Abstract:
A collapsible trailer container for automobiles, comprising a rectangular enclosure having a base member and four vertical panels pivotally connected to the base member such that the panels can be pivotally moved to make them rest in a stacked configuration above the base member. The container also comprises a locking means for locking the panels in a vertical position to form the enclosure with open top.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPPLICATION 
       [0001]    None 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 
       [0004]    Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    The present invention relates in-general to automobile trailers, and more particularly to a collapsible trailer container for automobiles. 
         [0006]    Several trailers and carriers for automobiles have been developed in the art. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,090 to Grovom discloses a trailer having a fixed framework and a telescoping framework engaging the fixed framework for shortening or lengthening of the trailer, a flexible floor foldable for use in either mode, a hitch assembly which permits ninety degree upwardly pivot of the trailer when in the shortened mode for non-ground support portability on the towing vehicle, and a support bar engaging the towing vehicle for holding the trailer in the supported, portable position. A substantially V-shaped housing on the trailer provides a storage container with low center of gravity and also provides axle housing for the trailer wheels. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,937 to Sadler discloses a vehicle cargo carrier, and specifically a movable frame assembly, for storing and transporting luggage, gear, equipment and the like on the exterior of a vehicle. The carrier is attached to a common trailer hitch and is particularly well suited for use with a mini-van or sport utility vehicle which has a rear opening door or hatch. The carrier is movable, permitting outward extension, while still being connected to the vehicle, to provide easy access to and unobstructed opening of the vehicle rear door or hatch, and to provide unobstructed access to the vehicle&#39;s existing interior cargo area. The frame assembly comprises a connection member interfacing with the hitch and a frame member which interfaces with the connection member. A storage box or container member is connected to the frame member. However, the above two inventions are used for supporting a container or storage box unlike the collapsible trailer container of the present invention. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pub. No. 20060220346 to Fulton discloses a trailer which can be attached to the rear of a personal mobility vehicle. When not in use, the trailer folds and stores in a carrier attached to the lower framework of the personal mobility vehicle. When needed, the trailer is lifted out of the carrier, the collapsible container is unfolded and the trailer is ready for use. The trailer is attached to the personal mobility vehicle at all times whether in use or not in use by a coupler. The tongue of the trailer is supported by the chassis of the trailer and is adjustable so as to retract or extend as needed. The chassis is attached to the container and also supports the tires and wheels. Although this invention comprises a collapsible container, the structure of the container and the folding means employed in the present invention are different. 
         [0009]    Typical trailer containers or boxes are inconvenient to carry and store when not in use due to their size. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible trailer container for automobiles that can be folded down to a flat configuration when not in use. 
         [0010]    A further object is to provide a collapsible trailer container for automobiles that is easy to install. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present invention is a collapsible trailer container for automobiles. The container comprises a rectangular base member and four panels. The panels are pivotally connected to the base member at varying heights such that they can be folded down and stacked above the base member. The panels are locked in a vertical position using locking means to form an open top rectangular enclosure. The base member has upright members at its corners to which the panels are pivotally connected. The container also comprises an I-section for supporting the base member and an elongate bar extending from the I-section. The elongate bar is connected to the automobile using typical connecting means such as a pin joint. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a collapsible trailer container with the panels in vertical position in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2 through 5  depict the sequential operations involved in folding the container when hitched to an automobile in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6 through 8  depict various embodiments of the locking means in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the lid for the trailer container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view the trailer container with the lid in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  . . . Collapsible Trailer Container 
           12  . . . Base Member 
           14  . . . Front Panel 
           16  . . . Rear Panel 
           18  . . . Side Panel 
           20  . . . I-Section 
           22  . . . Elongate Bar 
           24  . . . Hole 
           26  . . . Automobile 
           28  . . . Upright Protruding Member 
           30  . . . Tube 
           32  . . . Pin 
           34  . . . Lid 
           36  . . . Slot 
           38  . . . L-shaped Bracket 
           40  . . . Hook 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a collapsible trailer container for automobiles is illustrated and generally indicated as  10  in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . The trailer container  10  is hitched to automobiles using typical connecting means, such as a hole-pin connection. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the collapsible container  10  comprises a rectangular base member  12  and four mesh panels, namely, front  14 , rear  16  and a pair of side panels  18 . The container further comprises an I-section  20  below the base member  12 , and an elongate bar  22  extending from the I-section  20 . More particularly, the elongated member  22  extends from the bottom of the base member  12  centrally. The free end of the elongate bar  22  includes a hole  24  for connecting the container  10  to an automobile  26  using a pin joint such that base member  12  is parallel to the ground as shown in  FIG. 2 . In a preferred embodiment, the base member and the panels comprise a meshed metal structure bordered by a metal frame. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the base member  12  comprises four upright protruding members  28 , each extending from each of its corners. Each upright protruding member  28  is comprised of two identical strips, each connected together about their longitudinal edges at right angles. The bottom corners of each side panel  18  are pivotally connected between a pair of upright protruding members  28  at the bottommost location. More particularly, the bottom corners are connected between two parallel strips of the pair of upright protruding members  28 . The bottom corners of the rear panel  16  are pivotally connected to a pair of upright protruding members  28 , above the level of the pivotal connections of the side panels  18 . Finally, the bottom corners of the front panel  14  are pivotally connected to a pair of upright protruding members  28 , above the level of the pivotal connection of the rear panel  16 . The pivotal connection between the panels and the upright protruding members  28  is established by push on nuts and shafts/tubes/metal rods. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , with the above arrangement, the panels can be folded down to rest above the base member  12  in a stacked configuration. In the stacked configuration, the side panels  18  rest on the base member  12 ; the rear panel  16  rests on the folded side panels  18 ; and the front panel  14  rests on the folded rear panel  16 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , each side edge of each panel is connected with tube  30 , such that a rectangular enclosure is formed when the panels are in the vertical position. The tubes- 30  of any two adjacent panels align with each other. Once aligned, a pin  32  is inserted through the aligned tubes  30  so as to lock the panels in the vertical position. The pin  32  can either be threaded or non-threaded. If the pin  32  is non-threaded, there is a means to secure it to the tubes  30 . The securing means may comprise a looped wire or strap that is attached to the head of the pin such that when the pin is inserted through the aligned tubes  30 , the wire or strap is looped about the bottom portion of the pin so as to prevent the pin from coming out of the aligned tubes  30 . The panels are dimensioned such that their top edges lie in the same horizontal plane when locked in the vertical position. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  9  and  10 , in an additional embodiment the trailer container further comprises a lid  34 . The lid  34 , like the base member, is a rectangular panel and comprises a slot  36  on its rear side and a pair of L-shaped brackets  38  on its front side. A hook  40  is provided on the top side of the rear panel  16 . The bottom horizontal portion of the brackets  38  are received below the top side of the front panel  14  and the hook  40  is received in the slot  30  for installing the lid. The lid  34  can then be secured using a lock to the hook  40 . 
         [0039]    All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0040]    Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. 
         [0041]    Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.