Abstract:
A trailer has a rear gate that is closeable in a generally vertical orientation and openable in one of three orientations: the gate swings downwardly open to be used as a ramp; swings open to the left side, rotating around left hinges; and swings open to the right side, rotating around right hinges. Removal of pins from an upper left and upper right set of hinges enables rotation of the gate in the downward position. Removal of pins from the upper left and lower left set of hinges enables rotation of the gate in the right position. Removal of pins from the upper right and lower right set of hinges enables rotation of the gate in the left position. Removal of all of the pins allows the gate to be completely removed from the trailer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/382,744 titled “Trailer with Multi-Positional Gate,” filed on Sep. 14, 2010, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of pull-behind equipment trailers, and more particularly relates to an adjustable rear trailer gate. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A trailer according to the present disclosure comprises a standard equipment trailer and a unique rear gate that is configurable to open in one of three different methods. Via the first method, the trailer gate opens downwardly and may act as a ramp such that equipment may be rolled from the trailer to the ground or vice versa. Via the second method, the trailer gate swings open from the left side of the trailer rear. Via the third method, the trailer gate swings open from the right side of the trailer rear. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a trailer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the trailer of  FIG. 1 , with the gate open downwardly. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the trailer of  FIG. 1 , with the gate open to the left side of the trailer. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial rear perspective view of the trailer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a left side partial plan view of the trailer of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear plan view of the trailer of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged detail view of the trailer of  FIG. 6 , taken along detail line C of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a hinge rod according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a side plan view of a hinge rod of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged detail view of the hinge rod of  FIG. 8 , taken along detail line D of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged detail view of the hinge rod of  FIG. 9 , taken along detail line E of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the trailer of  FIG. 6 , taken along section lines A-A of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged detail view of the trailer of  FIG. 12 , taken along detail line B of  FIG. 12   
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged partial rear perspective view of the trailer of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged partial rear perspective view of the trailer of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a trailer  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The trailer  10  comprises a frame  11  and a deck  8  for receiving cargo (not shown). A hitch  7  couples the trailer  10  to a vehicle (not shown) for towing. A plurality of wheels  9  (only one of which is shown) support the trailer  10  on a surface (not shown). A gate  12  is disposed at the rear of the trailer  10 , and is shown in a closed position, i.e., with the gate  12  oriented generally vertically. 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the trailer  10  of  FIG. 1  with the gate  12  opened in a downward orientation, i.e., such that the gate  12  is rotated down and rests against the surface, such as the ground (not shown). In this orientation, the gate  12  has swung open in the direction indicated by directional arrow  31 , around a generally horizontal axis (not shown). The gate  12  may be used as a ramp to load equipment onto the deck  8 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the trailer  10  of  FIG. 1  with the gate  12  opened in an alternative orientation, i.e., sideways. In this orientation, the gate  12  has swung open in the direction indicated by directional arrow  32 , around a generally vertical axis as shown. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged rear perspective view of the trailer  10  of  FIG. 1 . The trailer frame  11  comprises a rear support  39  that extends generally horizontally across a lower rear edge of the trailer  10 . The rear support comprises two (2) lengths of generally hollow rectangular tubing in the illustrated embodiment. 
     The trailer frame  11  further comprises a left gate support  19   a  and a right gate support  19   b . The left gate support  19   a  extends generally vertically between and is rigidly affixed to a top left rail  30   a  and the rear support  39 . The right gate support  19   b  extends generally vertically between and is rigidly affixed to a top right rail  30   b  and the support  39 . A bottom left rail  33   a  extends longitudinally along the left side of the trailer  10  and a bottom right rail  33   b  extends longitudinally along the right side of the trailer  10 . 
