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| United States Patent
|
4,057,282 |
| Kidd |
November 8, 1977 |
Vehicle Trailer
Abstract
A vehicle trailer for attachment to automobiles and the like
having a luggage-type form in its closed position but being adapted
by structure and hinge location to open to a first alternative
position of a tool trailer and a second alternative position of a
standard utility trailer.
| Inventors: |
Kidd; Kenneth B.
(Phoenix, AZ) |
| Appl. No.:
|
05/676,729 |
| Filed: |
April 14, 1976 |
| Current U.S.
Class: |
296/10 ;
296/173; D12/102 |
| Current
International Class: |
B62D
63/06 (20060101); B62D 63/00 (20060101); B60P 003/34 () |
| Field of
Search: |
296/10,23F,23R,27,28R,28M,23,28 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent
Documents
Primary Examiner: Goodman; Philip
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Stoneman; Martin L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A vehicle trailer comprising: a base structure comprising wheel
means and attachment means constructed and arranged for attaching
said trailer to the rear of a vehicle; mounted atop said wheel
means, a first box-like member having four sides and being open at
its top and rear; attached to said first box-like member and having
a first stable position atop said first box-like member, a second
box-like member having four sides and being open at its bottom and
rear; hinged attachment means between said box-like members between
the upper rear corners of said first box-like member and the lower
rear corners of said second box-like member; a panel hingedly
attached to the lower rear of said first box-like member and
attached by a hinged arm member to said first box-like member, said
hinged arm member being positioned between a first pin in said first
box-like member located adjacent to said hinged attachment means and
a second pin in said panel; so constructed and arranged that said
panel when in an upright first stable position closes the rear open
sides of both said first box-like member and said second box-like
member and said panel when in a horizontal second stable position is
adjacent, to the rear, and substantially in line with the bottom
side of said first box-like member, so that said second box-like
member, when rotated about said hinged attachment means comes to
rest and is supported by said panel when said panel is in its
horizontal second stable position, said bottom open side of said
second box-like member thereby becoming the upper side of said
second box-like member.
2. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 including a warning signal
hingedly mounted on said panel.
3. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 including a first locking means
between a front portion of said first box-like member and a front
portion of said second box-like member.
4. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 including a second locking means
between said second box-like member and said panel.
5. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said
panel when said panel is in a horizontal second stable position is
lower than the upper surface of the lower side of said first
box-like member by a distance substantially equal to the thickness
of the upper side of said second box-like member (when said second
box-like member is above said first box-like member).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicle trailers.
More particularly, the invention concerns a vehicle trailer
comprising a generally luggage-like container having an upper
box-like member, a lower box-like member, and a rear panel.
In a further aspect, the invention concerns a vehicle trailer
especially adapted for use in three alternative positions, which
three uses may be generally referred to as luggage trailer, tool
trailer, and standard utility trailer.
It has become a problem, with the ever-increasing use of compact and
sub-compact automobiles, to provide sufficient luggage space for the
desired vehicle use. Even when trailers known in the prior art are
used to solve space problems by attachment to the rear of such
automobiles, there are usually additional problems created, such as
additional difficulty of handling for inexperienced drivers, loss of
fuel economy, parking problems due to exceeding the length of
standard parking spaces, etc.
Furthermore, it is well known that different trailers are best
adapted for different uses, and there is a need for a trailer which
is well adapted to a multiplicity of uses.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to provide a vehicle
trailer which is not only adapted to a multiplicity of uses, but
provides also for the solution of the other problems hereinbefore
mentioned with respect to the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved vehicle trailer.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a
vehicle trailer adapted to a multiplicity of uses, including the
uses of luggage trailer, tool trailer, and standard utility trailer.
Still another object is to provide a vehicle trailer which even an
inexperienced driver may handle with ease.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a
vehicle trailer of the above type which allows both vehicle and
trailer to fit in a standard parking space.
Even another object is to provide a vehicle trailer which allows
additional luggage to be carried in a compact or sub-compact
automobile in a weathertight manner while maintaining fuel economy.
Yet still another object of the present invention is the provision
of a vehicle trailer of the above type which is efficient in its
manner of operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and
having a high degree of durability and serviceability.
