Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
  • B62K13/00—Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62H—CYCLE STANDS; SUPPORTS OR HOLDERS FOR PARKING OR STORING CYCLES; APPLIANCES PREVENTING OR INDICATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OR THEFT OF CYCLES; LOCKS INTEGRAL WITH CYCLES; DEVICES FOR LEARNING TO RIDE CYCLES
  • B62H7/00—Devices for learning to ride cycles, not otherwise provided for, e.g. assisting balance

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a connecting device for bicycles, or more precisely to a device for connecting a first, pulling bicycle to at least one second, pulled bicycle, and in particular to a connecting device for connecting a bicycle of normal size to a children's bicycle.
• Tandem bicycles have long been known in the prior art which have a front wheel and a rear wheel, but which, in contrast to the conventional bicycle, have two saddles and two sets of pedal cranks which act together on a conventional rear wheel drive.
• Tandems have the disadvantage that they cannot be used effectively by one person due to the lack of maneuverability and the high weight. Since tandems are also relatively expensive, they have only been used relatively little.
• a bicycle hitch has become known in particular for taking small children with it, in which an essentially conventional bicycle is used as a towing bicycle, to which a bicycle-like frame is attached, which consists of a rear wheel, a saddle and a conventional drive device with a chain. A front wheel is not provided.
• the frame of the rear trailer is pivoted about a vertical pin, so that the trailer can swivel with respect to the train bike from ben.
• the present invention has for its object to provide a connecting device for bicycles, which allows two bicycles to be connected to each other, and which can be manufactured inexpensively and without impairing the driving properties.
• the invention provides a connection device for cyclists, which makes it possible to connect an otherwise conventional first bicycle as a train bicycle to a second bicycle.
• the first bicycle has a pulling device and a support device which supports the connecting device.
• a fastening device is provided on the drawn wheel, which can be connected to the pulling device by means of a coupling element.
• the traction device and the fastening device can be designed in such a way that the first or the second te bicycle can be used in a conventional manner and independently of one another. Only when the two bicycles are to be connected to each other, the coupling element and the support device become effective.
• the device according to the invention is particularly but not exclusively suitable for connecting a bicycle intended for children and adolescents with the bicycle of an adult.
• the hitch is a separate part which cannot be used alone.
• the child or adolescent is therefore dependent on always being attached to an adult's bike, which is often perceived by the children as frustrating.
• both bicycles can be used independently of one another in the unconnected state. This is particularly advantageous when a child with an adult takes a long bike ride and can use and move the bike completely independently of the adult. Only in special situations that the child cannot master alone, for example in heavy traffic or when driving uphill and especially when the child is tired, are the bicycles connected to one another, and the child can then be pulled on its own bicycle by the adult, taking care of the child Can also support adults by pedaling. This makes it possible to plan bike rides regardless of the child's abilities, which makes it much easier to plan and carry out shared rides.
• a particularly important advantage of the present invention is that the devices used can be designed in such a way that the devices can be carried along without impairing the performance of the two bicycles. Carrying the equipment does not change the use and driving characteristics of the towed bike, nor the use and driving properties of the towed bike. Furthermore, the weight of the devices can be kept very low, so that there is no fear of a limitation in the utility of the bicycles independently of one another. This makes it possible to always carry the connecting device. The use value of the connecting device is therefore increased considerably compared to the devices known in the prior art.
• the connecting device according to the invention also allows the towed bicycle and the towed bicycle to be left largely unchanged. This makes it possible to use conventional or only slightly modified large-series bicycles, which considerably reduces the cost of purchasing them.
• the bicycles can also be used independently of the connecting device without impairment, it is also not necessary, as in the prior art, to purchase a separate bicycle part with a frame, rear wheel, drive, saddle and steering device.
• the traction device is preferably designed such that it cannot perform any angular movement with respect to the longitudinal plane of the towed bicycle.
