DE9321238U1 - Coupling for attaching a bicycle trailer to a bicycle frame - Google Patents

Description

HEiIE DELIVERY ADDRESS

WEBER TOOL MAKING 6MBI KONI BSTf?, 25

83254.BREITBRUNN EL. 08054/7544

Coupling for attaching a bicycle trailer to a bicycle frame N

The invention relates to a coupling for attaching a bicycle trailer to a bicycle frame according to the preamble of claim 1.

Bicycle trailers, now also called bike trailers for short, have become increasingly important and popular. Whether for shopping trips or a weekend trip in nature, this bicycle trailer serves as a "carriage" for children and toddlers. These bicycle trailers can also be used as shopping carts or to transport other items.

The bicycle trailers, which are usually single-axle and have a box-shaped trailer frame, have a single-arm drawbar that can be attached to the bicycle. 25

A first generation of bicycle trailers is equipped with a drawbar located in the vertical longitudinal axis of symmetry of the bicycle trailer, which differs from the comparison

The trailer frame, which is usually low, can be raised up over a rising middle section and anchored at the top in the area behind the bicycle saddle or the bicycle luggage rack. However, problems arise not only with the anchoring, but also when cornering or when the bicycle tilts sideways in some other way.

A second generation of bicycle trailers are also equipped with a single-arm drawbar, which is attached to the bicycle trailer offset to the side of the trailer's vertical axis of symmetry and can be anchored to the bicycle on the same side, e.g. to the left of the rear wheel. In a well-known bicycle trailer, the leading end of the trailer drawbar is anchored in the rear angle area of the chain and seat stay of the bicycle frame. Special mounting clamps must be attached here. A spiral spring is attached to these mounting clamps as a pulling connection to the trailer drawbar. The spiral spring ensures a certain articulated connection between the bicycle and trailer in order to ensure cornering and, when cornering, a lateral "tilting" of the bicycle and the cyclist relative to the bicycle trailer.

However, the relatively complex assembly and attachment of the bicycle trailer coupling proves to be a disadvantage. Problems also arise particularly when cornering sharply and when the bicycle is tilted sharply from the vertical plane. The metal connection between the drawbar and the bicycle frame results in considerable driving noise due to vibrations and rocking movements. Finally, the stability of the bicycle is also adversely affected when the bicycle is parked with the bicycle trailer still attached.

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The object of the present invention is therefore to

To overcome the disadvantage of the prior art and to ensure a coupling for attaching a bicycle trailer to a bicycle frame, which has a high level of safety when driving as well as standing safety when a bicycle is parked using a bicycle stand... In a continuous development of the invention, the handling when coupling and uncoupling the bicycle trailer is also to be improved.

The object is achieved according to the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The bicycle coupling according to the invention can be installed quickly and easily and is comparatively uncomplicated in construction. Above all, however, it offers significantly improved and increased safety compared to known solutions. This applies in particular to a bicycle parked using a bicycle stand, which 0 with known solutions tends to tip over due to the anchored drawbar engaging the bicycle frame on one side.

According to the invention, it has been shown that an anchoring of the drawbar in the area of the rear wheel axle, i.e. in the area of the frame angle of the chain and seat stay, can only ensure sufficient stability of a bicycle parked using a bicycle stand if the bicycle stand is also mounted in this rear area and is effective when it is swung out. However, if mounting clamps are mounted in this area, bicycle stands can no longer be mounted in this area, but, as usual, only in the area adjacent to the bottom brackets, i.e. in the middle area of the bicycle. However, this does not lead to the desired stability.

The frame coupling unit according to the invention, to which the drawbar of the bicycle trailer can be attached, also comprises a mounting attachment on which a bicycle stand is pivotably supported and held.
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In a further development of the invention, the use of a cardan joint serves to improve safety when riding. In order to increase safety here too, in a further development the cardan joint can consist of two completely closed, interlocking eyelets. This ensures that the drawbar can never separate from the bicycle frame.

