Patent Application
20200346700
A problem faced by many trailer owners is the amount of space required to store a trailer. As an example, storing a conventional trailer in an average-sized garage bay can occupy the space meant for a passenger vehicle. This issue also presents itself for businesses that rent/lease utility/cargo trailers (e.g., U-Haul® franchises) and that may have limited available on-site real estate for parking/stowing a plurality of trailers not being used. To solve these types of problems, folding trailers were developed. Though there are many configurations of folding trailers in the art, all of the existing configurations share three negative aspects: First, they require substantial physical exertion to fold and unfold; second, handling the trailer components when folding or unfolding can present the potential for serious injury to users; and third, the process of folding and unfolding a trailer is very time-consuming. What is needed is an improved folding trailer that addresses these issues in a cost-effective, easy-to-use fashion.
The inventive disclosures described herein pertain to an improved folding trailer for stowage that, in many cases, is comprised of a hinged trailer tongue, an integral winch, and a means to power the winch. More specifically, this folding-trailer configuration significantly minimizes the physical exertion required of a user to fold or unfold the trailer, significantly reduces the potential for serious user injury during the folding/unfolding process, and greatly reduces the time required to fold and unfold the trailer. One of the key features is a load-bearing torsion spring disposed within the swivel jack assembly to relieve a user from the burden of trying to lift/control the heavy weight of the trailer tongue when configuring the trailer and its swivel jack into different modes of use.
The integral winch folds the improved folding trailer and the trailer tongue in a jackknife fashion for storage by means of an external power source that can be easily coupled and decoupled from the mechanical winch device. In many variations, the external power source attaches to winch drive shaft on the outside of the trailer bed, at a safe distance from the trailer. The integral winch requires minimal torque to operate, and in some applications, a means to manually operate the mechanical winch is provided. In typical embodiments, however, a small external power source, including but not limited to, a cordless drill, can easily supply the mechanical power required to fold/unfold the trailer.
In some versions of the improved folding trailer, the power source for operating the winch is by way of an integrated electric motor, which is coupled to the winch gearing. In variations, the winch motor is powered by an onboard rechargeable battery and/or an external electric-cable connection to the trailer and can be controlled with a handheld wireless remote-control device to allow a user to stand a safe distance from the trailer as it is being folded or unfolded. In some cases, the power to the cable can be supplied via a nearby automobile. In some variations, the electric power supplied by a nearby automobile is by way of one of many standard trailer-cable connection configurations known in the art, while in other variations, the electric power can come from a power outlet internal to the nearby automobile or from another standard 120-VAC outlet using a typical AC-DC converter known in the art.
Finally, the improved folding trailer also features collapsible sides and tailgate on the flatbed portion (/cargo area) of the trailer, with multiple extended configurations possible to provide robust cargo-storage/hauling capabilities.
The foregoing Brief Summary is intended to merely provide a short, general overview of the inventive disclosures described throughout this patent application, and therefore, is not intended to limit the scope of the inventive disclosure contained throughout the balance of this patent application, including the appended claims and drawings.
The inventive disclosures described herein pertain to an improved folding trailer for stowage that, in many embodiments, is comprised of a hinged trailer tongue, an integral winch, and a means to power the winch. More specifically, this folding-trailer configuration significantly minimizes the physical exertion required of a user to fold or unfold the trailer, significantly reduces the potential for serious user injury during the folding/unfolding process, and greatly reduces the time required to fold and unfold the trailer. One of the key features is a load-bearing torsion spring disposed within the swivel jack assembly to relieve a user from the burden of trying to lift/control the heavy weight of the trailer tongue when configuring the trailer and its swivel jack into different modes of use.
In embodiments, the integral winch folds the improved folding trailer and the trailer tongue in a jackknife fashion for storage by means of an external power source that can be easily coupled and decoupled from the mechanical winch device. In many variations, the external power source attaches to winch drive shaft on the outside of the trailer bed, at a safe distance from the trailer. The integral winch requires minimal torque to operate, and in some embodiments, a means to manually operate the mechanical winch is provided. In typical embodiments, however, a small external power source, including but not limited to, a cordless drill, can easily supply the mechanical power required to fold/unfold the trailer.
In some embodiments, the power source for operating the winch is by way of an integrated electric motor, which is coupled to the winch gearing. In variations, the winch motor is powered by an onboard rechargeable battery and/or an external electric-cable connection to the trailer and can be controlled with a handheld wireless remote-control device to allow a user to stand a safe distance from the trailer as it is being folded or unfolded. In some cases, the power to the cable can be supplied via a nearby automobile. In some variations, the electric power supplied by a nearby automobile is by way of one of many standard trailer-cable connection configurations known in the art, while in other variations, the electric power can come from a power outlet internal to the nearby automobile or from another standard 120-VAC outlet using a typical AC-DC converter known in the art.
