Abstract:
A mobile trailer having an easily raisable and lowerable ground engaging scraper/leveler planar type plate that a single user can raise and lower by a lever arm. Various spring type members allow for the plate to be easily moved upward and downward, and the plate can be locked in a raised position. The trailer can be easily towed behind small tractors and all terrain vehicles(ATVs). Another embodiment allows the plate to be easily raised and lowered by a single arm having one end pivotally attached t a support frame on the mobile trailer. The arm can be slid into side catches so that the plate is at selected heights as needed. Another embodiment allows for a barrel to be pivotally attached to the frame so that raising and lowering the arm allows for a filled barrel to be turned upside down discharging any contents in the barrel.

Description:
This invention is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/208,365 filed Jul. 30, 2002, now abandoned and relates to trailers with ground dragging members, in particular to trailers having easily raisable and lowerable scraper bars which can scrape and/or level the ground as the trailers are being towed behind vehicles such as a riding mower and ATV(all terrain vehicle). 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     For various applications the need has always existed for leveling and scraping ground surfaces. For example, when building a home fill dirt has been used to fill in uneven ground surfaces where soil is deposited and the new soil must be leveled so that a level foundation can be constructed. Additionally, farms and ranches have a continuous need for leveling ground surfaces for their businesses when planting and performing daily activities. Furthermore, individual home owners have sometimes had a need for leveling uneven ground surfaces when planting a garden, and the like. 
     Various types of leveling devices have been proposed over the years. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,373,799 to Conley; U.S. Pat. No. 2,014,479 to Martin; U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,823 to Holfeld; U.S. Pat. No. 3,795,069 to Cheney; U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,458 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,686 to Ausmus; U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,853 to Atkins; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,828 to Leal. However, these prior art devices have problems which extensively limit their use. 
     For example, most of these devices are large and cumbersome and require tractors to tow or push the devices. Also, these prior art devices generally require large spaces to be stored, and these devices are not able to be easily maneuverable and cannot work on small projects. Additionally, many of these devices can be expensive to purchase, and also would be expensive and difficult to operate and would not be easily useable by a single worker. These devices often require the user have to physically raise and lower extremely heavy ground engaging members. Many of the devices have curved shovels that must be carefully angled and are difficult to orient. Furthermore, some of the prior art devices are not easily transportable over all ground surface terrains since they use sleds. Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first objective of the present invention is to provide devices and methods for leveling and scraping soil that can be towed behind any vehicle from small tractors, all terrain vehicles(ATVs) and large vehicles. 
     The second objective of the present invention is to provide devices and methods for leveling and scraping soil with a scraper/leveler bar that can be easily raised and lowered by a single person. 
     The third objective of the present invention is to provide devices and methods for leveling and scraping soil that are easily maneuverable and can work on both large and small projects. 
     The fourth objective of this invention is to provide devices and methods for leveling and scraping soil that are compact with minimal parts and can be inexpensively maintained and operated. 
     A first preferred embodiment of the invention can include a frame with at least one wheel thereon, a planar plate attached to the frame, the plate being moveable from a lowered position substantially perpendicular to and adjacent to a ground surface and an upper position substantially perpendicular to and raised above the ground surface, and a hand actuated lever pivotally attached to the frame for moving the planar plate from the lowered position to the raised position. The invention can also include first and second biasing members, such as springs, for biasing the planar plate in raised and lowered positions. 
     A pivotal arm can also be included having one end being moved up and down by the lever, and a second end connected to an end of the second biasing member which is attached to the frame. A rotatable member such as a wheel can be used for allowing a portion of the lever to ride along a portion of the arm, and a catch can be used for locking the arm in one position with the plate in the upper position. The invention can include a hitch portion for attaching the frame to a mobile vehicle. 
     A second embodiment of the invention can use a single arm having one end pivotally attached to the frame and a handle raising opposite end. A triangular frame attached to a midportion of the arm can raise and lower the leveling plate to and above the ground surface. A latch mechanism attached to the frame can include side slots so that the user can slide the handle in horizontal directions when vertically raising and lowering the arm to lock the arm at various heights to the frame. Telescopic members function to strengthen the vertical orientation and allow the leveling plate to be fixably held in vertical perpendicular orientation while the invention is being moved over a ground surface. Telescopic legs attached to wheels allow the frame to be locked to different heights above the ground surface. 
     An additional embodiment can be interchanging an open topped barrel onto the towable frame. The barrel can be pivotally attached to the frame with a rearwardly facing handle/lever so that pushing down on the lever causes the barrel to rotate about the pivot point to become upside down emptying out the contents of the barrel. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2A is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 along arrow  2 A. 
