Bicycle trailer hitch assembly and bicycle trailer incorporating same

A hitch assembly for attaching a bicycle trailer to a towing bicycle, the bicycle trailer having a frame with means for attachment of the hitch assembly at its one end and at its other end a ground-engagable wheel, the hitch assembly comprising;

• a clamp for clamping non-rotatably to a seat supporting part of the towing bicycle;
• a universal coupling comprising a first part having bifurcations and a second part having bifurcations, the first part and second part being connected together by a central pivot block, the pivot block having one end portion extending between the bifurcations of the first part, its other end portion extending between the bifurcations of the second part, a first hole through said one end portion and a second hole through said other end portion, a first pivot pin extending through aligned holes in the bifurcations of the first part and said first hole to provide a first pivot axis and a second pivot pin extending through aligned holes in the bifurcations of the second part and said second hole to provide a second pivot axis, the first part being attached non-rotatably to the clamp and pivoting about said first pivot axis relative to the block, the second part being attachable non-rotatably to the trailer frame and pivoting about said second pivot axis, the first pivot axis and second pivot axis being perpendicular to each other and permitting pivoting of the trailer, in use, about generally vertical and horizontal axes, respectively, the first and second pivot axes being spaced apart with the first pivot axis disposed between the clamp and the second pivot axis;
• and
• releasable fastening means releasably attaching the clamp means to the universal coupling.

A bicycle trailer comprising a frame having at its one end a hitch assembly for connecting the bicycle trailer to a towing bicycle and at its other end a ground-engagable wheel, the hitch assembly comprising;

• a clamp for clamping non-rotatably to a seat supporting part of the towing bicycle;
• a universal coupling comprising a first part having bifurcations and a second part having bifurcations, the first part and second part being connected together by a central pivot block, the pivot block having one end portion extending between the bifurcations of the first part, its other end portion extending between the bifurcations of the second part, a first hole through said one end portion and a second hole through said other end portion, a first pivot pin extending through aligned holes in the bifurcations of the first part and said first hole to provide a first pivot axis and a second pivot pin extending through aligned holes in the bifurcations of the second part and said second hole to provide a second pivot axis, the first part being attached non-rotatably to the clamp and pivoting about said first pivot axis relative to the block, the second part being attached non-rotatably to the trailer frame and pivoting relative to the block about said second pivot axis, the first pivot axis and second pivot axis being perpendicular to each other and permitting pivoting of the trailer, in use, about generally vertical and horizontal axes, respectively, the first and second pivot axes being spaced apart with the first pivot axis disposed between the clamp and the second pivot axis.

A hitch assembly for attaching a bicycle trailer to a towing bicycle, the bicycle trailer having a frame with means for attachment of the hitch assembly at its one end and at its other end a ground-engagable wheel, the hitch assembly comprising;

• a clamp for clamping non-rotatably to a seat supporting part of the towing bicycle;
• a universal coupling comprising a first part having bifurcations and a second part having bifurcations, the first part and second part being connected together by a central pivot block, the pivot block having one end portion extending between the bifurcations of the first part, its other end portion extending between the bifurcations of the second part, a first hole through said one end portion and a second hole through said other end portion, a first pivot pin extending through aligned holes in the bifurcations of the first part and said first hole to provide a first pivot axis and a second pivot pin extending through aligned holes in the bifurcations of the second part and said second hole to provide a second pivot axis, the first part being attached non-rotatably to the clamp and pivoting about said first pivot axis relative to the block, the second part being attachable non-rotatably to the trailer frame and pivoting about a second pivot axis, the first pivot axis and second pivot axis being perpendicular to each other and permitting pivoting of the trailer, in use, about generally vertical and horizontal axes, respectively, the first and second pivot axes being spaced apart with the first pivot axis disposed between the clamp and the second pivot axis.