In order to improve driving comfort and reduce possible noise, this cardan joint, which preferably consists of closed, interlocking eyelets, can be fitted with a plastic damper so that the closed eyelets, which are preferably made of metal, do not allow metal-to-metal contact, but are dampened by a plastic element in between. Even if the plastic element is destroyed, the eyelets are held together in a captive manner.

Due to the entire arrangement, the connection is stable and free of play in both the pulling and pushing directions, without the entire system being able to swing, as can happen when using a spiral spring.

Finally, the overall handling is further improved by using a safety quick-release fastener, with which the bicycle trailer, i.e. the drawbar in particular, can be attached to and removed from the bicycle frame easily, quickly and safely. This can be done using a snap fastener or, for example, a bayonet fastener.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the frame coupling element essentially comprises only a mounting plate, which is attached to the bicycle frame by means of clamping devices. These clamping devices preferably do not work together by means of clamps, brackets, etc., but rather by means of a tensioning band that runs around the back of the struts and can be tightened by means of screws.

This opens up a very simple installation option.

Furthermore, in a further development of the invention, the frame coupling element can be equipped with an option for adaptation to the different design and the different course of the bicycle frame. In a preferred embodiment, the frame coupling element can also be mounted on a so-called mixed frame, in which not only a lower, essentially horizontal chain stay and a seat stay rising up to the seat, but also, for example, a center stay running in the middle, are additionally brought together at the so-called dropout (on which the rear wheel is held and mounted). The frame coupling element can bridge this center stay. In other words, different bicycle frames do not represent an obstacle to the installation of the frame coupling element according to the invention.

Drum brakes, like hub gears, often have a lever attached to the chain stay as a counter-holder. In the design of the frame coupling element according to the invention according to a further embodiment, the attachment or mounting plate is shaped and fixed in such a way that the aforementioned tensioning band can be laid to the left 5 and/or right of the brake lever tab, thereby giving the brake lever a downward

has sufficient free space.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. In particular:

Figure 1

a schematic, partial perspective view of a rear wheel of a bicycle with the front-side V-shaped bicycle angle consisting of a chain stay and seat stay, with the mounted frame coupling element according to the invention ;

Figure 2

an inside view of one mounting plate of the frame coupling element according to the invention with the second mounting plate removed;

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

a horizontal rear view of the first mounting plate shown in Figure 2 with the second mounting plate removed;

a schematic representation of the overall connection from the drawbar to the frame coupling element using a cardanic traction connection;

a schematic, partially enlarged representation of the cardanic connection;

Figure 6

a schematic vertical section through the horizontal frame tube with the frame coupling element sitting and attached to it;

Figure 7: a schematic side view of the embodiment according to Figure 6;

Figure 8: a plan view of the tensioning strap installed in Figure 6 for fastening the frame coupling element ;

Figure 9 : a schematic perspective rear view of another, preferably

the clamping device that can be mounted on the seat stay when the seat stay is partially cut off.

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a rear wheel of a bicycle, of which only the hub 1 and spokes 3 extending radially from it are visible.

0 As is known, such a rear wheel 5 is anchored and held by two frame parts belonging to a bicycle frame, which are located laterally opposite the rear wheel 5, of which only the chain stay 7 leading to the pedal bearing and the seat stay 9 running upwards are shown in Figure 1. The chain stay 7 and the seat stay 9 run together in a V-shape in the area of the rear wheel axle. The chain stay and seat stay, which also run on the right-hand side of the rear wheel 5, are not shown in Figure 1 for the sake of simplicity.

On the chain and seat stay 7, 9 provided on the left side of the bicycle in Figure 1, a frame coupling element 11 is mounted in the rear angle area between the two, to which a single-arm trailer drawbar 13 belonging to a bicycle trailer not shown in detail in the drawing 5 is releasably anchored.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the frame coupling element 11 consists of two parts, namely a larger, correspondingly preformed and embossed mounting plate 15 and a second, smaller mounting plate 17 that interacts with it.

