Abstract:
A trailer and system for use with a vehicle that allows for storing the trailer in the vehicle during non-use. The foldable trailer and a receiving arrangement mountable to the vehicle, allows eased storage of the unused trailer and requires minimized storage space. The folding of the trailer also facilitates use of the trailer in various configurations for various needs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to trailers for towing behind vehicles, and in particular, it relates to utility and cargo trailers and a system for using such with a vehicle and storing such in the vehicle during non-use. The invention relates specifically to a foldable trailer and a receiving arrangement mountable to the vehicle, which allows eased storage of the unused trailer and requires minimized storage space. The folding of the trailer also facilitates use of the trailer in various configurations for various needs. 
   BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION 
   Utility trailers that can be folded up during periods of non-use for compact storage are well known. Such trailers are taught in prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,941,542 and 2,469,506. 
   While such trailers provide the benefit of requiring reduced storage space when compared to the trailer in its normal configuration, the weight and other aspects of such prior art trailers make storage within a vehicle, such as in the bed of a pick-up truck or in the back of a station wagon, impractical. 
   Further, such prior art trailers are awkward for positioning into and securing within the vehicle. 
   It is often the case that a trailer is needed during only a portion of a journey in a vehicle, or that a trailer is needed at unforeseen times. Yet towing a trailer at all times just to be prepared for that occasional need is not practical, safe, or convenient. 
   There exists therefore a heretofore unsolved need to provide a trailer which can be hitched to a vehicle for use, and which can carry a substantial payload during use, yet which can be simply and quickly reconfigured following use into a shape and size capable of fitting within the vehicle, and which can be easily and conveniently moved from its use position into its storage position in the vehicle without undue burden or strain and which can be conveniently secured there. 
   Additionally, trailers of the prior art lack convenient adaptability to varying types of uses. 
   There exists therefore a heretofore unsolved need to provide a trailer as described above which may be easily and conveniently adapted into a variety of configurations according to the type of use required, without tools or complicated reassembly techniques. 
   Additionally the means for compacting such prior art trailers as mentioned above are cumbersome and complex. 
   There exists therefore a heretofore unsolved need to provide a trailer as described above which simplifies the means for folding and compacting the trailer during conversion from its use configuration to its storage configuration. 
   These and other needs, drawbacks and omissions in the prior art are addressed by a trailer and system according to the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a trailer which can be hitched to a vehicle for use, and which can carry a substantial payload during use, yet which can be simply and quickly reconfigured following use into a shape and size capable of fitting within the vehicle, which can be easily and conveniently moved from its use position into its storage position in the vehicle without undue burden or strain, and which is effectively and conveniently secured within the vehicle by the same system that has facilitated the ease and convenience of storing. 
   The present invention further provides a trailer as described above which may be easily and conveniently adapted into a variety of configurations according to the type of use required, without tools or complicated reassembly techniques. 
   The present invention further provides a trailer as described above which simplifies the means for folding and compacting the trailer during conversion from its use configuration to its storage configuration. 
   Additionally, the present invention further provides a system including a trailer as described above and means for adapting a vehicle to cooperate with the trailer during storing and storage to simplify and ease storing, and to organize storage and minimize storage volume. 
   The present invention provides a trailer and system, which not only advance the art of trailers, but also additionally provide a unique mechanism for storing the trailer during non-use, in the very vehicle intended to tow the trailer during use. 
   Because the trailer of the present invention may be so easily and conveniently stored within the vehicle when not in use, and may be so easily and conveniently removed from the vehicle and put into use, it makes the trailer available on an as-needed basis, at all times including unexpected times, and it eliminates the towing of an unused trailer from points of actual use, to points of intended use, and “just in case”. 
   The present invention&#39;s system provides means for adapting the vehicle to ease storing of the trailer therein, for receiving and guiding the trailer during storing, and to affix the trailer in a desired and consistent position during storage. 
   The present invention&#39;s trailer further provides adaptability heretofore unrealized by the prior art, allowing the trailer to be quickly and conveniently reconfigured into a variety of useable configurations, including an extended or shortened flat-bed trailer, an extended or shortened front panel trailer, and extended or shortened side-panel trailer, and an extended or shortened box trailer. 
   Various aspects of the trailer and system improve convenience and functionality over the state of the art, including but not limited to means for quickly and conveniently folding the trailer from its use configuration into its storage configuration, means for guiding the folded trailer into a predetermined position in the vehicle which reduce strain on the trailer, vehicle, or user, and means for holding the stored trailer rigidly in that predetermined position. 
