Abstract:
A tiltable trailer for off-road carrying of off-road vehicles, comprising a rectangular frame having a triangular shaped front end, a rear end, left and right sides, and at least one cross support member; a bed supported by the frame and capable of supporting a vehicle; an elongated tongue structure extending from the frame; a tilting mechanism associated with the tongue structure to selectively retain the bed supporting frame in contact with the tongue structure or to release the frame from aid tongue structure to allow the frame to tilt; at least two axle-mounted wheels coupled by the axle to the frame; a first wheel well associated with the left side of the frame and disposed within the periphery of the frame; and, a second wheel well associated with the right side of the frame and disposed within the periphery of the frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to trailers for off-road and on-road transportation of vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles, as well as other objects. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Trailers are commonly used to haul vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”). These trailers are hitched to a towing vehicle when needed and unhitched for storage. These trailers are typically designed for use on smooth roads or paths only. There are no efficient and durable trailers designed for off-road use. Since the trailers are often towed in rough terrain the trailer frame frequently encounters objects, such as tree trunks, branches, rocks, dirt mounds, ditches, holes and other objects incurring significant damage. Most trailers are not designed to withstand sufficiently the variety and intensity of abuse that is commonly encountered. 
         [0003]    It would be desirable to have a trailer designed to haul ATVs and other vehicles and objects to off-road locations and just as well as readily be towed totally off road by the ATV And have such trailer be designed to withstand the conditions for such use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Generally described, the present invention provides in a first exemplary embodiment a tiltable trailer for on-road and off-road carrying of off-road vehicles, comprising a rectangular frame having a triangular shaped front end, a rear end, left and right sides, and at least one cross support member; a bed supported by the frame and capable of supporting a vehicle; an elongated tongue structure extending from the frame; a tilting mechanism associated with the tongue structure to selectively retain the bed supporting frame in contact with the tongue structure or to release the frame from aid tongue structure to allow the frame to tilt; at least two axle-mounted wheels coupled by the axle to the frame; a first wheel well associated with the left side of the frame and disposed within the periphery of the frame; and, a second wheel well associated with the right side of the frame and disposed within the periphery of the frame. 
         [0005]    The trailer bed tilts when a locking pin is removed. In the tilted position an ATV can be loaded onto the trailer via the rear portion. When the ATV is positioned on the trailer the ATV wheels are cradled between the trailer wheel wells, reducing front-to-back movement when the trailer is in motion. The wheel wells are positioned inside the frame so as to reduce the possibility of becoming damaged by hitting objects (e.g., trees, branches, brush, etc.) and becoming dented. 
         [0006]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the Figures of which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in the tilted position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front elevation view. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a detail showing a portion of the axle area. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective and partial bottom view showing the trailer in a tilted position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a detail showing the front portion of the tongue. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention generally provides a trailer for hauling vehicles, particularly off-road vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”), and the like, behind a towing vehicle as well as being just as readily towed behind an ATV. In one exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , a trailer  10  is shown, comprising a bed  12  (a portion of which is shown in  FIG. 2 ) attached to a frame  14 . The bed is preferably a grid of “expanded” metal forming a grid or mesh, as is known to those skilled in the art and commercially available from a number of manufacturers. While a solid bed  12  can be used, a grid or mesh structure is preferable to reduce weight while maintaining strength, and, to allow dirt and water to pass therethrough, making cleaning easier and reducing standing water and dirt buildup. The bed covers at least a portion of the frame  14 . 
         [0018]    The frame  14  comprises a bed frame  16  and a rail structure  15  raised from the bed frame  16  and connected by a plurality of connecting braces. In a preferred embodiment the frame  14  components are made of a generally rigid durable material, such as, but not limited to, steel, composite, alloy, aluminum, wood, plastic, combinations thereof or other suitable material that can structurally withstand substantial stress and be able to support the weight of an ATV or other load. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that other existing materials or materials developed hereafter can be used. The frame  14  can also be constructed of a mixture or combination of materials, depending on structural requirements and manufacturing capabilities. In more detail, the bed frame  16  includes a spine rail  17  to which is attached a pair of front rails  18 ,  20 , the front rails  18 ,  20  preferably forming a wedge or triangular shaped front portion  21  of the trailer  10 . The bed frame  16  also includes a first side rail  22 , a second side rail  24  and a rear rail  26 . The bed frame  16  also includes a plurality of support rails, which may include, depending on the particular construction, front support rails  28 ,  30 , first side support rails  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  40 , second side support rails  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50 , and transverse support rails  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58 . It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that fewer or additional support rails may be employed and such support rails may be longitudinal (with respect to the spine rail  17 ), transverse or at an angle. 
         [0019]    A first wheel well  70  is disposed between the first side rail  22  and the support rail  40 , and, in a complementary fashion, a second wheel well  72  is disposed between the second side rail  24  and the support rail  50 . The wheel wells  70 ,  72  each comprise a curved segment of material  73  which is affixed to at least one of the rails. The wheel wells  70 ,  72  also preferably, though not mandatorily, have a series of spaced-apart bumps  74 , which can also be treads, ribs, protrusions, nips, rounded spikes, a grate, grid or the like, to increase the traction of a tire rolling on and over the wheel well  70  or  72  to grip the wheel well surface  73 . A unique feature of the present invention is the location of the wheel wells  70  and  72  within the frame  12  (i.e., between the rails  22 ,  24 ) so as to reduce the likelihood of the well being struck by an object while the trailer  10  is being towed. 
         [0020]    The frame  14  also includes a set of raised side rails, comprising front rails  80 ,  82 , first side rail  84 , and second side rail  86 . The raised side rails also include a plurality of vertical riser support rails, such as riser support rails  90 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  and the like. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that fewer or more riser support rails may be used. It is also to be understood that two or more of the aforementioned riser side rails can be a single rail that is bent. 
