Patent ID: 7396201
Filing Date: 2008-07-08
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A lift trailer device, comprising: a frame including a right side frame rail and left side frame rail connected to a front transverse box beam; a trailer hitch connected to said frame; a suspension connected to said frame; at least one axle connected to said suspension; at least one set of tires and wheels connected to said at least one axle; a flat bed movably connected to said frame, said movable flat bed being nested within said frame on the front and sides, and having an exposed trailing edge; a pair of right side lift actuators connecting said movable flat bed to said frame, said pair of right side lift actuators located within said right side frame rail, said pair of right side lift actuators, including: a right side slide actuator located within said right side frame rail, said right side slide actuator being provided with a pair of right side movable racks; a hydraulic ram connected between said right side frame rail and said right side slide actuator configured for moving said right side slide actuator back and forth relative to said right side frame rail; a pair of right side stationary racks located within and connected to said right side frame rail, said right side stationary racks being configured to cooperate with said right side movable racks; a pair of right side pinions located within said right side frame rail and each said right side pinions being located between and cooperating with one of said right side movable racks and one of said right side stationary racks; a pair of right side crank arms each connected at one end to one of said right side pinions and connected at an opposite free end and supporting said movable flat bed, whereby when said hydraulic ram is actuated both said pairs of right side pinions and said right side crank arms are driven and rotated simultaneously by said right side movable racks of said right side slide actuator to raise or lower said flat bed relative to said frame; a pair of left side lift actuators connecting said movable flat bed to said frame, said pair of left side lift actuators being located within said right side frame rail, said pair of left side lift actuators, including: a left side slide actuator located within said left side frame rail, said left side slide actuator being provided with a pair of left side movable racks; a hydraulic ram connected between said left side frame rail and said left side slide actuator configured for moving said left side slide actuator back and forth relative to said left side frame rail; a pair of left side stationary racks located within and connected to said left side frame rail, said left side stationary racks being configured to cooperate with said left side movable racks; a pair of left side pinions located within said left side frame rail and each said left side pinions being located between and cooperating with one of said left side movable racks and one of said left side stationary racks; a pair of left side crank arms each connected at one end to one of said left side pinions and connected at an opposite free end and supporting said movable flat bed, whereby when said hydraulic ram is actuated both said pairs of left side pinions and left side crank arms are driven and rotated simultaneously by said left side movable racks of said left side slide actuator to raise and lower said flat bed relative to said frame; a locking system provided on said lift trailer device, said locking system configured for selectively positively locking said flat bed to said frame; and a left side slide actuator located within said left side frame rail, said left side slide actuator being provided with a pair of left side movable racks; a hydraulic ram connected between said left side frame rail and said left side slide actuator configured for moving said left side slide actuator back and forth relative to said left side frame rail; a pair of left side stationary racks located within and connected to said left side frame rail, said left side stationary racks being configured to cooperate with said left side movable racks; a pair of left side pinions located within said left side frame rail and each said left side pinions being located between and cooperating with one of said left side movable racks and one of said left side stationary racks; a pair of left side crank arms each connected at one end to one of said left side pinions and connected at an opposite free end and supporting said movable flat bed, whereby when said hydraulic ram is actuated both said pairs of left side pinions and left side crank arms are driven and rotated simultaneously by said left side movable racks of said left side slide actuator to raise and lower said flat bed relative to said frame; a locking system provided on said lift trailer device, said locking system configured for selectively positively locking said flat bed to said frame; and a hydraulic system provided on said lift trailer device, said hydraulic system configured for simultaneously and selectively operating said right side hydraulic ram and said left side hydraulic ram for raising and lowering said flat bed relative to said frame, wherein said lift trailer device is configured to raise said flat bed above said frame or lower said flat bed below said frame to accommodate loading and unloading payload from the ground or a loading dock or any height inbetween thereof.