   Additional benefits will be appreciated upon review of the drawings and description contained herein of the invention&#39;s preferred embodiment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective of a trailer and system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the trailer is in a box trailer configuration and hitched to a pick-up truck and ready for use, 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the trailer and truck of  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the trailer of  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the trailer and truck of  FIG. 1 , with the trailer panels removed for clarity, the extension frames installed in their extended positions and with the trailer unhitched from the truck, 
       FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view showing the folding of the trailer of  FIG. 1  into its compact storage configuration, 
       FIG. 6A  is a partial rear view showing an extension frame and the horizontal and vertical positioning of a side panel, 
       FIG. 6B  is a partial side view showing the horizontal and vertical positions of the front panel and the extendibility of the hitch bar, 
       FIG. 7  is a front perspective view showing the installation of the front panel supports, 
       FIGS. 8A-8C  is a progressive series of rear perspectives view showing the loading of the folded trailer into the truck&#39;s bed for storage, and the interaction between the guide rollers and guide channels during the process of storing the trailer into the truck bed, 
       FIG. 9  is a partial rear view of the truck bed showing the storage of the folded trailer therein, 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate use configuration for the trailer as a flat bed trailer, 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternate use configuration for the trailer as a side-paneled trailer, 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternate use configuration for the trailer as a front-paneled trailer 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a trailer  100  and system  200  according to the preferred embodiment of the invention with the trailer configured for use and hitched to a typical pick-up truck  204 . 
   Trailer  100  consists of a main frame  106  preferably comprising three parallel square tubular steel longitudinal beams,  108 A through  108 C. Center longitudinal beam  108 B serves as the support for hitch assembly  132  and also defines the longitudinal axis of main frame  106  and trailer  100 . Longitudinal beams,  108 A through  108 C are rigidly and perpendicularly connected to four parallel square tubular steel upper cross beams,  112 A through  112 D, and to one square tubular lower cross beam  114 , which serves as a support for two identical wheel assemblies  116 R and  116 L. The longitudinal and cross beams are welded, riveted or otherwise permanently fastened together to cooperatively form a rigid and strong rectilinear structure, being main frame  106 . 
   As this trailer  100  is preferred embodiment aimed to fit within the bed of a typical full-sized pick-up truck, main frame  106  has a width and length restricted accordingly. The length of longitudinal beams  108 A through  108 C, and thus the length of main frame  106 , and thus the length of trailer  100  when folded for storage, is approximately 96 inches. The length of cross beams  112 A through  112 D, and thus the width of main frame  106 , and thus the width of trailer  100  when folded for storage, is approximately 55 inches. In alternative trailer embodiments intended for storage into vehicles able to accept folded trailers of different dimensions, not shown here, the length and width dimension and the numbers of longitudinal and cross beams may be modified accordingly without departing from the spirit if the invention. 
   Wheel assemblies  116 R and  116 L are best viewed in  FIGS. 3 and 9 , and each comprise support arm  118 , having a horizontal square shaft portion  120  sized and shaped to fit snugly and removably within the square hollow interior of square tubular lower cross beam  114 . Removable pin/clip set  122  passes through aligned holes in both shaft portion  120  and lower cross beam  114 , to temporarily affix shaft portion  120 , and thereby wheel assemblies  116 R and  116 L, firmly to lower cross beam  114 , and thereby to main frame  106 . Such removable pin/clip sets, as are preferably used throughout the invention, are commonly used in a variety of trailer applications, are commonly sold where trailer parts are sold, are well known, convenient, inexpensive, and reliable, but may be substituted by any sufficient means for temporarily and removably affixing the shaft to the beam without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
   Support arm  118  further comprises outwardly projecting axle  126 , onto which is mounted tired wheel  128 R or  128 L, using any typical state of the art trailer axle/bearing/wheel arrangement (not shown). Tired wheels  128 R and  128 L are preferably typical trailer-type tire/wheel assemblies, as are commonly used on trailers, are readily replaceable wherever trailer parts are sold, and are rotationally free relative to axle  126  and thereby to trailer  100 . Vertical connecting arm  130  rigidly connects axle  126  to shaft portion  120 , to complete the support arm  118 , such that when both wheel assemblies  116 R and  116 L are affixed to the main frame  106 , both axles  126  are coaxially positioned parallel to and sufficiently below lower cross beam  114 , and the two tired wheels  128 R and  128 L are substantially aligned perpendicular to center longitudinal beam  108 , and thereby to the longitudinal axis of the trailer  100 , and disposed horizontally such that the lowest points of the tired wheels will be substantially at ground level during use. 
