14 on the lower edge of the front box wall 8 or the front edge of the transport platform 1.

In their upright position, the four box walls 8 to 11 are detachably connected to one another, for example by means of latches or catches (not shown) that are preferably arranged in the area of the upper edge of the box walls. In this configuration, the bicycle trailer takes the form of a box shown in Fig. 1 or 2. This box, which is open at the top, can be covered by a lid (not shown) that can be detachably attached to the box using suitable connecting means. This attachment of a lid is facilitated by a circumferential flange edge on the top of the box or box walls 8 to 11, which in the embodiment shown consists of strips 8a to 11a that are firmly attached to the upper edge of the box walls 8 to 11 and protrude laterally from them and can thus be gripped by connecting means for fixing a lid to the box.

While the front and rear box walls 8 and 9 are formed in one piece and extend over the full height of the box-shaped structure of the bicycle trailer, the side box walls, which also extend over the full height of the box-shaped structure, are

10 and 11 are formed in two parts in the longitudinal direction, wherein the upper part 10b of the side box wall 10 or the upper part 11b of the side box wall 11 is pivotally connected to the respective lower part 10c or 11c by a hinge 12 δ or 13, which allows the respective lower part 10c or 11c of these side box walls 10 and 11 to be folded over by 30° relative to the respective lower part 10c or 11c, in order to thereby form a support for the upper part 10b, 11b relative to a base (see Fig. 5, 6 and 8). In the case of these two-part side walls 10 and 11, a separate locking means for locking to the front box wall 8 or the rear box wall 9 is preferably provided for each part 10b, 10c or 11b, 11c.

In the event that the side box walls 10 and 11 are not required for use, they can be removed from the platform 1 or pulled upwards, in which case a suitable detachable swivel connection is provided.

At least the front box wall 8 has a support means in the form of a U-shaped support 15 with lateral legs 15a and 15b, which are connected to one another via a connecting leg 15c, which runs essentially horizontally and is pivotably attached to the underside of the front box wall 8 near its strip 8a via two laterally spaced bearing bushes 16a and 16b. In order to facilitate the pivoting of the front box wall 8, a recessed grip 17 is formed in its underside, below the connecting leg 15c. The support 15 serves to support the partially or completely folded down front box wall 8, whereby

for this purpose, the support 15 is pivoted so that its lateral legs 15a, 15b form legs standing on the ground, which in a preferred embodiment are telescopic, as shown for example in Fig. 5, accordingly the lateral legs or legs 15a, 15b have tubular parts 18 and 19, respectively, which can be pulled out of the tubular legs 15a, 15b and locked in the desired position,

Similarly, a support may be formed on the outside of the rear box wall 9, preferably in the same way as the support 15, i.e. with lateral limbs serving as legs, with only one lateral limb 20 being shown in the figures.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 show the use of the bicycle trailer as a bed with the rear box wall 9 folded down completely and supported on the ground with the bar 9a, which forms the foot part of the bed, and with the front box wall 8 partially raised, which runs approximately parallel to the footrest and forms the headrest of the bed, whereby the telescopic tubes 18 and 19 are pulled out of the legs of the side arms 15a and 15b to support the front box wall 8a.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 show the front and rear box walls 8 and 9 each supported by their corresponding support (legs 15a, 15b, 20) and running horizontally to the platform 1. In this position, the bicycle trailer can be used as a bed.

Fig. 7 shows two such beds placed next to each other, with the same parts of the second bed being covered with the same

Reference numbers like the corresponding parts of the first bed, but marked with '. These two adjacent beds, which form a double bed, can also be firmly and detachably connected to one another using a suitable means. In addition, more than two beds can easily be combined to form a large bed.

Fig. 8 shows the use of the bicycle trailer as a seat when the trailer is at rest with the side walls 10 and 11 folded out, the front box wall 8 running vertically and locked to the platform 1, and the rear box wall 9 folded down, with its lower edge resting on the ground.

As shown in Fig. 8, additional support means can be formed on the underside of the platform 1, which can have the same shape as, for example, the support 15, i.e. two laterally offset legs 21 and 22. This support 22, 23 is provided in the articulation area of the front box wall 8. A similar support can be provided in the articulation area of the rear box wall, and these supports serve to relieve the chassis with the wheels 2 when the bicycle trailer converted into the corresponding shape is used in a resting form.

As an alternative to the resting positions of the bicycle trailer according to Fig. 3 and 5 or 4 and 6 and 7 and 8, the side box walls 10 and 11 can also be removed, as mentioned above, so that the bicycle trailer configured as a seat or bed can also be used pulled by a bicycle.

On the platform 1 and the front and rear box walls 8 and 9, pads 21a, b, c can be removably attached, e.g. using adhesives such as Velcro fasteners.

