Trailer cycle

In a human-powered vehicle, the combination, comprising:

• a lead cycle (12) having a front wheel, a rear wheel (26), a rear wheel axle (26a) and a frame (16);
• a trailer cycle (10) including a trailer cycle frame (52) having:
• a chain-driven wheel (62) mounted on said trailer cycle frame (52),
• a crank (64),
• a chain (68) extending between said crank (64) and said chain-driven wheel (62),
• a seat post (58) and a seat (60) mounted thereon, and
• a main tube (54) extending towards said lead cycle (12);
• a handle-bar mount (76) adjustably attached to said main tube (54), and a handle bar (74) mounted therein;
• and
• a hitch mechanism (14) including:
• a lead-cycle hitch portion (34) joined to said lead cycle (12), wherein said lead-cycle hitch portion (34) is mounted on a luggage rack (216) which is carried on said lead cycle (12) and includes a crossbar (220), said crossbar having a threaded receiver (222) therein;
• a stabilization portion (140, 196) joined to said lead-cycle hitch portion (34);
• and
• a flexible hitch portion (82, 184) interposed said trailer cycle frame (52) and said stabilization portion (140, 196), including
• an orthogonal member (84, 186) having a vertical pivot mechanism (86) and a yaw pivot mechanism (88, 188), which orthogonal member (84, 186) is constructed and arranged to prevent roll motion of the trailer cycle (10) relative to said lead cycle (12),
• a locking mechanism (124) for securing said trailer cycle (10) to said lead cycle (12), which includes a lead-cycle-hitch-engaging member (126, 206) located at the lower end thereof, which lead-cycle-hitch-engaging member (126, 206) is shiftable between a first vertical position for engaging said lead-cycle hitch portion (34) and a second vertical position for releasing said lead-cycle hitch portion (34), and wherein said lead-cycle-hitch-engaging member includes a threaded shaft (202) which is conformal with said threaded receiver (222) and which is shiftable between said first vertical position for engaging said threaded receiver and said second vertical position for releasing said threaded receiver;
• and
• a trailer-cycle hitch portion (78) fixed on said main tube (54) and connected to said vertical pivot mechanism (86).

In a human powered vehicle, the combination comprising:

• a lead cycle (12), having a front wheel, a rear wheel (26), a rear axle (26a) and a frame (16);
• a trailer cycle (10) including a frame (52) having a main tube (54) extending towards said lead cycle (12);
• and
• a hitch mechanism (14) including:
• a lead-cycle hitch portion (34) joined to said lead cycle (12) including a crossbar (48, 220) extending parallel to said rear axle (26a) of the lead cycle (12), wherein said crossbar (220) includes a threaded receiver (222) therein;
• and
• a flexible hitch portion (82, 160, 184) interposed said trailer cycle frame (52) and said lead cycle (12), including:
• an orthogonal member (84, 186) having a vertical pivot mechanism (86) and a yaw pivot mechanism (88, 188) located therein, which orthogonal member (84, 186) is constructed and arranged to prevent roll motion of the trailer cycle (10) relative to the lead cycle (12),
• wherein said yaw pivot mechanism (88, 188) includes a lead-cycle-hitch-engaging member (126, 206) located thereon for selectably engaging and releasing said lead-cycle hitch portion (34), wherein said lead-cycle-hitch-engaging member includes a threaded shaft (202) conformably receivable and removable from said threaded receiver (222);
• and
• a trailer-cycle hitch portion (78) fixed on said main tube (54) and connected to said vertical pivot mechanism (86).