BICYCLE TRAILER HITCH

Abstract

A trailer hitch for releasably connecting a trailer to a bicycle includes a body and a safety device. The body is configured to attach the trailer to the trailer hitch and configured to mount to the bicycle. The safety device is configured to provide a redundant connection of the trailer to the bicycle. The safety device includes a first securing element configured to connect the body of the trailer hitch to a frame of the bicycle. The first securing element is configured to remain attached to the bicycle frame independently of an attachment of the trailer to the trailer hitch.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A trailer hitch configured to releasably connect a trailer to a bicycle, the trailer hitch comprising: a body configured to attach the trailer to the trailer hitch and configured to mount to the bicycle; and a safety device configured to provide a redundant connection of the trailer to the bicycle, the safety device comprising a first securing element configured to connect the body of the trailer hitch to a frame of the bicycle, wherein the first securing element is configured to remain attached to the bicycle frame independently of an attachment of the trailer to the trailer hitch.

16. The trailer hitch according to claim 15, wherein the first securing element is a first strap element.

17. The trailer hitch according to claim 15, wherein at least a first end of the first securing element is permanently fixed to the body of the trailer hitch.

18. The trailer hitch according to claim 15, wherein a second end of the first securing element is permanently fixed to the body of the trailer hitch or is configured to be removably attached to the body of the trailer hitch.

19. The trailer hitch according to claim 15, wherein the first securing element is configured to be wrapped around the frame of the bicycle.

20. The trailer hitch according to claim 15, wherein the safety device comprises a second securing element configured to be removably connect the trailer to the body of the trailer hitch and/or the first securing element and/or the frame of the bicycle.

21. The trailer hitch according to claim 20, wherein the second securing element is a second strap element and/or wherein a first end of the second securing element is permanently fixed to the body of the trailer hitch and/or the first securing element and/or the frame of the bicycle.

22. The trailer hitch according to claim 20, wherein a second end of the second securing element is configured to be removably attachable to the body of the trailer hitch and/or the first securing element and/or the trailer and/or the frame of the bicycle.

23. The trailer hitch according to claim 20, wherein the body of the trailer hitch comprises an eyelet configured to attach the second end of the second securing element and/or wherein the second securing element comprises a snap hook.

24. The trailer hitch according to claim 20, wherein a connection of the trailer to the body of the trailer hitch and/or the first securing element with the second securing element prohibits adjustment of a retention device from a blocking state to a release state.

25. A bicycle trailer system, comprising: a trailer; and a trailer hitch configured to releasably connect the trailer to a bicycle, the trailer hitch comprising: a body configured to attach the trailer to the trailer hitch and configured to mount to the bicycle, and a safety device configured to provide a redundant connection of the trailer to the bicycle, the safety device comprising a first securing element configured to connect the body of the trailer hitch to a frame of the bicycle, wherein the first securing element is configured to remain attached to the bicycle frame independently of an attachment of the trailer to the trailer hitch.

26. The bicycle trailer system according to claim 25, wherein a first end of a second securing element is permanently fixed to the trailer and/or wherein a second end of the second securing element is configured to be removably attachable to the body of the trailer hitch and/or the first securing element and/or the trailer.

27. The bicycle trailer system according to claim 26, wherein the trailer comprises an eyelet configured to attach the second end of the second securing element.

28. The bicycle trailer system according to claim 25, wherein the system is configured for one handed attachment of the trailer to the trailer hitch and/or wherein the system is configured for one handed detachment of the trailer from the trailer hitch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0348] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a trailer hitch for releasably connecting a trailer to a bicycle in a perspective view, wherein a tow element is inserted into a receiving space of a body of the trailer hitch in an aperture aligned orientation.

[0349] FIG. 2 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 1 in a perspective view, wherein the tow element is arranged in a tug orientation.

[0350] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a trailer hitch including a locking device in a top forward perspective view.

[0351] FIG. 4 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 without the locking device in a perspective view.

[0352] FIG. 5 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in a frontal view.

[0353] FIG. 6 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in a back view.

[0354] FIG. 7 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in a frontal sectional view.

[0355] FIG. 8 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in a backward sectional view.

[0356] FIG. 9 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in a frontal sectional view, wherein a tow element is inserted into a receiving space of a body of the trailer hitch and a retention device of the trailer hitch is in its blocking state.

[0357] FIG. 10 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in a frontal sectional view, wherein the tow element is inserted into a receiving space of the body of the trailer hitch and the retention device of the trailer hitch is in its release state.

[0358] FIG. 11 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 without the locking device in a perspective view from a side facing towards the bicycle when the trailer hitch is mounted to the bicycle.

