Abstract:
An enclosed trailer with a base, with a shell attached to the base wherein the shell forms a front wall and opposing side walls of the trailer. A rear door is hingeably connected to the base and the rear door forms the rear wall of the trailer when in a vertical position and forms a ramp when in a roughly horizontal position. A roof is hingeably connected to the trailer and the roof can elevate above the trailer in an open position, and lower to abut the trailer walls in a closed position. The roof can have a lifting element to assist in elevating the roof. A hatch is hingeably connected to the trailer and is positioned on the front wall. A lifting element can be attached to the hatch and the trailer to assist in the opening and closing of the hatch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to a trailer, and, more particularly, to a fully covered trailer with a ramp, a roof that can be elevated, and a front hatch that provides access to the interior compartment of the trailer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Trailers for towing small motorized vehicles like motorcycles and personal watercraft, and the like, are known in the art. Conventional enclosed trailers have a shell that encloses the interior compartment of the trailer to protect the stowed cargo from the elements. A difficulty posed by these covered trailers is that they provide very little room for access to the interior of the trailer. Access to the interior compartment of the trailer is important to properly secure the vehicles to the trailer. However, the outer shell of covered trailers can prevent access and make the securing of cargo like motorcycles difficult and time consuming. 
         [0003]    Some trailer styles have utilized a raising roof feature to enable access to the interior of the covered trailer. This feature is adequate in instances when the vehicles are smaller, like personal watercraft, which can be launched in the water, but loading and unloading is still difficult. Larger and heavier vehicles require access to the trailer from various angles to properly secure the vehicle inside the trailer, and successfully remove the vehicle from the trailer. 
         [0004]    Conventional covered trailers only provide access from the rear of the trailer and access through the front of the vehicle is not an option. Due to this traditional positioning of a door only at the rear of the trailer, straps, tie downs, and cleats in the front of the trailers are inaccessible or cumbersome to reach. Another shortcoming of trailers with only rear accessibility is that the space in the front of the trailer is underutilized or not used at all. Conventional trailers offer a user an opening to enter the rear of the trailer, but trailers that enable a user to enter and exit the trailer through both ends of the trailer are not available. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is a need for a covered trailer that can provide broad access to the rear of the trailer and access to the front of the trailer to enable loading and unloading of cargo. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention broadly comprises an enclosed trailer with a base, a shell attached to the base wherein the shell forms a front wall and opposing side walls of the trailer. A rear door is hingeably connected to the base and the rear door forms the rear wall of the trailer when in a vertical position and forms a ramp when in a roughly horizontal position. A roof is hingeably connected to the shell and the roof can elevate above the shell in an open position, and lower to abut the shell in a closed position. The roof can have a lifting element to assist in elevating the roof. A hatch is hingeably connected to the trailer and is positioned on the front wall. A lifting element can be attached to the hatch and the trailer to assist in the opening and closing of the hatch. 
         [0007]    In some aspects, the rear door further comprises a retention element that prevents the ramp from extending beyond a point slightly past parallel with the base. The rear door can further comprise a supplemental ramp structure pivotably attached to the rear door distal to the base. The rear door can also have a latching mechanism to secure the ramp closed. The roof can include a latching mechanism to secure the roof closed. The trailer can also have a latching mechanism to secure both the rear door and the roof closed, where the latching mechanism has latching arms extending to both sides of the rear door and a latching arm extending to the top of the rear door that engage the catches on the roof and the trailer walls. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the trailer has retaining elements that are operatively arranged to secure cargo inside said trailer. The retaining elements can be positioned in the front and rear of the trailer. The hatch can be sized and positioned to permit access through the front wall to the interior of the trailer. The trailer can fit at least one motorized vehicles inside said. The hatch can also be positioned and sized to permit ingress or egress from the trailer through the front wall of the trailer. 
         [0009]    The invention further broadly comprises an enclosed trailer with an upper shell fixed to a base where the shell has a front and opposing side walls and a front and a rear opening. A door is attached to the base by a hinge proximate the rear opening and the door is operatively arranged to form a wall that blocks the rear opening when in an upright position, and operatively arranged to form a ramp in a down position. A roof is hingeably attached to the front wall of the shell, and a hatch is disposed on the front wall in a manner that the hatch is positioned over said front opening. 