Briefly, to accomplish the desired objectives of the present
invention in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment
thereof, there is provided a vehicle trailer having wheel means
thereunder and attachment means at the front of the trailer for
attaching the trailer to the rear of the vehicle. Mounted on the
wheel is a box-like member open at its top and rear. A second
box-like member open at its bottom end rear is hingedly attached to
the first box-like member, the hinged attachment means being between
the upper rear corners of the first box-like member and the lower
rear corners of the second box-like member. A panel is hingedly
attached to the lower rear of the first box-like member, and a
hinged arm member further attaches the panel to the first box-like
member, the hinged arm member extending between a pin attachment
adjacent to the hinged attachment means between the box-like members
and pin means located in the panel member. These parts are
constructed and arranged so that the panel when in its upright
position closes the rear open faces of both box-like members, and
the panel when in its down position is parallel and substantially in
line with the bottom side of the first box-like member, so that the
second box-like member when rotated about the hinges between the
box-like members comes to rest and is supported by the panel. The
trailer of the present invention is further provided with warning
lights or signals and locking attachments to stabilize the trailer
in its desired position of use and for purposes of safety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further and more specific objects and advantages of the present
invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection
with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an artistic view in perspective of the preferred
embodiment of the vehicle trailer of the present invention, shown in
position for use as a luggage trailer and attached to the rear of a
vehicle;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the illustrated preferred embodiment
of the present invention, showing the same in position for use as a
tool trailer; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the illustrated preferred embodiment
of the present invention, showing the same in position for use as a
standard utility trailer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the drawings, in which the reference numerals
indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1
illustrates the presently preferred vehicle trailer 11 shown in its
position for use as a luggage trailer. A wheel 12 is attached to the
underside of the trailer 11 in a conventional way and supports
railer 11. Conventional attachment devices 13 are attached to the
front end of trailer 11 and serve to attach trailer 11 to the rear
of the vehicle 14 in conventional ways. Mounted atop wheel 12 is a
first box-like member 15 having four sides: A horizontal side or
base 16 and vertical sides 17, 18, and 19. Box-like member 15 is
open at its top and rear. Shown atop box-like member 15 is a second
box-like member 20 having four sides: horizontal side 21; and
vertical sides 22, 23, and 24. Box-like member 20, in its position
as shown in FIG. 1, is open at its bottom and rear. A set of hinges
25 (best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3) attach box-like member 15 to
box-like member 20, hinges 25 being located and attached at the
upper rear corners of box-like member 15 and being further attached
to the lower rear corners of box-like member 20 as shown. Panel 26
is hingedly attached to box-like member 15 at hinge 27 (best seen in
FIGS. 2 and 3), and panel 26 when in its upright position as shown
in FIG. 1 serves to close the rear sides of box-like members 15 and
20, thus completing an enclosed luggage trailer.
Hinged arm member 28 (a similar hinged arm member may be provided on
the other side of trailer 11) consists of a first section 29 and
second section 30 connected at pin 31. Hinged arm member 28 serves
to connect box-like member 15 at pin 32 with panel 26 at pin 33.
This construction of hinged arm member 28 serves to support in a
conventional way panel 26 in its lowered position as shown in FIGS.
2 and 3. Further illustrated are signals or lights 34 which are
mounted adjacent the upper corners of panel 26 when in its upper
position (FIG. 1) and are lowered in a swivel manner (FIGS. 2 and 3)
when panel 26 is in its lowered position. Locking attachment 35
serves to connect and lock box-like member 15 to box-like member 20
in a conventional way as shown. Locking attachment 36 serves to
connect and lock panel 26 to box-like member 20 in a conventional
way as shown.
With particular reference to FIG. 2, trailer 11 is shown in its
position as a tool trailer. In comparison to the position of trailer
11 in FIG. 1, panel 26 has been unlocked (at 36) and lowered about
hinge 27 to its horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 2. Hinged arm
member 28 has been straightened to its full extension and provides
support for panel 26 at pin 33 in this lowered position of panel 26.
It is noted that the position, construction, and arrangement of
hinge 27 and panel 26 are such that panel 26, when in its lowered
position, has its upper face in a horizontal plane which is below
the horizontal plane of the upper face of side 16 in an amount and
distance approximating the thickness of side 21 of box-like member
20.
With particular reference to FIG. 3, the trailer 11 is shown in its
position as a standard utility trailer. In comparison to the
position of trailer 11 as shown in FIG. 2, box-like member 20 has
been rotated around hinges 25 until side 21 has changed position
from being the upper side of box-like member 20 to being the lower
side of box-like member 20 and box-like member 20 has come to rest
at the position where it is supported by panel 26. It is noted that
the floor of trailer 11 as shown in FIG. 3 is approximately level
because of the lowered position of panel 26 as previously noted in
the preceding paragraph.
Thus it is seen that trailer 11 may be utilized in three positions:
in full open position, as a standard utility trailer; with the rear
door folded down, as a tool trailer; and in full folded position, as
a weathertight luggage trailer. Further it is seen that when trailer
11 is in its position as shown in FIG. 1 (luggage trailer), an
extremely compact trailer is provided which may easily be
constructed, arranged, and attached in cooperation with a compact or
a sub-compact automobile so that an inexperienced driver may handle
it with ease and allowing both the automobile and trailer to fit in
a standard parking space. It is now also seen that the fuel economy
of a compact car may be realized in an efficient manner while
providing additional luggage space as needed. It is now further seen
that the efficient and compact trailer of the present invention is
simple in construction and design and yet easily adaptable to its
mentioned uses.
Various changes in the device herein shown for the purpose of
illustration will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. Such
modifications and variations, while not explicitly denoted in the
foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiment, do not
deviate from the teachings of the present invention and are intended
to be included in the spirit and scope thereof, and the scope of the
present invention is intended to be limited only by a fair
interpretation of the following claims:
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