From the illustration in particular of Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the larger mounting plate 15 has an upper semi-cylindrical shape 19 and a lower, also semi-cylindrical shape 21, which interact with correspondingly opposite semi-cylindrical shapes 19' and 21' of the second mounting plate 17 and are aligned in such a way that they can be attached to the seat and chain stay 9, 7, as shown in Figure 1. For this purpose, corresponding holes are provided in the rear and front mounting plates, through which cylinder screws can be inserted and also tightened together using nuts.

The screw connections are provided with the reference number 23 in Figure 1.

The shorter mounting plate 17, which in the embodiment shown is closer to the rear wheel 5, is designed essentially symmetrically to the front mounting plate 15, but ends approximately along the dashed line 25 in Figure 2. In the assembled state, the upper and lower semi-cylindrical features 19, 19' and 0 21 and 21' grip both the chain stay and seat stay 7, 9 in a jaw-like manner, so that when the aforementioned screw connection 23 is tightened, the frame coupling element 11 thus formed sits firmly in the rear area of the bicycle frame, i.e. in the area of a rear wheel axle, and is held captive.

In the embodiment shown, the larger mounting plate 15, which is located on the outside, i.e. at the front, has a lower mounting projection 27, i.e. below the chain stay 7, which is integrally connected to the mounting plate 15 and which comprises a substantially horizontally running band section 29 which is bent around a leading bending edge 31 to form an open pocket 33 so that it is substantially congruent with the wall section 30 lying on the front. The wall section 30 lying on the front in side view and the wall section 29 lying behind it at a lateral distance of about 10 mm form an open pocket in which a bicycle stand 35 can already be pre-assembled at the factory. The bicycle stand 35 has the usual pivoting characteristics and is held against unintentional pivoting in its standing position shown in Figure 1 and in a substantially horizontally pivoted driving position by a tilting characteristic (not shown in more detail).

From Figure 3 it can also be seen that the open pocket 3 3 formed by the two wall sections 29, 31 is inclined outwards to the vertical by an angle α of 3 5O. This angle of inclination α determines the lateral deployment direction of the bicycle stand.

The outer mounting plate 15, which includes the lower mounting attachment 27 for the bicycle stand 35, is also provided with a trailing angle attachment or flange 37, in which at least one, in the embodiment shown, two holes 39 are made. The angle attachment is angled laterally by approximately 90° to the vertical longitudinal plane of the bicycle. The trailer drawbar 13 is indirectly supported 5 and suspended on this angle attachment 37.

For this purpose, a cardan joint 41 is also provided, as shown in Figure 4, one half of which 41' is held in place by a rotation projection 45, which is anchored in the hole 39, which is located deeper in the embodiment shown, on the angle projection 37 in a captive but rotatable manner. This can be done by counter-rotating a corresponding support sleeve which spans the hole 39 at the back, or by other suitable measures.

The coupling sleeve ₄₉ is captively attached to the front end of the trailer drawbar 13.

In the embodiment shown, the two cardan joint halves 41' and 41" each consist of a closed eyelet, which are rotated by 90O against each other and each penetrate 0 with their respective eyelet section.

This means that both eyelets are securely connected to each other.

In order to avoid any play in the pulling or pushing direction and also to enable a damping that also minimizes noise - as can be seen in particular from Figure 5 - a damping element 51 is provided between the two eyelets forming the universal joints 41' and 41", which damping element is preferably made of plastic.
30

The eyelet sections 53 that pass transversely through the respective eyelet are to be guided through the damping element 51 in a corresponding curve.

Even if the damping element 51 is damaged or even destroyed and has fallen out, the eyelet-shaped

The cardan joint halves 41' and 41" are still captively guided into each other and firmly anchored.

In the embodiment shown, the universal joint 41 is covered and shielded by a bellows 55, namely a rubber bellows, which engages with a front-side bead 57 in an annular groove 59 on the bicycle-side anchoring attachment 45 and on the other hand on the tubular plug-in attachment 47.

In the embodiment shown, the separation and interface for coupling and uncoupling the bicycle trailer is between the tubular plug-in attachment 47 and the coupling sleeve 49. The safety quick-release fastener thus suitably formed can be released, for example, by pressing the button 50. By inserting it, for example, an automatic locking can take place. As mentioned, a bayonet lock with an additional release lock is also possible, e.g. in the form of the button 50 to be operated. In the case of a so-called safety version, this safety button can also be designed as a lockable built-in lock or work together with a lock to achieve theft protection.