         [0010]    The roof can further comprise a lifting element that assists in holding the roof in an elevated position. The trailer can also include a sealing element that seals the roof and the upper shell to each other, when in a closed position, to resist moisture from entering the trailer. The trailer can also include a sealing element that seals the ramp to the side walls of the upper shell, when in a closed position, to resist moisture from entering the trailer. 
         [0011]    It is a general object of the present invention to provide a trailer with a roof, ramp, and hatch that can provide access to the interior trailer to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide trailer with a roof that can be elevated, a hatch that provide access to the interior of the trailer, and ramp that can function as a rear door or a ramp for the trailer. 
         [0013]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trailer of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is another rear elevational view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is another front perspective view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a trailer of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is perspective view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 7 ; and, 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the trailer in  FIG. 2 , taken generally along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In the description below, the terms “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, and their derivatives, should be interpreted from the perspective of one viewing the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described. 
         [0027]    In accordance with the present invention and with reference to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of trailer  10  is provided with base  12  having side walls  14  and front wall  15  attached. Base  12 , side walls  14  and front walls  15  can be separate elements that are attached together using any attachment method known in the art, or base  12 , side walls  14  and front wall  15  can be formed as a single integral unit. The material best suited for constructing base  12 , side walls  14  and front wall  15  of trailer  10  is fiberglass or another lightweight synthetic material, but other materials such as aluminum or another metal could be used as well. 
         [0028]    Base  12  is attached to a frame  16  that supplies a rigid support to base  12  and supplies an attachment location for wheels  18 . Frame  16  preferably includes a trailer hitch to enable trailer  10  to be hauled by another vehicle. In the embodiment shown, only two wheels are shown, but additional wheels could be used. The size and tread design of the wheels is also variable. 
         [0029]    Hatch  20  is positioned on front wall  15  with a hinged connection using hinges  22 . Hinges  22  can be spring loaded and aid in the opening and closing of hatch  20 . A streamline hinge  22  is shown, but hinge  22  can be various shapes and sizes. Alternatively, a single hinge  22  can be used to hingeably connect hatch  20  to trailer  10 . In the embodiment shown, hinges  22  are arranged to enable hatch  20  to open upward. It should be understood that hatch  20  can also be hingeably connected to front wall  15  in such a manner that hatch  20  opens to either side, or downward. Hingeably connected is defined as a connection that enables one or both elements that are connected to each other to swing freely, yet remain securely connected to each other. A hinged connection permits an element to have one side or edge hingeably connected to a structure with the other sections of the element unconnected. This single point hinged connection enables the element to swing open while still remaining hingeably connected to the structure at the hinged connection point. 
         [0030]    Latch  24  can be positioned at various locations on hatch  20  to secure the hatch closed. Roof  26  is hingeably connected to trailer  10  by hinges  28 , particularly to the shell of the trailer formed by base  12 , side walls  14  and front wall  15 . Hinges  28  can be spring loaded and aid in the opening and closing of roof  26 . A streamline hinge  28  is shown, but hinge  28  can be various shapes and sizes. Alternatively, a single hinge  28  can be used to hingeably connect roof  26  to trailer  10 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of trailer  10 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of trailer  10  with rear door  30  open and roof  26  open. In this open position roof  26  exposes seal  27  around the perimeter of roof  26 . When roof  26  is closed, seal  27  can be positioned and shaped to seal upon walls  14  and rear door  30  to resist moisture from entering the hull of trailer  10 . Seal  27  can also be position on trailer  10  around the edge of base walls  14  (not shown). 
         [0033]    The interior compartment of trailer  10  is visible in this view showing the interior surface of hatch  20  and its associated elements. To open hatch  20  an exterior portion of latch  24  positioned on the exterior surface of hatch  20  is rotated to disengage latch arms  23  from front wall  15 . Latch  24  and its latch arms  23 , which interact with the interior of wall  15 , demonstrate one possible latching system that could be used to secure hatch  20  when closed. However, another latching system could replace the system shown. 
