Abstract:
A trailer storage rack for transporting material and fluids with a livestock trailer. The trailer storage rack mounts to the livestock trailer to transfer the weight and forces of operation to the trailer. The storage rack may be spaced above the trailer to allow for the use of trailer roof vents. An open compartment, dry storage compartment and a fluid compartment are described. Loading and unloading means for the open and dry storage compartment include a rotatable lifting crane that may be compacted and stored in the storage compartment. Access for filling and the draining the fluid compartment is provided by connecting the fluid compartment to side conduits of a ladder such that the side conduits of the ladder act as pipes connected to the fluid compartment. A water hose connection valve is attached to the conduits for access at the ground level to provide easy access for filling and draining the fluid storage compartment.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/264,981 filed Jan. 30, 2001, entitled “Trailer Rack.” 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a storage device for attachment to a livestock trailer for the transportation of dry goods and fluids with livestock. More particularly, the present invention relates to a storage rack that attaches to the top of a livestock trailer for transporting equipment, feed, and water for use with and care for the animals being transported. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     While transporting livestock in a trailer, it is also desirable to transport items which are used with the animals or which satisfy the nutritional and physiological requirements of the animals. These items can include hay, feed, water, and equipment such as saddles, bridles, packs, veterinary supplies, spare equipment, and other material for use with or care for the animal. A good example of this need is found at horse shows or riding events which occur through the United States. A horse show may bring together large concentrations of people and animals. This large concentration can place a heavy burden on water supplies, feed supplies, or the accessibility of spare equipment and access to food or water may not necessarily be guaranteed. Thus, it is desirable to carry the feed, livestock, and equipment for the animal to the horse show. This also applies to other events such as trail rides, livestock sales, and other events where the animals are transported from one location to another. Therefore, it is desirable to have an independent and self contained trailer rack which contains food, fluids, and any necessary equipment. 
     It is also important that the food, fluid, and other material stored for the animals can be easily put in place by a single person of ordinary strength. Given the bulky nature and concentrated weight of items associated with the care and enjoyment of animals, the mechanisms for loading and unloading these materials are equally as important as the ability of the trailer rack to store such items. For example, horse feed is often sold in fifty pound sacks and hay bales often weigh upwards of eighty pounds. Consequently, movement and storage of these items can be burdensome. 
     Thus, there is a need for a trailer rack, storage, and handling apparatus and system for attachment to a trailer which meets these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a trailer rack apparatus and method is provided which addresses the drawbacks of the prior art and in one of its exemplary forms includes a two sided rack for attachment to the side supports of a trailer for carrying food, water and equipment above a trailer. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a storage rack is provided comprising first and second side supports extending from a storage chamber and attached to the sides of a trailer so that the weight of the rack, the weight of items placed into the rack, and any aerodynamic forces acting on the storage rack are transferred to the sides of the trailer. 
     In accordance with one example of the present invention, the unit is equipped with extended side supports so that the rack is suspended above the trailer so that roof vents on the trailer may still be used to provide airflow in the trailer. 
     In accordance with another example, the unit has a lifting crane to allow for the easy loading and unloading of the rack. 
     In accordance with yet another example, the unit is equipped with a ground level water loading, unloading, and pressurization system that allows for water to be carried in the rack and easily accessed. One of the unique aspects of the present invention is the use of side supports of a ladder for providing the water conduits. This minimizes the weight of the system while still providing the desired functionality. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer rack for attachment to a conventional livestock trailer to effectively transport dry goods and fluids. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storage rack for a livestock trailer so that any weight present in the storage rack or any aerodynamic forces applied to the storage rack are transferred to the sides of the livestock trailer. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a storage rack having a storage chamber further comprising a fluid tight seal so that no precipitation enters the storage chamber. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lifting system so that objects may be lifted to the top of the livestock trailer. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fluid and dry goods transportation system having a storage compartment and a fluid storage compartment attached to the frame of a livestock trailer for the transportation of dry goods and fluids. The fluid storage container having a breather and a conduit so that fluid enters the fluid storage compartment through the conduit from a ground level and the fluid exits from the fluid storage compartment through the conduit to the ground level. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid pump attached to a first conduit so that the fluid pump generates pressure to move fluid into or out of the fluid storage tank by use of the first conduit. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide substantially horizontal members attached a conduit for accessing the top of the livestock trailer. 
    
    
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully here and after described and claimed, with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevated side view of the storage rack and livestock trailer. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the storage rack showing the multiple storage compartments. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevated rear view of the storage rack and livestock trailer. 
     FIG. 4 a  is an elevated rear view of the fluid transportation system showing the conduit for filling and draining from the ground level. 