• the longitudinal plane of the bicycle is to be understood as the plane in which the plane of symmetry of the circumference of the rear wheel, ie the rear wheel rim or the rear wheel tire, lies. In a conventional bicycle, this is also the level that is spanned by the essentially rigid parts of the bicycle frame. In a conventional diamond wheel frame, this corresponds to the level formed by the top tube, head tube, down tube and seat tube.
• the traction device is designed according to a first preferred alternative such that a type of dropout is arranged in each strut of the traction device, with which the traction device can be attached to the rear wheel axle of the pulling bicycle.
• a type of dropout is arranged in each strut of the traction device, with which the traction device can be attached to the rear wheel axle of the pulling bicycle.
• the conventional quick release or a corresponding rear wheel mounting but it is also possible to provide additional securing elements.
• the traction device is attached to the rear frame structure, preferably on a part of the frame which lies above the axis of rotation of the rear wheel.
• this is particularly preferably the seat stay, that is to say the pair of frame tubes, which connects the dropout of the rear wheel to the seat tube in the area of the seat post.
• the traction device can also form an extension of the chain stay to the rear, that is to say a fixed part of the frame.
• a fastening device is arranged on the wheel to be pulled, preferably on the front frame region, for example on the so-called control tube or on a part of the frame which participates in the rotation of the front wheel.
• the latter can be the front wheel fork with the two fork legs, the fork head and the fork tube, but it can also be part of the handlebar stem or the handlebar.
• the latter design has the advantage that a swivel is snapped between the towed and towed bicycle, the swivel being the hinge of the front wheel of the towed bicycle with respect to the frame of the towed bicycle.
• This design is particularly advantageous because such a pivot joint is present on every bicycle and because it is therefore not necessary to provide an additional vertical pivot element.
• a swivel m of the fastening device is preferably provided, which allows a pivoting movement between the towed and towed bicycle.
• a blocking device is then preferably provided which blocks a rotational movement of the front wheel of the towed bicycle.
• the fastening device is connected to the traction device via a coupling device. This is preferably done in such a way that a torque is transmitted, the torque vector of which is parallel to the road plane and, when driving straight ahead, essentially in the vertical plane of the bicycle.
• the pairs of forces are then m a plane that is vertical and perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the bicycle.
• This design has the essential advantage that in this way supporting forces can be transmitted from the front bicycle to the rear bicycle, which rule out that the rear bicycle tilts in the vertical plane in relation to the front bicycle.
• the rear bicycle is therefore always held securely in the same plane or in a plane parallel to this as the front bicycle. This not only increases safety, but also leads to a significant improvement in driving characteristics.
• the coupling element can be designed in such a way that it carries out a rotary movement about an axis which, in the vertical driving position, is horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the bicycle.
• This rotatability has the considerable advantage that a change in the angle of one of the two bicycles with respect to the level of the road surface on which the respective other bicycle is located does not lead to tensioning of the bicycle. If the front wheel of the pulling wheel travels down over a curb, for example, the front wheel is lowered. The rear wheel and the towed wheel keep their position. Due to the rotatability, this change in angle is not passed on to the rear bicycle, so that the coupling device is not braced.
• the support device is intended to accommodate force components that also act in the vertical direction. As a result, the traction device can be relieved of vertical forces, which on the one hand increases safety and on the other hand improves driving properties.
• the traction device can, for example, be arranged essentially horizontally, ie parallel to the level of the roadway, and the support device can then be a tube, which is arranged, for example, on the saddle or on part of the frame or another corresponding device above the traction device.
• the support device can in particular be a length-adjustable tube or a foldable or a length-adjustable strut.
• the support device is particularly preferably limp, for example a chain, a polyamide rope or the like, but very preferably a steel rope. Such a steel cable can be made very light and small and is simply rolled up when not in use.
• the pulling device is fastened to the rear triangle, approximately at the height of the axis of the rear wheel of the pulling bicycle or slightly above it, and extends approximately horizontally or slightly inclined downwards.
