GB2330804A

GB2330804A - Electrically powered bicycle trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2330804A
Application number: GB9723281A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Robin Bolwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-04
Filing date: 1997-11-04
Publication date: 1999-05-05
Also published as: GB9723281D0

Abstract

An electrically powered bicycle trailer comprises a cargo carrier 1 with a single rear mounted electrically powered wheel 2, a power source in the form of a battery 7 and a towing hitch 10 for connection to a bicycle. The battery may be rechargeable and located towards the front of the trailer such that its weight causes the trailer to be stable when hitched to a bicycle since the centre of gravity of the trailer lies below the line X-X joining the hitch to the contact point of the wheel. The wheel may be driven by motors 4 driving through toothed belts 5 and pulleys 6. Means on the bicycle operable by its rider may be provided to control the current from the battery to the wheel. The hitch may allow free movement of the trailer about a vertical axis and a degree of movement about horizontal axes.

Description

ELECTRIC TRAILER FOR BICYCLES TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device which may be used as a means of propulsion for a bicycle and additionally, may be used for carrying cargo behind a bicycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

Bicycle trailers have traditionally taken the form of a cargo carrier with two wheels mounted either side and a means for coupling this arrangement to a bicycle. Previous ideas for powered bicycle trailers have been based on this arrangement. However, two wheeled bicycle trailers, powered or otherwise, are prone to instability when traversing rough or uneven terrain or when cornering, due to the narrow spacing between the wheels.

The idea for a single wheeled non powered bicycle trailer has been around for some time now but previous designs have relied upon the coupling mechanism connecting the bicycle to the trailer to prevent the trailer from falling over, hence requiring the coupling to be relatively complex.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The bicycle trailer I have devised comprises a cargo carrier with a single electrically powered wheel mounted at its rear end thereof. The front end of the cargo carrier is attached to the bicycle by a tow bar and simple coupling arrangement. The trailer is powered by a rechargeable battery pack which is mounted at or towards the front of the trailer. The weight of the battery pack lowers the trailers centre of gravity to the extent that the trailer will be unconditionally stable when coupled to a bicycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a side view of the trailer attached to the saddle post of a bicycle.

FIG. 2 shows in detail the coupling connecting the trailer to a bicycle saddle post.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the trailer hitched to a bicycle.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of an alternative form of the trailer using one electric motor and having the battery pack offset to maintain the trailers correct balance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY FORM OF THE INVENTION SHOWN IN THE DRAWING The essential idea of the invention consists of a simple durable design for a battery powered trailer with a single powered wheel at its rear end thereof and an ability to be unconditionally stable when hitched to a bicycle. The configuration of the wheel motor(s) and the location of the hitching point on the bicycle may vary and the design of the cargo carrier, wheel bracket and coupling assembly may take various forms without changing the essential idea of the invention. The preferred form of the invention is as depicted in the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the trailer comprises a cargo carrier 1, having at its rear end a wheel bracket 3. The wheel 2 is mounted on the wheel bracket 3 and preferably takes the form of a small bicycle wheel with pulleys 6 affixed centrally about the wheel's hub. The motors 4 are mounted on or adjacent the wheel bracket and their output is transmitted to the wheel by toothed belts 5. The motors 4 are powered from the battery pack 7, the current from the battery pack 7 to the motors 4 and hence, the power output from the motors 4 is controlled by a remote control device mounted on the bicycle within easy reach of the rider. The remote control device is connected to the trailer by electrical wires and a male-female connector. The battery pack 7 is located at the front end of the trailer. This causes the trailers overall centre of gravity to be below the axis X-X about which the trailer pivots when hitched to a bicycle. Behind the battery pack 7, there is a section in the cargo carrier 1 for the carriage of cargo. The cargo carrier 1 has at its front end a tubular tow bar 8, which is attached to the bicycle by the coupling 10.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the tow bar 8 has its front end flattened and a hole drilled through vertically, enabling the tow bar 8 to fit loosely over the coupling bolt 13. The coupling bolt 13 and nut 14 are attached to a bicycle saddle post 9 by the saddle post clamp 11 and bolt 12. The coupling bolt 13 allows the tow bar 8 freedom of movement about the vertical axis and the rubber washer 16 allows a degree of movement about the horizontal axes. The tow bar 8 is loosely held onto the coupling bolt 13 by a self locking nut 17 and the trailer can be quickly uncoupled from the bicycle by undoing the self locking nut 17. The washers 15 protect the rubber washer 16 from wear by chafing.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 of the drawings, two plan views of the trailer are shown, illustrating two possible configurations for the motor(s) and battery pack. In FIG. 3, two equal sized motors 4 are mounted either side of the wheel 2 and the battery pack 7 is mounted centrally at the front end of the trailer. In FIG. 4, one motor 4 is used on one side of the wheel 2 and the battery pack 7 is offset towards the opposite side to maintain the correct balance of the trailer.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is: I. A battery powered trailer for propelling a bicycle or the like, comprising in combination; a cargo carrier, having at its rear end, an electrically powered wheel and means for securing said wheel to the cargo carrier, a rechargeable battery pack disposed on said carrier to supply current to the electrically powered wheel and means for controlling the current from said battery pack to said wheel, a means for hitching the front end of said carrier to the rearward end of a bicycle, said hitching means allowing free movement of the trailer relative to the bicycle about the vertical axis and a degree of movement about the horizontal axes.
2. The trailer as claimed in claim I wherein the location of the rechargeable battery pack is towards the front of said trailer such that the weight of said battery pack causes said trailer to be unconditionally stable when said trailer is hitched to a bicycle.
3. A battery powered trailer substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS 1 - 4 of the accompanying drawings.

3. The trailer as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 wherein the means for controlling the current from the rechargeable battery pack to the electrically powered wheel is mounted on the bicycle such that it can be operated easily by the rider whilst the bicycle is in motion.

4. The trailer as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for controlling the current from said battery pack to said wheel is connected to the trailer by an electrical male-female connector.

5. A battery powered trailer substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS 1 - 4 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A battery powered trailer for propelling a bicycle or the like, comprising in combination; - a cargo carrier, having at its rear end, an electrically powered driving wheel and means for securing said wheel to the cargo carrier, - a rechargeable battery pack disposed on said carrier to supply current to said wheel and means for controlling the current from said battery v pack to said wheel, the location of said battery pack being towards the front of said trailer such that the weight of said battery pack causes said trailer to be unconditionally stable when said trailer is hitched to a bicycle, - a means for hitching the front end of said carrier to the rearward end of a bicycle, said hitching means allowing free movement of the trailer relative to the bicycle about the vertical axis and a degree of movement about the horizontal axes.

2. The trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the current from said battery pack to said wheel is by a remote control device mounted on the bicycle in such a way that said device may be operated easily by the rider whilst the bicycle is in motion.