Folding bicycle trailer
View Patent ↗A folding carrier assembly converts to a bicycle trailer, a three-wheeled jogging stroller and a four wheeled casting stroller. The carrier assembly has a lower main frame. An arched rear or back frame member is pivotally connected to an aft portion of the lower main frame. The carrier assembly further has a single longitudinal arched member with a first end and a second end. A center support pivotally connects the arched member first end to a central fore area of the lower main frame. A user interface in the form of a release mechanism removably couples the arched member second end to a central area of the arched rear frame member. The carrier has two wheel assemblies on opposite lateral sides of the lower main frame. Wheel guards are disposed external and lateral to the wheel assembly. Supports on the fore portion of the lower main frame enable removable coupling to a jogging wheel assembly or a pair of caster wheels. Alternatively, a trailer tongue may be connected to one of the supports.
1. A carrier assembly convertible between a bicycle trailer and a stroller comprising:
a lower main frame, said lower main frame having a first and second lateral side;
an upper main frame, said upper main frame pivotally coupled to each lower main frame first and second lateral sides;
a rear frame member, said rear frame member having first and second lateral sides, said first lateral side rear frame member pivotally coupled to said lower main frame and said upper main frame, said second rear frame member lateral side pivotally coupled to said lower main frame and said upper main frame member;
a central frame member extending longitudinally proximate a fore area of said lower main frame, upwards and towards said rear frame member, proximate a central area of said rear frame member, said central frame member pivotally coupled to said lower frame;
a first axial housing on said lower main frame first lateral side, a second axial housing on said tower main frame second lateral side;
a first wheel guard proximate said lower main frame member first lateral side, a second wheel guard proximate said lower main frame second lateral side, said first and second wheel guard each having a first portion pivotally connected to portions of said carrier assembly, each wheel guard having a second portion removably couplable to other portions of said carrier assembly;
a first support coupled to a first fore portion of said lower main frame, a second support coupled to a second fore portion of said lower main frame; and
an optional configuration which can be any configuration selected from a group of configurations consisting of:
1) a trailer tongue coupled to said first support,
2) a jogging wheel assembly coupled to said first and second supports, and
3) first castor wheel assembly coupled to said first support and a second castor wheel assembly connected to said second support.
2. The carrier assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper main frame comprises:
a U-shaped strut having opposite first and second sides extending upwards from a traversing base portion, said first opposite side pivotally coupled to said fore area, said second opposite side pivotally coupled to said fore area, said first opposite side coupled to a first lateral portion of said upper main frame, said second opposite side pivotally connected to a second lateral side of said upper main frame.
3. The carrier assembly of claim 1 wherein said lower frame comprises first and second U-shaped pieces coupled together and oppositely oriented.
4. The carrier assembly of claim 1 wherein said rear frame member comprises a first rear frame member and a second rear frame member, each first and second rear frame member has upper portions, said upper portions are joined together by a bracket.
5. The carrier assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bracket mounted on an aft portion of said lower main frame; and wherein
an aft portion of said first wheel guard is pivotally coupled to said bracket, and
an aft portion of said second wheel guard is pivotally coupled to said bracket.
6. The carrier assembly of claim 1 further comprising a handle bar coupled to the carrier assembly proximate a central portion of said rear frame member.
7. The carrier assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a first wheel assembly coupled to the first axial housing; and
a second wheel assembly coupled to the second axial housing.
8. The carrier assembly of claim 6 wherein the handle bar has a first jointed lateral side and a second jointed lateral side.