GB2310834A - Trailer for transporting bicycles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to trailers, and more particularly to trailers for bicycles.

Numerous devices have been proposed to carry bicycles on vehicles such as racks which mount on the boot lid or tail-gate of cars, or racks which fit onto roof racks. Such devices can only carry four bicycles and damage can occur to the vehicle, such as scratches to paint work, when placing the bicycles on or off the vehicle. The invention seeks to provide a trailer for towing behind a vehicle specifically for bicycles which avoids damage to vehicles.

According to the present invention there is provided a trailer for bicycles comprising: a) a trailer body having wheels, a frame, and a tow hitch, and b) and a plurality of bicycle supports means, each support means having a pair of wheel support cradles mounted on either end of a support arm, which support arm is connected to the trailer frame, in use the wheels ofthe bicycle being placed in the cradles thereby supporting the bicycle on the trailer.

Preferably the trailer further comprises a lock for securing the bicycle fiame to the trailer frame. The lock may extend from the trailer frame to the bicycle frame. The lock may be an elongate member, preferably telescopic in the length, pivoted at one end to the trailer frame and having a bicycle frame engaging member lockable onto the bicycle frame. The frame engaging member may include a U-shaped length of wire or other flexible member.

Preferably the trailer frame includes an elongate beam extending from the tow hitch and the or each support arm is mounted normal to the beam.

The or each support arm may be telescopic to vary the distance between a pair of cradles whereby to accommodate bicycles of different wheel base length. The or each support arm may be connectable to the trailer frame at different locations and removable from the trailer frame, whereby the number of support arms and the distance between any two support arms on the trailer frame can be varied.

Preferably each cradle is formed from a v-shaped base with side walls extending either side of the base to form a channel in which a bicycle wheel can engage. Preferably the side walls taper towards the base.

One embodiment ofthe invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side elevation, Figure 2 shows a plan view, Figure 3 shows a rear elevation, Figure 4 shows the rear elevation of Figure 3 but with a bicycle on the trailer, Figure 5 shows a cross-section view ofthe support arm and cradles, and Figures 6a and 6b show cross section views ofthe lock.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a trailer 1 having wheels with mud guards 2a,2b, a tow hitch 3 for connection to a vehicle, and a frame formed from a elongate beam 4 extending from the tow hitch with a cross beam 5 to support the wheels 2a,2b. Tow hitch 3 may include a ground support leg 6 for use when the trailer is not connected to a vehicle.

Four bicycle supports means 7,8,9,10 are provided. Each support means respectively having a pair of wheel support cradles 7a,7b: 8a,8b; 9a;9b; and 10a,10b mounted on either end of a support arms 7c,8c,9c,10c. Each support arm is connected normal to the trailer frame elongate beam 4.

As shown in Figure 4 the wheels of a bicycle 11 can be placed in the cradles of a support means thereby supporting the bicycle on the trailer.

Referring now to Figure 5, a cross-section of support means 7 is shown. Cradle 7b has a base formed from two plates 12a,12b formed in a V, and two side wails 13a,13b (see also Figure 1) which taper towards the edges ofthe plates 12a,12b to form a channel in which the bicycle wheels can engage. The tapered side walls 13a,13b wedge the tyres ofthe a bicycle into the cradle giving vertical support to the wheel and hence the bicycle. All cradles on the trailer are identical to cradle 7b. The tapered walls and V-shaped base can accommodate different diameters of wheels and different thicknesses oftyres.

Support arm 7c is formed from two telescoping members to vary the length of the support arm 7 and hence distance between a pair of cradles 7a,7b whereby to accommodate bicycles of different wheel base length. One member of arm 7 has a threaded projection 14 which slides in a slot 15 ofthe other member of arm 7. A threaded knob 16 can be tightened to secure the support arm 7 at a desired length. Connected to the arm 7 is a square-shaped channel 17 which embraces and slides on the trailer frame elongate beam 4. A threaded boft 18 rotated by knob 19 passes through athreaded aperture 20 on the channel 17. Clockwise rotation ofthe knob 19 forces the end of bolt 18 remote from the knob to engage with the elongate beam 4 thus securing the support means 7 relative to the beam 4. Support means 8,9, and 10 may be identical to support means 7. The or each support arm 7c,8c,9c,10c may thus be connectable to the trailer frame beam 4 at different locations and removable from the trailer frame beam 4, whereby the number of support arms and the distance between any two support arms on the trailer frame can be varied to accommodate different sizes and numbers of bicycles.