When the trailer is unhitched, the universal joint connection 41 with the tubular plug-in attachment 47 firmly attached to it remains freely suspended from the trailer frame. However, this is not associated with any disadvantage, particularly because of the short overall length of the entire unit.

Deviating from the embodiment shown, the interface can also be provided at another location, namely in particular in the area of the angle attachment 37. In this case, for example, the tubular plug-in attachment 47 would be connected to the universal joint on the trailer side.

Connection 41 must remain firmly attached to the drawbar end of the bicycle trailer.

In the following, reference is made to the embodiment according to Figures 6 ff.

In the embodiment according to Figures 6 ff., the frame coupling element 11 does not consist of two interacting mounting plates 15 and 17, but only of a single, preferably external, mounting plate 15, which ultimately runs from the upwardly extending seat stay 9 over the essentially horizontally extending chain stay 7 to a wall section 30 located below, to which the bicycle stand is anchored in an articulated manner on an axle 61.

In this embodiment, the frame coupling element consisting of this one mounting plate 15 has an internal so-called prismatic support 63, which in cross section according to Figure 6 is essentially angular at an angle of approximately 90°, with which the frame coupling element can be placed on the relevant chain stay 7. Adaptation to a specific diameter or shape of the chain stay 7 is not necessary.

A tensioning strap 65, usually made of 0 metal, shown in Figure 8 in a disassembled side view, is used to fasten the frame coupling element 11 to this chain stay 7.

This tensioning band 65 is divided into two forks at its opposite ends. The two tensioning band sections 65' are fastened once around a suspension pin '35 67 and at the opposite end around a tensioning bolt 69
each folded over to form a tab 70 and attached to the

welded to the leading section of the tensioning band 65 at the rear side at corresponding spot welding points 71. Other suitable materials and fixed connection options for the respective ends of the tensioning band 65 to the middle tensioning band section are also conceivable.

From Figure 6 it can be seen that the suspension pin is anchored laterally offset, for example, at about the height of the chain stay on the frame coupling element 11, i.e. on the mounting plate 15. This can be done, for example, by providing, in the side view according to Figure 7, on the left and right in the middle section of the mounting plate 15 on a mounting plate section that runs essentially at an angle transverse to the plane of the drawing at the height of the chain stay 7, an elongated hole recess through which the suspension pin can be hooked into the frame coupling element 11 from the outside. If one assumes that the coupling pin, as shown in Figure 8, has external head parts with a larger external diameter than the average intermediate diameter, then it is possible that, with appropriate dimensioning in the longitudinal direction, this suspension pin can be inserted from the outside through the slot-like recesses 73 and through the tab holder 75 of the folded end 65' of the tensioning band 65, which is correctly aligned behind it, and through the congruently positioned further slot-like hole in the rear flange section of the mounting plate and then adjusted in the pulling direction in such a way that the head end sections 77 of the suspension pin 67, which have a larger external diameter, are held axially immovably on the frame element over the slot-like recess with a smaller diameter in the slot-like recess and thereby also hold one tab end of the tensioning band 65 in a captive manner.

The strap is then guided upwards on the back of the chain stay 5. From above, a tension screw 79 is now inserted through a hole in the frame coupling element and screwed into a threaded hole 81 in the tension bolt 69 holding the other strap end of the tension strap and tightened so that a sufficiently firm securing of the frame coupling element to the chain stay is ensured.

The second fastening is another tensioning strap, i.e. another clamping device.

This additional clamping device is attached to the seat stay 9. In order to ensure that the frame coupling element can be attached to different bicycle frames, the frame coupling element comprises an arched mounting section 83 on top, which enables integrated adjustment and adaptation, with an equally arched slot recess 85. A locking screw 79' extends through this, which interacts with the tensioning band 89 shown in Figure 8 and a prismatic counter block 91, preferably made of plastic, with a U- or box-shaped cross-section, and a tensioning element 93 guided in this recess.

