Abstract:
A utility trailer transport system is disclosed, wherein the utility trailer in the form of a pop-up camper is rotatably mounted via one of a plurality of structures on a transport trailer. The camper is positioned in one orientation for transport and a second orientation for use. A bed on the transport trailer serves to transport equipment and as a deck when the camper is in the second orientation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to campers or other similar utility trailers mounted on a transport trailer. Such combinations permit transport of a variety of equipment such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), lawn and garden equipment, a boat or any equipment suitable for transport in combination with a camper or other utility trailer. 
   One difficulty with combining a camper or utility trailer with a transport trailer is the difficulty of using the camper or trailer once a destination is reached. For example, the distance from the bed of a typical transport trailer to the ground may be enough to make side access, which is common among devices of this type, very difficult. To solve this problem a ladder, collapsible or removable deck or platform, or other similar device may be required, adding cost, complexity and inconvenience. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a camper or other similar utility trailer mounted on a transport trailer so that the camper or utility trailer is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The first position is generally a transport position. The second position is a position where a user may gain access to a side of the camper or utility trailer. In the second position the bed of the transport trailer serves to provide access to the side of camper or utility trailer, and thus may serve as a deck. Thus the invention serves to simplify the needs of transport of a camper or utility trailer on a transport trailer that may also be used to transport a variety of equipment such as motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft, a boat, lawn and garden equipment or any other suitably transportable devices. 
   A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrated embodiment and which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a utility trailer in the form of a pop-up camper mounted on a transport trailer in a first position. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the pop-up camper rotated to a second position. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the pop-up camper removed. 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of a utility trailer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a side exploded view of certain elements of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the utility trailer support frame assembly. 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a portion of a second embodiment of a transport trailer with certain elements removed for clarity. 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a portion of a third embodiment of a transport trailer with certain elements removed for clarity. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is described in relation to a pop-up camper rotatably mounted to a transport trailer. However, other uses will be apparent. For example, in place of a transport trailer a truck with a flatbed portion may be substituted. Also, while a pop-up camper is a preferred embodiment, other types of utility trailers may find the exemplary embodiments described herein to be advantageous for accessing such utility trailers for loading or unloading, for service or maintenance, for accessing controls or mechanisms mounted within the utility trailer, or other accessibility purposes. 
   In the embodiments shown herein similar elements are provided with the same number and a prefix. As an example, items  30 ,  130  and  230  describe various embodiments of a transport trailer. 
     FIG. 1  depicts a trailer apparatus  10  that further consists of a utility trailer  20  rotatably mounted on a transport trailer  30 . In the embodiments described herein utility trailer  20  is a pop-up camper or similar camper with a low profile capable of highway transport in the position shown. 
   Transport trailer  30  has a trailer frame  32 , comprising a bed  45 . Bed  45  is generally a metal such as steel or aluminum. Overlaid on bed  45  is an optional wood bed  31 . Throughout the description herein it will be understood that attachment of the described elements may be to either wood bed  31  or trailer bed  45 . Further, while the term “wood” is used to describe bed  31 , it will also be understood that such description is for convenience of terminology and other materials such as plastic may provide a suitable bed surface. Transport trailer  30  is supported by a plurality of wheels  33  and a tow hitch assembly  34  that is supported by post  35  in  FIG. 1  in lieu of a towing vehicle. 
   Pop-up camper  20  is shown in a transport position in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As will be described in more detail later, camper  20  is secured in the transport position by one or more of a plurality of methods. Also shown in  FIG. 1  are ATVs  15 , which are but one of the numerous types of equipment that may be transported on wood bed  31 . In the other figures ATVs  15  have been removed for clarity. 
   Camper  20  is rotatably mounted to bed  45  of transport trailer  30 . In the first embodiment configuration shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , a support post assembly  40  is attached to bed  45 . A support frame assembly  50  is attached to leaf spring attach points  42   a  and  42   b  of camper  20  with fasteners  43 . 
   During movement of trailer apparatus  10  from one location to another location camper  20  is supported by a plurality of supports in the form of scissor jacks  36 , which are extended so that the weight of camper  20  is fully supported by scissor jacks  36 . In order to prevent the rotation of camper  20  during transport, posts  38  welded or attached to the bottom of each scissor jack  36  extend into openings  39  shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  8 , and  9 . In the embodiments shown herein there are four scissor jacks  36 . Openings  39  are preferably symmetric about the center of rotation of camper  20  so that openings  39  may interface with posts  38  when camper  20  is in a transport position and a second position other than a transport position. In the embodiments shown herein openings  39  form a square about the center of rotation of camper  20 . 
   Camper  20  may be further secured by a plurality of clamps  46  that are attached to camper  20 . The four clamps  46  shown clamp onto brackets  48  attached to wood bed  31  of trailer  30 . Alternatively, brackets  48  may be attached to bed  45 , as previously described. Due to the vibration of travel it may also be necessary to provide brackets  52  that extend through slots  54  formed in clamps  46 . Quick release pins, fasteners, locks or a variety of other similar devices (not shown) may be inserted through holes  56  in latch brackets  52  to prevent clamps  46  from vibrating or bouncing into an unlatched positioned. 