Support arm 7c firther comprises a projection 21 with a pivot aperture 22 to receive a lock as more fully described now with reference to Figures 6a and 6b.

In Figures 6a,6b, a lock 23 extends from the trailer frame to the bicycle frame to secure a bicycle frame to the trailer frame. A lock 23 may be provided on each bicycle support means ?,8,9,10. The lock 23 has a telescopic elongate shaft member 24. One end of shaft 24 is a U-shaped fork to provide a connection 25 to embrace projection 21. Connection 25 is secured to projection 21 by a locking pin 26 which passes through apertures 27a,27b in the connection 25 and the aperture 22 in the projection 21. Lock 23 is thus pivoted at one end to the trailer frame. Telescopic shaft 24 is adjustable in length by means of rotating knob 28 which rotates threaded bolt 29 in threaded aperture 30. Clockwise rotation of the knob 28 forces the end of bolt 29 remote from the knob to engage with the inner part of the telescopic shaft member 24 thus securing the length ofthe shaft to accommodate different sizes of bicycles.

Lock 23 filrther includes a bicycle frame engaging member 31 formed from a U-shaped length of wire 32 (or other fle7able member). Wire 32 may be plastic coated. One end ofthe wire 32 is connected to one end ofan arm 33. Arm 33 is connected to the shaft member 24.

Mounted on the other end of arm 33 is a lock 34 which received releasably secures a head 35 on the other end of wire 32. Such a lock is similar to known bicycle locks.

In use ofthe invention, bicycles are placed on the trailer with wheels supported by pairs of cradles. The distance between cradles is adjusted for each bicycle wheel base length. A bicycle can be lock to the frame by lock 23, adjusting the length of shaft 24 as required.

The trailer of the invention can have one or more support means. Different sizes of trailers could be produced to take different numbers of support means. It is envisaged that a basic trailer with the frame, wheels and tow hitch could be sold with the option of purchasing any number of support means as required.

The trailer ofthe invention may be fabricated in metal as is known in the art, or formed from other materials such as plastics or combinations thereof.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

CLAMS

1. A trailer for transporting bicycles, a trailer body having wheels, a frame, a tow hitch, a plurality of bicycle support means each support means having a pair of wheel support cradles mounted on either end of a support arm.

2. A trailer for transporting bicycles as claimed in Claim 1 where each cradle is formed from a V-shaped base with side walls extending either side ofthe base to form a channel in which a bicycle wheel can engage, preferably the side walls taper towards the base.

3. A trailer for transporting bicycles, as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 where the support arm includes a lock for securing the bicycle frame to the trailer frame, telescopic in length, pivoted at one end to the trailer frame and having a bicycle frame engaging member lockable onto the bicycle frame.

4. A trailer for transporting bicycles as claimed in Claim 3 where the support arm may be telescopic to vary the distance between a pair of cradles whereby to accommodate bicycles of a different wheel base length.

5. A trailer for transporting bicycles as claimed in any preceding claim where the or each support arm may be connectable to the trailer frame, whereby the number of support arms and the distance between any two support arms on the trailer frame can be varied.

6. A trailer for transporting bicycles as claimed in any preceding claim which may be fabricated in metal as is known in the art, or formed from other materials such as plastic or combinations thereof.

7. A trailer for transporting bicycles as described herein with reference to Figures 1-6B ofthe accompanying drawings Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A trailer for transporting bicycles and comprising a trailer body having wheels, a frame, a tow hitch and a plurality of bicycle support means, each support means having a pair of wheel support cradles mounted on either end of a support arm and the distance between the cradles of a pair being adjustable.

2. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each cradle has a V-shaped base with side walls at either side of the base to form a channel in which a bicycle wheel can engage.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim 2, in which the side walls taper towards the base.

4. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, further including a lock for securing the bicycle frame to the trailer frame.

5 A trailer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lock is an elongate member telescopic in length, pivoted at one end to the trailer frame and having a bicycle frame engaging member lockable onto the bicycle frame.

6. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support arm is telescopic to vary the distance between a pair of cradles thereby to accomodate bicycles of different wheel base length.

7. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, where the or each support arm is connectable to the trailer frame, whereby the number of support arms and the distance between any two support arms on the trailer frame can be varied.

8. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, the trailer being fabricated in metal as is known in the art or formed from other materials such as plastic or combinations thereof.

9. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trailer frame includes an elongate beam extending from the tow hitch and the or each support arm is mounted normal to the beam.

10. A trailer for transporting bicycles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.