Patent ID: 7828367
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. An expandable mobile trailer having a mobile compact configuration and a stationary expanded configuration, comprising: a fixed frame, the fixed frame comprising a fixed floor having a top surface and a bottom surface, a fixed roof and a plurality of substantially vertical support members, the support members supporting the fixed roof above the fixed floor; an expandable roof section of the fixed roof, the expandable roof section having a generally rectangular shape defined by two short sides and two long sides, the expandable roof section hingeably coupled to the fixed roof along one of the long sides to move between a compact position in which the expandable roof section is substantially vertical and an expanded position in which the expandable roof section is substantially horizontal; an expandable floor section of the fixed floor, the expandable floor section having a generally rectangular shape defined by two short sides and two long sides, the expandable floor section hingeably coupled to the fixed floor along one of the long sides to move between a compact position in which the expandable floor section is substantially vertical and an expanded position in which the expandable floor section is substantially horizontal; an expandable side section of the fixed frame, the expandable side section having a generally rectangular shape defined by two short sides and two long sides, the expandable side section hingeably coupled to at least two of the support members along the short sides to move between a compact position in which the expandable side section is substantially vertical and spaced relatively closer to the support members and an expanded position in which the expandable side section is substantially vertical and spaced relatively further from the support members; a relatively short actuator arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the relatively short actuator arm pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the fixed floor; a relatively long actuator arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the relatively long actuator arm pivotally attached to the second end of the relatively short actuator arm, the second end of the relatively long actuator arm pivotally attached to the expandable floor section; a floor actuator pivotally attached to both the bottom surface of the fixed floor and the second end of the relatively short actuator arm, the floor actuator operative to expand and contract; wherein the expansion and contraction of the floor actuator causes the second end of the relatively short actuator arm to pivot about the first end of the relatively short actuator arm, the rotation of the second end of the relatively short actuator arm transmitting force through the relatively long actuator arm to the expandable floor section to move the expandable floor section between the compact and expanded positions; and wherein the trailer has an interior space which is defined by the fixed floor, the fixed roof and the expandable sections, the interior space being larger in the expanded configuration than in the compact configuration; the expandable roof section, the expandable side section and the expandable floor section are in the compact position when the trailer is in the compact configuration and are in the expanded position when the trailer is in the expanded configuration.