Finally, in many embodiments, the improved folding trailer also features collapsible sides and tailgate on the flatbed portion (/cargo area) of the trailer, with multiple extended configurations possible to provide robust cargo-storage/hauling capabilities.
The terms and phrases as indicated in quotes (“ ”) in this Section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminology Section applied to them throughout this document, including the claims, unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case, to the singular and plural variations of the defined word or phrase.
The term “or”, as used in this specification, drawings, and the appended claims, is not meant to be exclusive; rather, the term is inclusive, meaning “either or both”.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment”, “a variation”, “one variation”, and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” and/or “in one variation” and similar phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer to the same embodiment.
The term “couple” or “coupled”, as used in this specification, drawings, and the appended claims, refers to either an indirect or a direct connection between the identified elements, components, or objects. Often, the manner of the coupling is related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.
The term “removable”, “removably coupled”, “readily removable”, “readily detachable”, “detachably coupled”, and similar terms, as used in this specification, drawings, and the appended claims, refer to structures that can be uncoupled from an adjoining structure with relative ease (i.e., non-destructively and without a complicated or time-consuming process) and that can also be readily reattached or coupled to the previously adjoining structure.
Directional and/or relational terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, back, front, lateral, proximal, and distal are relative to each other, are dependent on the specific orientation of an applicable element or article, are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments, and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting in this specification, drawings, and the appended claims.
As applicable, the terms “about” or “generally”, as used herein unless otherwise indicated, means a margin of +−20%. Also, as applicable, the term “substantially” as used herein unless otherwise indicated means a margin of +−10%. It is to be appreciated that not all uses of the above terms are quantifiable such that the referenced ranges can be applied.
This Section III is directed generally to an improved folding trailer that is designed to minimize its stowage footprint. Refer to
In an embodiment, the trailer bed 2 is attached to the trailer tongue 4 at the hinge bracket 12. The trailer tongue 4 is locked to the trailer bed 2 by means of the integral locking bracket 14, which incorporates flange walls adjacent and parallel to the side walls of the trailer tongue 4. This integral locking bracket 14 and the trailer tongue 4 each have a hole with the same axis pierced laterally through both members 14, 4. This coaxial hole permits the locking pin 32 (or other suitable fastener such, but not limited to, as a threaded bolt, washer, and nut assembly) to pass through both the locking bracket 14 and the trailer tongue 4 in order to lock the trailer tongue 4 in the extended position, as shown, e.g., in
In additional embodiments, the tongue coupler 34 is attached to the distal end of the trailer tongue 4. The swivel-wheel trailer jack 6, which includes a wheel 6A and a manually operated wheel brake 6B, is mounted to the side wall of the trailer tongue 4 in between the locking bracket 14 and the tongue coupler 34. Typically, the jack mechanism for the swivel-wheel trailer jack 6 is of a telescoping type, well-known in the art.
In variations, the telescoping swivel-wheel trailer jack 6 can be pivoted and locked in three positions: In
Referring to
In some variations, as depicted in
In other embodiments, as depicted in
In some variations, and referring to
In typical embodiments, the load-bearing torsion-spring assembly 6I, 6J, 6K functions as follows:
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its down (90-degree) position to its forward-extended position as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, which is spring-loaded 6K-1 and is primarily disposed within a housing 6K-2 that has a mating hole for the jack-trigger bolt 6K to be inserted through in order to mate with a hole in a secondary receiving housing 6K-3 that is disposed on the side of the tongue 4 near the aforementioned tongue cutout 4A. The housings 6K-2, 6K-3 have a set of predetermined mating holes (not all shown) disposed within them for the jack-trigger bolt 6K to be engaged for the various modes of operation for the swivel jack 6. Once the j ack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then slowly and in a controlled fashion lower the trailer tongue 4 and its coupler 34 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the forward-extended position. The rotation of the swivel jack 6 toward the forward-extended position inherently tightens/winds a heavy-duty torsion spring 6I because its first end 6I-1 is fixedly attached to the rotating column of the swivel jack 6 while the second end 6I-2 rotates with the torsion spring 6I until it makes contact with the edge of the tongue cutout 4A, which in turn causes the torsion spring 6I to tighten/wind to absorb most of the weight/load of the tongue 4 (typically around 60 lbs.) instead of the user having to bear that weight as the tongue 4 is lowered. In many variations, the torsion spring 6I is adapted to absorb/deflect all but about 5 lbs. (approximately 90%-93%) of the weight of the trailer tongue 4, which leaves a very manageable weight for the user to control.