   Once a destination has been reached, camper  20  may be rotated so that camper entrance  22  is moved from a first position near a side  57  of trailer  30  to a second position generally over wood bed  31 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In order to effect such rotation, first any clamps  46  are unlatched. Next, scissor jacks  36  are retracted so that camper  20  is fully supported by post  41  and its interface with receptacle  51 , into which post  41  extends. A bearing disk  53  or other comparable bearing may optionally be provided within opening  55  to promote free movement of receptacle  51  on post  41 . A lubricant such as grease may also be provided within opening  55  to reduce corrosion and wear and to promote free movement. 
   In order to provide additional stability to camper  20  while it is being rotated from a first position to a second position, optional wheel assemblies  58  and  59  may be attached to support frame assembly  50 . A portion of wood bed  31  may be removed in the form of an arc shaped portion  29  so that wheel assemblies  58  and  59  may run on the relatively smooth, hard surface of bed  45  instead of wood bed  31 , which may have gaps and imperfections and presents a less desirable surface for rolling wheels. 
   There are two general methods to configuring a camper  20  and a trailer  30  to incorporate the present invention. The first approach is for a utility trailer or camper manufacturer to provide attachment locations for receptacle  51 , wheel assemblies  58  and  59 , and the other elements described above on camper  20  and trailer  30 . The other approach is to retrofit an existing camper and trailer with the above described elements. 
   The retrofit may be accomplished by first obtaining a standard pop-up camper configured with wheels and suspension. The suspension is then removed from suspension attach points  42   a  and  42   b , shown in, for example,  FIG. 6 . Support frame assembly  50 , shown in  FIG. 7 , is prepared separately for assembly. Assembly  50  comprises welded frame elements  61   a ,  61   b ,  61   c  and  61   d . Attachment plates  62  are secured to frame elements  61   a  and  61   c  by one of a variety of known techniques, such as fasteners or welding. In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , attachment plates  62  are welded to frame elements  61   a  and  61   b . Center plate  64  is welded generally in the center of support frame assembly  50 , and is either of sufficient thickness to support the weight of camper  20  during rotation or may be supported by additional frame members. Wheel assemblies  58  and  59  are also attached or welded to center plate  64 . 
   Post receptacle  51  is also attached or welded to center plate  64 , or may be attached to a receptacle mount plate  68 , which may further be attached or welded to a receptacle support plate  66  that is then attached or welded to center plate  64 . Support frame assembly  50  is secured to suspension attach points  42   a  and  42   b  by way of fasteners  43 . 
   Posts  38  are of a suitable lengthy to provide maximum engagement with openings  39  when extended while assuring clearance with wood bed  31 . Posts  38  are welded or attached to a bottom portion of jacks  36 . Jacks  36  are then pivotally attached or welded to a convenient location on camper  20 . In the embodiment shown lift points  24  provide a convenient attachment location for welding an upper portion jack  36  thereunto. This attach point was configured to be pivotal so that jack actuators  70  would be positioned in an accessible orientation when camper  20  is either in the first position or in the second position. 
   Brackets  48  are attached to wood bed  31  of trailer  30  using fasteners  49 . Brackets  48  may also be attached to trailer frame bed  45 . Clamps  46  are mounted on trailer  20  by way of rivets or fasteners (not shown) and latch brackets  52  are mounted on trailer  20  using a plurality of fasteners  72 . 
   Wood bed  31  is added to trailer bed  45  to provide a comfortable walking surface as compared to a metal bed. Post  41  is welded to plate  37  then attached to trailer frame bed  45 . Post  41  may also be attached to wood bed  31  depending on the weight of the trailer, the total area of plate  37  or other attachment methods, and the type of material used for wood bed  31 . 
   The components and their mounting described above provide a kit and a relatively simple method of configuring a standard camper  20  and trailer  30  to be rotatable in accordance with the present invention. 
   A second embodiment rotation system is shown in  FIG. 8 , where the utility trailer has been removed to simplify the drawing and clarify explanation. In this embodiment a track  74  has been attached to wood bed  31  of transport trailer  130 . Flanged wheels  76  are attached to a camper by a support frame assembly similar to frame  50 . Stops  78  attached to wood bed  31  interface with a stop bracket  80  that is mounted to the underside of a camper to aid in defining the limits or rotation. 
   A third embodiment rotation system is shown in  FIG. 9 , where the utility trailer has again been removed to simplify the drawing and clarify explanation. In this embodiment a roller cage  82  is attached to wood bed  31  of transport trailer  230 . Rollers  84  are contained in cage  82  and interface with a flat bearing surface formed or attached to the underside of a camper (not shown). As in the second embodiment, stops  78  attached to wood bed  31  interface with a stop bracket  80  that is mounted to the underside of a camper to aid in defining the limits of rotation. Note that in the second and third embodiment stop bracket  80  may be mounted to trailer  230  and stops  78  may be mounted on the underside of the utility trailer or camper. 
   While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.