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US 8,282,117 B2Granted
Trailer hitch for use on a bicycle and a trailer associated therewith
OwnerStephan M Rodgersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a bicycle trailer hitch for use in securing a bicycle trailer to a bicycle. Unlike prior art trailer hitches the transfer of most of the load between a bicycle and an associated bicycle trailer during use does not pass through the bolt/fastener used to couple the bicycle attachment section to the trailer attachment section thereof. Rather, the majority of the load is transferred through a direct connection between the respective sections.
Claims19
A bicycle trailer hitch comprising:
- a bicycle attachment section adapted to be coupled with a bicycle, the bicycle attachment section including a cylindrical portion having (i) a cylinder longitudinal center axis generally horizontal to the ground when installed, (ii) a cylinder length and (iii) a cylinder outside diameter;
- and
- a trailer attachment section adapted to connect with a bicycle trailer, the trailer attachment section including a cavity portion having a shape of a partial cylinder, the cavity portion having (a) an effective cavity longitudinal center axis, (b) a longitudinally extending side having an annular inside surface at least partially defining a cavity, (c) a cavity length and (d) an effective cavity diameter;
- wherein the cylinder length is substantially similar to the cavity length, the cylinder outside diameter is substantially similar to the effective cavity diameter, and the cylindrical portion is adapted to be matingly received in the cavity portion to connect the bicycle to the bicycle trailer and transfer load therebetween during use;
- and
- wherein the longitudinally extending side of the cavity portion includes an elongated circumferentially-extending notch located at about a longitudinal midpoint location on the longitudinally extending side.
3 more elements
A bicycle trailer hitch comprising:
- a bicycle attachment section adapted to be coupled with a bicycle, the bicycle attachment section including a cylindrical portion having (i) a cylinder longitudinal center axis generally horizontal to the ground when installed, (ii) a cylinder length and (iii) a cylinder outside diameter;
- and
- a trailer attachment section adapted to connect with a bicycle trailer, the trailer attachment section including a cavity portion having a shape of a partial cylinder, the cavity portion having (a) an effective cavity longitudinal center axis, (b) a longitudinally extending side having an annular inside surface at least partially defining a cavity, (c) a cavity length and (d) an effective cavity diameter;
- wherein the cylinder length is substantially similar to the cavity length, the cylinder outside diameter is substantially similar to the effective cavity diameter, and the cylindrical portion is adapted to be matingly received in the cavity portion to connect the bicycle to the bicycle trailer and transfer load therebetween during use;
- wherein the bicycle attachment section further includes a tubular portion connected to the cylindrical portion by a bridge portion, the tubular portion being adapted to be received over a seatpost shaft of the bicycle and having a tube center axis wherein the bridge portion spans between the tubular portion and the cylindrical portion;
- wherein the bridge portion comprises a substantially vertically orientated substantially planar member;
- and
- wherein the longitudinally extending side of the cavity portion includes an elongated circumferentially-extending notch located at about a longitudinal midpoint location on the longitudinally extending side, the circumferentially-extending notch having a circumferential length subtended by an angle of about 80-110 degrees on the cavity portion and adapted to receive the bridge portion therein when the cylindrical portion is matingly received in the cavity portion.
5 more elements
A bicycle trailer hitch comprising:
- a bicycle attachment section adapted to be coupled with a bicycle, the bicycle attachment section including,
- a cylindrical portion having (i) a cylinder longitudinal center axis generally horizontal to the ground when installed on the bicycle, (ii) a cylinder length, (iii) a cylinder outside diameter and (iv) a bore extending through the cylindrical portion coincident with the cylinder longitudinal center axis,
- a tubular portion connected to the cylindrical portion by a bridge portion, the tubular portion being adapted to be received over a seatpost shaft of the bicycle, and
- the bridge portion spanning between the tubular portion and the cylindrical portion, the bridge portion comprising a substantially vertically orientated substantially planar member;
- a trailer attachment section adapted to connect with a bicycle trailer, the trailer attachment section including,
- a cavity portion having a shape of a partial cylinder, the cavity portion having (a) an effective cavity longitudinal center axis, (b) a longitudinally extending side having an annular inside surface at least partially defining a cavity, (c) a cavity length, (d) an effective cavity diameter, (e) left and right sidewalls spaced apart by the cavity length and a circumferential sidewall, each sidewall including a bore passing therethrough with the bore including a center axis coincident with the effective cavity longitudinal center axis, and (f) an elongated circumferentially-extending notch located at about a longitudinal midpoint location on the longitudinally extending side, the circumferentially-extending notch having a circumferential length subtended by an angle of about 80-110 degrees on the cavity portion and adapted to receive the bridge portion therein when the cylindrical portion is matingly received in the cavity portion;
- and
- a fastener including an elongated shaft adapted to be received through the bore of the cylindrical portion and the bores of the left and right sidewalls when the cylindrical portion is received in the cavity portion;
- wherein (1) the cylinder length is substantially similar to the cavity length, (2) the cylinder outside diameter is substantially similar to the effective cavity diameter, (3) the cylindrical portion is adapted to be matingly received in the cavity portion to connect the bicycle to the bicycle trailer and transfer load therebetween during use, and (4) the bores of the left and right sidewalls are adapted to align with the bore of the cylindrical portion wherein the cylindrical portion is matingly received in the cavity portion.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.