Patent ID: 9428094
Filing Date: 2016-08-30
CPC Classification: B60P,B65D,Y10S

Claim Text:
1. A transport apparatus for moving an elongated object, where the elongated object is oriented substantially vertically when in a working position resting on a ground surface, the apparatus comprising: a trailer comprising an elongated trailer frame with a hitch at a front end thereof; the trailer frame comprising a tilting rear frame section pivotally attached to a front frame section about a substantially horizontal tilt axis oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the trailer; front trailer wheels supporting the front frame section; rear wheels mounted on a rear axle, the rear axle attached to and under the tilting rear frame section rearward of the tilt axis; an actuator operative to pivot the tilting rear frame section upward about the tilt axis from a substantially horizontal lowered position to a substantially vertical raised position; an engagement mechanism mounted on a rear end of the tilting rear frame section rearward of the rear wheels; a receiver mounted on a lower portion of the elongated object, and wherein when the elongated object is in the working position and the engagement mechanism is aligned with the receiver, activating the actuator moves the tilting rear frame section upward from the lowered position and moves the engagement mechanism downward into pivotal engagement with the receiver as the tilting rear frame section moves upward to the raised position adjacent to a front side of the elongated object, and when the engagement mechanism is pivotally engaged with the receiver the front and rear wheels move upward off the ground; a lock operative to secure the front side of the elongated object to the tilting rear frame section when the tilting rear frame section is in the raised position such that activating the actuator to move the tilting rear frame section downward to the lowered position moves the elongated object downward to a substantially horizontal transport position resting on the trailer frame supported on the rear wheels.