Bicycle trailer

Claim 2

In a two-wheeled trailer having a carrying receptacle depending from a frame supported between the wheels, wherein the wheels are mounted on separate axles, a suspension system comprising: a. a pair of supporting arms extending upwardly and forwardly from the axles on either side of the receptacle; b. a torsion bar connected between the forward ends of the pair of supporting arms and adapted to extend transversely in front of the frame so that the torsion bar tends to rotate relative to its longitudinal axis with variation in the inclination of the pair of supporting arms; c. an elongated hollow housing extending vertically in front of the receptacle equidistant between the wheels, said housing being adapted to receive the torsion bar there-through adjacent its upper end; d. means within the housing fixed to the midpoint of the torsion bar for limiting the rotation of such midpoint relative to the longitudinal axis of the torsion bar; e. means for interconnecting a point intermediate the front and rear of the frame in fixed relation to the lower end of the housing; and f. means extending forwardly from the front of the frame for interconnecting such frame in pivotal relation to the torsion bar.

Claim 3

In a two-wheeled trailer having a flexible receptacle depending from a frame supported between the wheels, wherein the wheels are mounted on separate axles, a suspension system comprising: a. a first pair of supporting arms extending upwardly and forwardly from the axles on either side of the receptacle; b. a torsion bar connected between the forward ends of the first pair of supporting arms so that the torsion bar tends to rotate relative to its longitudinaL axis with variation in the inclination of the first pair of supporting arms; c. a pair of like cylindrical tubes substantially encasing the two halves of the torsion bar respectively, in coaxially spaced relation therewith, the tubes being connected respectively to the two forward ends of the first pair of supporting arms and extending toward each other therefrom so that their facing ends are adjacent; d. a cylindrical sleeve extending concentrically within and between the pair of tubes in rotatable touching relation to the inner surfaces thereof so that said tubes are maintained in axial alignment; e. a hollow elongated housing extending vertically in front of the receptacle equidistant between the wheels, said housing being adapted to support therein the facing ends of the tubes adjacent its upper end so that said tubes are free to rotate within the housing; f. means within the housing fixed to the midpoint of the torsion bar, said means being cooperable with the housing for limiting the rotation of such midpoint relative to the longitudinal axis of the torsion bar; g. a second pair of supporting arms extending forwardly and downwardly from a point intermediate the front and rear of the frame and inwardly of the first pair of supporting arms; h. means for transversely interconnecting the forward ends of the second pair of supporting arms in fixed relation to the lower end of the housing; and i. means extending forwardly from the frame on either side thereof for clamping the frame in pivotal relation to the two cylindrical tubes respectively.

Claim 4

In a two-wheeled trailer having a flexible receptacle depending from a frame supported between the wheels, wherein the wheels are mounted on separate axles, a suspension system comprising: a. a first pair of supporting arms extending upwardly and forwardly from the axles on either side of the receptacle; b. a torsion bar connected between the forward ends of the first pair of supporting arms so that the torsion bar tends to rotate relative to its longitudinaL axis with variation in the inclination of the first pair of supporting arms; c. a pair of like cylindrical tubes substantially encasing the two halves of the torsion bar respectively, in coaxially spaced relation therewith, the tubes being connected respectively to the two forward ends of the first pair of supporting arms and extending toward each other therefrom so that their facing ends are adjacent; d. a cylindrical sleeve extending concentrically within and between the pair of tubes in rotatable touching relation to the inner surfaces thereof so that said tubes are maintained in axial alignment; e. a hollow elongated housing extending vertically in front of the receptacle equidistant between the wheels, said housing being adapted to support therein the facing ends of the tubes adjacent its upper end so that said tubes are free to rotate within the housing; f. means within the housing fixed to the midpoint of the torsion bar, said means being cooperable with the housing for limiting the rotation of such midpoint relative to the longitudinal axis of the torsion bar; g. a second pair of supporting arms extending forwardly and downwardly from a point intermediate the front and rear of the frame and inwardly of the first pair of supporting arms; h. means for transversely interconnecting the forward ends of the second pair of supporting arms in fixed relation to the lower end of the housing; and i. means extending forwardly from the frame on either side thereof for clamping the frame in pivotal relation to the two cylindrical tubes respectively.

Claim 5

An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said means for limiting the rotation of the midpoint of the torsion bar comprises a pivot lever fixed to the midpoint of the torsion bar and extending therefrom at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof between the facing ends of the cylindrical tubes, so that rotation of the midpoint of the torsion bar urges the pivot lever into contiguous load-bearing contact with an inner vertical surface of the vertical housing.

Claim 6

A device as in claim 2 wherein the lower end of the housing terminates in an upwardly open concave saddle facing the receptacle, said saddle being adapted to receive therein such means for transversely interconnecting the forward ends of the second pair of supporting arms.

Claim 7

A device as in claim 2 wherein the frame comprises at least a pair of transversely braced longitudinal side rails and wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of plastic mounting clamps affixed respectively to the forward ends of the longitudinal side rails and extending axially therefrom, said mounting clamps each being provided with a downwardly opening annular groove adapted to be snap fit over the surface of the cylindrical tubes.

Claim 8

A device as in claim 2 wherein said second pair of supporting arms are each provided with an exterior lubricated cylindrical bushing extending partially there along and adapted to make frictional contact with the adjacent surfaces respectively of the first pair of supporting arms so that motion of the frame is additionally dampened by the friction between said bushing and the surface of said first pair of supporting arms.

Claim 9

A device as in claim 2 wherein the rearward end of each of said first pair of supporting arms is provided with a transverse bore adapted to receive therein one end of each of the respective axles of the trailer wheels, each of said arms being additionally provided with a locking screw adapted to extend from said rearward end into said transverse bore, and each of said axles being provided with a circumferential groove of concave cross-section adjacent said one end, so that when said locking screws contact the surfaces of said circumferential grooves the axles are urged transversely with respect to said first pair of supporting arms.

