CANINE BIKE EXERCISER

ATTACHE-LAISSE A MONTER SUR UNE BICYCLETTE POUR L'EXERCICE DES CHIENS

English Abstract

The Canine Bike Exerciser provides a means of exercising one or more dogs by leashing them at the rear of a bicycle by an apparatus that is attached to the bicycle frame. The apparatus comprises a primary and secondary component, a joining element, and a canine-harnessing mechanism. The primary component, attached to the bicycle frame, extends bilaterally toward the back of the bicycle. The distal ends of the primary component are attached bilaterally to the proximal ends of the secondary component, which extends distally to the rear of the bicycle wheel where the distal ends of the secondary component are connected by a joining element, to which the canine- harnessing mechanism (consisting of expansion springs and harness rings) is attached as a means of leashing the dog or dogs to be exercised. When not in use, the secondary component can be removed or positioned superior to the rear bicycle wheel in a forwardly facing direction by loosening wing nuts that join the primary and secondary components.

French Abstract

L'attache-laisse à monter sur une bicyclette pour l'exercice des chiens fournit un moyen de faire faire de l'exercice à un ou plusieurs chiens en attachant leur laisse à l'arrière d'un vélo par l'entremise d'un appareil qui est attaché au cadre du vélo. L'appareil comprend un composant principal et un composant secondaire, un élément de liaison et un mécanisme de mise en harnais pour chiens. Le composant principal, fixé au cadre de bicyclette, s'étend bilatéralement vers l'arrière de la bicyclette. Les extrémités distales du composant primaire sont fixées bilatéralement sur les extrémités proximales du composant secondaire, qui se prolonge de manière distale à l'arrière de la roue de bicyclette lorsque les extrémités distales du composant secondaire sont reliées par un élément de liaison, auquel le mécanisme de mise en harnais pour chiens, composé de ressorts d'expansion et d'anneaux de harnais, est fixé comme un moyen de la tenue en laisse du ou des chiens auxquels on souhaite faire faire de l'exercice. Lorsqu'il n'est pas utilisé, le composant secondaire peut être retiré ou placé plus haut que la roue arrière de la bicyclette dans une direction tournée vers l'avant en desserrant les écrous à oreilles qui unissent les composants principal et secondaire.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A canine-exercising apparatus for a bicycle, the bicycle having a
seat and right and left rear frame members fixing a rear wheel, the
apparatus comprising:
a right support arm attached to the right rear frame
member and a left support arm attached to the left rear frame
member, each of the support arms extending rearwardly from the
rear frame members;
a right swing arm attached to the right support arm
and a left swing arm attached to the left support arm; and
harnessing means attached to each of the swing arms
and extending therebetween, the harnessing means adapted to
accept at least one leash;
wherein the swing arms are attached to the support arms in either a
first position for use wherein the swing arms extend rearwardly
from the support arms beyond the rear of the rear wheel, or a
second position for storage wherein the swing arms extend
generally upwardly from the support arms beyond the top of the
rear wheel.
2. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swing
arms are pivotable between the first position for use and the second
position for storage.
3. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support
arms are removably attached to the rear frame members.
4

4. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support
arms are removably attached to each other.
The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second
position for storage is beneath the seat of the bicycle.
6. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the harnessing
means comprises at least one ring.
7. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 6, wherein the harnessing
means comprises at least one shock-absorbing component.
8. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least
one shock-absorbing component comprises at least one expansion
spring between the at least one ring and the harnessing means.
9. The canine exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swing
arms are removably attached to the support arms.
10. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swing
arms are attached to the support arms with a plurality of bolts and
wing nuts.
11. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swing
arms are pivotally attached to the support arms.
5

12. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support
arms comprise an abrasion-resistant surface.
13. The canine-exercising apparatus of claim 12, wherein the
abrasion-resistant surface comprises rubber sleeves.
5A

Description

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BACKGROUND
This invention relates to an apparatus that is attached to a bicycle as a
means of
exercising one or more dogs at a time.
A common problem in urban areas is that dog owners have difficulty giving
their
dogs adequate exercise. Walking dogs on a leash, especially the larger breeds,
may not allow them to get sufficient exercise. While off-leash exercise is
ideal,
off-Icash areas may not be conveniently located and/or their hours of use may
be
limited to certain times of the day.
Some people solve the problem of exercising their dogs by riding a bicycle
with
the dog running alongside and the cyclist either holding the end of the leash
or
attaching it to the handlebars. This method is unsafe for the cyclist, the
dog, and
others on the road. By having to watch out for the dog and keep the bike
steady,
the cyclist may be distracted from keeping an eye on trra.ffic and road
obstacles.
As well, the dog can easily knock or pull the bike over, possibly injuring the
cyclist;
if the dog gets away, it can get hit by a car or cause an accident. Even if
one
avoids=areas with vehicle traffic and rides along a path or trail, the dog and
bike
may take up too much space widthwise, making it difficult for others on the
trail to
pass. Another problem with exercising dogs in this way is that only one dog at
a time
can be exercised,
I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by attaching an
apparatus
to the bike that allows one or more dogs to be exercised while leashed at the
rear of
the bike. With the dogs secured in this way, there is little chance of them
being
able to pull or knock the bike over or to get free; the cyclist, being better
able to
concentrate on the road, can ride more safely. As well as allowing one to
exercise
more than one dog at a time, using the device takes up less space on the road
widthwise than if the dog runs alongside the bike.
SUMMARY OF INWNTION
This invention provides for a canine-exercising apparatus attachable
to a bicycle.
One aspect of the invention provides for right and left support anns
attached to and extending rearwardly from rear frame members of a bicycle.