&dgr; In summary, the invention relates to a bicycle trailer with a chassis having two wheels (2) which carries a box-shaped structure which has a rectangular transport platform (1) attached to the chassis and box walls (8-11) attached to the sides and to the front and rear of the transport platform, and with a drawbar (5) attached to the front end of the chassis and which can be coupled to a bicycle.j~_In order to be able to use the trailer in a variety of ways, the invention provides that all four box walls (8-11) are pivotally connected to the transport platform (1) with their respective lower edges, that locking means are provided by means of which adjacent box walls (8-11) are detachably connected to one another in their upright position, and that support means (15) are provided for at least one box wall (8) in order to increase the support surface provided by the transport platform (1) when the box walls (8-11) are detached from one another when the trailer is stationary. or, in the case of a mobile trailer, to be converted into a seat or a bed.

(Fig. D

14

Reference list

1 transport platform

2 wheel

3 Wheel support

4 Connection socket 5 Drawbar

6 Drawbar cylinder end

7 Pull/coupling end

8 front box wall 8a-11a strips 9 - rear box wall

10 side box wall

10b upper part of the side box wall 10c lower part of the side box wall

11 side box wall

11b upper part of the side box wall

11c lower part of the side box wall

12 Hinge

13 Hinge

14 Hinge 15 Support

15a,15b side legs of the support 15c connecting legs of the support 16a,16b bearing bushes

1&dgr;

17 Grip recess 18,19 Telescopic tubes 20 Side leg 21,a,b,c Upholstery 22, 23 Legs

Claims (1)

Expectations 1. Bicycle trailer, with a chassis having two wheels (2) which carries a box-shaped structure which has a rectangular transport platform (1) attached to the chassis and box walls (8-11) attached to the sides and to the front and rear of the transport platform, and with a drawbar (5) attached to the front end of the chassis and which can be coupled to a bicycle, characterized in that all four box walls (8-11) are pivotally connected to the transport platform (1) with their respective lower edges, that locking means are provided by means of which adjoining box walls (8-11) are detachably connected to one another in their upright position, and that support means (15) are provided for at least one box wall (8) in order to enlarge the support surface provided by the transport platform (1) when the trailer is stationary when the box walls (8-11) are detached from one another, or to convert it into a seat or a bed when the trailer is mobile. 2. Bicycle trailer according to claim 1, characterized in that the box wall (8) provided with support means (15) is the front or rear box wall with respect to the direction of travel. 3. Bicycle trailer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized characterized in that the box wall (9) opposite the supportable box wall (8) is also provided with support means (20). 4. Bicycle trailer according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the support means (15, 20) are designed as support means against a ground. Bicycle trailer according to claim 4, characterized in that the support means (15) have at least one leg (15a, 15b) which can be pivoted between a rest position on or in the outside of the box wall (8) and a support position in which it supports the box wall (8) with respect to the ground. Bicycle trailer characterized in that it is adjustable. Claim 5,
Length of the leg through this (15a,15b) Bicycle trailer according to claim 6, characterized in that the length of the leg (15a, 15b) is adjustable between at least one position in which the folded-down box wall (8) is substantially flush with the transport platform and a further position in which the box wall (8) is inclined upwards. 8. Bicycle trailer according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the leg (15a, 15b) is telescopically formed from several parts (15b, 19). 9. Bicycle trailer according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that two laterally spaced legs (15a, 15b) are provided. 10. Bicycle trailer according to claim 9, characterized in that the two legs (15a, 15b) form the vertical legs of a U-shaped support (15) which is pivotally mounted with its horizontal connecting point (15c) on the outside of the box wall (8). 11. Bicycle trailer according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the support means for locking the box wall (8) on the transport platform (1) in an upright or inclined position are designed for use of the bicycle trailer as a mobile seat or as a mobile bed. 12. Bicycle trailer according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one box wall (10, 11) provided laterally to the supportable box wall (8) or the supportable box walls (8, 9) is detachably connected to the transport platform (1). 13. Bicycle trailer according to claim 12, characterized in that the side box wall (10, 11) consists of two parts (10b, 10c; 11b, 11c) which can be pivoted about a longitudinal axis and whose width (10b, 11b) is dimensioned such that the folded-down outer part forms a support for the inner part (10c, 11c) which, in this position, is substantially flush with the transport platform (1) while increasing the support surface provided by the latter. 14. Bicycle trailer according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the drawbar (5) is detachably connected to the chassis or the transport platform (1), 15. Bicycle trailer according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that further support means (22) are provided on the underside of the transport platform (1) for supporting it or relieving the chassis when the trailer is stationary. 16. Bicycle trailer according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that cushions (21) are provided at least on the box walls which form a seat or a lying surface with the transport platform (1). 17. Bicycle trailer according to claim 16, characterized in that the cushions (21a, 21b, 21c) are detachably attached to the box walls (8, 11) by adhesive means, for example Velcro fasteners. 18. Bicycle trailer according to one of claims 1 to 17 , characterized in that a lid is provided to cover the box structure which is open at the top. 19. Bicycle trailer according to one of claims 1 to 3 and 11 to 18, characterized in that the support means for the box walls (8 to 11) are trailer-fixed lockable/releasable locking means in order to be able to provide preferably several inclination positions of these box walls.