     FIG. 2B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A along arrow  2 B. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded front view of the leveling plate and lift bracket and rear support frame of the embodiment of FIGS. 1,  2 A- 2 B. 
     FIG. 4 is another side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the dragging/leveling plate in a raised position. 
     FIG. 5 is another side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the dragging/leveling plate in a ground engaging lowered position. 
     FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the preceding figures attached to a towing vehicle. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the extension supports for one of the wheels of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view of the embodiment of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the second embodiment of FIGS. 7-8. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the second embodiment of FIG. 9 along arrow R 1 . 
     FIG. 11A is a right side view of the second embodiment with the dragging/leveling plate in a raised position. 
     FIG. 11B is a side view of the second embodiment with the dragging/leveling plate in a ground engaging lowered position. 
     FIG. 12 shows a left side view of the second embodiment of the preceding figures attached to a towing vehicle. 
     FIG. 13 shows a third embodiment using the main frame of the second embodiment supporting a filled barrel member. 
     FIG. 14 shows the third embodiment of FIG. 13, with the barrel being emptied. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     First Embodiment 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the trailer invention  1 . FIG. 2A is a top view of the trailer embodiment  1  of FIG. 1 along arrow  2 A. FIG. 2B is a side view of the embodiment  1  of FIG. 2A along arrow  2 B. FIG. 3 is an exploded front view of the leveler/scraper  200  and rear support frame for the trailer embodiment  1  of FIGS. 1,  2 A- 2 B. The leveler/scraper  200  includes a substantially planar shaped leveling plate  210  and lift bracket  220  which will now be described. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 A,  2 B and  3 , the novel trailer  1  includes a T-shaped frame  100  having a longitudinal member  110 , and two parallel rear horizontal members  130 ,  150 . Longitudinal frame member  110  includes a hitch portion  112  having a through-hole for receiving a hitch pin  113 , and a rear end portion  118  attached to the rear frame support members  130 ,  150  by angled strut type members  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 . 
     The rear frame upper horizontal support member  130  is connected to side horizontal rear frame members  162 ,  164  by vertical pairs of L-shaped slide way members  142 ,  144  and  146 ,  148 . Each of the pairs  142 ,  144  and  146 ,  148  of the vertical L-shaped slide way members having a space therebetween for allowing ends  212 ,  218  of the leveling plate  210  to slide therethrough when moving up and down in the direction of arrows L 1  and L 2 . Horizontal rear frame members  162 ,  164  also fixably connect lower rear horizontal frame member  160  to Vertical pairs  142 ,  144  and  146 ,  148 . 
     Vertical support flanges  134  and  136  are fixably mounted on front wall portion  132  of horizontal member  130  abut about and allow the outer edges of vertical legs  222  and  228  of the lift bracket  220  to slide up and down therebetween also in the direction of double arrows L 1  and L 2 . 
     Dual wheels  710 ,  720  can be positioned off the frame member  155  for allowing the invention to be easily mobile and versatile. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 A and  2 B trailer embodiment  1  can include a hand actuated lever  300  can include an upper end portion  310  that can be moved back and forth in the direction of arrows M 1  and M 2  having a lower end portion  350  that can be pivotally attached to a side portion of longitudinal frame member  10  by a pivot pin  355 . Along an inner surface of the lever  300  midway along the length of lever  300  can be a rotatable member such as a wheel  330  which can rotate along an upper edge of a pivotal horizontal arm  400 . The Horizontal arm  400  can have a substantially L-shaped configuration with a horizontal elongated leg portion  410  perpendicular to a vertical elongated leg portion  420 . Horizontal arm  400  can include a mid portion  450  that is pivotally attached by a pin type member  455  to a vertically raised support  115  that is attached to longitudinal frame member  110  so that horizontal arm  400  can move up and down in the direction of arrows N 1  and N 2 . The wheel  330  attached to lever  300  can rotate along the horizontal leg portion  410  adjacent to end  402  of the arm  400 . End portion  402  of pivotal arm is flexible enough so that it can be moved sideways in the direction of double arrow S so that horizontal leg portion  410  of arm  400  can catch into a side slot  117  in a raised support  116  that is attached to longitudinal frame member  110 . Sliding the leg portion  410  of arm  400  into the slot  117  will allow the planar leveling/scraping plate  210  to be in a raised position. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 A and  2 B, a first biasing member  500  such as a spring has an upper end  510  attached to an end portion  490  of pivotal arm  400 , and a lower end  590  attached to a midportion  155  of rear horizontal frame member  150 . The spring member  500  biases the arm  400  in the direction of arrow N 2  which pushes the leveling plate  210  in the ground engaging direction of arrow L 2 . The invention can also have second opposing biasing members. In this application a pair of biasing members  610  and  660 , such as springs which constantly bias the leveling plate  210  upward in the direction of arrow L 1 . Each of the second biasing members  610 ,  660  can have ends  612 ,  662 , respectively attached to an L-bracket  215  that is fixably attached across a front portion of the leveling plate  210 , and opposite ends  618 ,  668  attached to an upper top edge of horizontal frame member  130  where each of the spring members  610 ,  660  having respective mid portions  615 ,  665  that overly and wrap over the raised top edges of vertical supports  133 ,  137 , the latter of which are attached to portions of the front wall  132  of the horizontal frame member  130 . 