• the support device can also be fastened to the towed bicycle, in particular in the vicinity or to the corresponding components to which the fastening device is also fastened, but it is particularly preferably attached directly to the pulling device.
• tubular attachments are used as the fastening device, which are arranged on the fork of the pulling bicycle, and the coupling element of the pulling device is then also preferably tubular.
• a steel tube or a steel rod can then serve as the connection, the orientation of which is essentially horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the bicycle.
• the structure of the connecting device is extremely simple. It is sufficient to weld two tubular eyelets to the front fork of the wheel to be pulled.
• the drawbar is attached to the rear of the rear wheel, and both bikes can be used completely independently and without any other changes. If the bicycles are to be coupled, the coupling rod is guided through the eyelets on the fork and inserted into the pulling device and the support device is arranged accordingly. A minimum of components and a minimum of transport effort are therefore sufficient to design the connecting device and to carry it with it.
• the pulling device can also be designed such that it is only attached when the bicycle to be towed is actually to be attached. In this case, you will then expediently design the pulling device in such a way that it can be carried easily by bicycle.
• connection device is also particularly suitable for retrofitting existing bicycles. No changes have to be made to the train bike anyway, so that every bike is suitable for this.
• the front wheel of the towed bicycle can no longer rotate after the connection. It is therefore attached to the pulling bicycle in such a way that the front wheel is lifted off the ground.
• the length of the support device can be adjustable.
• the fastening device is fastened to the frame, specifically preferably to the head tube of the towed wheel.
• the coupling device is then designed so that it rotatably connects the traction device with this fastening device.
• the rotatability is preferably brought about in that a connecting bolt connects eyelets which are arranged on the fastening device to an eyelet of the traction device.
• the coupling device is preferably designed such that there is a vertical orientation of the axis of rotation in the use position of the bicycles.
• Figure 1 is a side view of a first and a second bicycle, which are connected to each other with the connecting device according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of the view of FIG. 1,
• Fig. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of the pulling device
• FIG. 3a shows a detail of FIG. 3 in a side view
• FIG. 4 shows a side view of the illustration according to FIG. 3;
• Fig. 5 is a front view of a fork which is suitable for the bicycle to be towed;
• Fig. 6 is a side view of the embodiment ge
• Fig. 7 is a side view of a steel pin which is provided as a coupling device
• Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of the support device;
• Fig. 9 shows a modified embodiment of a connec tion device;
• FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the pulling device in a side view
• FIG. 11 shows a plan view of the pulling device according to FIG. 10;
• FIG. 12 shows a side view of the pulling device according to FIG. 10
• Fig. 13 is a partially sectioned plan view of the Switzerlandein direction according to Figure 10;
• FIG. 14 shows a side view of a coupling device for use with the pulling device according to FIG. 10;
• FIG. 16 shows a detail of the illustration according to FIG. 15
• FIG. 17 shows the fastening device of an alternative embodiment in a side view
• FIG. 18 shows a plan view of the device according to FIG. 17;
• FIG. 19 shows a detail of the fastening device according to FIG. 17 in a side view
• Fig. 20 shows the design of the traction device and parts of the coupling device for the embodiment 17 in a partially sectioned top view.
• FIG. 1 shows a first, towed bicycle 1, which is provided in a conventional design with a diamond frame, and a second, towed bicycle 2.
• the towed bicycle 2 is a children's bicycle.
• the connecting device according to the invention is also suitable for connecting bicycles of the same size.
• the connecting device consists of a pulling device 5, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is fastened approximately to the axle 3 of the rear wheel 4 of the first bicycle, a fastening device 10, which is fastened to a fork 7 of the towed bicycle 2, and a coupling device 15, which connects the traction device 5 with the fastening device 10, and a support device 20 which is fastened to the seat post 12 of the pulling bicycle 1 and supports the traction device 5.
• the bicycles are arranged in the connected state such that a plane 21, which in the representation according to FIG. 2 extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and includes line 21, is parallel to a plane 22, which is also perpendicular to the drawing plane of Figure 2 and includes line 22.
