BICYCLE TRAILER WITH INTEGRATED LIGHTING

Abstract

The invention relates to a bicycle trailer, in particular for transporting children, comprising a chassis (1, 23) and a frame which is connected to the chassis for a passenger compartment. The trailer has at least two wheels (2, 21) and can be provided with a towbar (3, 22) for hitching to a bicycle and at least one third wheel in order to use the bicycle trailer as a stroller or as a jogger. The trailer has a lighting device (14, 35) and a push handle (6, 25). The aim of the invention is to provide such a bicycle trailer in which the handling of the lighting device is simplified. According to the invention, this is achieved in that at least one lighting device is integrated into the push handle or into a coupling for securing the push handle to the frame.

Claims

1. A bicycle trailer for transporting children, comprising: a chassis and an associated frame for a passenger compartment, which comprises at least two wheels and configured to provided with a towbar for attachment to a bicycle, and configured to be provided with at least a third wheel for using the bicycle trailer as a stroller or jogger, wherein the bicycle trailer further comprises a lighting device and a push handle, wherein the at least one lighting device is integrated into the push handle or into a coupling for attaching the push handle to the frame.

2. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, wherein the push handle is configured as a substantially U-shaped bar and the at least one lighting device is provided on a section of the bar connecting two free arms running transverse to the direction of travel, and/or the at least one lighting device is provided on each free arm of the bar, and/or one lighting device or a lighting device in each case is drawn around rear corners of the bar.

3. The bicycle trailer according to claim 2, wherein the housing of the lighting device surrounds the push handle.

4. The bicycle trailer according to claim 2, wherein the lighting device protrudes at least partially over a profile cross section of the push handle.

5. The bicycle trailer according to claim 2, wherein a section of the housing of the lighting device is inserted into one or more recesses in a profile of the push handle.

6. The bicycle trailer according to claim 2, wherein the lighting device has a length of at least 15 cm.

7. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is encased completely or partially in a soft foam or silicone material.

8. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device has a light source and a part containing a power source, which is releasably inserted into the housing of the lighting device.

9. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, wherein the push handle is attached to the frame via at least one coupling configured as a lockable swivel joint wherein the lighting device is inserted into the swivel joint, wherein the lighting device is firmly attached to a fixed part of the swivel joint.

10. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device has a recess in the housing thereof for a battery or a rechargeable battery.

11. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, further comprising power leads inside the frame configured to connect the lighting device to a power source.

12. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is supplied with power via conductors running on or in the profile of the push handle.

13. The bicycle trailer according to claim 12, wherein a contacting device is provided in the coupling via which the conductors running on or in the profile of the push handle can be electrically connected to corresponding conductors in the frame, wherein the coupling is in particular a plug-in coupling for plugging the push handle into or onto holding fixtures in the frame.

14. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, wherein the push handle has a lockable swivel joint in the two free arms thereof or the coupling for attaching the push handle to the frame is configured as a swivel joint, and that the lighting device is integrated into the swivel joint.

15. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device emits different colored light to the front and to the rear according to the direction of travel.

16. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, further comprising a generator connected to the lighting device.

17. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery, which can be charged in particular by solar cells arranged on the bicycle trailer, the push handle or the lighting device.

18. The bicycle trailer according to claim 1, further comprising an activation device wirelessly connected to the lighting device for controlling the operation of the lighting device.

Description

[0033] Various aspects of the invention are described below with the help of drawings in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of a multi-function bicycle trailer;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a lighting device integrated into the swivel joint for attaching the push handle to the bicycle trailer from FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a simplified view of another multi-function bicycle trailer; and

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a push handle according to the invention with various examples of lighting devices integrated therein.

[0038] The multi-function bicycle trailer show in simplified form in FIG. 1 has a chassis 1 onto which the wheels 2 are hung and to which the towbar 3 is attached and which supports the passenger compartment, which is formed inter alia by a frame and an external skin 4 stretched over said frame. A lockable swivel joint 5 is attached at the top of the frame on which a push handle 6 is hinged.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a lighting means configured on the swivel joint 5. The swivel joint 5 has a rotating part 11, to which the push handle 6 is attached as well as a fixed part 12. The fixed part 12 is firmly attached to a tube 9 of the frame that runs transversely. The parts 11, 12 are pressed against each other via an internal spring mechanism such that both parts are fixed relative to each other based on a tooth structure on the side of both parts facing each other. The engagement of the parts 11, 12 with each other can be released by pressing a button 13. A lighting device 14 is integrated into the fixed part 12 of the swivel joint. In this case, the outer cap of the fixed part 12 is formed by a translucent cover with a white front section 15 and a red rear section 16, which enables both lateral and radial radiation of light. A light source (not shown here) and a reflector sit underneath the translucent cover.

[0040] Expediently, such lighting means is integrated into the swivel joints on both sides of the bicycle carrier. In an alternative design (not shown), the translucent cover can also protrude over the circular cross section of the swivel joint, for example, upwards in a rod shape, such that the radiating surface is increased.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a similar bicycle trailer with a chassis 23, which supports the wheels 21, the towbar 22 and the passenger compartment. The passenger compartment is formed inter alia by a frame and an external skin 24 stretched over said frame.

[0042] Unlike the bicycle trailer in FIG. 1, the push handle 25 here is inserted into tubular recesses 26 and locked into place using a lock pin 27, for example.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows various options for integrating a lighting means according to the invention into the push handle 25 of the bicycle trailer shown in FIG. 3. Naturally, the lighting means can also be integrated in the same way into the push handle 6 of the bicycle trailer in FIG. 1.

[0044] The U-shaped push handle has a lighting means 28, 29 in each of the side arms. As in the example of the lighting means 28, the lighting means here can be inserted from the outside into a recess in the profile of the push handle and stand proud from the profile on the side. As an alternative, as shown in the case of lighting means 29, the lighting means can completely surround the profile of the push handle or at least almost completely. The translucent, light-emitting part of the lighting means can have a profile adjusted accordingly for this purpose, which is either pushed axially onto the free arm of the U-shaped push handle or, in the case of partial surrounding of the light source, clipped onto the profile of the push handle. A section of the light source, for example a battery housing, can also be embedded into a recess in the profile of the push handle.

[0045] A third option consists of arranging the lighting device 35 on the rear section of the push handle such that it radiates to the rear. It is sufficient in this case if the diffusion disc of the light is configured as monochrome red. If the lighting device stands proud from the profile of the push handle, the lighting device can also radiate light to the side. As already stated above, but not shown here, a fourth option consists of guiding the lighting device around the corners of the push handle such that light is also radiated to the rear and the side in this embodiment.