[0359] FIG. 12 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 with the locking device and with the tow element arranged in a tug orientation in a bottom view.

[0360] FIG. 13 illustrates the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 without the locking device in a top view.

[0361] FIG. 14 illustrates a blocking element of the retention device of the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in an elevational view from a side facing away from the bicycle when the trailer hitch is mounted to the bicycle.

[0362] FIG. 15 illustrates the blocking element of the retention device of the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in an elevational view from the side facing towards the bicycle when the trailer hitch is mounted to the bicycle.

[0363] FIG. 16 illustrates the blocking element of the retention device of the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in a back view.

[0364] FIG. 17 illustrates the blocking element of the retention device of the trailer hitch of FIG. 3 in a perspective top view from the side facing towards the bicycle when the trailer hitch is mounted to the bicycle.

[0365] FIG. 18 illustrates a bicycle trailer system comprising a third embodiment of a trailer hitch and a retention device formed by the tow element and bar element of the trailer in a top forward perspective view, wherein the retention device is in its blocking state.

[0366] FIG. 19 illustrates the bicycle trailer system of FIG. 18 in a top forward perspective view, wherein the retention device is in its release state.

[0367] FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of a bicycle trailer system with a fourth embodiment of a trailer hitch mounted to a bicycle in a perspective view, the system comprising a safety device configured to provide a redundant connection of the trailer to the bicycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0368] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a trailer hitch 10 for releasably connecting a trailer to a bicycle. The trailer hitch 10 comprises a body 14, which is formed by a unitarian one-piece metal part. The body 14 forms a protrusion at a top side with a through hole 16. To mount the trailer hitch 10 to a bicycle, a rear axle is arranged in the through hole 16 so that the trailer hitch 10 may be secured to a left side of a frame of the bicycle. Such a mounted position is shown for another embodiment in FIG. 20.

[0369] The body 14 forms a receiving potion configured for receiving a tow element 18. In FIG. 1, the tow element 18 is shown arranged in the receiving space of the body 14. The tow element 18 is configured as a tow ball, which has an essentially spherical shape. Connected to the tow element 18 is a connection element 20. The connection element 20 and the tow element 18 are provided by a unitarian metal part. The connection element 20 therefore may be considered as forming an integral part of the tow element 18. The connection element 20 may be connected to a bar element of a drawbar of trailer for the bicycle.

[0370] The body 14 has an aperture 22 facing perpendicular to a forward-backward direction of the bicycle in the left direction when the trailer hitch 10 is mounted to the left side of the bicycle. When the bicycle is standing upright, the aperture 22 is facing in a substantially horizontal direction. The aperture 22 thus extends essentially the forward-backward direction and up-down direction. The aperture 22 is configured for inserting the tow element 18 into the receiving space from the left side of the bicycle, for example in an aperture aligned position with the connection element 20 substantially extending towards the left from the body 14 and the bicycle. The tow element 18 can only be inserted into the receiving space through the aperture 22 in a direction substantially parallel to the direction the aperture 22 is facing.

[0371] The trailer hitch 10 comprises a retention device with a blocking element 24. In FIG. 1, the blocking element 24 is arranged in a blocking position adjacent the aperture 22. The blocking element 24 partially blocks the aperture 22 in its blocking position so that the tow element 18 cannot be extracted from the receiving space through the aperture 22. When trying to extract the tow element 18, the tow element 18 will push the blocking element 24 against a left part of a wall of the body 14, firmly holding it in its blocking position. The retention device is thus in its blocking state.

[0372] The blocking element 24 is transversally moveably attached to the body 14. A pin shaped section of the blocking element 24 extends through the body 14 in the forward-backward direction. An actuation section 26 extends beyond the body 14 in the forward direction. When pushing against the actuation section 26, the blocking element 24 moves away transversally towards the right side and away from the aperture 22 into its release position. Alternatively or additionally, the blocking element may also pivot around a backwards end of the blocking element 24. In the release position, the blocking element 24 at least partially unblocks the aperture 22 so that the tow element 18 can be extracted from the receiving space through the aperture 22. The retention device is thus in its release state.

[0373] The blocking element 24 is spring biased towards its blocking position. When releasing the actuation section 26, the blocking element will therefore return towards its blocking position. When inserting the tow element 18 through the aperture 22 into the receiving space, the blocking element 24 will be pushed out of the way by the tow element 18. The blocking element 24 will therefore automatically adjust into its release position when the tow element 18 is inserted for trailer connection to the bicycle. No manual adjustment is needed, as the retention device is only configured to block disconnection of the tow element 18 and thus the trailer but not to block connection of the tow element 18 and thus the trailer. After inserting the tow element 18 into the receiving space, the biased blocking element 24 will automatically return into its blocking position.