         [0034]    Roof  26  is shown in an elevated position using lifting elements  25  to assist in holding the roof in an elevated position. Conventional pneumatically pressurized lifting cylinders, known in the art, are one possible type of lifting element  25 . Roof  26  is hingeably connected to trailer  10  proximate front wall  15  by hinges  28 , which facilitates the swinging upward of the rear end of roof  26 . This hinged connection creates additional head room in trailer  10  to permit a user to more easily access the interior compartment of trailer  10 . This enables a user to access areas not normally accessible in typical trailers, enabling quicker and easier loading and unloading of cargo. 
         [0035]    Rear door  30  functions as a ramp in the down position, which enables cargo to be loaded and unloaded. Rear door  30  functions as a rear door to seal the cabin of the trailer  100  when closed, i.e., sung into a vertical position. Support lines  31  attached to the outer edge of rear door  30  and the rear edge of walls  14  can be included to add support to prevent over pivoting of rear door  30 , which could damage the hinges (not shown) that can be used to attach rear door  30 . A supplemental ramp  32  can be attached to the end of rear door  30  with hinges (not shown) or another attachment means known in the art. Along the interior edge of rear door  30 , seal  40  can be attached as a means to seal out moisture from the interior compartment of trailer  10 . Seal  40  can also be position on trailer  10  around the edge of base  12  and walls  14  (not shown). 
         [0036]    Latch  34  can be used to secure rear door  30  closed with latching members  35  that interact with catches  36  on the rear end of side walls  14 . Latch  34  can include latching members that interact with catch  37  in the rear end of roof  26  (not shown) and with catches  36  in side walls  14  simultaneously. In this way latch  34  can secure both rear door  30  and roof  26  closed by having a closed position that causes interaction with catches  36  and  37  simultaneously. Alternatively, another latching system could be implemented. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of trailer  10  with hatch  20  open. Hatch  20  can rest inside a recess in front wall  15  to seal the opening the hatch covers. In some aspects, seal  39  can be installed around the perimeter of hatch  20  and used to seal moisture out of the interior compartment of trailer  10 . Seal  39  can be positioned on hatch  20  or on trailer  10  around the opening in front wall  15  (not shown). Seal  39  is compressed when hatch  20  is closed to seal the opening. 
         [0038]    Hatch  20  can include lifting elements  19  to assist in the opening and closing of the hatch. Hatch  20  is positioned to enable a user to access the interior compartment of trailer  10  from the outside. Alternatively, a user could enter trailer  10  and exit trailer  10  through hatch  20 . Lifting elements  19  would be beneficial to aid a user in entering and exiting trailer  10  without difficulty. Conventional pneumatically pressurized lifting cylinders, known in the art, are one possible type of lifting element  19 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of trailer  10  with roof  26  and rear door  30  closed. Latch  34  is shown centered on the rear of door  30 , but latch  34  could be repositioned. Rear door  30  can be secured closed using latch  34  designed to operate latch arms  35 . A portion of latch arms  35  is visible on both sides of rear door  30 . Optionally, a third latch arm (not shown) can be positioned on the top of rear door  30 . Latch arms  35  are positioned and designed to engage catches  36  on both sides of the rear of side walls  14  when latch  34  is rotated. The third latch arm can be positioned to engage catch  37  positioned on the end of roof  26  that is distal to hinge  28 . Action of latch  34  can then operate latch arms  35  and the third latch to open, or close, rear door  30  and roof  26 . Alternatively, latch  34  can be oriented to operate only latch arms  35  and another separate locking mechanism known in the art can be used to secure roof  26  closed. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of trailer  10  with hatch  20  closed. In some aspects, hatch  20  is positioned to be flush with front wall  15  when the hatch is closed. Hinges  22  can also be designed to be flush or at least molded into front walls  15  to provide a surface with less wind resistance. The combination of hatch  20 , roof  26  and rear door  30  provide the accessibility to load cargo on trailer  10  from the rear or front of trailer  10 . Raising roof  26  provides greater head clearance. Rear door  30  in the lowered position enables cargo or vehicles to be rolled into trailer  10 . Hatch  20  enables a user to access cargo in the interior of the compartment without opening rear door  30 . Hatch  20  also enables a user to enter or exit trailer  10  through front wall  15  after securing cargo inside the trailer. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a trailer  100 , a variation of trailer  10 . Trailer  100  has a base  112  with side walls  114  and front wall  115  attached. Side walls  114  are on opposing sides of base  112  and can secured to base  112  or be integral to base  112 . Front wall  115  can be secured to side walls  114  and base  112  or be integral to base  112  and side walls  114 , forming a solid shell or hull. If base  112 , side walls  114  and front wall  115  are secured as separate pieces any securing means known in the art will suffice to secure the separate segments together. Base  112 , side walls  114  and front wall  115  can be made from metal, fiberglass or any other suitable material. The material best suited for constructing base  112 , side walls  114  and front wall  115  of trailer  100  is fiberglass or another lightweight synthetic material, but other materials such as aluminum or another metal could be used as well. 