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its retracted (rearward) position to its down (90-degree) position as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, as described above. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then rotate the swivel jack 6 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the down (90-degree) position. As before, the rotation of the swivel jack 6 toward from its retracted (rearward) position to the down (90-degree) position inherently starts to tighten/wind the torsion spring 6I once the second end 6I-2 makes contact with the edge of the tongue cutout 4A.
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its down (90-degree) position to its retracted (rearward) position, as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, as described above. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then rotate the swivel jack 6 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the new desired position. It should be noted that when the swivel jack 6 is in its down (90-degree) position, the torsion spring 6I is no longer engaged with the tongue cutout 4A at torsion-spring end 6I-2; therefore, the user can simply pivot and lock the swivel jack 6 into its stored/retracted (rearward) position.
In many embodiments, an integral winch 16 is mounted to the bottom surface of the trailer bed (also sometimes referred to as a flatbed) 2, substantially laterally centered between the left and right sides of the trailer bed 2, and longitudinally in front of the trailer wheels 10 so that the wheels 10 do not interfere with a user's access to the winch drive shaft 30 and associated drive-shaft coupler 24. In typical embodiments, one end of the winch cable 18 is attached to the winch-cable anchor 20, which is mounted to the underside of the trailer tongue 4. In many variations, the drive-shaft coupler 24 provides a connection point for an external power source 28, whether the external power source 28 is an electric hand-held power tool, a large hand crank for manual operation (which is part of a less-optimal embodiment, since manual operations represent extra exertion and risk to a user), or some other powered device adapted to couple to the drive-shaft coupler 24. In one preferred configuration, the integral winch 16 incorporates, but is not limited to, a worm-gear mechanism that prevents the winch cable (in many typical applications, a steel-wire-strand cable) 18 from accidentally and/or uncontrollably deploying and uncoiling. In variations, the external power source is a hand-held portable electric drill 28. For example, in some applications, such a drill 28 can be a Ryobi° 18-VDC cordless drill that is rated at 340 in-lbf of torque and 440 RPM (unloaded). Of course, one ordinarily skilled in the art will recognize that the type, size, and power/torque ratings of a hand-held power drill 28 can be varied up or down to accommodate differently sized applications (trailer sizes and mass), worm-gear ratios, etc.
In an alternate configuration, an electric-motorized winch (hoist winch) 40, 16 is installed on the improved folding trailer that can be plugged into a compatible electric-power source/outlet (and, depending on the type of motor, feeding such external electric power through an appropriate AC-DC power converter to drive the motor 40) via a cable 60 and/or is powered by a rechargeable battery 40 that is disposed on the trailer 1. In many applications that employ a rechargeable battery 40, the ability to charge such a rechargeable battery 40 is incorporated by providing convenient access to the battery-charging terminals with an externally powered charging device and/or by also including an onboard charger/power converter that can be plugged into a compatible electric-power source/outlet or to a nearby motor vehicle capable of providing the required power via a long power cable 60. For example, in some applications, an extended power cable 60 is used to connect the trailer 1 to the trailer-towing-cable outlet (e.g., a seven-pin cable connector or other common trailer connector) of a nearby motorized vehicle. Further variations include local switch controls to govern motorized-winch 40,16 operations, including, in some applications, providing any safety interlocks to prevent winch 40, 16 operations when the trailer tongue 4 is still locked in its extended position. In additional variations, a hand-held wireless remote-control device 36 is used to control motorized-winch 40, 16 operations.
In still more embodiments, a coupled external power source 28 transmits rotational force through a flexible drive-shaft extension 26, through the drive-shaft coupler 24, and through the winch drive shaft 30, in order to drive the integral winch 16 to recoil the winch cable 18. In additional variations, the integral winch 16 employs a gear ratio that turns the high-speed revolutions of the external power source 28 into low-speed/high-torque power, forcing the trailer tongue 4 to pivot at the hinge bracket 12 in a downward fashion which in turn raises the front of the trailer bed 2. In one example application, the winch 16 is a Harbor Freight® worm-gear winch with a 40:1 worm-gear drive ratio with a cog gear with a 5.25-in. outside diameter and a worm screw with a 1.25-in. outside diameter.
In even more variations, the integral winch 16 and winch drive shaft 30, and drive-shaft coupler 24 are adapted to be used with a flexible external drive shaft 26 whereby an external power source 28 connects to the drive-shaft coupler 24 and where the external power source 28 is detachably coupled to the drive-shaft coupler 24. In some applications, such a flexible external drive shaft 26 can be made of a flexible, yet sturdy material such as polymeric tubing, with or without wire-mesh sheathing, or carbon-fiber composite. In one example application, the flexible external drive shaft 26 is fashioned from an Enkay® Flex Shaft (with a ¼-in. chuck). In some alternative applications, the flexible external drive shaft 26 can be a rigid shaft that includes a universal joint between the shaft and the aforementioned chuck, thus allowing the rigid version of the flexible external drive shaft 26 to be easily moved while still being effective.