[0374] FIG. 2 shows the trailer hitch 10 with the tow element 18 in a tug position. In the tug position, the connection element 20 extends further backwards than in the aperture aligned position. The bar element attached to the connection element 20 may be angled so that an end section connected to a trailer body may extend essentially in the forward-backward direction. The connection element 20 is arranged at least partially in a through hole in a back wall of the body 14 that faces backwards. The tow element 18 itself is supported on the back wall of the body 14 so that forces pulling the trailer forward may be supported thereon. Details of the through hole will be shown and described in further details for other embodiments.

[0375] FIGS. 3 to 17 relate to a second embodiment of the trailer hitch 10, which primarily has a different retention device as the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Otherwise, the functionality and overall structure is similar to the first embodiment and will not be described in detail again. Further features and functions described for the second embodiment of the trailer hitch 10 may also be included in the first embodiment, even when not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0376] As can best be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the retention device of the second embodiment comprises a pivotable blocking element 124 pivotably moveably attached to the body 14 of the trailer hitch 10. The blocking element 124 is configured as a metal lever with a unitarian one-piece design. A pivot axis is, for example, formed by either a pin 126 extending through the pivotable blocking element 124 in the forward-backward direction or a first pin section at a backward end of the pivotable blocking element 124 and a second pin section at a forward end of the pivotable blocking element 124. The pivot axis extends in the forward-backward direction. FIG. 9 shows the pivotable blocking element 124 in a blocking position so that the retention device is in its blocking state. A retention section 128 is arranged at a lower end of the pivotable blocking element 124 in the blocking position and extends in the aperture 22. A side of the retention section facing towards the receiving space is formed so that when trying to extract the tow element 18 out of the receiving space with the retention device in the blocking state, the tow element 18 will engage the retention section 128 and be blocked from extraction. The pivotable blocking element 124 may not pivot outward as a flat section 130 is stopped by a blocking element facing side 132 of an upper wall 134 of the body 14.

[0377] To extract the tow element 18 from the receiving space and thus disconnect the trailer from the trailer hitch 10 and the bicycle, the pivotable blocking element 124 needs to be pivoted inward so that the retention section 128 moves towards the upper wall 134 of the body 14 and out of the way in the aperture 22. For that purpose, a user may pull on an actuation section 136 of the pivotable blocking element 124. The actuation section 136 is arranged on an end of the pivotable blocking element 124 opposite the retention section 128, which is arranged above the pivot axis in the blocking position.

[0378] The actuation section 136 has a ribbed surface facing the right side and the bicycle in the blocking position. The ribbed surface provides additional grip for a user pulling on the actuation section 136 to pivot the pivotable blocking element 124 in its release position. The release position of the pivotable blocking element 124 and thus the release state of the retention device is shown in FIG. 10. As can be seen, the retention section 128 has been pivoted out of the aperture 22 until coming to a rest on a receiving space facing side of the upper wall 134 of the body 14, which thus forms another end stop. This prevents pivoting the pivotable blocking element 124 so far that the actuation section 136 could otherwise partially block the aperture 22. In this position, the tow element 18 can be freely extracted out of the receiving space.

[0379] As can be seen in FIGS. 15 to 17, the retention device of the trailer hitch 10 according to the second embodiment also comprises a spring element 135. The spring element 135 biases the pivotable blocking element 124 towards its blocking position. For that purpose, the spring element 135 is mounted on the pin 126 with one end supported on the retention section 128 and another end supported on the receiving space facing side of the upper wall 134. The spring element 135 is configured so that a user may pivot the pivotable blocking element 124 into the release position with just one finger, such as a thumb, of a hand that also holds the drawbar. The user may therefore intuitively disengage the tow element 18 from the trailer hitch 10 with just one hand.

[0380] The retention device is configured so that a user may simply push the tow element 18 against the retention section 128 from the outside to insert the tow element 18 into the receiving space. The tow element 18 will pivot the pivotable blocking element 124 out of the way into the release position. After the tow element 18 is inserted into the receiving space, the pivotable blocking element 124 will automatically pivot back into the blocking position due to a spring force provided by the spring element 135. The tow element 18 will thus automatically be retained on the trailer hitch 10.

[0381] An edge 138 of the retention section 128 which faces the aperture in the blocking position and is a lower edge in the blocking position corresponds in shape to the tow element 18 by having a curved shape. The curved shape facilitates insertion and allows the tow element 18 to smoothly pass the pivotable blocking element 124 in the release position. Further, a height of the body 14 can be smaller due to the curved shape, resulting in a more compact trailer hitch 10.

