Sidecar trailer for bicycles.

Abstract

Side trailer called "sidecar" which can be quickly attached to any bicycle without significant modification, while maintaining the free inclination of the two wheels in turns. This side trailer (2) has a fixed wheel (3), a fixed arm (4) at the rear, attached to the axis of the rear wheel of the bicycle (1) by means of a ball joint (6), and a movable arm (5) at the front attached to the axis of the front wheel of the bicycle (1) by a ball joint (7). This front arm (5) is in rotation around the axis (8), and it is maintained in its rotary movement by a guide (9) on an inclined plane making an angle of 30° with the horizontal plane of the trailer (2), and allows the free movement of the fork (17) of the bicycle (1) while providing a solid anchoring point.This device allows you to quickly transform your bicycle into a utility vehicle for transporting a heavy and bulky load, or, with a seat, transport a child, while keeping an eye on them because they are right next to them. Figure for the abstract: Figure [1].

Description

Title of the invention: Sidecar trailer for bicycles.

[0001] The present invention relates to: a sidecar trailer for bicycles. This trailer is designed to be easily attached to any bicycle. In general, the "sidecar" equipment is rigidly fixed and does not allow the bicycle to lean when cornering. Driving such a machine is therefore very particular, disturbing, or even dangerous for someone who is not used to it. In addition, the "sidecar" equipment requires a significant modification of the bicycle, or a complex attachment, which does not allow easy passage of the bicycle into the version with a "sidecar" trailer and vice versa. The present invention makes it possible to equip any bicycle with a side trailer called a "sidecar" in a minute, or to remove it just as easily to regain the use of a normal bicycle. The system also allows the bicycle to lean when cornering, and therefore practically does not modify the behavior of the bicycle thus equipped.When there is weight in the "sidecar" trailer, when stopped, the bicycle stands upright naturally, so there is no need to put your foot on the ground, and starting uphill, especially when loaded, becomes easy. The attachment system is very simple and can be done at a lower cost. Regarding the transport of children on a bicycle, this system allows the bicycle to be quickly equipped with a side trailer called a "sidecar", which will allow the adult to monitor the child, which is impossible if the child is on the luggage rack, or in a trailer at the rear of the bicycle. In large cities, we seek to promote bicycles, and this side trailer has a large transport capacity, while remaining with the bicycle in an overall width of 1 meter, therefore authorized in all cycle paths.Electric assistance, which is becoming more and more common, and the quality of bicycle braking will also make it possible to carry weight with great ease, without having to put your foot on the ground to maintain balance when stationary.

[0002] Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 represent the invention: With reference to these drawings, [Fig.l] top view and [Fig.2] bottom view: the assembly comprises a bicycle (1), the “sidecar” trailer (2), the wheel (3) is fixed relative to the trailer (2), this trailer (2) is integral with the bicycle by means of two arms (4) and (5), the first rear arm (4) is connected to the axis of the rear wheel of the bicycle by a ball joint (6), this arm (4) is fixed on the trailer (2), the second front arm (5) is connected to the axis of the front wheel by a ball joint (7). This second front arm (5) is rotating around the axis (8), and it is held in its rotary movement by a guide (9) on an inclined plane making an angle of 30° with the horizontal plane of the trailer (2). [Fig.3]: this guide (9) makes it possible to limit the movement of the arm in its angle of rotation and to maintain the rotation in a plane at 30° relative to the horizontal (bicycle and trailer being horizontal). This allows the free movement of the fork (17) and to compensate for the angle (70° to 74°) of the fork (17), which with weight on the trailer (2), without this angle of 30°, would naturally turn the fork (17) to the right, and one would be obliged to compensate with the handlebars to go straight. This guide (9) maintains the arm (5) in this limited rotary movement thanks to two plates inclined at 30°, spaced by the thickness of the arm and equipped with a system limiting friction: ball slide on the inclined plane side and Teflon plate on the other side. [Fig.4]: the bicycle is equipped, at the level of the wheel axle nuts (10), with brackets (11) with a vertical screw (12) allowing the ball joints (6) and (7) of the arms of the “sidecar” trailer to be fixed.This equipment remains on the bicycle, and it is therefore sufficient to unscrew two nuts to remove the "sidecar" trailer from the bicycle and thus find a "normal" bicycle, the same to put it back: it takes a minute. This bracket (11) can also integrate the screw thread, and in this case serve directly as a nut. The vertical screw can be replaced by a smooth axle, the ball joint is then held in place thanks to a pin or any other quick locking system, spring / balls, key etc.. .In the current state of wheel fixings on bicycles, with three types of brackets / nuts we can cover the market.

