The disclosure describes a configurable trailer system. The system includes a chassis and any combination of an enclosed trailer, a camper, a livestock trailer, a dump bed and an open-sided trailer. The chassis is supported by one or more axles and includes a support surface. At corners of the support surface the chassis includes a plurality of locks. Each of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer includes a plurality of rectangular prisms configured to selectively and securely couple with the locks.
The disclosure also describes another configurable trailer system which includes a camper and a chassis supported by one or more axles. The camper includes a plurality of corner castings each having top, bottom, left side, right side, front and rear surfaces with a plurality of openings in the surfaces. The chassis includes a surface configured to support the camper and, at corners of the surface, a plurality of locks configured to selectively and securely couple the camper to the chassis through engagement of the locks with the corner castings.
The disclosure also describes another configurable trailer system. The chassis is supported by one or more axles and includes a support surface and, at corners of the support surface, a plurality of locks. The camper includes a plurality of corner castings configured to selectively and securely couple with the locks.
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example constructions are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure and manners by which they can be implemented. Although the best mode of carrying out disclosed systems and methods has been described, those of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing disclosed systems and methods are also possible.
It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Further, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Typically, people have a separate trailer with one or more axles for each of the applications they enjoy or are responsible for. For example, a person may have a flatbed, a fifth wheel RV, two stock trailers and an enclosed trailer.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a base flatbed trailer or chassis configured to receive and securely support any of a variety of accessory structures. Embodiments of the disclosure substantially eliminate, or at least partially address, problems in the prior art, enabling users to engage in a variety of activities with a single trailer system that requires only a single license and a single set of tires. As such, expenses as well as environmental impact from discarded tires may be reduced.
Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the disclosure will be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow. It will be appreciated that described features are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
At corners of support surface 160, chassis 100 includes a number of locks configured to selectively and securely couple each of the combination of the enclosed trailer, the camper or mobile dwelling, the livestock trailer, the dump bed and the open-sided trailer to the chassis.
A first component 120 of a sliding dovetail joint is provided to chassis support surface 160. In an example, first component 120 of the sliding dovetail joint is provided in an orientation approximately perpendicular to the one or more axles 170 or in the direction of a longitudinal axis of chassis 100 so that any of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer or dump bed can be mounted to or removed from the chassis by longitudinal translation.
While only one corner casting is illustrated in
A second component 220 of the sliding dovetail joint referred to above with reference to chassis 100 and
While first component 120 (
Enclosed trailer 200 includes a number of stanchions 230 configured for supporting the enclosed trailer above support surface 160 of chassis 100 or above the ground in the absence of chassis 100. In an example, stanchions 230 are adjustable in length/height between a higher setting when the chassis is being maneuvered under the enclosed trailer and a lower setting when the enclosed trailer is supported by the chassis. Stanchions 230 may be up to 12 ft. in length/height.
In an example, a first pair of stanchions 230 is separated by a first width and a second pair of stanchions 230 is spaced from the first pair of stanchions 230 and separated by a second width different from the first width. In an example, a distance between each stanchion of the first pair of stanchions 230 is greater than a width of the chassis at fenders 190 as enabled by wings 240. In another example, stanchions 230 are adjustable in width/spacing between a wider width when chassis 100 is being maneuvered under enclosed trailer 200 and a narrower setting when the enclosed trailer is supported by chassis 100.
While no corner casting is explicity illustrated in
Camper 300 also includes a second component 320 of the sliding dovetail joint referred to above with reference to chassis 100 and
Camper 300 includes a number of stanchions 330 configured for supporting the camper above support surface 160 of chassis 100 or above the ground in the absence of the chassis. In an example, a distance between each stanchion of a first pair of stanchions 330 is greater than a width of chassis 100 at fenders 190 as enabled by wings 340. Camper 300 may further include detachable steps 350.
In an example, a first pair of stanchions 330 is separated by a first width and a second pair of stanchions 330 is spaced from the first pair of stanchions 330 and separated by a second width different from the first width. In an example, a distance between each stanchion of the first pair of stanchions 330 is greater than a width of chassis 100 at fenders 190 as enabled by wings 340. In another example, stanchions 330 are adjustable in width/spacing between a wider width when chassis 100 is being maneuvered under camper 300 and a narrower setting when camper 300 is supported by chassis 100.
Livestock trailer 400 also includes a number of corner castings (not visible) configured to selectively and securely couple with locks 110 of chassis 100. As above, the corner castings may take the form of rectangular prisms each having top, bottom, left side, right side, front and rear surfaces with a number of openings in the surfaces. There may be an opening in the top or bottom surface, an opening in the left or right surface and an opening in the front or rear surface. In an example, one of the openings is a stacking hole, one of the openings is a stadium hole and one of the openings is a shield hole.