         [0042]    Base  112  is attached to a frame  116  that supplies a rigid support to base  112  and supplies an attachment location for wheels  118 . Frame  116  preferably includes a trailer hitch to enable trailer  100  to be hauled by another vehicle. In the embodiment shown, only two wheels are shown, but additional wheels could be used. The size and tread design of the wheels is also variable. 
         [0043]    Hatch  120  on front wall  115 , is shown slightly larger than hatch  20  providing greater clearance for the ingress and egress of cargo or users to enter the trailer  100  through front wall  115 . The larger hatch also provides clearance for an individual to enter or exit trailer  100 . Hatch  120  is hingeably connected to trailer  100  proximate front wall  115  by hinges  122 , which can be molded into front wall  115 . In the embodiment shown, hinges  122  are arranged to enable hatch  120  to open upward. It should be understood that hatch  120  can also be hingeably connected to front wall  115  in such a manner that hatch  120  opens to either side, or downward. 
         [0044]    Hinges  122  can be spring loaded and aid in the opening and closing of hatch  120 . A streamline hinge  122  is shown, but hinge  122  can be various shapes and sizes. Alternatively, a single hinge  122  can be used to hingeably connect hatch  120  to trailer  100 . By providing a hatch at the front of trailer  100 , which is positioned and sized to enable a person to enter the interior of trailer  100 , the full capacity of the trailer can be utilized. The access provide by hatch  120  also enables a user to better secure the cargo to be hauled, which is an advance in safety of previous trailers since cargo can be secured more securely. The variance in size and positioning of hatches  120  and  20  shown in the figures indicates the understanding that hatches of the present invention can be various sizes, and can be positioned at various points on the trailer. 
         [0045]    Roof  126  is hingeably attached to trailer  100  to the shell of the trailer formed by base  112 , side walls  114 , and front wall  115 , proximate the top of front wall  115 , by hinges  128 . Hinges  128  can be spring loaded and aid in the opening and closing of roof  126 . A streamline hinge  128  is shown, but hinge  128  can be various shapes and sizes. Alternatively, a single hinge  128  can be used to hingeably connect roof  126  to trailer  100 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of trailer  100  with hatch  120 , roof  126 , and rear door  130  open. Front hatch  120 , positioned on front wall  115 , and is positioned to cover a hole in front wall  115  that is provided as an access point for trailer  100 . Hatch  120  is shown in the up position held in place by lifting members  119 . Conventional pneumatically pressurized lifting cylinders, known in the art, are one possible type of lifting members  119 . Lifting members  119  are attached at one end to the interior of hatch  120  proximate the edge of the hatch and at the other end of lifting member  119  proximate an interior edge of a hole in front wall  115 . A seal (not shown) can be attached to the perimeter of roof hatch  120 , or on the surface the hatch contacts when it is closed, to seal moisture out of the trailer interior when the hatch is closed. 
         [0047]    Roof  126  is hingeably connected to trailer  100  by hinges  128  at one end of roof  126  to enable more accessibility to the trailer. Roof  126  is shown in the up position held in place by lifting members  125 . Conventional pneumatically pressurized lifting cylinders, known in the art, are one possible type of lifting member  125 . Lifting members  125  are attached at one end to the interior of roof  126  proximate the end of the roof and the other end of lifting member  125  proximate the top edge of side wall  114 . A seal (not shown) can be attached to the perimeter of roof  126 , or the surface the roof contacts when it is closed, to seal moisture out of the trailer interior when the roof is closed. 