• the levels 21 and 22 are defined such that they are defined by the circumference of the respective front rear wheels of the two bicycles and extend vertically through the center of the frame.
• the pulling device 5 has two longitudinal struts 25, 26 which, in the assembled state, extend essentially parallel to the plane 21 of the bicycle 1, which is also marked in FIG. 3 for clarification.
• transverse web 27 Arranged essentially perpendicular to this plane is a transverse web 27, which in the exemplary embodiment represents an extension of the strut 25 and is welded or soldered to the strut 26.
• the crossbar 27 is linear at least in its front region and has (see FIG. 3a) a clamp 31 for receiving a conventional (not shown) quick release device.
• a tab 28 is formed, which has an opening 29 in which the traction device 20 is suspended.
• the front ends 25 a and 26 a of the substantially tubular longitudinal struts 25, 26 are flattened, as z. B. is common with the dropouts of front wheel forks. In the flattened area there is an opening 30 which serves for connection to the rear wheel of the bicycle 1.
• FIG. 5 shows the fastening device which is arranged on the towed bicycle 2.
• the otherwise conventionally designed front fork 35 of the towed bicycle 2 has two tubular Mige fork legs 36, 37, which are welded or soldered to a fork bridge 38.
• a tubular connecting piece 40 is provided on each tubular leg 36, 37 below a brake receptacle 39, the connecting piece arranged on the pipe 36 additionally having a thrust washer 41.
• the tubular connecting pieces 40 consist of a piece of hollow cylindrical steel tube and are welded to the tubular parts 36, 37 in such a way that the respective longitudinal axes of the cylinders are aligned with one another, as represented by the line 42 in FIG.
• FIG. 7 shows a cylindrical rod 45 serving as a coupling element, which in the exemplary embodiment consists of stainless steel and is provided with a locking pin 46 at the front end and with a fastening tab 47 on its rear element.
• FIG. 8 shows the support device 20, which consists of a steel cable 50 which has a loop 51 at one end and a hook 52 at the other end.
• the connecting element 53 which connects the end of the rope 54 to the rope center piece to form the loop 51, can be longitudinally displaceable in order to change the size of the loop 51 and thus the length of the support device 20.
• the pulling device 5 is fastened with the openings 30 to the rear axle of the rear wheel 4 of the bicycle 1.
• the attachment can be designed so that it is already sufficient to device 5 in the position shown in Figure 1 to hold approximately.
• the pulling device can also be secured to the bicycle with the support device 20 when not in use when fastened.
• the pulling device 5 can be designed in such a way that when it is not in use, but when it is mounted on the bicycle, it is folded upwards in the direction of the saddle and held in contact with the seat post 12 or part of the frame.
• the traction device 5 is fastened to the wheel axle with the wheel nuts normally provided or with a conventional tendon tensioner. The traction device 5 can then no longer move laterally with respect to the plane 21.
• the coupling element 45 is inserted into the crossbar 27 of the pulling device 5 and continues to be guided through the two tubular connecting pieces 40 of the fork 35 of the wheel to be pulled.
• the coupling element is secured in this position by the pin 42 and the tab 47 by means of a tendon 11 tensioner fastened in the clamp 31, so that the coupling element can rotate in the socket 40.
• the support device 20 is hooked into the opening 29 of the traction device with the hook 52 and its length is dimensioned such that the front wheel 8 of the bicycle 2 to be pulled is lifted off the ground.
• the cylinder pin 45 is locked by a suitable clamping device, which interacts, for example, with a quick release device, on the crosspiece 27 or on the fastening device 10.
• both bikes are firmly connected and the second bike is pulled by the first bike.
• the frame of the rear bicycle 2 can perform a pivoting movement with respect to the fixed front wheel 5 around the steering head bearing of the fork 35.
• connection of the pin 45 to the crossbar 27 or the fastening device 10 is designed such that the pin can rotate relative to one of these parts, preferably the fastening device 10 mentioned.