[0382] The trailer hitch 10 according to the second embodiment comprises a locking device 150 configured to prohibit adjustment of the retention device from the blocking state to the release state. The locking device 150 can best be seen in FIG. 3, in which the locking device 150 is shown in the locking state. The locking device 150 comprises a locking element 152, which is arranged at the body 14 so that it blocks pivoting of the pivotable blocking element 124 by engaging its actuation section 136. The locking element 152 can be disengaged from the actuation section 136 by unlocking a locking cylinder 154 holding the locking element 152 on the body 14. The locking element 152 can be shifted out of engagement with the pivotable blocking element 124 once unlocked or can even be fully removed, as shown in FIG. 4. The locking device 150 may thus be provided as an add-on part. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 8, the locking device 150 is mounted to the body 14 with the locking cylinder 154 inserted in a though hole 156 in a forward wall 158 of the body 14.

[0383] The walls of the body 14 are shaped to provide a self-centering effect for the tow element 18 in the receiving space. For that purpose, a lower wall 160 of the body 14 corresponds in shape to the tow element 18, having an essentially spherical trough shape on the side facing the receiving space, as can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Similarly, a right side wall 162 has a protruding section 164 protruding towards the receiving space and the aperture 22. The protruding section 164 also corresponds in shape to the spherical tow element 18. Underneath the protruding section, the right side wall 162 also comprises a concavely shaped receiving space facing wall section 172 that also corresponds in shape to the tow element 18. The tow element 18 therefore will remain substantially at a fixed location in the body 14 and may only turn about a center. The connection between the tow element 18 and the body 14 therefore forms a kind of ball joint, which allows the tow element 18 to rotate but prevents or at least limits transversal movement within the body 14. The trailer can thus be pulled very smoothly with the bicycle.

[0384] This is further supported by the forward wall 158, which extends very far towards the aperture 22 with just a small recess 166 facing in the forward direction and adjacent the aperture 22. The recess 166 allows the connection element 20 to be arranged in a somewhat forward direction so that tight left turns with the bicycle despite a connected trailer may be possible. As can be taken, for example, from FIG. 6, a rear wall 168 has a similar recess 170 facing in the backward direction and adjacent the aperture 22. The backward recess 170 is more pronounced than the forward recess 166, extending further away from the aperture 22. This allows similar tight turns to the right with the bicycle when the trailer is connected and the trailer hitch is arranged on the left side of the frame of the bicycle. Both the recess 166 and the recess 170 can be considered as a through hole connecting the receiving space to an exterior of the body 14. Sections of the forward wall 158 and the rear wall 168 may be concavely shaped correspondingly to the tow element 18, similar to the concavely shaped receiving space facing wall section 172 of the right side wall 162, to further support centering of the tow element 18 in the receiving space.

[0385] Both recesses 166, 170 are smaller than a diameter of the tow element 18, so that the tow element cannot be inserted and extracted in the forward and backward direction. Instead, the forward wall 158 and the rear wall 168 both support the tow element 18 in the forward and backward direction in the receiving space, respectively. Hence, forward and backward movement of the tow element 18 in the receiving space is prevented or at least limited. By comparison, the aperture 22 is larger than the diameter of the tow element 18.

[0386] FIG. 11 shows a right side of the body 14 which faces the bicycle frame when the trailer hitch 10 is mounted to the bicycle. As can be seen, an area adjacent the through hole 16 for mounting to the rear axle is ribbed. This ribbed area increases engagement of the body 14 to the frame so that twisting of the body 14 can be reliably prevented even with low mounting forces.

[0387] As can be seen in FIG. 11, the right wall 162 has a lower through hole 180. The through hole 180 allows water to drain from the receiving space and in particular through the trough shaped lower wall 160.

[0388] FIGS. 18 and 19 show a bicycle trailer system comprising a third embodiment of a trailer hitch 10 and a retention device formed by a differently shaped tow element 200 and bar element 202. Again, the retention device is different while other features and functions may be similar to the previously described embodiments. Only relevant differences will be described.

[0389] The tow element 200 is connected to the bar element 202 with a connection element 204 that forms a unitarian one-piece part with the tow element 200. The tow element 200 can be rotated relatively to the bar element 202 around a longitudinal axis between a blocking orientation and a release orientation. The tow element 200 is spring-biased towards the blocking orientation.