         [0021]    An axle  120  connects wheels  122  and  124  (see  FIG. 7 ). The axle  120  is operatively connected to the frame  12  by a pair of springs  126 , each end  127 ,  128  of the spring being bolted to the frame  12  using a bolt  129 . The axle  120  is bolted to the springs  126  using a U-bolt  130 . Optionally, a set of springs or shock absorbers (not shown) can be included, as are known to those skilled in the art. The axle  120 , springs  126 , and U-bolt  130  are designed to be sufficiently high from the ground to reduce the likelihood of catching objects from the ground. 
         [0022]    The trailer  10  also preferably has at least one, and preferably a plurality of tie down loops  140  or hooks associated with the riser support rails. Is it to be understood that the loops  140  can alternatively be gaps or openings in the rail, or can be fingers, hooks, tabs, or the like, so as to enable a bungee cord, strap, rope, chain or other retention means to be strapped and attached to the frame  12 . It is also contemplated that one or more loops  140  can be associated with the bed  14 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , the frame  14  also includes a beam  150  which can be U-shaped, or composed of two L-shaped beams  151 A,  151 B mounted back-to-back to create a track therebetween (see  FIG. 5 ). At least one, and preferably a pair, of holes  151  are at one end of the beam  150 . A tongue  160  is pivotably mounted to the frame  14  via a pin  162  or rod and fits partially within the beam  150  while extending beyond the frame  14 . At least one, and preferably a pair, of pistons  164  (such as pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders) are mounted at one end of the piston to the beam  150  and at the other end of the piston to the tongue  160 . The use of the pistons  164  allows an ATV to be safely, quietly and softly loaded and unloaded onto the trailer  10  reducing any jarring or rapid motions occurring thus also securing the safety of the driver. 
         [0024]    An optional handle  166  may be mounted on the top surface of the distal portion of the tongue  160  via a bracket  165  (see  FIG. 9 ). The handle  166  allows a user to move the trailer when not attached to the towing vehicle. An optional foot  168  is mounted on the bottom surface of the distal portion of the tongue  160 . The foot  168  keeps the end of the tongue  160  off the ground when not attached to a towing vehicle. A tow hitch bracket  170 , known to those skilled in the art, is mounted to the end of the tongue  160  and removably connects to a mating bracket (not shown) associated with a towing vehicle. 
         [0025]    Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the rear portion  26  of the frame  14  has at least one, and preferably a plurality of, lights  180  comprising a fixture  182 , bulb  184  and cover  186 , as is conventional for trailers, but, the lights  180  are mounted in a rear rail  188  so that the cover  186  is generally flush with the rear rail  188  surface (it being understood that, depending on manufacturing design the cover  186  can be protrude from or be recessed in the surface). The flush-mount design of the lights  180  reduces the likelihood of breakage when the trailer  10  is being towed in rough areas or when the trailer is pivoted (as described in greater detail hereinbelow). 
         [0026]    The trailer  10  can be tilted (see  FIG. 4  (flat) and  FIG. 8  (tilted)) to permit an ATV to be driven or otherwise positioned on the bed  12 . When in the flat position (see  FIGS. 4 ,  7 ) the tongue  160  fits within the track in the beam  150  and is held in place by a pin  190  which passes through a hole  192  in the tongue  150  and through the holes  151  in the beam  150 . The pin  190  can be removed and the frame  14  pivots on the pin  162  so that the rear portion  26  lowers to the ground, thereby allowing an ATV to be driven over the rear rail  188  and the treaded wheel wells  70 ,  72  and onto the trailer  10 . The pistons  164  dampen the movement of the trailer  10  with respect to the tongue  160 . When the ATV is fully loaded onto the trailer  10 , the wheel wells  70 ,  72  are disposed between the front and back ATV wheels, thereby cradling the ATV. Bungee cord or other tiedowns can be used with the loops  140  to maintain the ATV in place. 
         [0027]    Optionally, one or more lights or reflectors  194  can be mounted on the support rails (see  FIG. 6 ), where required by law or as desired to increase the visibility of the trailer  10 . 
         [0028]    An advantage of the present invention is the improved durability of the trailer by the incorporation of a number of novel features. One such feature is the triangular or wedge-shaped front end, which assists to deflect blows from oncoming ground objects from hitting the ATV. The front end design also allows for various gear to be placed and tied down on the trailer. Also, when the ATV is on the trailer  10 , the wheel wells reduce front to back movement of the ATV wheels during hauling. Another feature is the incorporation of the wheel wells within the frame so that the wheel well is not exposed to striking object either from the front or the back or underneath to the degree that conventional trailers are exposed. The tilting design eliminates the need for separate ramps or tailgates, which reduces weight, material cost and time for loading. The bed is preferably high enough off the ground as to be able to pass over most objects and reduce the likelihood of branches or brush catching on the frame. The positioning of the U-bolts  129 ,  130  similarly reduces fouling. 
         [0029]    It is to be understood that while the exemplary embodiment described above is described for use with an ATV, the trailer can be adapted and designed and use to haul motorcycles, earth digging and moving equipment, watercraft (e.g., jet skis), ski mobiles, sleds and the like, or objects other than vehicles. The trailer of the present invention can also be towed behind an ATV in off-road conditions. So, in one exemplary application, the trailer can haul an ATV from a road to an off-road site, then the trailer can be hitched to the ATV to be hauled to a remote off-road site, thereby providing a dual purpose for the trailer of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. 
         [0031]    It should further be noted that any patents, applications and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.