     FIG. 4 b  is an elevated side view of the lifting system showing the arm, winch, and cable. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the storage rack showing the fluid tight seal. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the fluid storage compartment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a storage rack  10  for a livestock trailer  12 . This rack  10  allows for food, water, and equipment for use with the livestock carried in the trailer to be transported along with the livestock. In FIG. 2 and 3 there is shown the preferred embodiment in which the storage rack  10  is attached to a livestock trailer  12  having a trailer roof  14 , a first trailer side  16  and a second trailer side  18 . The storage rack  10  has a first side support  20  positioned to engage and attach to the first trailer side  16 . The storage rack  10  also has a second side support  22  positioned to engage and attach to the second trailer side  18 . The storage rack  10  also has a storage chamber  24  spanning the first side support  20  and the second side support  22  so that any weight present in the storage chamber  24  or aerodynamic forces acting on the storage chamber  24  are transferred to the sides of the livestock trailer,  16  and  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the storage chamber  24  has a bottom surface or floor  26  arranged to be located above and spaced from the trailer roof  14 . This allows for the bottom or floor  26  of the rack  10  to clear any vents or other items on the trailer roof  14 . Thus, items may be carried in the rack  10  without interfering with airflow provided by these vents. The storage chamber  24  also has a solid or mesh lid  28  covering the storage chamber  24  and movable to an open position and a closed position. A solid lid  28  is used to retain dry goods in the storage chamber and a mesh lid  28  is used when environmental conditions will not affect the items being carried. 
     One of the important aspect of the present invention is the transfer of forces on the trailer rack  10  to the sides of the trailer  12 . When a trailer  12  is traveling at highway speed, large aerodynamic forces are placed on the storage rack  10 . For the preferred embodiment, the storage chamber  24  attaches to the first side support  20  and the second side support  22  so that the storage chamber  24  and the connections to the trailer  12  can withstand these aerodynamic forces and remain attached when traveling at highway speed, during high wind conditions, during impact from overhanging trees and other naturally occurring events that may occur to the rack  10  during its use. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, there is shown the storage chambers  24 . If the preferred embodiment, the storage chambers  24  have a fluid tight seal  48 , which may be described as a solid core foam seal  48 , contacting the solid lid  28  in the closed position so that no precipitation enters the storage chamber  24 . In one embodiment, a continuous aluminum piano hinge  80  can be used to facilitate the closure of the solid lid  28 . The storage chambers  24  additionally have a gas shock or piston  30 , shown in FIG. 2, the piston  30  having a first end attached to the solid lid  28  and having a second end attached to the storage chamber  24  so that the piston  30  moves or assists the movement of the solid lid  28  between an open position and a closed position. 
     FIG. 4 b  shows a lifting system  32  attached to at least one of the storage chambers  24 . The lifting system  32  has an arm  34  attached to the storage chamber  24  by a lower tube  37  passing through hole brackets  39 , a wench  36  attached to the arm  34 , and a cable  38  attached to the wench  36 . The lifting system  32  should be arranged so that the arm  34  will extend over the side  16  of the trailer  12 . The cable  38  may then be lowered to ground level. An item may be attached to the cable  38 , and the cable  38  retracted by the wench  36  to raise the item to the roof  14  of the trailer  12 . The lifting system  32  will then rotate or swing the suspended item from overhanging the side  16  of the trailer  12  to above the storage compartment  24 . The rotation of the lifting system  32  is provided by turning the lower arm  37  in the hole brackets  39 . Once the item is rotated above the storage compartment  24 , the item may be lowered into the storage compartment  24  and disconnected from the cable  38  for storage. The reverse process may be used to unload an item from the storage compartment  24 . In this manner, objects may be easily lifted to the top of the livestock trailer  12  and placed in the storage compartment  24  and later removed form the storage compartment  24  and lowered to ground level. 
     The lifting system  32  is designed to be compacted, folded, or stored so that it may be easily transported and used with the storage chamber  24 . For the present embodiment, the lifting system is connected to the storage compartment by lifting the entire assembly upright and placing the lower tube  37  in the hole brackets  39  attached to the storage chamber  24  as shown in FIG.  2 . Generally, two hole brackets  39  are used to support the lower tube in at least two places. Thus, a hole bracket  39  may be placed at the top and bottom of the storage chamber  24 . The placement of the lower tube  37  in the hole brackets  39  orients the lifting system  32  for use in loading and unloading the storage rack  24 . After use, the lifting system may be compacted by lifting the lower tube  37  out of the hole brackets  39  and placing the lifting system  32  in the storage compartment  24 . The lifting system  32  can be folded about folding point  35  to facilitate storage of the lifting system  32 . 