     The left gate support  19   a  comprises upper left trailer hinges  14   a  and  14   b  which are rigidly affixed to the left gate support  19   a , by welding in the illustrated embodiment. The right gate support  19   b  comprises upper right trailer hinges  41   a  and  41   b . The upper left trailer hinges  14   a  and  14   b  and the upper right trailer hinges  41   a  and  41   b  generally comprise a pair of generally cylindrical bushings rigidly affixed to the gate supports  19   a  and  19   b . The generally cylindrical bushings comprising the upper left trailer hinges  14   a  and  14   b  are aligned with each other vertically, with a space therebetween for receiving an upper left gate hinge  15   a , as further discussed below. The upper right trailer hinges  41   a  and  41   b  are substantially similar to and a mirror image of the hinges  14   a  and  14   b.    
     The gate  12  comprises the upper left gate hinge  15   a  and an upper right gate hinge  15   b . The upper left gate hinge  15   a  and the upper right gate hinge  15   b  each generally comprise a cylindrical bushing rigidly affixed to opposed sides  34   a  and  34   b  of the gate  12 . The upper left gate hinge  15   a  is aligned with the upper left trailer hinges  14   a  and  14   b  when the gate  12  is closed, and between left trailer hinges  14   a  and  14   b . The upper right gate hinge  15   b  is aligned with the upper right trailer hinges  41   a  and  41   b  and fits between the upper right trailer hinges  41   a  and  41   b  when the gate  12  is closed as illustrated. 
     The upper left trailer hinges  14   a  and  14   b  are releasably coupled to the upper left gate hinge  15   a  via an upper left pin  18   a . To couple the left trailer hinges  14   a  and  14   b  to the upper left gate hinge  15   a , the upper left pin  18   a , which is generally L-shaped, passes through central openings (not shown) in the upper left trailer hinge  14   a , the upper left gate hinge  15   a , and the upper left trailer hinge  14   b . To decouple the left trailer hinges  14   a  and  14   b  from the upper left gate hinge  15   a , the upper left pin  18   a  is removed. The upper right trailer hinges  41   a  and  41   b  are releasably coupled to the upper right gate hinge  15   b  via an upper right pin  18   b  in substantially the same manner. Opening the gate  12  in its downward position requires removal of the pins  18   a  and  18   b.    
     The trailer  10  further comprises lower left trailer hinges  16   a  and  16   b , and lower right trailer hinges  42   a  and  42   b , each of which comprises cylindrical bushings rigidly affixed to the trailer frame  11 , as further discussed herein. 
     The gate  12  further comprises a hinge rod  23  rotatably coupled to bushings  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  24 . The bushings  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  24  each comprise generally cylindrical bushings rigidly affixed to a bottom edge  43  ( FIG. 6 ) of the gate  12 . The hinge rod  23  is received by the bushings  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  24 , which bushings  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  24  rotate with respect to the hinge rod when the gate  12  rotates into its downward position. 
     The hinge rod  23  comprises a left end rod  25   a  and a right end bar  25   b . The left and right end bars  25   a  and  25   b  each comprise an opening (not shown), as further discussed herein. The left end bar  25   a  of the hinge rod  23  is releasably coupled to the lower left trailer hinges  16   a  and  16   b  via a lower left pin  17   a . To couple the left end bar  25   a  to the lower left trailer hinges  16   a  and  16   b , the lower left pin  17   a , which is generally L-shaped, passes through central openings (not shown) in the lower left trailer hinge  16   a , then through the opening in the left end bar  25   a , then through the hinge  16   b . To decouple the left end bar  25   a  from the left trailer hinge  16   a , the user removes the lower left pin  17   a . The right end bar  25   b  of the hinge rod  23  is rotatably and releasably coupled to the lower right trailer hinges  42   a  and  42   b  in substantially the same manner. The right end bar  25   b  is releasably coupled to the lower right trailer hinges  42   a  and  42   b  via a lower right pin  17   b.    
     When all four pins  18   a ,  18   b ,  17   a  and  17   b  are installed in their respective locations on the trailer  10 , the gate  10  is retained in a closed position. In order to open the gate  12  such that it rotates about the hinge rod  23  (i.e., around the z axis), the user removes the pins  18   a  and  18   b  and swings the gate  12  down to the ground as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . The user may then use the gate  12  as a ramp to assist in moving a load onto and off of the trailer  10 . 
