Abstract:
An apparatus and method for converting a stock trailer into a horse trailer. Dividers are mounted on the inside of a stock trailer to create separate compartments for a number of horses. When the trailer reaches its destination, the dividers can be removed and used in combination with the stock trailer to create a corral for the horses.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an apparatus and method for converting a stock trailer for use as a horse trailer, and in particular, manipulating the stock trailer conversion apparatus for use as a corral upon reaching a destination. 
     B. Background of the Invention 
     Livestock trailers generally are an open space trailer. This means there are no designated compartments for the individual livestock transported in the trailer. While the open space of the trailer is generally not a concern when transporting livestock, there are concerns that arise when one wants to transport a horse via a livestock trailer. 
     Absent a designated compartment, the transport of horses in a stock trailer becomes extremely hazardous. Without designated compartments, as seen in a standard horse trailer, a horses movement cannot be limited during transportation. A horse&#39;s center of mass is elevated compared to other livestock, which increases the it&#39;s susceptibility to shifts in the trailer during transportation. These shifts put the horse at risk of becoming unbalanced and falling. Therefore, horses transported in a livestock trailer have a significant increase in their chances for injury, which for horses is always serious and can often result in costly veterinary bills. 
     Another problem exists if the horses are able to move around during transportation. When a horse is in motion in a trailer a displacement of weight occurs. Because most horses are very heavy animals this displacement can make it very difficult on the person trying to maintain the trailer as a tow vehicle. 
     A possible solution to the above stated problems is to purchase a horse trailer. The horse trailer will have a designated compartment for the horse which will help eliminate the problems stated above, however, horse trailers can be very expensive. A new horse trailer can cost between 10-50 thousand dollars. Even a used trailer can be expensive costing between 2-40 thousand dollars. Therefore, the purchase of a horse trailer is not often an available solution. 
     More problems arise when the stock trailer reaches its destination. First, where to keep the horses and second will the horse be safe in the place where it is kept. A horse can be tied to a gate or even the horse trailer itself, however, this can be hazardous to the horse. If the horse is a bit jumpy or becomes spooked, the possibility of injury becomes large. As the horse begins to jump around it may injure itself against the fence or trailer. Therefore, tying the horse to a fence or gate puts the horse&#39;s health at risk. This problem is further enhanced by ever increasing veterinary costs. 
     One solution to the horse&#39;s accommodation problems is to create a pen for the horse by tying a number of gates, such as the STRONGHOLD by Hagie Mfg. Co., P.O. Box 273, Clarion, Iowa 50515, to the side of the trailer, thus creating a circular or square corral. Nonetheless, storage and transport of the gates becomes a problem. Most gates are irregular in shape typically 8′, 10′, and 12′ lengths. These lengths can make it very difficult for transport because the gates are longer than most truckbeds and trailers. Furthermore, the gates are made of a heavy metal such as steel. The gates are bulky, heavy and difficult to handle for most people, especially petite women. This makes the building of a temporary corral a overwhelming task. 
     Another possible solution is to use an electrical fence, such as the SAFE-FENCE by J. L. Williams Co., P.O. Box 209, Meridian, Ind. 83680, to create a makeshift pen. However, most of the electrical fence products are unreliable and do not store very well. Further, not only will containment of the horses fail if the batteries expire, but if a single horse runs through the fence, the rest of the horses would run off also, as the corral would be disabled. 
     It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for converting a stock trailer into a horse trailer. 
     Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention include: 
     allowing the horse to ride better than it would in a stock trailer; 
     decreasing the horse&#39;s movement during travel; 
     allowing for better displacement of weight in the trailer; 
     significantly reducing the chance of injury to the horse; 
     reducing veterinary costs; 
     providing for a inexpensive solution to buying a horse trailer; 
     implementing a structure that converts a stock trailer to a horse trailer where the structure can also be used to create a corral; 
     eliminating dangers connected to tying a horse to a hitching post or to a trailer; 
     allowing a horse more freedom; and 
     providing lightweight easy to transport gate materials to implement a safe corral. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus and method for converting a stock trailer for use as a horse trailer. Dividers are mounted on the inside of a stock trailer to create separate compartments for a number of horses. When the trailer reaches its destination, the dividers can be removed and used in combination with the stock trailer to create a corral for horses. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an aerial view of the dividers placed in the stock trailer. 
     FIG. 2 is a descriptive view of the rear of the stock trailer with dividers installed. 
     FIG. 3 is an aerial view of the dividers telescopically expanded outside of the trailer. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the dividers outside of the trailers. 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram of the combination of the stock trailer and expandable dividers to form a corral. 
     FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of two dividers joined together. 
