Patent Abstract:
A lightweight multipurpose trailer which separates into two parts includes a base chassis and cargo deck. The base chassis provides the hitch beam, axles, suspension, and wheels, but the chassis alone does not have the necessary structure or strength to carry a load without the addition of the cargo deck. The attached cargo deck provides the required strength and rigidity through its connections directly to the axle and the hitch beam. Different customized cargo support decks each fit on the base chassis, but can be stored separately with or without their cargo.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/218,211 filed Jul. 14, 2000 entitled MULTIPLE USE TRAILER and from U.S. application Ser. No. 09/902,191 filed Jul. 10, 2001 and entitled MULTI-PURPOSE TRAILER, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to the field of utility trailers, and more particularly to a utility trailer system with an easily removable bed.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A trailer, towed behind a vehicle, is a common item used to transport recreational vehicles, such as snowmobiles, boats, jet skis, motorcycles, and the like. These vehicles are too big to fit into today&#39;s smaller cars, but they are not too heavy to tow with the small car as long as the trailer is lightweight. Many people are forced into either purchasing several complete trailers specialized to carry a particular recreational vehicle, or purchasing a large sport-utility vehicle or truck to pull a heavy trailer that may haul a variety of objects. Either of these possibilities places an increased demand on storage space and fuel usage. A consumer may save a significant amount of space and fuel by eliminating the need for a large vehicle, and eliminating the need for multiple sets of axles, wheels, and trailer tongues. Consequently, a lightweight multipurpose trailer having a changeable cargo deck is needed to transport and store the hobby vehicles without adding unnecessary parts and weight.  
           [0004]    The prior art teaches several types of trailer systems having changeable cargo containers or decks. Most systems consist of a trailer that is functional in itself for hauling some type of cargo without any type of added structure. Others have a heavy structural main frame that has a correspondingly cumbersome system of moving the heavy cargo containers on an off the main frame. These systems work well for their intended purpose of hauling heavy cargo such as cars, horses, or heavy equipment, but they are inefficient for the transport of light cargo.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Briefly stated, a lightweight multipurpose trailer particularly designed to separate into two parts, a base chassis and cargo support deck. The base chassis provides the hitch beam, axles, suspension, and wheels, but the chassis does not have the necessary structure or strength to carry a load without the addition of the cargo support deck. The attached cargo support deck provides the required strength and rigidity through its connections directly to the axle and the hitch beam. Different customized cargo support decks each fit on the base chassis, but can be stored separately with or without their cargo.  
           [0006]    According to an embodiment of the invention, a multipurpose trailer system includes a chassis, the chassis including at least one axle and only one main beam, the axle including first and second ends; a first suspension attached to the first end of the axle, and a second suspension attached to the second end of the axle; a first wheel attached to the first suspension, and a second wheel attached to the second suspension; the axle having first, second and third axle portions, the first axle portion extending from the first end of the axle to the third axle portion, the second axle portion extending from the second end of the axle to the third axle portion; the main beam attached to a center of the axle on the third axle portion; and a cargo deck including at least first, second, and third connectors for removably mounting the cargo deck to the chassis, the first and second connectors mounted on the axle and/or the cargo deck, the third connector mounted on the beam and/or the cargo deck; wherein the cargo deck provides structural rigidity to the chassis through the first, second and third connectors, the structural rigidity being required to transport a load or a cargo from a first location to a second location.  
           [0007]    According to an embodiment of the invention, a multipurpose trailer system includes deck means for locating and positioning cargo; moving means for transporting the deck means from a first location to a second location when the moving means is connected to a prime mover; and attachment means for removably attaching the deck means to the moving means; wherein the securing means being attached to the moving means by the attachment means provides lateral strength required by the moving means to carry the cargo from the first location to the second location without the chassis bending or failing.  