   By removing pin/clip set  122 , each wheel assembly  116 R and  116 L may be freely removed from main frame  106 , and positioned elsewhere for storage, as will be described later. 
   Hitch assembly  132 , comprises hitch bar  134  and hitch receiver  136 , which are rigidly affixed together by welding, riveting, or any other sufficiently strong fastening means. Square hitch bar  134  is sized and shaped to fit snugly and movably within the square hollow interior of center longitudinal beam  108 B. Removable pin/clip set  122  is positioned through aligned holes in both bar  134  and beam  108 B, to temporarily affix hitch assembly  132  to main frame  106 . Hitch bar  134  may be substantially long, up to the same length as center longitudinal beam  108 B, and center longitudinal beam  108 B includes several holes  138  for receiving pin/clip set  122 , said holes  138  being equally longitudinally spaced and positioned to allow hitch assembly  132  to be moved within beam  108 B and repositioned and re-fixed longitudinally to thereby render trailer  100  longitudinally extendible and adaptable to payloads of various lengths and sizes. 
   Trailer  100  further comprises flat horizontal bed panel  142 , whose width, measured in the transverse horizontal direction perpendicular to the trailer&#39;s longitudinal axis, and length, measured in the longitudinal horizontal direction along the trailer&#39;s longitudinal axis, are substantially equal to those of main frame  106 . As explained above, in this preferred embodiment, that width is approximately 5 inches and that length is approximately 96 inches. Bed panel  142  may be made of flat or embossed steel sheeting, plywood, or any other suitable material, and is rigidly and permanently affixed atop main frame  106  by any common fastening means, including welding. Bed panel  142  provides a supporting surface for the payload that may be carried by the trailer when in use. 
   Two extension frames  150 L and  150 R consist of four parallel extension bars  152 A to  152 D, perpendicularly connected to longitudinal side bar  154 . Square extension bars  152 A through  152 D are sized and shaped to fit snugly and movably within the square hollow interior of square tubular steel upper cross beams,  112 A through  112 D. Removable pin/clip sets  122  pass through aligned holes  154  in both bars  152 A and  152 D and in beams  112 A and  112 D, to temporarily affix extension frame  150 L or  150 R to main frame  106  in either of two positions, those being the retracted position shown in  FIG. 3  and the extended positions shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 A. 
   Side panels  158 L and  158 R, made of flat or embossed steel sheeting, plywood, or any other suitable material, are attached by hinges  162  to the side edges of bed panel  142  and may be positioned about these hinges into either a vertical upright position as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and as panel  158 L is shown on the near side of  FIG. 5 . Or the panels may be laid down horizontally to rest against the extended extension frames  150 L and  150 R and be coplanar with bed panel  142 , as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 10 , and as panel  158 R is shown on the distant side of  FIG. 5 . 
   Bracket  164  is permanently affixed to side panels  158 L and  158 R and disposed and configured to capture extension bars  152 A and  152 D when the panels are in their horizontal position. Pin clip sets  122  are inserted though aligning holes in brackets  164  and the extension bars to temporarily rigidly hold the panels to the extension bars. 
   Front panel  168  made of flat or embossed steel sheeting, plywood, or any other suitable material, is attached by hinges  162  to the front edge of bed panel  142  and may be positioned about these hinges into either a vertical upright position as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ,  5 ,  7  and  12 , and as shown in solid line in  FIG. 6B . Or the panel may be laid down horizontally so that C-channel  170  rests against the hitch bar  134  and is thereby coplanar with bed panel  142 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  and in broken line in  FIG. 6B . Pin clip set  122  is inserted though aligning holes in C-Channel  170  and hitch bar  134  to temporarily rigidly hold the panel to the hitch bar. 
   When front panel  168  is in its upright vertical position, it is supported by front panel supports  174 , which each comprise vertical support member  176  and square horizontal bar portion  178  that is sized and shaped to fit snugly and removably within the square hollow interior of either longitudinal beam  108 A or  108 C, into which it is temporarily affixed by pin/clip set  122 . 
   Wing panels  180 R and  180 L made of flat or embossed steel sheeting, plywood, or any other suitable material, are attached by hinges  162  to the forward edges of side panels  158 R and  158 L respectively, and each may be positioned about these hinges into either an upwardly or inwardly directed perpendicular position or a coplanar position, relative to the side panel. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and as wing panel  180 L is shown on the near side of  FIG. 5  and in broken line in  FIG. 6A , the inwardly directed position of the wing panel  180 R or  180 L, when the side panel  158 R or  158 L is in its vertical position, serves to support the vertically positioned front panel  168  when the trailer  100  is configured as a box trailer or folded compactly for storage. Pin/clip set  122  is positioned through aligning holes in the wing and front panels to temporarily rigidly connect the panels. In its box trailer configuration  100 B shown in  FIG. 1 , the trailer is especially adapted to carry payloads in need of side support and wind protection, such as dirt or leaves. 
