Frame assemblage for bicycles connected in parallel

Claim 2

In a frame assemblage for connecting a pair of bicycles in a side-by-side or parallel relation, at least a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending frame elements for extending between and making rigid connection to the adjacently disposed sides of a pair of bicycles disposed in parallel relation, a generally U-shaped torsion spring frame element having a transversely extending portion intermediate a pair of transversely spaced, generally parallel legs, said transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element being disposed to extend above the rear wheels and between the parallel bicycles with the respective legs disposed generally in the vertical plane of the centerlines of the bicycles for making rigid connections between the remote ends of said legs and the corresponding bicycles, and carrier means constituting an integral part of the frame assemblage and extending between the several frame elements.

Claim 3

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the longitudinally spaced, transversely extending frame elements is connected to the frame of the respective bicycles adjacent to the steering bearing sleeves and another of the longitudinally spaced, transversely extending frame elements is connected to the respective bicycles adjacent to the rear axles, and the carrier means extends between said one and another by the longitudinally spaced, transversely extending frame elements.

Claim 4

The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein the transversely extending portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element is generally vertically aligned with the frame element connected to the respective bicycles adjacent to the rear axles, and a plurality of vertical struts extend between and connect the transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element and the frame element connected to the respective bicycles adjacent to the rear axles.

Claim 5

In a frame assemblage for connecting a pair of bicycles for operation in side-by-side or parallel relation, said bicycles each having a frame unit supported by front and rear wheels at corresponding axles with the front wheel being steerable by pivoting movements of a steering post within a steering bearing sleeve, a first transversely extending frame element connecting the frame units of the respective bicycles adjacent to the steering bearing sleeves, a second transversely extending frame element connecting the frame units of the respective bicycles adjacent to the rear axles, a generally U-shaped torsion spring frame element having a transversely extending portion intermediate a pair of transversely spaced legs, said transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring element being disposed to extend at a height above the rear wheels and substantially in the vertical plane of the second frame element with the spaced legs of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element being connected to the frame units of the corresponding bicycles, a plurality of vertical struts extending between and connecting the transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element and the second frame element, and load bearing means disposed between the bicycles, said load bearing means being supported at least in part on the U-shaped torsion spring frame element for disposition generally over the axis of the rear axles of the bicycles.

Claim 6

In a frame assemblage for connecting a pair of bicycles for operation in side-by-side or parallel relation, said bicycles each having a frame unit supported by front and rear wheels at corresponding axles with the front wheel being steerable by pivoting movements of a steering post within a steering bearing sleeve, a first transversely extending frame element connecting the frame units of the respective bicycles adjacent to the steering bearing sleeves, a second transversely extending frame element connecting the frame units of the respective bicycles adjacent to the rear axles, a generally U-shaped torsion spring frame element having a transversely extending portion intermediate a pair of transversely spaced legs, said transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring element being disposed to extend at a height above the rear wheels and substantially in the vertical plane of the second frame element with the spaced legs of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element being connected to the frame units of the corresponding bicycles, a plurality of vertical struts extending between and connecting the transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element and the second frame element, and load bearing means disposed between the bicycles, said load bearing means being supported at least in part on the U-shaped torsion spring frame element for disposition generally over the axis of the rear axles of the bicycles.

Claim 7

The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein the transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element comprises the front support for the load bearing means, and an added support member connected to the frame units of the respective bicycles provides the rear support for the load bearing means.

Claim 8

The iNvention as set forth in claim 5 wherein the load bearing means comprises a passenger seat.

Claim 9

The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein the load bearing means comprises a luggage rack.

Claim 10

The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein the frame assemblage connecting the parallel bicycles includes an integral carrier means which extends longitudinally between the first and second frame elements.