In some embodiments, positioned behind the hinge bracket 12 is a folding-tongue stop 22, with a folding-tongue stop 22 typically disposed on each of the left and right side of the bottom of the trailer bed 2. The folding-tongue stop 22 prevents the trailer tongue 4 from pivoting beyond the predetermined optimal angle, which can vary based on the trailer's 1 dimensions, in order to ensure the stability of the fully folded trailer 1.
In other embodiments, two or more rear caster wheels 8 are mounted to the rear of the trailer bed 2, and said rear caster wheels 8 both help protect the rear of the trailer when in a folded (“jackknife”) configuration as well as facilitate (in conjunction with the swivel wheel on the swivel-wheel trailer jack 6) the movement/repositioning of the completely folded trailer 1 when in storage. Once the folding trailer 1 has been completely winched into its “jackknife” position (see
In one alternative embodiment, and referring to
Focusing on
Referring to
In many variations, the improved trailer's 1 tailgate member 52, has three operating positions, as depicted in
In the first position (see
In another embodiment, the various cargo-containment sides/members 50, 58 and the tailgate 52 can be detachably coupled to facilitate full removal in order to allow the use of the improved trailer 1 as just a flatbed trailer.
In even more variations, referring to
This Section IV is directed generally to an improved folding trailer that is designed to minimize its stowage footprint. Refer to
In an embodiment, the improved folding trailer 1, comprises:
In some variations, the improved swivel jack 6 features a locking pin 6E adapted to be engaged in two aligned holes in predetermined locations in order to ensure that the effective length of the swivel jack 6 is such that the swivel jack wheel 6A and outer and inner telescoping tubes 6, 6F line up perpendicular to the ground when the improved folding trailer 1 is in its folded/stowed position to ensure optimum stability and to facilitate ease of travel for repositioning the improved trailer 1 in a storage setting. In some respects, the telescoping swivel jack 6 has common features known in the art, such as a gear box 6C and gear-box handle 6D for extending the telescoping tubes 6, 6F to raise/extend and lower/retract the swivel jack 6. In a typical variation, the locking pin 6E includes a bracket 6E-1, a compressible spring 6E-3, a spring pin 6E-5, a spring washer 6E-4, and a pin ring 6E-2.
In other variations, the improved trailer swivel jack's 6 locking-pin 6E assembly is used to fix the positions of the telescoping inner and outer jack tubes 6F, 6 relative to each other at a predetermined point. In
In other embodiments, as depicted in
In some variations, and referring to
In typical embodiments, the load-bearing torsion-spring assembly 6I, 6J, 6K functions as follows:
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its down (90-degree) position to its forward-extended position as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, which is spring-loaded 6K-1 and is primarily disposed within a housing 6K-2 that has a mating hole for the jack-trigger bolt 6K to be inserted through in order to mate with a hole in a secondary receiving housing 6K-3 that is disposed on the side of the tongue 4 near the aforementioned tongue cutout 4A. The housings 6K-2, 6K-3 have a set of predetermined mating holes (not all shown) disposed within them for the jack-trigger bolt 6K to be engaged for the various modes of operation for the swivel jack 6. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then slowly and in a controlled fashion lower the trailer tongue 4 and its coupler 34 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the forward-extended position. The rotation of the swivel jack 6 toward the forward-extended position inherently tightens/winds a heavy-duty torsion spring 6I because its first end 6I-1 is fixedly attached to the rotating column of the swivel jack 6 while the second end 6I-2 rotates with the torsion spring 6I until it makes contact with the edge of the tongue cutout 4A, which in turn causes the torsion spring 6I to tighten/wind to absorb most of the weight/load of the tongue 4 (typically around 60 lbs.) instead of the user having to bear that weight as the tongue 4 is lowered. In many variations, the torsion spring 6I is adapted to absorb/deflect all but about 5 lbs. (approximately 90%-93%) of the weight of the trailer tongue 4, which leaves a very manageable weight for the user to control.
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its retracted (rearward) position to its down (90-degree) position as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, as described above. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then rotate the swivel jack 6 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the down (90-degree) position. As before, the rotation of the swivel jack 6 toward from its retracted (rearward) position to the down (90-degree) position inherently starts to tighten/wind the torsion spring 6I once the second end 6I-2 makes contact with the edge of the tongue cutout 4A.
