Leanable tracking trailer for a motorcycle

• US 7,744,111 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fred R. Anderson
• Original Assignee: Fred R. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Fred R
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/502,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 280/492, 280/489, 280/202, 280/204, 280/282
• US Class Current: 280/492
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/064 light luggage or equipment trailers, e.g. for batteries, gas generators, gas bottles, stretchers luggage carriers per se B60R
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/067 single wheeled (rigid or semi-rigid couping)
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 27/006 having a single wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 27/06 Resilient axle suspension

Abstract

A one wheeled trailer is disclosed for use with and for pulling behind a two wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle or motorbike. The trailer is configured to track behind the motorcycle or motorbike and to lean with the cycle as a unit so as to respond in the same manner as the motorcycle or motorbike. The trailer is supported on a single tire aligned to track behind the motorcycle tires thereby eliminating the sideways torque when the trailer hits a pothole or a curb. The trailer is designed to perform on the road and in turns the same as the motorcycle and does not limit the motorcycle from performing the way it was intended.

Claims

1. A trailer configured to be pulled behind a two wheeled vehicle having wheels aligned in tandem and to track and lean with the vehicle, the trailer comprising:

a trailer frame for supporting the weight of a load;

a wheel positioned under a center portion of the frame;

a means of rotably mounting the wheel to the frame, wherein the wheel provides rolling support for the trailer over ground, the means of rotably mounting the wheels comprising;

a suspension arm having two opposing ends, a first suspension arm end pivotally mounted to the trailer frame, the wheel is rotably mounted proximate to the second end of the suspension arm; and

a shock absorbing strut for resisting compression in the direction of its length, the strut having opposing first and second attachment ends, the first strut end pivotally attached to a portion of the trailer frame, the second strut end pivotally attached to the suspension arm proximate to the second end of the suspension arm.

a trailer tongue having a first end rigidly secured to a front portion of the trailer Frame; and

an articulating coupling member having two opposing ends, the first end of the articulating member secured to the second end of the tongue, the articulating coupling member comprising;

a universal joint receiving member having a hole therethrough, the receiving member secured to a second end of the tongue;

a universal joint member having two pivot holes therethrough, each position proximate opposing ends of the universal joint, the universal joint having an axis of elongation, each pivot hole having an axis, the axes of the pivot holes and universal joint are at substantially right angles to each other;

a first pin received through the hole of the receiving member and the first hole of the universal joint, the pin pivotally coupling the receiving member to the universal joint;

a receiver hitch having a pivot hole proximate a first end of the receiver hitch, a second end of the receiver hitch adapted for removably mounting to a hitch member secured at the rear of the motorcycle; and

a second pin received through a pivot hole in the first end of the receiver hitch and the second hole of the universal joint, the pin pivotally coupling the receiver hitch to the universal joint.

2. The trailer for a two wheeled vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises metallic tubular structural members, the metals selected from the set consisting of steel, aluminum, alloys of steel, alloys of aluminum.

3. A single wheel trailer configured to be pulled behind a motorcycle and to track and lean with the motorcycle, the trailer comprising:

a trailer frame comprising welded tubular steel structural members, a top surface of the trailer frame having a generally rectangular shape, the top of the frame configured for receiving a load thereon;

a means of rotably mounting a wheel to the frame, wherein the wheel provides rolling support for the trailer over ground, wherein the wheel is positioned under a center portion of the frame, the means of rotably mounting the wheel to the frame comprising;

a suspension arm having two opposing ends, a first suspension arm end pivotally mounted to the trailer frame;

the wheel rotably mounted proximate to the second end of the suspension arm, wherein the wheel is an air filled tire providing rolling support for the trailer over ground; and

a shock absorbing strut for resisting compression in the direction of its length, the strut having opposing first and second attachment ends, the first strut end pivotally attached to a portion of the trailer frame, the second strut end pivotally attached proximate the second end of the suspension arm, the strut having a spring in parallel combination with a shock absorbing for compressibly transferring weight from the trailer to the wheel;