[0390] As can be seen in FIG. 18, the tow element 200 has at least one planar side 208 with a ridge 206 projecting therefrom. An opposite side of the tow element 200 which cannot be seen in FIG. 18 is formed correspondingly. Otherwise, the tow element 200 has a spherical shape similar to the tow element 18 of the other embodiments. As can be seen in FIG. 18, due to this shape, the tow element 200 cannot pass the aperture 22. FIG. 19 shows the release orientation of the tow element 200. In the release orientation, the ridges 206 are aligned with grooves 210 in the body 14 so that the tow element 200 can be inserted into and extracted from the receiving space. Due to the grooves 210 forming part of the aperture 22, the tow element 18 can only be inserted into the receiving space through the aperture 22 in a direction substantially parallel to the direction the aperture 22 is facing in this embodiment as well.

[0391] The tow element 200 has an actuation section 212 that is formed as a protrusion on the connection element 204. The actuation section 212 allows a user to twist the tow element with a thumb of a hand holding the drawbar, in particular the bar element 204.

[0392] FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of a bicycle trailer system with a fourth embodiment of a trailer hitch 10 mounted to a bicycle. In the shown example, the trailer hitch is mounted to a left side of the rear axle 300, although other mounting position are suitable as well. The system comprises a safety device which has not be shown for the other embodiments but can be provided to them as well.

[0393] The safety device is configured to provide a redundant connection of the trailer to the bicycle. For that purpose, the safety device comprises a first securing element 302. The first securing element 302 is configured as a cable or strap and is wrapped around a tube 304 of the frame of the bicycle connected to the rear axle, although it may also be attached to other tubes of the frame as well. The first securing element 302 is configured to remain attached to the bicycle frame independently of an attachment of the trailer to the trailer hitch 10. The tow element 18 can therefore be extracted from the body 14 without requiring detaching the first securing element 302 and thus to fully disengage the safety device.

[0394] The first securing element 302 provides a redundant connection for the body 14 to the frame of the bicycle. This redundant connection can remain in force for as long as the trailer hitch 10 remains mounted to the frame of the bicycle. Hence, cumbersome attachment to a potentially dirty part of the frame of the bicycle is only required once. For example, the first securing element 302 can thus also be attached very tightly. The first securing element 302 can be correspondingly short. Hence, the first securing element 302 is very lightweight and a risk for entanglement with moving parts of the bicycle is low. The connection may be very sturdy and attachment and detachment may even require tools. In the shown example, the first securing element 302 is attached with both ends to the body 14 of the trailer hitch 10 by means of a screw 306. The first securing element 302 will keep the body 14 attached to the bicycle in case of a failure of the mounting to the rear axle 300. The bike may thus be brought to a stop with the trailer still connected to the bicycle in case of such a failure. Uncontrolled loss of the trailer can be avoided in case of such a failure.

[0395] The safety device also comprises a second securing element 308, which is configured as a textile strap. The second securing element 308 comprises a snap hook 310 at a first end. At an opposite second end, the second securing element 308 is fixedly attached to a bar element 312 of the drawbar of the trailer by means of a screw 314. The second securing element is hooked to the body 14 of the trailer hitch 10 with the snap hook 310 to provide a redundant connection between the drawbar and the body 10. Hence, if the tow element 18 is accidentally released from the receiving space or the connection between the tow element 18 and the body 14 fails, the second securing element 308 will keep the trailer attached to the body 14. The bike may thus be brought to a stop with the trailer still connected to the bicycle in case of such a failure. Uncontrolled loss of the trailer can thus be avoided in case of such a failure.

[0396] The snap hook 310 allows easy and fast connection and disconnection of the second securing element 308 to the body 14. For example, the body 14 may comprise an eyelet 316 for this attachment, which is also shown for the embodiment of FIGS. 18 and 19. When the trailer is not connected to the trailer hitch 10, the second securing element 308 will remain with the drawbar. Loose straps on the trailer hitch 10 can thus be avoided, which would otherwise potentially require stowing by the user to avoid entanglement with moving parts of the bike.

[0397] In other embodiments, the second securing element 308 can be part of the trailer hitch 10. This allows retrofit to a bicycle trailer system without change of the trailer and its drawbar. However, the second securing element 308 can also be retrofitted to existing trailers or part of the drawbar can be replaced for retrofit. Such a retrofit may also involve removing any additional securing elements on the trailer, which may for example be replaced by the first securing element. In other embodiments, the second securing element may not attach with one end to the body 14 but rather to the first securing element 302. Further, an end of the second securing element 308 may be permanently fixed to the body 14 and/or the first securing element 302 and an opposite end may be configured for removable attachment to the drawbar of the trailer, for example with the snap hook 310.