     FIG. 7 is a diagram of the interconnection between the divider and the outside of the stock trailer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be set forth. It is to be understood that this detailed description is intended to aid in an understanding of the invention by discussing specific forms that the invention can take. It does not, nor is it intended to, specifically limit the invention in its broad form. 
     This detailed description will be made with specific reference to FIGS. 1-7. Reference numerals are used to indicate specific parts or locations in the drawing. The same reference numeral will be used for the same parts or locations throughout the drawings unless otherwise indicated. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a stock trailer  2  is shown comprising a front end  4 , a rear end  6 , and two opposing side walls  8  and  10 , a number of telescopically expandable dividers  12 A-D are attached to side walls  8  and  10  by a bearing sleeve  14  and an L-pin  16  (FIG.  6 ). The divider  12  is comprised of an inner telescopic section  18  connected to an outer telescopic section  20  (FIG.  4 ). Each telescopic section  18  and  20  has one or two legs  22  that have a tubular telescopic base  24 . With reference to FIG. 6 the inner telescopic section  18  has a pair of double bearing sleeves  26  which receive a pair of single bearing sleeves  28  attached to the outer telescopic section  20 . The telescopically expandable dividers  12 A-D can be used to create a corral  30  (FIG.  5 ). 
     The conversion of a stock trailer  2  into a vehicle capable of safely transporting horses can be shown with reference to FIG.  1 . First, double bearing sleeves  26  (shown in FIG. 4) are mounted to the inside of side wall  8  and single bearing sleeves  28  (shown in FIG. 4) are mounted to the inside of side wall  10 . Next bearing sleeves  28 A and  28 B located on the side of outer telescopic section  20  of the divider  12  is placed in-between the respective double bearing sleeves  26  on the inside of wall  8  (See FIG.  7 ). L pin  16  is then run through the center of sleeves  26  and  28  to create swivel joint  14  (See FIG.  7 ). 
     Now a horse can be led to front  4  of trailer  2 . When the horse is comfortably in stock trailer  2 , expandable divider  12 D is then swung closed. To secure divider  12 D consists of placing double bearing sleeve  26 A and  26 B (FIG. 4) on the side of inner telescopic portion  18  between respective single bearing sleeves  28  on the inside of wall  10  to create another swivel joint  14 . Finally, divider  12 D is secured when L pin  16  is put in swivel joint  14 . The horse now has a designated compartment inside stock trailer  2 . It should be noted that all dividers  12 A-D are placed at an angle. This is to create more room for the horse than would be available if dividers  12 A-D were placed at right angles to walls  8  and  10 . 
     The steps above can be repeated for as many horses as stock trailer  2  will allow. By implementing these separate compartments for the horses they are able to ride better. This is because the horses ability to move is decreased and thus less movement during travel. Further, because the horse is moving less there is less chance for injury to the horse. Finally, due to the horses being evenly spaced in stock trailer  2  there is a better displacement of weight and thus trailer  2  is easier to control during travel. 
     With reference to FIG. 2, one can see how expandable divider  12  is fully contracted to fit within stock trailer  2 . Expandable divider  12  contracts to 7′2″ from a fully expandable length of either  12 ′ or  18 ′ depending on the size needed. When the operator wants to create stock trailer  2  he merely pushes inner telescopic portion  18  inside outer telescopic portion  20  to create a divider that fits within stock trailer  2 . This process is further simplified by the fact dividers  12 A-D are made of lightweight aluminum. The lightweight aluminum allows for ease of use for the operator. Further, using lightweight dividers  12 A-D gives the operator an inexpensive solution to purchasing a horse trailer. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 divider  12  is shown in a telescopically expanded state. It is this expanded state that allows a user to create corral  30  as seen in FIG.  5 . The user would first remove dividers  12 A-D from stock trailer  2 . Then by expanding each divider  12  by pulling telescopic sections  18 / 20  apart and placing telescopic legs  24  in their respective leg channels  22  the user now has a piece of lightweight gate that ranges from 12′ to 18′ long. 
     With reference to FIGS. 5-7, corral  30  is built with expanded dividers  12 A-C. First, the operator places single bearing sleeves  28 A and  28 B on inner telescopic section  20  in-between double bearing sleeves  26 A and  26 B located on the outside of side wall  8  near rear wall  6  (FIG.  7 ). Next the operator places L-pin  16  in swivel joint  14  to secure divider  12 C to trailer  2 . The remaining dividers  12 A-B are then connected in the same form as seen in FIG. 6 until divider  12 A is connected to trailer  2 . It should be noted that as few as two dividers  12  could be used to create a triangular corral. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been set forth in the drawings and specification, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic or descriptive sense only and are not used for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.