• both the front and rear bicycles can perform a rotary movement about the connecting axis 23, which prevents tensioning in the vertical direction of the bicycles.
• the fastening device and the pulling device remain on the bicycles, which can then be used as self-contained without any restrictions.
• the same bikes can be used. Only the connecting pin 45 has to be transported. If the pulling device 5 is folded upwards in the manner described above in the direction of the seat post 12, the steel cable 20 is rolled up small and can then be transported in a simple and space-saving manner.
• the struts 25 and 26 of the pulling device 5 have a dropout 55 which is designed in the manner of a dropout for a front or rear wheel.
• a slotted opening 56 is provided, which receives the rear axle of the pulling bicycle 1 in the assembled pulling device.
• a bore 57 serves to secure the connecting device on the rear frame and thus also has the effect that the connecting device cannot rotate with respect to the bicycle frame even when the supporting device 20 is removed.
• connecting elements 62 are fastened to the seat stays 60 of the pulling bicycle 1, to which the pulling device 5 is fastened with a quick-release device 65.
• each connecting element 62 has an upper plate 67 and a lower one Plate 68, which are arranged on both sides of the seat stay 60 and are connected by screws 70.
• the plates 67, 68 have on the side adjacent to the seat strut a longitudinally extending groove (not shown) which receives the seat strut 60.
• the connecting element 62 is securely fastened to the bicycle 1 without, on the one hand, excessive forces acting on this strut 60 and without, on the other hand, a displacement or rotation of the connecting element 62 being possible.
• the connecting element 62 preferably remains on the bicycle frame even when the traction device 5 is not in use, since it does not restrict the use of the bicycle 1 in any way.
• the pulling device 5 has two longitudinal struts 25 ′, 26 ′, the ends of which have flanges 72 designed in the manner of a dropout, in which a threaded bore 73 is provided.
• the flanges 72 are welded or soldered to the longitudinal struts 25 ', 26' and are inclined with their longitudinal plane 74 to the longitudinal axis 76 of the struts 25 at an angle 75 such that the inclination of the seat struts with respect to the vertical plane 21 is compensated for.
• the transverse web 27 ' is designed here continuously and has a cylindrical constriction 82 at each of its ends 80, 81, which forms a bearing for receiving the coupling element 45'.
• the coupling element 45- is essentially cylindrical and has a bore 84 at its front end 83 and a flange 86 at its rear end 85.
• the end 81 of the cross strut 27 ' is slotted and provided with a clamp 90 which has a bore (designated by 91 in FIG. 12) which is provided for receiving a conventional quick-action clamping device.
• this traction device corresponds essentially to the function of the traction device, as was described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
• the connecting element 62 is arranged here on the seat strut, no consideration must be given to the design of the traction device as to how the rear axle fastening (tendon tensioning device or wheel nuts) is designed.
• the bore 30 (cf. FIG. 4) would have to be designed in such a way that it can be fastened to the dropout with an additional device or a quick release device.
• the traction device can be used independently of the design of the rear wheel holder in all conventionally designed bicycles with a seat stay or the like.
• the quick release 65 With its screw shaft 92 screwed into the threaded bore 73 of the fastening element 72 of the traction device. As soon as the screw thread 92 has been screwed into the opening to such an extent that the required spring contact force is given, the lever of the quick-release device is turned over and the pulling device is then firmly attached to the wheel to be pulled.
• this exemplary embodiment also has the advantage that it is particularly easy and quick to attach to the pulling bicycle.
• the coupling element shown in FIG. 14 can be designed and used in a similar manner in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 8. Furthermore, it is possible to design the coupling element with threads, bores, circumferential grooves and the like in such a way that an additional locking for securing the connection is possible.
• FIGS. 17 to 20 Another embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 20.
• a pulling device 5 is used, as described above, which can be attached to the bicycle to be pulled in the same way as described.
• a crossbar 27 is fastened to the traction device 5, into which a coupling element 100 is inserted.
• the coupling element 100 carries a connecting eye 102 which has a substantially cylindrical through bore 103.