Claim 10

A device as in claim 2 wherein said second pair of supporting arms and said means for transversely interconnecting the forward ends of said second pair of suppoRting arms are integrally joined to each other and in pivotal relation to the frame.

Claim 11

A device as in claim 2 additionally comprising a pulling tongue pivotally attached to said housing intermediate said upper and lower ends so that it is adapted to rotate about a transverse axis.

Claim 12

A device as in claim 9 wherein said pulling tongue comprises a first and a second straight tubular section joined integrally at a predetermined acute angle, means for pivotally connecting the free end of the first section to the vertical housing so that said first section extends transversely to the receptacle, said connecting means additionally including means for continuously adjusting the inclination of the second section with respect to the horizontal responsive to rotation of the first section about its own longitudinal axis.

Claim 13

A device as in claim 10 wherein the housing additionally includes a circular aperture aligned with the free end of the first section of the tongue, and wherein said means for pivotally connecting said first section to the vertical housing comprises: a. a frustum-shaped disc element affixed to the free end of the first section concentrically therewith and extending radially outward thereof with its narrower diameter facing the housing; and b. a manually operable threaded shaft extending transversely through the housing and into the disc, so that by turning the shaft the disc may be drawn into the aperture and releasably secure therein in any rotational position by the wedging action of the disc against the aperture.

Claim 14

In a bicycle-trailer combination wherein a pulling tongue is coupled from the trailer to the bicycle and wherein he bicycle has a chassis member extending forward from the axle of the rear wheel thereof the improvement comprising: a. an elongated mounting bracket having a forked end mountable over the axle, the other end of said bracket being adapted to be anchored to the chassis forward of the axle; b. a coupling hook affixed to said bracket intermediate its two ends and extending therefrom outward from the chassis at a predetermined angle to the general plane of the bracket; c. a locking yoke slidably attached within the forward end of the tongue and having a loop portion extending axially therefrom for swivel engagement with the coupling hook; and d. spring actuated means for locking the yoke in relation to the tongue responsive to the retraction of the yoke within the end of the tongue.

Claim 15

In a bicycle-trailer combination wherein a pulling tongue is coupled from the trailer to the bicycle and wherein he bicycle has a chassis member extending forward from the axle of the rear wheel thereof the improvement comprising: a. an elongated mounting bracket having a forked end mountable over the axle, the other end of said bracket being adapted to be anchored to the chassis forward of the axle; b. a coupling hook affixed to said bracket intermediate its two ends and extending therefrom outward from the chassis at a predetermined angle to the general plane of the bracket; c. a locking yoke slidably attached within the forward end of the tongue and having a loop portion extending axially therefrom for swivel engagement with the coupling hook; and d. spring actuated means for locking the yoke in relation to the tongue responsive to the retraction of the yoke within the end of the tongue.

Claim 16

In a two-wheeled trailer having a carrying receptacle depending from a frame supported between the wheels, wherein the wheels are mounted on separate axles, a torsion bar assembly comprising: a. a pair of supporting arms extending upwardly and forwardly from the axles on either side of the receptacle; b. a torsion bar connected between the forward ends of the pair of supporting arms and adapted to extend transversely in front of the frame so the torsion bar tends to rotate relative to its longitudinal axis with variation in the inclination of the pair of supporting arms; c. a pair of like cylindrical tubes substantially encasing the two halves of the torsion bar respectively and coaxially spaced relation therewith, the tubes being connected respectively to the two forward ends of the pair of supporting arms and extending toward each other therefrom so that their facing ends are adjacent; d. a cylindrical sleeve extending concentrically within and between the pair of cylindrical tubes in rotatable touching relation to the inner surfaces thereof so that said tubes are maintained in axial alignment; e. a hollow rectangular housing extending vertically in front of the receptacle equidistant between the wheels, said housing being adapted to support therein the facing ends of the tubes so that they are free to rotate within the housing; and f. a pivot lever within the housing fixed to the midpoint of the torsion bar between the facing ends of the tubes and depending therefrom at right angLes to the longitudinal axis of the torsion bar, said pivot lever being adapted to rotate into contiguous load-bearing contact with the rear inner vertical surface of the housing responsive to downward rotation of the pair of supporting arms.

Claim 17

In a two-wheeled trailer having a carrying receptacle depending from a frame supported between the wheels, wherein the wheels are mounted on separate axles, a torsion bar assembly comprising: a. a pair of supporting arms extending upwardly and forwardly from the axles on either side of the receptacle; b. a torsion bar connected between the forward ends of the pair of supporting arms and adapted to extend transversely in front of the frame so the torsion bar tends to rotate relative to its longitudinal axis with variation in the inclination of the pair of supporting arms; c. a pair of like cylindrical tubes substantially encasing the two halves of the torsion bar respectively and coaxially spaced relation therewith, the tubes being connected respectively to the two forward ends of the pair of supporting arms and extending toward each other therefrom so that their facing ends are adjacent; d. a cylindrical sleeve extending concentrically within and between the pair of cylindrical tubes in rotatable touching relation to the inner surfaces thereof so that said tubes are maintained in axial alignment; e. a hollow rectangular housing extending vertically in front of the receptacle equidistant between the wheels, said housing being adapted to support therein the facing ends of the tubes so that they are free to rotate within the housing; and f. a pivot lever within the housing fixed to the midpoint of the torsion bar between the facing ends of the tubes and depending therefrom at right angLes to the longitudinal axis of the torsion bar, said pivot lever being adapted to rotate into contiguous load-bearing contact with the rear inner vertical surface of the housing responsive to downward rotation of the pair of supporting arms.