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Right and left swing arms are attached to the right and left support anns,
respectively. A harnessing means for accepting at least one leash is attached
to each of the swing arms. The swing arms are attached to the support arms
in either a first position for use wherein the swing arms extend rearwardly
from the support arms beyond the rear of the rear wheel of the bicycle, or a
second position for storage wherein the swing arms extend generally
upwardly from the support arms beyond the top of the rear wheel. The swing
arms may be pivotable between the first and second positions. The swing
arms may be removably attached to the support arms. The support arms may
be removably attached to the rear frame of the bicycle, and removably
attached to each other.
Further aspects of the invention provide for harnessing means
comprising at least one ring. The harnessing means may also comprise
shock-absorbing components, such as expansion springs between the rings
and the harnessing means. The support arms optionally include an
abrasion-resistant surface. For example, rubber sleeves may be provided for
the support arms.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings, which form a part of this specification,
Fig. I shows the Canine Bike Exerciser, where the apparatus is installed on a
bicycle frame, ready to attach one or two dogs;
Fig. 2 is a view of the Canine Bike Exerciser attached to the bicycle frame,
with
the detachable secondary component connected to the primary component and
extended distally behind the rear wheel of the bicycle;
Fig. 3 is a view of the Canine Bike Exerciser attached to the bike frame,
showing
the secondary component with two bolts removed at the connecting point with
the

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primary component in order to allow the joining element to rest superior to
the
rear bicycle wheel in a forward facing direction when not in use;
Fig. 4 shows the primary component attached to the bicycle frame, with the
secondary
component removed to allow use of the bicycle without the secondary component
when the apparatus is not in use;
Fig. 5 is a view of the secondary component detached from the primary
component,
showing how the distal ends of the secondary component are attached to the
joining
element;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the secondary component detached from the primary
component,
showing the harness rings attached to the expansion springs, which are in turn
attached
to eye screws inserted into the joining element;
Fig. 7 is a rear view of the secondary component detached from the primary
component,
showing the joining element and the attachment of the eye screws, expansion
springs,
and harness rings that allow the leashing of the dog(s) to the joining
element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the embodiment of the Canine Bike Exerciser illustrated in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, the
invention comprises a device attached to a bicycle frame that allows one to
exercise one
or more dogs at a time by having them run with the bicycle while being leashed
at the
rear. The device comprises a primary component, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and
4, made
from steel tubes 1, which are attached to a bicycle frame by means of nuts and
bolts 2 and
zip straps 3.
The tubes 1 are flattened at the ends, where holes are drilled to allow for
the passage of
bolts 2, 4a, and 4b. Rubber sleeves 5 are slipped onto each of the tubes 1 at
the points
where the tubes 1 come in contact with the bicycle frame in order to lessen
the possibility
of abrasion on the frame.
The device also comprises a secondary component, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5,
6, and 7,
made from steel tubes 6 flattened at the ends, where holes are drilled to
allow for the
passage of bolts 4a, 4b, and 7. At the distal end the tubes 6 are bent at
right angles where
they are attached by nuts and bolts 7 to a wooden joining element 8; at the
proximal end,
the steel tubes 6 of the secondary component are connected to the steel tubes
1 of the
primary component by bolts 4a and 4b, and wing nuts 9. The bolts 4a and 4b are
passed
through the corresponding holes in the steel tubes 1 of the primary component
and the

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steel tubes 6 of the secondary component from the medial side so that bolts 4a
and 4b can
be secured by wing nuts 9 on the lateral side of the bolts 4a and 4b. Placing
the wing nuts
9 on the lateral side allows the bolts 4a and 4b to be easily removed in order
to detach the
secondary component from the primary component should one want to remove the
secondary component when the Canine Exerciser is not in use, as seen in Figure
4.
Alternatively, one can remove only one set of bolts 4a, allowing one to
position the
joining element in a forwardly facing direction superior to the rear bicycle
wheel, as
illustrated in Figure 3.
As seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7, the bolts 7 joining the steel tubes 6
of the
secondary component to the wooden joining element 8 are passed through the
joining
element 8 from the distal to the proximal side, where the bolts 7 are secured;
thus the
bolts 7 protrude on the opposite side of the joining element 8 to where the
dog(s) are
leashed, eliminating the chance of injury to the dog(s).
Figures 1, 3, 6, and 7 show in detail the elements of the Canine Bike
Exerciser that enable
one to leash a dog or dogs to the apparatus. Eye screws 10 are inserted into
the top of the
wooden joining element 8; an expansion spring 11 is connected to each eye
screw 10; a
harness ring 12 is attached to each expansion spring 11. The leash of a dog
being
exercised is looped through the harness ring.
The arrangement of components on the joining element 8 has been done with the
utmost
regard for the safety of the dogs: rounded edges on a wooden joining element
8,
placement of eye screws 10 on top of the wooden joining element 8 to minimize
the
chances of contact with the dog(s), expansion springs 11 that minimize yanking
on the
dog's neck, round harness rings 12 (that is, no sharp edges that could injure
the dog(s).
Having thus described the present invention, it is thought that said invention
and its
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be
evident that
various changes to said invention may be implemented without departing from
the spirit
and scope of said invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages;
that is, the
foregoing description is merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment of said
invention.

Representative Drawing