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its down (90-degree) position to its retracted (rearward) position, as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, as described above. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then rotate the swivel jack 6 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the new desired position. It should be noted that when the swivel jack 6 is in its down (90-degree) position, the torsion spring 6I is no longer engaged with the tongue cutout 4A at torsion-spring end 6I-2; therefore, the user can simply pivot and lock the swivel jack 6 into its stored/retracted (rearward) position.
In one alternative variation of the above embodiment, the trailer 1 either does not have an extended rearward profile beyond the wheels 10 such that the jack-knifing and stowage operations are possible without having to employ the aforementioned rear caster wheels 8 (that is, the rear caster wheels 8 are not included on the improved trailer 1) and instead relying only on the main trailer wheels 10 (most rearward, for trailers that might have multiple axles) to bear the weight of the trailer 1 with in a full, folded, stowage configuration. In another variation of this alternative scheme, the rear portion of the trailer bed 2 that extends past the most rearward main wheels 10 is configured to be slidably movable such that it can be slid inward over (or under) and towards the main body of the trailer 1, which in turn allows for the most rearward main wheels 10 to be used to bear the trailer's 1 weight when the trailer 1 is folded into its jackknife stowage configuration.
This embodiment can be enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 further comprises a worm-gear mechanism that prevents said winch cable from accidentally deploying and uncoiling.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 further comprises a coupled electric motor 40 to drive said winch 16. In variations, said electric motor 40 further comprises an onboard rechargeable battery 40 that can power said electric motor 40. In still more variations, said electric motor 40 and rechargeable battery 40 further comprise an onboard controller 40 that allows a user to operate said integral winch 16 and electric motor 40 with a wireless remote-control device 36. In other applications, said electric motor and/or rechargeable battery 40 can be powered by way of an external power cord or cable 60 connected to an external electric-power source.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 further comprises a drive-shaft coupler 24 fixedly and rotationally coupled 30 to said integral winch 16, said drive-shaft coupler 24 adapted to be detachably coupled to an external rotational power source 28. In variations, said integral winch 16 further comprises a flexible drive-shaft extension 26 for detachable coupling with an external rotational power source 28. In some applications, said external rotational power source 28 is selected from the group consisting of a hand-held electric drill and a hand crank.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 is further comprised of a gear ratio that turns the high-speed revolutions of said rotational power source 28, 40 into low speed/high torque power.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein the improved folding trailer 1 further comprises at least one folding-tongue stop 22 disposed behind said integral locking bracket 14 and on a side of the bottom of the trailer bed 2.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein the improved trailer 1 further comprises at least one cargo-containment member 50, 58 on each of the left and rights sides and proximal side of said trailer's bed 2, wherein each said cargo-containment member 50, 58 is adapted to be folded flat on top of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate trailer stowage and each said cargo-containment member 50, 58 can be placed and locked into an orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate cargo containment. In variations, each of said cargo-containment members 50, 58 is detachably coupled to said trailer bed 2. In even more variations, the improved trailer 1 further comprises a tailgate member 52, wherein said tailgate member 52 is adapted to be folded flat on top of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate trailer stowage; said tailgate member 52 can be placed and locked into an upright orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate cargo containment; and said tailgate member 52 can be placed into a downward orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2, leaving said tailgate member 52 hanging below the plane of said trailer bed 2. In other variations, said tailgate member 52 is detachably coupled to said trailer bed 2.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein the improved trailer 1 further comprises at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 coupled to and disposed above each said left and right cargo-containment member 50, wherein each said cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 is coupled to at least one of said left or right cargo-containment members 50 via a vertical strut member 54. In variations, the spacing between said support struts 54 on each of said at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 is dimensioned such that said at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 can be installed onto said side cargo-containment members 50 either longitudinally parallel relative to the trailer's 1 length or orthogonally relative to the trailer's 1 length. In some applications, said vertical support strut member 54 can be height-adjustable. In other applications, additional vertical support strut members 56 are used to adjust the height of said cargo-carrying racks/rails 54.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein he improved folding trailer 1 can be used as a flatbed cargo carrier with its cargo-containing sides/gates 50, 52, 58 disposed in a flat-folded configuration and with three additional struts 62 installed across folded sides 50 to convert the improved folding trailer bed's folded sides/gates into a flatbed cargo rack.