         [0048]    Rear door  130  is hingeably attached to trailer  100  to enable the trailer door to function as a ramp when open (as shown in  FIG. 8 ), and function a rear door to seal the cabin of the trailer  100  when closed, i.e., sung into a vertical position. Support lines  131  attached to the outer edge of rear door  130  and the rear edge of walls  114  can be included to add support to prevent over pivoting of rear door  130 , which could damage the hinges (not shown) that attach rear door  130 . A supplemental ramp  132  can also be hingeably connected to the end of rear door  130 , with hinges (not shown) or another attachment means known in the art, distal to the hinged connection to the trailer. Seal  140  can be attached along the interior edge of rear door  130 , as a means to seal out moisture from the interior compartment of trailer  100 . Seal  140  can also be attached to the edge of base  112  and side wall  114  that would contact door  130  when it is closed (not shown). 
         [0049]    Rear door  130  can be secured closed using latch  134  designed to operate latch arms  135  that are on both sides of rear door  130 , and optionally a third latch arm (not shown) at the top of rear door  130 . Only a portion of latch arms  135  are shown, and the interior of door  130  houses arms  135 . Latch arms  135  are positioned and designed to engage catches  136  on both sides of the rear of side walls  114 . The third latch arm can be positioned to engage catch  138  positioned on the end of roof  126  that is distal to hinge  128 . Action of latch  134  can then operate latch arms  135  and the third latch to open, or close, rear door  130  and roof  126 . Alternatively, latch  134  can be oriented to operate only latch arms  135  and another locking mechanism known in the art can be used to secure roof  126  closed. 
         [0050]    The combination of hatch  120 , roof  126  and rear door  130  provide the accessibility to load cargo on trailer  100  from the rear or front of trailer  100 . Raising roof  126  provides greater head clearance. Rear door  130  in the lowered position enables cargo or vehicles to be rolled into trailer  100 . Hatch  120  enables a user to access cargo in the interior of the compartment without opening rear door  130 . Hatch  120  also enables a user to enter or exit trailer  100  through front wall  115  after securing cargo inside the trailer. 
         [0051]    Visible on the floor of trailer  100  are cleats  144  or retaining elements which are positioned to act as points to secure or tie down cargo inside the interior compartment of trailer  100 . The cargo to be carried within trailer  100  can be various items, but in some aspects, the cargo is a motorcycle. In some aspects, to accommodate the transport of motorcycles a cleat  144  is placed on each side of the proximate location that a motorcycle tire would be located. If a motorcycle is being transported, eight cleats  144  can be placed on the floor of trailer  100  with a cleat placed on each side of the proximate location of the front and rear tire of the vehicle being hauled. In some aspects, four cleats  144  are placed on the floor of trailer  100  if a single motorized vehicle is to be hauled in trailer  100 . Thus, a cleat is placed on both sides of a vehicle being hauled proximate a location at the front and rear tires. However, cleats  144  can be placed at various locations on the floor of trailer  100 , and the number of cleats  144  can be increased or decreased from the preferred number indicated. Straps or ropes (not shown) can be used in conjunction with cleats  144  to secure cargo or vehicles inside trailer  100 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the trailer  10 , taken generally along line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 2 . Evident in this view are cleats  44  or retaining elements positioned on the floor of trailer  10 . Cleats  44  are positioned to act as points to secure or tie down cargo inside the interior compartment of trailer  10 . The cargo to be carried with trailer  100  can be various items, but in some aspects the cargo is a motorcycle, or multiple motorcycles. In some aspects to accommodate the transport of a motorcycle a cleat  44  is placed on each side of the motorcycle proximate a location that a motorcycle tire would be located. If two motorcycles are being transported, eight cleats  44  are placed on the floor of trailer  10  with a cleat placed on each side of the proximate location of the fronts and rear tire of the vehicle being hauled. However, cleats  44  can be placed at various locations on the floor of trailer  10 , and the number of cleats  44  can be increased or decreased from the preferred number indicated. Straps or ropes (not shown) can be used in conjuction with cleats  44  to secure cargo or vehicles inside trailer  10 . 
         [0053]    Thus, it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed. Although the invention is described by reference to a specific preferred embodiment, it is clear that variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as claimed.