     A left angled support  44   a  extends between and is rigidly affixed to the top left rail  30   a  and the rear support  39  on the left rear side of the trailer  10 . Similarly, a right angled support  44   b  extends between and is rigidly affixed to the top right rail  30   b  and the rear support  39  on the right rear side of the trailer  10 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged side plan view of the left rear portion of the trailer  10  of  FIG. 4 , with the gate  12  in its upright and closed position. The rear support  39  comprises two generally hollow tubing members  40   a  and  40   b  in this embodiment. The tubing members  40   a  and  40   b  are rigidly affixed together,  40   a  atop  40   b , by welding. The left gate support  19   a  extends upwardly from a top surface of the tubing member  40   a . The lower left hinges  16   a  and  16   b  are rigidly affixed to the left gate support  19   a  and the tubing members  40   a  and  40   b , by welding in the illustrated embodiment. The lower left hinge  16   a  is aligned with and spaced apart from the hinge  16   b , forming a space therebetween for receiving the end bar  25   a  of the hinge rod  23  ( FIG. 4 ). The lower left pin  17   a  releasably couples the end bar  25   a  to the lower left hinges  16   a  and  16   b.    
     The end bar  25   a  of the hinge rod  23  is releasably coupled to the hinges  16   a  and  16   b  as illustrated, and remains in this position when the gate  12  is closed in its upward position and when the gate  12  is open in its downward position. The end bar  25   a  of the hinge rod  23  is only released from this position when the left end of the gate  12  is swung open horizontally, as further discussed herein, or when the gate  12  is removed in its entirety. 
     The hinges  16   a  and  16   b  each comprise a generally cylindrical opening  38   a  and  38   b , respectively, extending generally vertically through the hinges  16   a  and  16   b . The end bar  25   a  of the hinge rod  23  comprises an opening (not shown) extending through the end bar  25   a . The openings  38   a ,  38   b , and the opening of the end bar  25   a  receive the lower left pin  17   a  as illustrated. An opening  37  extends generally horizontally through the pin  18   a  for receiving a standard cotter pin  35  which retains the lower left pin  17   a  in place. 
     The right rear portion of the trailer  10  is substantially similar to, and a mirror image of, the left rear portion of the trailer illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a rear plan view of the trailer  10  of  FIG. 4 . The gate  12  is generally rectangular with opposed left and right sides  34   a  and  34   b  which are generally parallel to one another. A top gate support  60  and a bottom gate support  61  are generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to the left and right gate sides  34   a  and  34   b . A plurality of slats  62  are uniformly spaced apart from one another between the left and right sides  34   a  and  34   b . Although five (5) slats  62  are shown in the illustrated embodiment, other embodiments may use more or fewer slats  62 . 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged detail view of the lower left portion of the trailer of  FIG. 6 , taken along detail line C of  FIG. 6 . The hinge rod  23  extends through and is rotatably coupled to the bushing  20 . The end bar  25   a  comprises a flat plate rigidly affixed to the hinge rod  23 , by welding in the illustrated embodiment. The bushing  20  (as well as the bushings  21 ,  22 , and  24  ( FIG. 4 ) is rotatably supported by a bushing support  13  that is rigidly affixed to the rear support  39  and extends beneath the bushing  20 . In this regard, the bushing support  39  is stationary and the bushing  20  slides against it as it rotates. The bushings  21 ,  22 , and  24  are substantially similar to the bushing  20 . 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the hinge rod  23  of  FIG. 7 . The hinge rod  23  comprises an elongated generally cylindrical rod, fabricated from steel in the illustrated embodiment. The end bars  25   a  and  25   b  are disposed on opposed ends of the hinge rod  23 . 