This Section V is directed generally to a method of making an improved folding trailer that is designed to minimize its stowage footprint and, in many embodiments, is comprised of a hinged trailer tongue and an integral winch that is adapted to use external power source that can be easily coupled and decoupled from the winch component. Refer to
In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of:
This embodiment can be enhanced wherein the improved trailer swivel jack's 6 locking-pin 6E assembly is used to fix the positions of the telescoping inner and outer jack tubes 6F, 6 relative to each other at a predetermined point. In
This embodiment can be enhanced wherein the improved folding trailer 1 features a swivel jack 6 that can be placed in a front-extended position to facilitate trailer folding, wherein there is visual indictor on the improved swivel jack's outer and inner tubes 6, 6F to aid a user in determining is the jack is extended to the ideal position for trailer-folding operations in order to ensure optimum stability of the improved folded trailer 1 when it is in its completely folded configuration. In the case of
In some variations, and referring to
In typical embodiments, the load-bearing torsion-spring assembly 6I, 6J, 6K functions as follows:
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its down (90-degree) position to its forward-extended position as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, which is spring-loaded 6K-1 and is primarily disposed within a housing 6K-2 that has a mating hole for the jack-trigger bolt 6K to be inserted through in order to mate with a hole in a secondary receiving housing 6K-3 that is disposed on the side of the tongue 4 near the aforementioned tongue cutout 4A. The housings 6K-2, 6K-3 have a set of predetermined mating holes (not all shown) disposed within them for the jack-trigger bolt 6K to be engaged for the various modes of operation for the swivel jack 6. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then slowly and in a controlled fashion lower the trailer tongue 4 and its coupler 34 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the forward-extended position. The rotation of the swivel jack 6 toward the forward-extended position inherently tightens/winds a heavy-duty torsion spring 6I because its first end 6I-1 is fixedly attached to the rotating column of the swivel jack 6 while the second end 6I-2 rotates with the torsion spring 6I until it makes contact with the edge of the tongue cutout 4A, which in turn causes the torsion spring 6I to tighten/wind to absorb most of the weight/load of the tongue 4 (typically around 60 lbs.) instead of the user having to bear that weight as the tongue 4 is lowered. In many variations, the torsion spring 6I is adapted to absorb/deflect all but about 5 lbs.
(approximately 90%-93%) of the weight of the trailer tongue 4, which leaves a very manageable weight for the user to control.
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its retracted (rearward) position to its down (90-degree) position as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, as described above. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then rotate the swivel jack 6 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the down (90-degree) position. As before, the rotation of the swivel jack 6 toward from its retracted (rearward) position to the down (90-degree) position inherently starts to tighten/wind the torsion spring 6I once the second end 6I-2 makes contact with the edge of the tongue cutout 4A.
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its down (90-degree) position to its retracted (rearward) position, as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, as described above. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then rotate the swivel jack 6 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the new desired position. It should be noted that when the swivel jack 6 is in its down (90-degree) position, the torsion spring 6I is no longer engaged with the tongue cutout 4A at torsion-spring end 6I-2; therefore, the user can simply pivot and lock the swivel jack 6 into its stored/retracted (rearward) position.
This embodiment can be enhanced by further comprising the step of providing said integral winch 16 with a worm-gear mechanism that prevents said winch cable from accidentally deploying and uncoiling.
This embodiment can be enhanced by further comprising the step of providing said integral winch 16 with a coupled electric motor 40 to drive said winch 16. In variations, the method further comprises the step of providing said electric motor 40 with an onboard rechargeable battery 40 that can power said electric motor 40. In still more variations, the method further comprises the step of providing said electric motor 40 and rechargeable battery 40 with an onboard controller 40 that allows a user to operate said integral winch 16 and electric motor 40 with a wireless remote-control device 36. In other applications, said electric motor and/or rechargeable battery 40 can be powered by way of an external power cord or cable 60 connected to an external electric-power source.
This embodiment can be enhanced by further comprising the step of providing said integral winch 16 with a drive-shaft coupler 24 fixedly and rotationally coupled 30 to said integral winch 16, said drive-shaft coupler 24 adapted to be detachably coupled to an external rotational power source 28. In variations, the method further comprises the step of providing said integral winch 16 with a flexible drive-shaft extension 26 for detachable coupling with an external rotational power source 28. In some applications, said external rotational power source 28 is selected from the group consisting of a hand-held electric drill and a hand crank.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 has a gear ratio that turns the high-speed revolutions of said rotational power source 28, 40 into low speed/high torque power.
This embodiment can be enhanced by further comprising the step of providing the improved folding trailer 1 further with at least one folding-tongue stop 22 disposed behind said integral locking bracket 14 and on a side of the bottom of the trailer bed 2.