Figure 9 shows a schematic rear view of the clamping device for attachment to the seat stay 9.

0 The clamping device comprises a counterpart 91, preferably made of plastic, designed with a prismatic, i.e. angle-shaped to arch-shaped concave contact surface and resting on the seat strut 7. This has a U-shaped receiving space, shown in the embodiment, between the opposite leg sections 91' of the counterpart 91, in which

chem a tension element 95 with a lower height than the leg height of the legs 91 is guided. The aforementioned tensioning band 89 is anchored to this tension element 95 and can be anchored to a firmly anchored suspension pin 67' at the rear with its tab and to a corresponding toothing via a further suspension pin 67' on the right in Figure 8. During _assembly , the band is folded over accordingly and the suspension pin 67', which is held captively by the tab, is hooked onto a corresponding locking toothing 97 and the aforementioned tensioning screw 79 ' is firmly screwed in from the outside. This engages in a corresponding threaded hole in the base plate of the tension element 95 and pulls this increasingly from the rear towards the assembly section 83 shown in Figures 6 and 7, while at the same time increasing the tension of the tensioning band.

The clamping pin which can be hooked onto the corresponding locking toothing 97 can have an annular flange section lying between the toothings so that this pin cannot slide axially out of the toothing.

The mounting section 83 allows, for example, an analogous fastening even if, for example, the seat stay does not have the gradients shown in Figure 7 in the form of solid lines, but rather in the form of dashed lines only as an example. The frame coupling element can also be mounted on the bicycle frame 0 if, for example - as also shown in Figure 7

shown - an additional center strut 101 is provided between the chain stay and the seat stay. The frame coupling element 11 bridges this center strut.
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Claims (17)

Claim version of the utility model for a drawbar coupling element as Annex G2 Expectations: L. Coupling for attaching a bicycle trailer to a bicycle frame in the (angle) area of the bicycle frame supporting the rear wheel (5), with a frame coupling element (11) mountable thereon, on which a drawbar coupling element acts as a traction connection to the trailer drawbar (13), characterized in that the drawbar coupling element consists of a cardanic joint (41) which cooperates with a twisting projection (45). 2. Coupling according to the preamble of claim 1 or claim 1, characterized in that an outwardly projecting angle projection (37) is formed on the frame coupling element (11), to which one half (41') of the cardan joint is rotatably but captively anchored. 3. Coupling according to claim I or 2, characterized in that a twisting projection (45) holding the second cardan joint half (41") is anchored on the trailer side. 4. Coupling according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a cardan joint half (4Γ or 41") is provided with a plug-in projection (47) which can be releasably anchored in a quick-release coupling sleeve (49). 5. Coupling according to claim 4, characterized by a snap or bayonet closure. 6. Coupling according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the quick-release fastener is provided as a safety quick-release fastener with an additionally actuated release lock (50). 7. Coupling according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the safety quick-release fastener formed between the plug-in projection (47) and the quick-release coupling sleeve (49) automatically engages when inserted. 8. Coupling according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the plug-in attachment (47) is firmly connected to the cardanic connection on the trailer side. remains at the drawbar end of the bicycle trailer. 9. Coupling according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the coupling sleeve (49) is captively attached to the front end of the trailer drawbar. 10. Coupling according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that a lock is provided as an anti-theft device. 11. Coupling according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the lock is integrated as a lockable built-in lock in the safety quick-release fastener. 12. Coupling according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the release device (50) cooperates with a lock as an anti-theft device. 13. Coupling according to one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the release device (50) is designed as a lockable built-in lock for theft protection. 14. Coupling according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the cardanic joint consists of two captive, preferably metallic eyelets. 15. Coupling according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the two halves (41', 41") of the cardanic joint (41) are connected via a damping element (51). 16. Coupling according to claim 15, characterized in that the damping element (51) is provided with two through-bores offset by 90° to one another, through which the corresponding eyelet sections (53) of the two cardan joint halves (4Γ, 41") run. 17. Coupling according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the cardanic joint is covered and shielded by a bellows (55).