a trailer tongue having a first end rigidly secured to a front portion of the trailer frame; and

an omni-directional swivel hitch means having a first end secured to a second end of the trailer tongue, a second end of the omni-directional swivel hitch means removably engageable with a motorcycle trailer hitch, wherein the omni-directional swivel hitch means permits the trailer tongue to swivel about the motorcycle trailer hitch, the omni-directional swivel hitch means comprising;

a universal joint receiving member having a hole therethrough, the receiving member secured to a second end of the tongue;

a universal joint member having two pivot holes therethrough, each position proximate opposing ends of the universal joint, the universal joint having an axis of elongation, each pivot hole having an axis, the axes of the pivot holes and universal joint are at substantially right angles to each other;

a first pin received through the hole of the receiving member and the first hole of the universal joint, the pin pivotally coupling the receiving member to the universal joint;

a receiver hitch having a pivot hole proximate a first end of the receiver hitch, a second end of the receiver hitch adapted for removably mounting to a hitch member secured at the rear of the motorcycle; and

a second pin received through the pivot hole of the receiver hitch and the second hole of the universal joint, the pin pivotally coupling the receiver hitch to the universal joint.

4. A single wheel trailer configured to be pulled behind a motorcycle and to track and lean with the motorcycle, the trailer comprising:

a trailer frame comprising welded tubular steel structural members, a top surface of the trailer frame having a generally rectangular shape, the top of the frame configured for receiving a load thereon;

a means of rotably mounting a wheel to the frame, wherein the wheel provides rolling support for the trailer over ground. wherein the wheel is positioned under a center portion of the frame, the means of rotably mounting the wheel to the frame comprising;

a straight axle directly secured to the frame, wherein the wheel mount does not utilize a suspension system; and

the wheel rotably secured to the straight axle, wherein the weight and cost of the trailer is reduced;

a trailer tongue having a first end rigidly secured to a front portion of the trailer frame; and

an omni-directional swivel hitch means having a first end secured to a second end of the trailer tongue, a second end of the omni-directional swivel hitch means removably engageable with a motorcycle trailer hitch, wherein the omni-directional swivel hitch means permits the trailer tongue to swivel about the motorcycle trailer hitch, the omni-directional swivel hitch means comprising;

a universal joint receiving member having a hole therethrough, the receiving member secured to a second end of the tongue;

a universal joint member having two pivot holes therethrough, each position proximate opposing ends of the universal joint, the universal joint having an axis of elongation, each pivot hole having an axis, the axes of the pivot holes and universal joint are at substantially right angles to each other;

a first pin received through the hole of the receiving member and the first hole of the universal joint, the pin pivotally coupling the receiving member to the universal joint;

a receiver hitch having a pivot hole proximate a first end of the receiver hitch, a second end of the receiver hitch adapted for removably mounting to a hitch member secured at the rear of the motorcycle, and

a second pin received through the pivot hole of the receiver hitch and the second hole of the universal joint, the pin pivotally coupling the receiver hitch to the universal joint.

5. A single wheel trailer configured to be pulled behind a motorcycle and to track and lean with the motorcycle, the trailer comprising:

a trailer frame comprising welded tubular steel structural members, a top surface of the trailer frame having a generally rectangular shape, the top of the frame configured for receiving a load thereon;

a means of rotably mounting a wheel to the frame, wherein the wheel provides rolling support for the trailer over ground, wherein the wheel is positioned under a center portion of the frame, the means of rotably mounting the wheel to the frame comprising;

a suspension arm having two opposing ends, a first suspension arm end pivotally mounted to the trailer frame;

the wheel rotably mounted proximate to the second end of the suspension arm, wherein the wheel is an air filled tire providing rolling support for the trailer over ground; and