• a fastening device 110 is fastened to the head tube 112 of the bicycle to be towed.
• the head tube is a tube that connects the down tube to the top tube and into which the bicycle fork is inserted.
• the head tube is therefore rigid with the frame.
• the fastening device 110 has a substantially U-shaped bracket 114 which is fixedly connected to the control tube 112 during operation.
• Two eyelets 116, 118 are arranged on the bracket 114 at a distance from one another, each having a cylindrical bore 120 and 121, the diameter of which in this embodiment corresponds to the diameter of the bore 103 of the coupling element 100.
• the bores 120, 121 are aligned such that when the bicycle is in the vertical use position, the cylinder axis of the two bores are arranged one above the other and perpendicular to one another.
• a bolt 125 with a protruding head 126 is designed such that it can be inserted into the eyes of the fastening device 110 and of the coupling element 100 and connects them in such a way that the coupling element can rotate with respect to the eyes of the fastening device.
• the bolt 125 has a split pin 128.
• the fastening device is preferably screwed tightly onto the head tube. This can be done as shown in Figure 19, namely that a slot or a bore 131 is provided in the lower region of the fastening device, and in the upper region an elongated hole 132 which is curved with a radius which is the distance from the Slot corresponds to 131.
• the connection can also be a soldered connection, and it is also possible to provide bores in the head tube or to solder or weld threaded plates or nuts to the head tube, into which retaining screws for the bracket or a corresponding other fastening component are then screwed
• fastening the fastening device to the control device or to another rigid part of the frame. So the fastening device can be screwed to the head tube.
• the eyelets 116, 118 are directly welded or soldered to the head tube.
• the coupling element 100 is provided with two eyelets, while the fastening device on the wheel to be pulled has only one eyelet, which lies in use between the two eyelets of the coupling element.
• Other fastenings that allow a rigid but rotatable connection about a vertical axis between the frame and coupling element are also conceivable.
• the crossbar is provided with plastic sleeves 140, 141 into which a rod 142 is inserted, which forms the actual coupling element.
• the eyelet 102 is arranged on this rod.
• a spacer sleeve 143 is pushed onto the rod 142.
• a thread 146 is provided on the rod 142, onto which a knurled nut 147 is screwed.
• a safety pin 149 is arranged on the protruding part 142 a of the rod 142. With the knurled nut, the rod 142 is clamped against the spacer eyelet with the eyelet 103 and a stop washer 145, so that the device as a whole is held firmly in the transverse web 27.
• the traction device is attached to the pulling bicycle in the same way as was explained above.
• the pulling device with its area facing the bicycle to be pulled is arranged correspondingly higher, so that the transverse web is also higher, which is preferably also due to the corresponding length dimensioning as a tension member aligned support device 20 is effected.
• the rod 142 is then inserted into the crosspiece 27 in such a way that the cylinder axis of the eyelet 103 is vertical.
• the eyelets 116, 118 of the fastening device on the bicycle to be pulled are extended with respect to the eyelet 103. aligns, as shown in Figure 17 and the bolt 126 inserted.
• the individual parts are matched to one another in such a way that the front wheel of the wheel to be pulled is lifted off the ground, as shown in FIG. 1.
• the exemplary embodiments described above can be modified and their characteristics can also be combined with one another.
• the attachment of the towed bicycle to its front fork, stem or handlebar i.e. So take place on parts that are movable relative to the frame
• this mobility can be canceled by a blocking device, so that there is a rigid connection between the frame and the pulling bike.
• the coupling device i.e. e.g. e.g. Provide a hinge with a vertical axis of rotation on the horizontal rod, which ensures that the vehicles can rotate with respect to one another.

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Citations (4)

• 1996
  • 1996-08-24 DE DE1996134225 patent/DE19634225A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 1997
  • 1997-08-25 WO PCT/EP1997/004612 patent/WO1998007614A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-08-25 EP EP97941961A patent/EP0918683A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

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