     FIG. 4 is another side view of the trailer embodiment  1  of preceding figures with the dragging/leveling plate  210  in a raised and locked position. Here lever  300  has been moved in the direction of arrow M 1 , moving arm end  402  downward in the direction of arrow N 1  allowing the arm to be locked to the support  116  on the frame member  110 , where the spring members  610 ,  660  are in a compressed positions, and spring member  500  is in an expanded position, and leveling plate  210  is in the raised position as indicated by the arrow L 1 . 
     FIG. 5 is another side view of the trailer embodiment  1  of the preceding figures with the dragging/leveling plate  210  in a ground engaging lowered position. Here lever  300  has been moved in the direction of arrow M 2 , allowing arm end  402  to pivot upward in the direction of arrow N 2 , so that arm portion  470  presses down on a midportion  225  of lift bracket  220 (FIGS. 1,  3 ) pushing the leveling plate  210  downward in the direction of arrow L 2  for ground engagement. Here spring member  500  can be compressed and biased and spring members  610 ,  660  can be in stretched positions. Clearly, the invention can contemplate having a spring member  500  that has a higher biasing pressure than that of both spring members  610 ,  660  so that the leveling plate  210  would generally remain in the downward position pushing in the direction of arrow L 2 . 
     FIG. 6 shows the preferred embodiment  1  of the preceding figures attached to a towing vehicle  800  such as a small tractor and all terrain vehicle(ATV where the vehicle  800  moving in the direction of arrow D 1  scrapes earth/soil  850  with the downwardly positioned scraping/leveling plate  210 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of a second preferred embodiment  1000  of the invention. FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the extension supports  1740 ,  1750  for one of the wheels  1760  of FIG.  7 . FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view of the embodiment  1000  of FIG.  7 . FIG. 9 is a top view of the second embodiment  1000  of FIGS. 7-8. FIG. 10 is a right side view of the second embodiment  1000  of FIG. 9 along arrow R 1 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 7-10, second embodiment  1000  includes main frame  1100  that consists of a longitudinal member  1120  having a hitch member  1112  with connection pin  1113  that connects therethrough at one end, and a rectangular frame  1140  at an opposite end. The rectangular frame  1140  can include a rear member  1142 , connected to side members  1144 ,  1148  which in turn are connected to an outer member  1146 . 
     A double wheel assembly  1700  can be attached to the rectangular frame  1140 . An upper left leg  1710  can be fixably attached to and protrude downward from a left portion of outer member  1146 , with a lower left telescopic leg  1720  telescopingly attached about the upper left leg  1710 . A pin  1725  such as a bolt can lock the lower leg  1720  to the upper leg  1710  at a selected height through various located through-holes. A left wheel  1730  can be attached by an axle member  1735  to lower left leg  1720 . An upper right leg  1740  can be fixably attached to and protrude downward from a right portion of outer member  1146 , with a lower right telescopic leg  1750  telescopingly attached about the upper right leg  1740 . A pin  1755  such as a bolt can lock the lower leg  1750  to the upper leg  1740  at a selected height through various located through-holes. A right wheel  1760  can be attached by an axle member  1765  to lower right leg  1750 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 7-10, a ground leveler assembly  1200  can be raised and lowered by the arm  1400  having one end  1490  pivotally attached to connection parallel plates  1149  protruding upwardly from a mid portion of outer member  1146  of rectangular frame  1140 . A pin member  1495  through plates  1149  and end  1490  of arm  1400  allows the arm  1400  to pivot relative to rectangular frame member  1140 . At the opposite end of arm  1400  can be a L-shaped handle member  1300  that can be gripped by a user for raising and lowering the arm  1400 . Along a front portion  1430  of arm  1400  can be two parallel lift plates  1610  welded to a rear apex portion  1660  between left triangle leg  1630  and right triangle leg  1620 . A pin  1650  connects the two parallel lift plates  1610  that sandwhich a front portion  1430  of arm  1400  therebetween so that raising and lowering arm  1400  allows triangle lift  1600  to move upward and downward as well. 