     A fluid and dry goods transportation system  40  is disclosed by the present invention. Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2  and  4   a , there is shown a fluid and dry goods transportation system  40  which has a livestock trailer  12 , having a first trailer side support  16 , also called a first trailer side, and a second trailer side support  18 , also called a second trailer side, and a trailer roof  14 . The trailer roof  14  has a vent  42 . The fluid and dry goods transportation system  40  has a frame  44  attached to the first trailer side support structure  16  and the second trailer side support structure  18  of the livestock trailer  12  and positioned above the trailer roof  14  of the livestock trailer  12  so that the vent  42  is not blocked. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a fluid and dry goods transportation system  40  having a first storage compartment  46  attached to the frame  44  so that any weight located in the first storage compartment  46  and any aerodynamic force applied to the first storage compartment  46  are transferred to the first trailer side support  16 , also described as a first trailer side, and the second trailer side support  18 , also described as a second trailer side, of the livestock trailer  12 . The first storage compartment  46  has a solid lid  28  covering the first storage compartment  46  and moveable between an open position and a closed position. The first storage compartment  46  also has a fluid tight seal  48 , shown in FIG. 5, between the solid lid  28  and the first storage compartment  46 , so that no fluid enters the first storage compartment  46  when the solid lid  28  is moved to the closed position. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a fluid and dry goods transportation system  40  that has a non-fluid storage compartment  60  attached to the frame  44 . The non-fluid storage compartment  60  has a solid lid  28  moveable between an open position and a closed position. The non-fluid storage compartment  60  also has a fluid tight seal  48  between the non-fluid storage compartment  60  and the solid lid  28  so that no precipitation enters the non-fluid storage compartment  60  when the solid lid  28  is in the closed position. 
     The present invention is constructed of materials that are weather resistant, light in weight and structurally strong. More specifically, the weather resistant aspect of the construction material is important so that said material is not affected by any type of weather. Additionally, the lightweight nature of the construction material will reduce the load that is placed on the livestock trailer. Finally, the material must offer sufficient strength to withstand the weight of any items that are stored. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2 , and  4   a , there is shown a fluid transportation system  62  attached above a livestock trailer  12 . The fluid transportation system  62  has a frame  44  positioned to engage the sides of the trailer, the first trailer side  16  and the second trailer side  18  so that the frame  44  is located above and positioned from the livestock trailer  12 . The fluid transportation system  62  also has a fluid storage tank  46 , also described as a fluid storage compartment  46  or a first storage compartment  46 , attached to the frame  44  so that aerodynamic force applied to the fluid storage tank  46  and weight located in the fluid storage tank  46  are transferred to both the first trailer side  16  and the second trailer side  18 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4A, one of the storage compartments  24  may be used as a fluid storage compartment  46  to store and transport fluids such as water. The fluid storage compartment  46  has a breather  50  to relieve excess pressure in the compartment  46  to allow for fluid overflow during pressurized filling of the compartment  46  and to allow for air to enter the compartment  46  during draining. The fluid storage compartment  46  is attached to a conduit  52  having a first end  54  and a second end  56 . The first end  54  is fluidly connected to the fluid storage compartment  46  so that the fluid enters and exits the fluid storage compartment through the conduit  52 . The second end  56  is placed at ground level to allow for easy connection to the fluid storage compartment. The second end  56  is equipped with a standard ;hose connection valve  58 . This valve  58  allows for easy connection to a standard garden hose or other available water supply and allows for control of water flow into and out of the fluid storage compartment  46  from a person standing at the ground level. Pressure from most water supply systems is sufficient to fill the compartment located on top of the trailer  12  from the valve  58 . The fluid transportation system  62  can also be connected to a fluid pump  64  attached to the first conduit  52  so that the fluid pump  64  generates pressure to move fluid into or out of the fluid storage tank  46  by use of the first conduit  52 . This pump  64  allows for pressurized filling of the water tank  46  from a non-pressurized source such as a stock tank, creek, or pond. The pump  64  also allows for pressurized flow out of the tank  46  for spraying off the animals or other such uses of pressurized water. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, fluid transportation system  62  includes a fitting  55  and a flex hose  57  that attach to and cooperating with the first end  54  to facilitate the fluid flow to a from the fluid storage compartment  46  through the conduit  52 . The invention can also include baffles  45  located in the fluid storage compartment  46  to subdivide the fluid storage compartment  46  into multiple sections. Also, corner braces  47  can be positioned between the floor  26  and the first and second side supports  20  and  22  to provide further stability to the rack  10 . In a preferred embodiment, eight corner braces  47  are included. 
     The mechanisms used for loading the food and fluid items into the present trailer rack can be used to load material for transportation and are also reversible to allow removal of the same. These mechanisms will allow rapid removal of items placed in the trailer rack so that removal and use of the items may occur in a short period of time. Providing the livestock being transported with the items placed in storage in the trailer rack ensures the humane transport of the livestock. Additionally, if the livestock consists of racing horses or show horses, the performance of the animal may be enhanced by transport in a manner that allows access to food and/or water. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Trailer Rack, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.