   Alternatively, the wing panels  180 R and  180 L may be laid down horizontally to be coplanar with bed panel  142 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , when the trailer  100  is configured as a flat-bed trailer  100 FB. Pin/clip sets  122  (not shown) or some other fastening means temporarily rigidly connect the front and wing panels. In its flat-bed trailer configuration shown in  FIG. 10 , the trailer is especially adapted to carry large payloads in need of a wide and flat support surface, such as plywood or paneling. 
   Or the wing panels  180 R and  180 L may be extended coplanar with the side panels  158 R and  158 L and perpendicular to the horizontally positioned front panel  168  and bed panel  142 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , when the trailer  100  is configured as a side-paneled trailer  100 S. Pin/clip sets  122  (not shown) or some other fastening means temporarily rigidly connect the front and wing panels. In its side-paneled trailer configuration shown in  FIG. 11 , the trailer is especially adapted to carry long payloads such as lumber or piping. 
   Or, as shown in solid line in  FIG. 6A  and as wing panel  180 R is shown on the far side of  FIG. 5 , the upwardly directed position of wing panel  180 R or  180 L, when the side panel  158 R or  158 L is in its horizontal position, serves as an extension of the vertically positioned front panel  168  when the trailer  100  is configured as a front-paneled trailer  100 FP as shown in  FIG. 12 . Pin/clip sets  122  (not shown) or some other fastening means temporarily rigidly connect the front and wing panels. In its front-paneled trailer configuration shown in  FIG. 12 , the trailer is especially adapted to carry wide payloads in need of protection from wind and road grime, such as a snowmobiles or a motorcycle. 
   Upon the completion of use of the trailer  100  in whichever configuration had been used, trailer  100  can be easily and quickly folded up into a compact configuration for storage as shown in  FIG. 5 , and can be easily and conveniently stored into the very vehicle which had been towing it, as shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8C , and can be secured and stored within the vehicle, as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , conversion of trailer  100  into its compact storage configuration is shown. First, front panel  168 , side panels  158 R and  158 L, wing panels  180 R and  180 L are configured and affixed into the same positions as those used and described above for the box trailer configuration. Extension frames  150 R and  150 L are either pushed inward to their retracted positions or removed and stored within the trailer, hitch assembly  132  is disconnected from truck  204  and is either pushed inward into its retracted position or removed and stored within the trailer, and wheel assemblies  116 R and  116 L are removed and stored as shown within the trailer. Holes are strategically positioned about the retailer panels so that those pin/clip sets used to fix each of these removed components may be temporarily rigidly fixed in a secure position within the trailer during storage. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8A through 8C , the process of storing the compacted trailer  100 C into the vehicle and the system for doing so is shown. System  200  comprises a pair of longitudinal guide channels  202 R and  202 L which are permanently affixed within the vehicle, such as within the bed  206  of a truck  204 , transversely aligned support rollers  208 R and  208 L, which are permanently affixed to the inner surface of the truck&#39;s rear hatch  212 , and transversely aligned guide rollers  214 R and  214 L, which extend outwardly from longitudinal beams  108 A and  108 C. Support rollers  208 R and  208 L are positioned and arranged to be aligned with and support the undersides of beams  108 C and  108 A respectively, so that a lone person may easily lift just the forward end of the compacted trailer  100 C onto the rear hatch  212  and position beams  108 A and  108 C onto the support rollers  208 L and  208 R, respectively, then walk around to the rear end of the trailer and lift the trailer for easily aligning it for storing. Guide channels  202 R and  202 L are positioned for alignment with and are shaped and configured to receive guide rollers  214 R and  214 L, respectively, so that the person can simply push and roll the compacted trailer  100 C into the truck bed  206  much in the way a cabinet drawer is pushed in. 
   Once trailer  100 C is fully inserted into truck bed  206 , it is secured in place either by merely closing hatch  212  or by the use of pin/clip sets  122  through holes (not shown) in guide channels  202 R and  202 L to temporarily deny longitudinal movement of the trailer relative to the channels. 
   Reversal of the storing process is followed to take the trailer out at the convenience of such a lone person, and to hitch it to the vehicle and configure it for the desired type of use. 
   It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the afore-described is merely one of many possible embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. The invention is therefore best characterized by and should only be limited by the following claims;