Bicycle Towing Apparatus with Fork Clamp and Pivoted Strut
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle towing apparatuses require the removal of the front wheel of the towed bicycle, making installation and use cumbersome and inconvenient, and often fail to securely stabilize the towed bicycle during towing.
Innovation Solution
A towing apparatus with a fork for connecting to the front wheel hub and a pivoted strut that locks onto the arm, allowing for secure attachment without removing the front wheel, and adjustable locking mechanisms to accommodate different bicycle sizes and types, ensuring stability and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the front wheel is removed to connect the towing arm to the fork, then the towing connection is secure, but the operation becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the wheel removal step from the towing connection process by designing a clamp that can attach directly to the front fork without requiring wheel removal. The clamp engages with the fork legs through a simplified mechanism that maintains connection stability while eliminating the complex wheel removal and reinstallation operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The towing arm is segmented into modular components including a separate clamp assembly that can be independently attached to the front fork. This segmentation allows the clamp to function as a standalone connection device, simplifying the overall operation while maintaining secure towing connection.
2Reliability
If the front wheel is removed for towing connection, then the towing stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the wheel removal requirement from the towing system by implementing a clamp that attaches directly to the front fork. This eliminates the need for wheel removal while maintaining towing stability through direct fork engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly serves multiple functions: it provides secure attachment to the front fork, maintains towing stability, and allows for quick connection and disconnection without requiring wheel removal. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while preserving towing reliability.
3Ease of operation
If a transverse secondary arm is added to connect to the front wheel hub, then wheel removal is avoided, but the structure becomes cumbersome and interferes with the cyclist
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the transverse secondary arm from the towing structure and replaces it with a clamp that attaches directly to the front fork. This eliminates the need for wheel hub connection while avoiding the interference problems associated with transverse arms extending into the cyclist's space.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the towing arm transversely to connect to the wheel hub (which causes interference), the invention inverts the approach by connecting vertically to the front fork using a clamp. This reversed connection method avoids interference with the cyclist while still preventing wheel removal.
4Adaptability or versatility
If shims are used to adjust the bracket angle for front wheel lift, then the bicycle pitch can be adjusted, but the prearrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces static shim prearrangement with a dynamic adjustment mechanism in the clamp assembly. The clamp allows for easy angle adjustment of the towing arm relative to the front fork, enabling pitch adaptation without requiring complex prearranged shim configurations for different bicycle sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly incorporates adjustable parameters that allow the towing arm angle to be modified according to different bicycle types and sizes. This parameter adjustability replaces the need for multiple prearranged shim configurations, simplifying the device while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus (10) for towing bicycles, comprising - a towing arm (11), - a connector (12), which is adapted to fix the arm (11) to a towing vehicle (13), - a joint (14) for interconnection between the arm (11) and the connector (12), which defines, for the arm (11), with respect to the joint (14), a first oscillation axis (A) and a second oscillation axis (B), the first oscillation axis (A) being substantially parallel to the resting surface (15) of the towing vehicle (13) to which the connector (12) is correctly coupled during use, the first oscillation axis (A) being furthermore substantially transverse to the anteroposterior direction (C) of the towing vehicle (13), the second oscillation axis (B) being substantially perpendicular to the resting surface (15), - a fork (16) for the connection of the arm (11) to the hub (17) of the front wheel (18) of the bicycle (19) to be towed, means (20) being provided for locking the fork (16) to the arm (11) in order to jointly connect them during use, and - a strut (21) pivoted on the arm (11), a coupling assembly (22) being provided which is adapted for the connection of the strut (21) to the bicycle (19) to be towed.