While no corner casting is explicity illustrated in
Livestock trailer 400 also includes a second component 420 of the sliding dovetail joint referred to above provided to a bottom surface of the livestock trailer and is configured to engage with first component 120 to selectively prevent rotation and two directions of translation of livestock trailer 400 relative to support surface 160 of chassis 100.
Livestock trailer 400 includes a number of stanchions 430 configured for supporting the livestock trailer above support surface 160 of chassis 100 or above the ground in the absence of the chassis. In an example, a distance between each stanchion of a first pair of stanchions 430 is greater than a width of chassis 100 at fenders 190 as enabled by wings 440.
In an example, a first pair of stanchions 430 is separated by a first width and a second pair of stanchions 430 is spaced from the first pair of stanchions 430 and separated by a second width different from the first width. In an example, a distance between each stanchion of the first pair of stanchions 430 is greater than a width of the chassis at fenders 190 as enabled by wings 440. In another example, stanchions 430 are adjustable in width/spacing between a wider width when chassis 100 is being maneuvered under livestock trailer 400 and a narrower setting when the livestock trailer is supported by chassis 100.
While no corner casting is explicity illustrated in
Dump bed 500 also includes a second component (not visible) of the sliding dovetail joint referred to above provided to a bottom surface of the dump bed and is configured to engage with first component 120 to selectively prevent rotation and two directions of translation of base 570 of dump bed 500 relative to support surface 160 of chassis 100.
Dump bed 500 includes a number of stanchions 530 configured for supporting the dump bed above support surface 160 of chassis 100 or above the ground in the absence of the chassis. In an example, a distance between each stanchion of a first pair of stanchions 530 is greater than a width of the chassis 100 at fenders 190 as enabled by wings 540.
In an example, a first pair of stanchions 530 is separated by a first width and a second pair of stanchions 530 is spaced from the first pair of stanchions 530 and separated by a second width different from the first width. In an example, a distance between each stanchion of the first pair of stanchions 530 is greater than a width of the chassis at fenders 190 as enabled by wings 540. In another example, stanchions 530 are adjustable in width/spacing between a wider width when chassis 100 is being maneuvered under dump bed 500 and a narrower setting when the dump bed is supported by chassis 100.
Dump bed 500 may further include a hydraulic ram 570 and a hydraulic ram control box.
The configurable trailer system may additionally or alternatively include an open-sided trailer including a number of corner castings configured to selectively and securely couple with locks 110.
Disclosed example systems may be used in any of a variety of methods for configuring a trailer system. In an example method, a chassis supported by one or more axles and including a support surface is provided. At corners of the support surface, a plurality of locks are provided. A first one of an enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed or open-sided trailer is placed onto the support surface. The first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed or open-sided trailer is locked to the chassis by engaging the locks with corner castings provided to corners of the first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed or open-sided trailer.
The first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed or open-sided trailer may be placed onto the support surface by, in part, aligning and mating a rail provided to a bottom surface of the first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed or open-sided trailer with a slot provided to the support surface of the chassis. The slot of the chassis may be slid along the rail of the first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed or open-sided trailer.
The first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer to the chassis by may be locked by inserting a portion of each lock into an opening in the corner castings. In an example, a lever is twisted or shifted to rotate a cone.
Any electrical wiring may be connected between the chassis and the coupled enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed or open-sided trailer. After the locking, a plurality of stanchions provided to the first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer are retracted.
The first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer may subsequently be unlocked from the chassis and a plurality of stanchions provided to the first one of enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer may be extended to support the first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer above the chassis when the chassis is moved away. Any electrical wiring may be disconnected prior to removing the first one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer from the chassis.
A second one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer, with stanchions extended, may be placed onto the support surface and locked to the chassis by engaging the locks with corner castings provided to corners of the second one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer. Placing the second one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer may further include sliding a slot along a rail. A plurality of stanchions provided to the second one of the enclosed trailer, camper, livestock trailer, dump bed and open-sided trailer are retracted.
Actions described above are only illustrative and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more actions are added, one or more actions are removed, or one or more actions are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
Embodiments of the disclosure are susceptible to being used for various purposes, including, though not limited to, enabling users to engage in a variety of activities with a single trailer system.
Modifications to embodiments of the disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim disclosed features are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. U.S. 63/289,359 filed on 14 Dec. 2021, pending, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63289359 | Dec 2021 | US |