           [0008]    According to an embodiment of the invention, a method of making a multipurpose trailer system includes the steps of (a) providing an axle with a first and second ends and first, second and third portions, the first portion extending from the first end of the axle to the third axle portion, and the second axle portion extending from the second end of the axle to the third portion; (b) connecting a main beam to the third portion a center of the axle, wherein the main beam and the axle in combination are not sufficiently rigid to transport cargo from a first location to a second location; (d) connecting a first suspension to the first portion of the axle, and connecting a second suspension to the second portion of the axle; (e) connecting a first wheel to the first suspension, and connecting a second wheel to the second suspension; (f) providing a cargo deck with a front side and a back side;, the front side positioned near the main beam, the back side located opposite the front side, the cargo deck with sufficient rigidity to transport cargo from the first location to the second location; (g) removably attaching the cargo deck to the first and second portions of the axle; and (h) removably attaching the front side of the cargo deck to the main beam, wherein steps (g) and (h) impart to the cargo deck sufficient rigidity wherein cargo is transportable via the trailer system from a first location to a second location. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the chassis of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the chassis of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a cargo support deck positioned in spaced relation to the chassis of FIG. 2.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the mounting structure of the chassis and cargo deck of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the cargo support deck support/storage device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    Referring to FIG. 1, a base chassis  10  generally includes an axle  12  having a conventional suspension systems  14 ,  16 , such as leaf springs (not shown) or a torsion beam and lever arm system (shown), attached to its opposing ends, wheels  18 ,  20  rotatably attached to suspension systems  14 ,  16 , respectively, a main beam  22  attached to and extending forwardly from the center of axle  12  at connection  38 , a towing hitch  24  attached to the forward end of beam  22 , a pair of brackets  26 ,  28  attached to axle  12  adjacent each suspension system  14 ,  16 , respectively, two pairs of dowel pins  30 ,  32  attached to brackets  26 ,  28 , respectively, a pair of holes  34 ,  36  through brackets  26 ,  28 , respectively, and a mounting bracket  40  attached to beam  22  at an intermediate position therealong, with a hole  42  formed through bracket  40 . Axle  12 , connection  38  and beam  22  are sized primarily to withstand the torsional stress generated by suspension systems  14 ,  16  with the weight of axle  12 , connection  40 , and beam  22 . Additional torsional loads generated by suspension systems  14 ,  16  when a cargo deck is attached are cancelled by brackets  26 ,  28 . Connection  40  is sized to withstand the force required to turn chassis  10  without any additional cargo. Beam  22  is sized to withstand the axial force required to pull both chassis  10  and any cargo deck attached. Any loads in addition to those created by the weight of chassis  10  when no cargo deck is attached may cause axle  12 , connection  40 , and/or beam  22  to bend or fail.  
         [0015]    Referring to FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment of the base chassis of the present invention is illustrated. Chassis  100  generally includes a pair of axles  102 ,  104  that telescopically engage the opposing ends of an inner axle member  106 , and which include a pair of wheels  108 ,  110  rotatably connected thereto with a traditional suspension, and a beam assembly, designated generally by reference numeral  112 . Beam assembly  112  includes a tubular member  114  attached to and extending forwardly from inner axle member  106 , and a beam member  116  telescopically engaged with and extending forwardly from tubular member  114 . Beam member  116  includes a towing hitch  118  attached to its forward end, and a mounting bracket  120  attached an intermediate position therealong. A conventional fastener  122 , such as a pin, interconnects tubular member  114  and beam member  116 .  
         [0016]    Base chassis  100  further includes a pair of mounting brackets  124 ,  126  attached to axles  102 ,  104 , respectively, and a width adjustment assembly, designated generally by reference numeral  128 , of which inner axle member  106  forms a part thereof. Width adjustment assembly  128  further includes a plate  130  mounted to the upper surface of tubular member  114  for rotation about its central, vertical axis Y-Y, an arm  132  extending outwardly from plate  130 , and a pair of mechanical linkages  134 ,  136  extending between and interconnecting plate  130  (linkages  134 ,  136  are connected to diagonally opposite corners of plate  130 ) to mounting brackets  124 ,  126 , respectively. A user may grasp arm  132  and rotate it either clockwise or counter-clockwise, thereby causing linkages  134 ,  136  to either decrease or increase the effective width W of base chassis  100 .  