Claim 11

In a frame assemblage for connecting a pair of bicycles for operation in side-by-side or parallel relation, said bicycles each having a generally standard frame unit supported by front and rear wheels at corresponding axles with the front wheel being steerable by pivoting movements of a steering post within a steering bearing sleeve, a first transversely extending frame element connecting the frame units of the respective bicycles adjacent to the steering bearing sleeves, a second transversely extending frame element connecting the frame units of the respective bicycles adjacent to the rear axles, and a generally U-shaped torsion spring frame element having a transversely extending portion intermediate a pair of transversely spaced generally parallel legs, said transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element being disposed to extend above the rear wheels and between the respective bicycles with the respective legs disposed generally in the vertical planes of the centerlines of the parallel bicycles and the remote ends of said legs being connected to the frame units of the corresponding bicycles, the transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element being further generally disposed in the vertical plane of the second frame element, and a pair of transversely spaced vertical struts extending between and connecting the transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element and the second frame element, and carrier means, said carrier means extending longitudinally between the first and second frame elements and transversely between the vertical struts.

Claim 12

In a frame assemblage for connecting a pair of bicycles for operation in side-by-side or parallel relation, said bicycles each having a generally standard frame unit supported by front and rear wheels at corresponding axles with the front wheel being steerable by pivoting movements of a steering post within a steering bearing sleeve, a first transversely extending frame element connecting the frame units of the respective bicycles adjacent to the steering bearing sleeves, a second transversely extending frame element connecting the frame units of the respective bicycles adjacent to the rear axles, and a generally U-shaped torsion spring frame element having a transversely extending portion intermediate a pair of transversely spaced generally parallel legs, said transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element being disposed to extend above the rear wheels and between the respective bicycles with the respective legs disposed generally in the vertical planes of the centerlines of the parallel bicycles and the remote ends of said legs being connected to the frame units of the corresponding bicycles, the transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element being further generally disposed in the vertical plane of the second frame element, and a pair of transversely spaced vertical struts extending between and connecting the transverse portion of the U-shaped torsion spring frame element and the second frame element, and carrier means, said carrier means extending longitudinally between the first and second frame elements and transversely between the vertical struts.

Claim 13

The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein the carrier means comprise a basket-like carrier formed of framing members secured together by welding.

Claim 14

The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein the framing members forming the basket-like carrier include a pair of transversely spaced generally parallel angle rods having a horizontally disposed portion and a vertically disposed portion, the horizontally disposed portion of said angle rods being connected to the second frame element at the location of the vertical struts and the vertically disposed portion of said angle rods being connected to the first frame element, a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross bars extending transversely between and connecting the horizontally disposed portions of the angle rods to form a bottom for said carrier, a plurality of vertically spaced cross rails extending transversely between and connecting the vertically disposed portions of the angle rods to form a front end confinement for the carrier, a plurality of vertically spaced cross rails extending transversely between and connecting the vertical struts to form a rear end confinement for the carrier, and a plurality of vertically spaced side rails extending longitudinally between and connecting the respective vertical struts and the corresponding vertically extending portions of the respective angle rods to provide confinement along the respective sides for the carrier.

Claim 15

In a frame assemblage for connect-ing a pair of bicycles for operation in side-by-side or parallel relation, said bicycles each having a frame unit supported by front and rear wheels at corresponding axles with the front wheel being steerable by pivoting movements of a steering post within a steering bearing sleeve, at least a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending frame elements extending between and rigidly connecting the parallel bicycles adjacent to their steering posts and adjacent to their rear axles, and basket-like carrier Means extending longitudinally between and connecting said frame elements and forming an integral part of the frame assemblage, said carrier means projecting upwardly with respect to the frame element connecting adjacent to the rear axis of the bicycles and downwardly with respect to the frame element connecting adjacent to the steering posts of the bicycles.

Claim 16

In a frame assemblage for connect-ing a pair of bicycles for operation in side-by-side or parallel relation, said bicycles each having a frame unit supported by front and rear wheels at corresponding axles with the front wheel being steerable by pivoting movements of a steering post within a steering bearing sleeve, at least a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending frame elements extending between and rigidly connecting the parallel bicycles adjacent to their steering posts and adjacent to their rear axles, and basket-like carrier Means extending longitudinally between and connecting said frame elements and forming an integral part of the frame assemblage, said carrier means projecting upwardly with respect to the frame element connecting adjacent to the rear axis of the bicycles and downwardly with respect to the frame element connecting adjacent to the steering posts of the bicycles.