     The triangle lift assembly  1600  is attached to ground leveler assembly  1200 . Fixably attached to and extending downwardly from left triangle leg  1620  is a left plate leg  1230 , with a left telescopic leg  1240  telescopingly attached there-about. A pin  1245  such as a bolt attaches the left telescopic leg at different heights through various through-holes. Fixably attached to and extending downwardly from a right triangle leg  1620  is a right plate leg  1250 , with a right telescopic leg  1260  telescopingly attached there-about. Another pin(similar to pin  1245 , but not shown) such as a bolt attaches the right telescopic leg at different heights through various through-holes. A planar rectangular leveling plate  1210  can be fixably attached to both the left telescopic leg  1240  and right telescopic leg  1260 . Thickened side edges  1212  on the leveling plate  1210  aids in strengthening the plate  1210 . 
     The lifting arm  1400  can be locked in position by a latch assembly  1500  that can include a rectangular member  1505  fixably attached to and extending upward from a mid portion of longitudinal member  1120 , and can include various internal slots  1510 ,  1520 ,  1530 ,  1540  and  1550  that alternate to each side edge of member  1505  where the user can slide the arm in the direction of double arrows SL. The user can raise or lower arm  1400  by handle  1300  and slide the arm to either side in the direction of arrows SL to catch and lock the arm  1400  to a selected position which in effect locks the leveling plate  1210  to a selected height as needed. 
     Biasing members  1810 ,  1820  such as springs can each be attached to the upper legs  1230  and  1250 , and also to the telescopingly moving lower legs  1240 ,  1260  so that the leveling plate  1210  can be generally biased to be in a raised position. The legs  1230 ,  1250 ,  1240 ,  1260  further aid in strengthening the leveling the plate  1210  can keeping it perpendicular to the ground surface. 
     FIG. 11A is a side view of the second embodiment  1000  with the dragging/leveling plate  1210  in a raised position. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 11A, the user can slide the arm  1400  to one side SL and move handle  1300  downward in the direction of arrow LO to lower the leveling plate  1210  and slide the arm  1400  into another slot position in latch  1500 . 
     FIG. 11B is a side view of the second embodiment  1000  with the dragging/leveling plate  1210  in a ground engaging lowered position. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 11B, when finished with a leveling operation, the user can slide the arm  1400  to one side SL and move handle  1300  upward in the direction of arrow RA to raise the leveling plate  1210  and then slide the arm  1400  into another slot position in latch  1500 . 
     FIG. 12 shows the second embodiment  1000  of the preceding figures attached to a towing vehicle  1800  moving in the direction of arrow MO 1  where debris  1805 , such as dirt, and the like is leveled over the ground surface  1810 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     FIG. 13 shows a third embodiment  2000  using the main frame  1100  and rectangular frame  1200  of the second embodiment  1000  supporting a filled barrel member  2100 . The barrel member  2100  can be an open top compartment such as that found on a wheel barrel and the like, the bottom of which is fixably attached to arm member  1400 (described in the previous embodiment  1000 ). Arm/base  1400  can include a longitudinal handle member  1300  at one end, and pivot components  1149 ,  1495  at the opposite end attached to rectangular frame  1200 . 
     The longitudinal handle  1300  can be attached at an angle facing backward from the barrel compartment  2100  and fastened to the barrel compartment by fasteners, such as bolts, and the like. A preferred angle of the rear facing handle can allow for enhanced leverage for emptying the contents of the barrel compartment  2100 . The barrel compartment  2100  can be filled, and then when needed, the handle  1300  can act as a lever and be pushed down in the direction of arrow EMI causing the barrel to pivot about components  1149 / 1495  to allow the internal contents  2150  such as debris and the like, to be emptied out. FIG. 14 shows the third embodiment  2000  of FIG. 13, with the barrel  2100  being emptied. Barrel compartment  2100  can be a wire cage basket, or be an open topped compartment with closed sides and bottom. Barrel compartment  2100  and/or handle  1300  can be formed from metal such as steel, aluminum, and the like, plastic, and combinations, thereof. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.