This embodiment can be enhanced by further comprising the step of providing the improved trailer 1 with at least one cargo-containment member 50, 58 on each of the left and rights sides and proximal side of said trailer's bed 2, wherein each said cargo-containment member 50, 58 is adapted to be folded flat on top of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate trailer stowage and each said cargo-containment member 50, 58 can be placed and locked into an orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate cargo containment. In variations, each of said cargo-containment members 50, 58 is detachably coupled to said trailer bed 2. In even more variations, the method further comprises the step of providing said improved trailer 1 with a tailgate member 52, wherein said tailgate member 52 is adapted to be folded flat on top of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate trailer stowage; said tailgate member 52 can be placed and locked into an upright orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate cargo containment; and said tailgate member 52 can be placed into a downward orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2, leaving said tailgate member 52 hanging below the plane of said trailer bed 2. In other variations, said tailgate member 52 is detachably coupled to said trailer bed 2.
This embodiment can be enhanced by further comprising the step of providing the improved trailer 1 with at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 coupled to and disposed above each said left and right cargo-containment member 50, wherein each said cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 is coupled to at least one of said left or right cargo-containment members 50 via a vertical strut member 54. In variations, the spacing between said support struts 54 on each of said at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 is dimensioned such that said at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 can be installed onto said side cargo-containment members 50 either longitudinally parallel relative to the trailer's 1 length or orthogonally relative to the trailer's 1 length. In some applications, said vertical support strut member 54 can be height-adjustable. In other applications, the method further comprises the step of providing additional vertical support strut members 56 that can be used to adjust the height of said cargo-carrying racks/rails 54.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein he improved folding trailer 1 can be used as a flatbed cargo carrier with its cargo-containing sides/gates 50, 52, 58 disposed in a flat-folded configuration and with three additional struts 62 installed across folded sides 50 to convert the improved folding trailer bed's folded sides/gates into a flatbed cargo rack.
This Section VI is directed generally to a method of using an improved folding trailer that is designed to minimize its stowage footprint and, in many embodiments, is comprised of a hinged trailer tongue and an integral winch that is adapted to use external power source that can be easily coupled and decoupled from the winch component. Refer to
In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of:
In other variations, the improved trailer swivel jack's 6 locking-pin 6E assembly is used to fix the positions of the telescoping inner and outer jack tubes 6F, 6 relative to each other at a predetermined point. In
In other embodiments, as depicted in
Referring to
In typical embodiments, the load-bearing torsion-spring assembly 6I, 6J, 6K functions as follows:
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its down (90-degree) position to its forward-extended position as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, which is spring-loaded 6K-1 and is primarily disposed within a housing 6K-2 that has a mating hole for the jack-trigger bolt 6K to be inserted through in order to mate with a hole in a secondary receiving housing 6K-3 that is disposed on the side of the tongue 4 near the aforementioned tongue cutout 4A. The housings 6K-2, 6K-3 have a set of predetermined mating holes (not all shown) disposed within them for the jack-trigger bolt 6K to be engaged for the various modes of operation for the swivel jack 6. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then slowly and in a controlled fashion lower the trailer tongue 4 and its coupler 34 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the forward-extended position. The rotation of the swivel jack 6 toward the forward-extended position inherently tightens/winds a heavy-duty torsion spring 6I because its first end 6I-1 is fixedly attached to the rotating column of the swivel jack 6 while the second end 6I-2 rotates with the torsion spring 6I until it makes contact with the edge of the tongue cutout 4A, which in turn causes the torsion spring 6I to tighten/wind to absorb most of the weight/load of the tongue 4 (typically around 60 lbs.) instead of the user having to bear that weight as the tongue 4 is lowered. In many variations, the torsion spring 6I is adapted to absorb/deflect all but about 5 lbs. (approximately 90%-93%) of the weight of the trailer tongue 4, which leaves a very manageable weight for the user to control.
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its retracted (rearward) position to its down (90-degree) position as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, as described above. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then rotate the swivel jack 6 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the down (90-degree) position. As before, the rotation of the swivel jack 6 toward from its retracted (rearward) position to the down (90-degree) position inherently starts to tighten/wind the torsion spring 6I once the second end 6I-2 makes contact with the edge of the tongue cutout 4A.
To pivot the swivel jack 6 from its down (90-degree) position to its retracted (rearward) position, as part of configuring the improved folding trailer 1, a user disengages the jack-trigger bolt 6K, as described above. Once the jack-trigger bolt 6K is disengaged, a user can then rotate the swivel jack 6 until the jack-trigger bolt 6K engages (i.e., “locks” into) in the hole corresponding to the new desired position. It should be noted that when the swivel jack 6 is in its down (90-degree) position, the torsion spring 6I is no longer engaged with the tongue cutout 4A at torsion-spring end 6I-2; therefore, the user can simply pivot and lock the swivel jack 6 into its stored/retracted (rearward) position.