       FIG. 9  is a side plan view of the hinge rod of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged detail view of the hinge rod  23  of  FIG. 8 , taken along detail line D of  FIG. 8 . The end bar  25   a  comprises a semi-circular free end  77  and an opening  76  that extends through the end bar  25   a . The opening  76  receives the pin  17   a  ( FIG. 4 ) when the gate  11  ( FIG. 4 ) is closed. 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged detail view of the hinge rod  23  of  FIG. 9 , taken along detail line E of  FIG. 9 . The hinge rod  23  is fabricated from a generally flat plate of steel in the illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the trailer  10  of  FIG. 6 , taken along section lines A-A of  FIG. 6 . A gate support  45  extends beneath the gate  12  and is rigidly affixed to the gate  12 . The gate support  45  is comprised of angle iron in the illustrated embodiment. The bushing  22  is rigidly affixed to a bottom side  43  of the gate support  45 , by welding in this embodiment. The bushing  22  rotatably receives the hinge rod  23 . The hinge rod  23  is maintained in a stationary position by the end bars  25   a  ( FIG. 4) and 25   b  ( FIG. 4 ) coupled with the hinges  16   a ,  16   b  and  42   a ,  42   b  as discussed above. The gate  12  is rotatable to its downward position when the bushing  22  rotates with respect to the hinge rod  23  in the direction indicated by directional arrow  36 . The bushings  20 ,  21 , and  24  are substantially similar to the bushing  22 . 
       FIG. 13  is an enlarged detail view of the trailer  10  of  FIG. 12 , taken along detail line B of  FIG. 12 . The bushing support  13  extends from the rear support  39  and supports the bushing  22 , as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of the trailer  10  of  FIG. 4 , with the gate  12  opened in its downward position. When the gate  12  is open in this manner, the gate  12  is rotatably supported by the lower left hinges  16   a  and  16   b  coupled with the end bar  25   a  and by the lower right hinges  42   a  and  42   b  coupled with the end bar  25   b  the hinge rod  23 . The gate is further supported in this open position by the gate  12  resting against the ledge  13  on the lower side of the trailer  10 . Although the ledge  13  is illustrated as extending horizontally beneath the gate  12 , the ledge  13  may comprises smaller segments of metal extending underneath the bushings  20 - 22  against which the bushings  20 - 22  may rest when the gate  12  is open. 
     To secure the gate  12  in its closed position, the user returns the gate  12  to its generally vertical orientation and reinstalls the pins  18   a  and  18   b.    
       FIG. 15  illustrates the trailer  10  with the gate  12  opened from the left side of the trailer  10 . In order to open the gate with this method, the user removes the pins  18   b  and  17   b  from the right side of the trailer  10 . Removal of the pin  18   b  releases the hinge  15   b  from between hinges  41   a  and  41   b  and releases the end bar  25   b  of the hinge rod  23  from between the hinges  42   a  and  42   b . The gate  12  will then rotate about the left trailer hinges  14   a ,  14   b  ( FIG. 4 ), the upper left gate hinge  15   a  ( FIG. 4 ), the lower left trailer hinges  16   a  and  16   b  ( FIG. 4 ) and the left end bar  25   a  ( FIG. 4 ) (i.e., the gate  12  will rotate around a generally vertical axis passing through the hinges  14   a ,  14   b ,  15   a ,  16   a , and  16   b ). To close and latch the gate  12 , the user swings the gate  12  shut and reinstalls the pins  18   b  and  17   b.    
     In a similar manner (though not illustrated herein), the user may open the gate  12  from the right side of the trailer  10  by removing the pins  17   a  and  18   a  from the left side of the trailer  10 . Removal of the pins  17   a  and  18   a  releases the hinge  15   a  from between hinges  14   a  and  14   b  and releases the end bar  25   a  of the hinge rod  23  from between the hinges  16   a  and  16   b . The gate  12  will then rotate about the right trailer hinges  41   a ,  41   b , the upper right gate hinge  15   b , the lower right trailer hinges  42   a  and  42   b , and the right end bar  25   b  (i.e., the gate  12  will rotate around a generally vertical axis passing through the hinges  41   a ,  41   b ,  15   b ,  42   a , and  42   b ). To close and latch the gate  12 , the user swings the gate  12  shut and reinstalls the pins  18   b  and  17   b.    
     The gate  12  may be removed from the trailer  10  entirely by removing all of the pins  18   a ,  18   b ,  17   a , and  17   b  and pulling the gate  12  from the trailer.