[0003] [Fig.5] and [Fig.6]: this “sidecar” trailer allows you to quickly transform any bicycle as a utility vehicle: either to transport children under supervision with a suitable seat (14), or to transport equipment with a box fixed on the tray (16) of the trailer with the help of two bars (15). A trunk (13) is used either to put the feet when putting the seat (14), or to transport equipment, it can then be closed. This "sidecar" trailer system can be put on or removed in a minute according to needs, and does not change the behavior of the two wheels when it is installed: the turns are taken in the same way: the same angle of inclination, with or without a trailer. The load on the trailer can be significant: there is no need to maintain the balance of the whole, by putting the foot on the ground, when stopped. Equipping your bicycle with a "sidecar" trailer is much cheaper than buying a "cargo" bicycle, and is completely in line with ecological means of transport.

Claims

Claims

1. Side trailer called a "sidecar" which can be quickly attached to a bicycle, characterized in that this side trailer (2) has a fixed wheel (3), a fixed arm (4) at the rear, attached to the axle of the rear wheel of the bicycle (1) by means of a ball joint (6), and a movable arm (5) at the front attached to the axle of the front wheel of the bicycle (1) by a ball joint (7), this movable arm (5) at the front allowing free movement of the fork of the bicycle (1) while providing a solid anchoring point and the possibility of tilting the bicycle when cornering.

2. Side trailer known as a "sidecar" according to claim 1, characterized in that the front arm (5) rotates about an axis (8), and is held in its rotary movement by a guide (9) on an inclined plane making an angle of 30° with the horizontal plane of the trailer (2), this guide (9) making it possible to limit the movement of the arm in its angle of rotation and to maintain the rotation in a plane at 30° relative to the horizontal in order to allow free movement of the bicycle fork and to compensate for the caster angle of the fork tending to turn the bicycle fork towards the trailer.

3. Side trailer known as a “sidecar” according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the guide (9) maintains the arm (5) in a limited rotary movement, thanks to two plates inclined at 30°, spaced apart by the thickness of the front arm (5) and provided with a friction-limiting system comprising a ball slide on one side and a Teflon plate (registered trademark) on the other side.

4. Side trailer known as a "sidecar" according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises a platform (16) comprising a trunk (13), and two parallel bars (15) allowing a box or a seat (14) to be fixed, the trunk (13) allowing the passenger's feet to be accommodated when a seat is installed or equipment, the trunk also being able to be closed.

5. Bicycle equipped with a side trailer called a “sidecar” according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 characterized in that the bicycle is equipped, at the level of the wheel axle nuts (10) and (11), with brackets (11) with a vertical screw (12) allowing the ball joints (6) and (7) of the arms of the “sidecar” trailer to be fixed by locking with a nut, this equipment being designed to remain on the bicycle, thus allowing the putting or to easily remove the “sidecar” trailer, this bracket (11) can alternatively also incorporate a screw thread, and in this case serve directly as a nut.

6. Bicycle equipped with a side trailer called a “sidecar” according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 characterized in that the bicycle is equipped, at the level of the wheel axle nuts (10) and (11), with brackets (11) with a smooth axis allowing the ball joints (6) and (7) of the arms of the “sidecar” trailer to be fixed, the ball joint then being held in place by means of a pin or any other quick locking system such as a spring-ball or key system.

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