a shock absorbing strut for resisting compression in the direction of its length, the strut having opposing first and second attachment ends, the first strut end pivotally attached to a portion of the trailer frame, the second strut end pivotally attached proximate the second end of the suspension arm, the strut having a spring in parallel combination with a shock absorbing for compressibly transferring weight from the trailer to the wheel;

a trailer tongue having a first end rigidly secured to a front portion of the trailer frame, the trailer tongue further comprising;

a pair of distally parallel spaced trailer tongue side plates, each plate having a bore therethrough, the side plates secured to opposing side faces of the second end of the trailer tongue; and

an omni-directional swivel hitch means having a first end secured to a second end of the trailer tongue, a second end of the omni-directional swivel hitch means removably engageable with a motorcycle trailer hitch, wherein the omni-directional swivel hitch means permits the trailer tongue to swivel about the motorcycle trailer hitch, the omni-directional swivel hitch means comprising an articulating coupling member for coupling the trailer tongue to the motorcycle trailer hitch, the articulating coupling member comprising;

a cylindrical base plate having an elongated cylindrical load bearing portion secured thereon, the base plate and load bearing portion having a bore extending through a center portion thereof;

a swivel member having a first cylindrical bore sized to receive the load bearing portion of the base plate therein, the second cylindrical bore having an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first cylindrical bore, the second cylindrical bore sized and configured to receive upon and swivel upon a coupling member of the motorcycle trailer hitch, wherein the swivel member is free to pivot about a first axis; and

an elongated pin received through the bore of the first side plate, the pin extending through a washer, then through the cylindrical first bore of the cylindrical base plate, then extending through the bore of the second side plate, wherein the swivel means is free to pivot about a second axis, wherein the first and second axis are substantially perpendicular, wherein the trailer tongue is swively connected to the motorcycle trailer hitch.

6. A single wheel trailer configured to be pulled behind a motorcycle and to track and lean with the motorcycle, the trailer comprising:

a trailer frame comprising welded tubular steel structural members, a top surface of the trailer frame having a generally rectangular shape, the top of the frame configured for receiving a load thereon;

a means of rotably mounting a wheel to the frame, wherein the wheel provides rolling support for the trailer over ground, wherein the wheel is positioned under a center portion of the frame, the means of rotably mounting the wheel to the frame comprising;

a straight axle directly secured to the frame, wherein the wheel mount does not utilize a suspension system; and

the wheel rotably secured to the straight axle, wherein the weight and cost of the trailer is reduced;

a trailer tongue having a first end rigidly secured to a front portion of the trailer frame, the trailer tongue further comprising;

a pair of distally parallel spaced trailer tongue side plates, each plate having a bore therethrough, the side plates secured to opposing side faces of the second end of the trailer tongue; and

an omni-directional swivel hitch means having a first end secured to a second end of the trailer tongue, a second end of the omni-directional swivel hitch means removably engageable with a motorcycle trailer hitch, wherein the omni-directional swivel hitch means permits the trailer tongue to swivel about the motorcycle trailer hitch, the omni-directional swivel hitch means comprising an articulating coupling member for coupling the trailer tongue to the motorcycle trailer hitch, the articulating coupling member comprising;

a cylindrical base plate having an elongated cylindrical load bearing portion secured thereon, the base plate and load bearing portion having a bore extending through a center portion thereof;

a swivel member having a first cylindrical bore sized to receive the load bearing portion of the base plate therein, the second cylindrical bore having an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first cylindrical bore, the second cylindrical bore sized and configured, to receive upon and swivel upon a coupling member of the motorcycle trailer hitch, wherein the swivel member is free to pivot about a first axis; and

an elongated pin received through the bore of the first side plate, the pin extending through a washer, then through the cylindrical first bore of the cylindrical base plate, then extending through the bore of the second side plate, wherein the swivel means is free to pivot about a second axis, wherein the first and second axis are substantially perpendicular, wherein the trailer tongue is swively connected to the motorcycle trailer hitch.