This embodiment can be enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 further comprises a worm-gear mechanism that prevents said winch cable from accidentally deploying and uncoiling.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 further comprises a coupled electric motor 40 to drive said winch 16. In variations, said electric motor 40 further comprises an onboard rechargeable battery 40 that can power said electric motor 40. In still more variations, said electric motor 40 and rechargeable battery 40 further comprise an onboard controller 40 that allows a user to operate said integral winch 16 and electric motor 40 with a wireless remote-control device 36. In other applications, said electric motor and/or rechargeable battery 40 can be powered by way of an external power cord or cable 60 connected to an external electric-power source.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 further comprises a drive-shaft coupler 24 fixedly and rotationally coupled 30 to said integral winch 16, said drive-shaft coupler 24 adapted to be detachably coupled to an external rotational power source 28. In variations, said integral winch 16 further comprises a flexible drive-shaft extension 26 for detachable coupling with an external rotational power source 28. In some applications, said external rotational power source 28 is selected from the group consisting of a hand-held electric drill and a hand crank. Accordingly, the method can be enhanced by further comprising the step of detachably connecting an external rotational power source 28 to said flexible drive-shaft extension 26.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein said integral winch 16 is further comprised of a gear ratio that turns the high-speed revolutions of said rotational power source 28, 40 into low speed/high torque power.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein the improved folding trailer 1 further comprises at least one folding-tongue stop 22 disposed behind said integral locking bracket 14 and on a side of the bottom of the trailer bed 2.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein the improved trailer 1 further comprises at least one cargo-containment member 50, 58 on each of the left and rights sides and proximal side of said trailer's bed 2, wherein each said cargo-containment member 50, 58 is adapted to be folded flat on top of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate trailer stowage and each said cargo-containment member 50, 58 can be placed and locked into an orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate cargo containment. In variations, each of said cargo-containment members 50, 58 is detachably coupled to said trailer bed 2. In even more variations, the improved trailer 1 further comprises a tailgate member 52, wherein said tailgate member 52 is adapted to be folded flat on top of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate trailer stowage; said tailgate member 52 can be placed and locked into an upright orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2 to facilitate cargo containment; and said tailgate member 52 can be placed into a downward orthogonal position relative to the plane of said trailer bed 2, leaving said tailgate member 52 hanging below the plane of said trailer bed 2. In other variations, said tailgate member 52 is detachably coupled to said trailer bed 2.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein the improved trailer 1 further comprises at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 coupled to and disposed above each said left and right cargo-containment member 50, wherein each said cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 is coupled to at least one of said left or right cargo-containment members 50 via a vertical strut member 54. In variations, the spacing between said support struts 54 on each of said at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 is dimensioned such that said at least one cargo-carrying rack/rail 54 can be installed onto said side cargo-containment members 50 either longitudinally parallel relative to the trailer's 1 length or orthogonally relative to the trailer's 1 length. In some applications, said vertical support strut member 54 can be height-adjustable. In other applications, additional vertical support strut members 56 are used to adjust the height of said cargo-carrying racks/rails 54.
This embodiment can be further enhanced wherein he improved folding trailer 1 can be used as a flatbed cargo carrier with its cargo-containing sides/gates 50, 52, 58 disposed in a flat-folded configuration and with three additional struts 62 installed across folded sides 50 to convert the improved folding trailer bed's folded sides/gates into a flatbed cargo rack.
The various embodiments and variations thereof described herein, including the descriptions in any appended claims and/or illustrated in the accompanying Figures, are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the inventive disclosure. It should be appreciated that numerous variations of the invention have been contemplated as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure.
Hence, those ordinarily skilled in the art will have no difficulty devising myriad obvious variations and improvements to the invention, all of which are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the Description, Claims, and Figures herein.
The present patent application is a Continuation-in-Part of, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,679, filed on Dec. 4, 2018, for “Improved Folding Trailer for Stowage and Methods of Use”, which in turn is a Continuation-in-Part of, and claims the priority benefit of, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Application No. PCT/US2018/025558, filed on Mar. 30, 2018 for “Improved Folding Trailer for Stowage and Methods of Use,” which in turn claims the priority benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/484,172, filed on Apr. 11, 2017 for “Improved Folding Trailer and Methods of Use.” In addition, the present patent application hereby incorporates by reference each of U.S. Patent Application No. 16/209,679, PCT Application No. PCT/US2018/025558, and U.S. Patent Application No. 62/484,172 in their entirety for all purposes. For purposes of claim construction, if there are any unresolvable inconsistencies between the teaching of the present patent application and any of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,679, PCT Application No. PCT/US2018/025558, and/or U.S. Patent Application No. 62/484,172, then the teachings of the present patent application shall govern.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62484172 | Apr 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16209679 | Dec 2018 | US |
| Child | 16929320 | US | |
| Parent | PCT/US2018/025558 | Mar 2018 | US |
| Child | 16209679 | US |