         [0017]    Referring to FIG. 3, a cargo deck  200  may be interconnected to chassis  10  or  100 . It should be noted that FIG. 3 illustrates deck  200  being connected to chassis  100 , but it could also be attached to chassis  10  in the same manner. Deck  200  includes a bottom surface  202 , a pair of joists  204 ,  206  attached to bottom surface  202  and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of deck  200  adjacent opposing sides thereof, and a centrally extending joist  208  attached to bottom surface  202 . Mounting tabs  210 ,  212  are attached to joists  204 ,  206 , respectively, while hole  218  is formed through the forward end of joist  208 . To interconnect deck  200  to chassis  100  (or chassis  10 ), a user positions mounting tabs  210 ,  212  in engaging relation to mounting brackets  124 ,  126  (or mounting brackets  26 ,  28 ), respectively, and joist  208  in engaging relation to mounting bracket (or mounting bracket  40 ). Mounting hole  218  formed through joist  208  and mounting hole  120  formed through bracket  140  should be axially aligned such that conventional fasteners, such as pins, may be used to securely connect deck  200  to beam  116  (or beam  22 ).  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 4, holes  216 ,  34  formed through mounting tab  210  (and  212 ) and mounting bracket  26  (and  28 ), respectively, should be axially aligned, while dowel pins  30  axially engage with holes  220  formed in joist  204 , so that conventional fasteners, such as pins, may be used to securely interconnect deck  200  to axle  12  (or axles  102 .  104 ).  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 5, a cargo deck support, designated generally by reference numeral  300 , is shown with a pair of supports  300  needed to support a cargo deck. Support  300  generally includes a U-shaped body having a medial portion  302  and a pair of legs  304 ,  306  extending in parallel relation to one another and outward perpendicular from opposing ends of medial portion  302 . Leg  304  includes an arm  308  extending outward perpendicular from its free terminal end, and leg  306  includes a series of longitudinally spaced, axially aligned pairs of holes  310  formed therethrough adjacent its free terminal end. An arm  312  is movably and securely interconnected to leg  306  via pin  314 , extending in perpendicular relation to arm  306  and in parallel relation to arm  308 .  
         [0020]    Support  300  is used to hold cargo deck  200  (typically with cargo positioned thereon) in a stored location while giving the owner use of chassis  10  (or  100 , for convenience only chassis  10  is referred to hereafter) to move other cargo decks. To store a cargo deck  200 , the user moves chassis  10  with deck  200  thereon to the desired storage location. A conventional jack, or other hoisting device, is then be attached to or positioned under the forward end of chassis  10 . The jack is lowered to a predetermined distance off the ground. The user then disconnects deck  200  from mounts  26 ,  28  on chassis  10 . The user then positions a support  300  under each of the side edges of chassis  10  with medial portion  302  engaging the ground and legs  304 ,  306  extending vertically upwardly therefrom. This step and the following steps are done to each of the two supports  300 . The user then uses the jack or hoisting device to raise the front of chassis  10  to a predetermined distance off the ground. Arm  312  is then vertically adjusted, if necessary, to engage bottom surface  202  of deck  200 , after which the user disconnects beam  22  from deck  200  and lowers chassis  10  from deck  200 , thereby leaving deck  200  resting on supports  300 . Chassis  10  may then be moved either forward or rearward from beneath deck  200 , and then used to carry another deck  200 , typically with a different cargo, such as a snowmobile instead of an ATV.  
         [0021]    While the present invention has been described with reference to a particular preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment and that various modifications and the like could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1