Abstract:
A hinged cover for an enclosed trailer features navigational lights secured to the hinged cover. By arranging the navigational lights in the cover, damage to the lights is substantially reduced and visibility of the lights increased. Moreover, the wiring for the lights can be disposed within the internal surface of the cover. This also reduces the likelihood of damaging the wires and increases the accessibility of the wiring.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/994,716, filed Nov. 22, 2004 and titled Trailer Edge Rail System, which is hereby incorporated fully by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to trailers and more particularly, relates to trailers having hinged covers with integral lights.  
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0003]     The use of trailers to transport various types of cargo is well known. A common type of trailer  1 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a covered trailer such as a snowmobile trailer. Trailers  1  of this type typically have a domed cover  2  that is hingedly connected to a generally flat region  3  at the front  4 . As is required by most state and/or federal laws, these trailers  1  also typically include stop and directional lights  5 . In the known trailers  1 , the lights  5  are typically mounted in the rear of the trailer  1  in either the bumper  8  or frame  9 . While this arrangement is generally effective, it suffers from several limitations.  
         [0004]     One limitation of the known covered trailers  1  is that the lights  5  are easily damaged. A common method of loading and unloading cargo (for example recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, personal all terrain vehicles and motorcycles) is to back the trailer  1  up to another object such as a hill or mound of snow or dirt. This facilitates the loading/unloading of the cargo by allowing the cargo to be driven straight onto the cargo area  3  of the trailer  1  (which is otherwise raised above the ground) without the need of ramps or the like.  
         [0005]     The trailer  1  must be close enough to the snow bank such that the snowmobile can be easily driven on/off. If the trailer  1  is too far away, then the front of the snowmobile will tend to fall between the trailer  1  and the snow bank. However, if the trailer  1  is too close to the snow bank, then the lights  5  (which are mounted in the lowest part of the trailer  1  in either the bumper  8  or the frame  9 ) will come into contact with the snow bank resulting in damage or destruction.  
         [0006]     Another limitation with the known trailers  1  is that the wiring  7  for the lights  5  is typically run along the bottom  6  of the trailer  1  (generally along the frame  9 ). This is problematic because it exposes the wiring  7  to the element (snow, ice, dirt, rain, and the like) and to debris coming off the trailer wheels, thereby increasing the likelihood of the wiring  7  being damaged. Moreover, accessing and troubleshooting the wiring  7  is difficult due to the awkward placement of the wiring  7  (especially when the trailer  1  is covered in dirt, mud, snow, rain, or ice).  
         [0007]     Accordingly, what is needed is a trailer and trailer cover which minimizes the likelihood of the lights being damaged during loading and unloading. The trailer and trailer cover should also preferably minimize the exposure of the wiring and facilitate the inspection and troubleshooting of the wiring.  
         [0008]     It is important to note that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     According to one embodiment, the present invention features a cover for a trailer towed behind a vehicle. The cover includes a shell sized and shaped to cover a cargo region of the trailer. The shell has at least a top and a rear surface. At least one hinge connects the shell to the trailer. In an open position, the shell is positioned such that the cargo area is substantially accessible. In a closed position, the cargo area is substantially inaccessible. At least one light (preferably a navigational light) is secured to the rear surface of the shell, preferably proximate a top region of the rear surface. The light moves with the shell between the open and the closed positions.  
         [0010]     Wiring connecting the light to the vehicle is preferably disposed within an interior region of the shell. The shell may additionally include a side surface and a front surface and forms a cavity. An interior light may be disposed within the cavity.  
         [0011]     According to another embodiment, the present invention features a trailer for towing behind a vehicle. The trailer includes a frame and a cover. The frame features a tongue having a first end adapted to be secured to the vehicle, a cargo area adapted to support cargo, and at least two wheels. The cover features a top and at least a rear surface, at least one hinge connecting the cover to the frame such that the cover moves between an open position wherein the cargo area is substantially accessible and a closed position wherein the cargo area is substantially inaccessible, and at least one light secured to the rear surface of the cover.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a prior art enclosed trailer;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is side perspective view of one embodiment of the trailer cover light system shown in the closed position according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is side perspective view of one embodiment of the trailer cover light system shown in the open position according to the present invention; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an end view of one embodiment of the trailer cover light system according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     According to one embodiment, the present invention features a trailer cover system  10 ,  FIGS. 2-3 , including a trailer  12  and a cover  14 . The trailer  12  may feature any trailer design known to those skilled in the art, but preferably includes a frame  15 , a cargo area  16 , two or more wheels  18 , a tongue  20  extending outwards from the cargo area  16 , and a mount  22  (such as, but not limited to, a ball and socket type mount) disposed at the proximal end of the tongue  20 . According to the exemplary embodiment, the trailer  12  optionally features an edge rail system  24  as described in copending patent application Ser. No. 10/994,716, filed Nov. 22, 2004 and titled Trailer Edge Rail System, which is hereby incorporated fully by reference. The trailer  12  may also feature a bumper  26  secured to a distal end as is well known.  
         [0018]     The trailer  12  also features a cover  14 . The cover  14  may include any shape known to those skilled in the art including, but not limited to domed, flat, bi-fold, or the like and preferably includes at least one side, top, front and rear surface  41 ,  45 ,  47 ,  43 . The cover  14  is connected to the trailer  12  by at least one hinge  28 , preferably a single hinge  28  disposed about the proximal end or front surface  47  of the cover  14 . The cover  14  moves from a closed position as shown in  FIG. 2  wherein the cargo area  16  is substantially covered or inaccessible to an open position as shown in  FIG. 3  to facilitate loading and unloading cargo.  
         [0019]     Whereas the known trailers  1  ( FIG. 1 ) have heretofore included navigational lights (such as brake lights, turn signal lights, and back-up lights) mounted low in either the frame or the bumper, the present invention features lights  30  mounted or secured to the cover  14 . The lights  30  preferably include navigational lights, but may also include running lights secured to one or more sides  41 . At least the navigational lights  30  are secured to the rear surface  43 , preferably proximate the upper or top region  32  of the cover  14 .  
         [0020]     In contrast to the known trailers  1 , the wiring  34  that supplies the necessary power and/or signals to the lights  30  from the tow vehicle (not shown) is preferably disposed within an interior region or cavity  36  formed by the cover  14 . The present invention may also incorporate interior lights  49  disposed within the interior region  36 .  
         [0021]     The present invention provides several unexpected benefits. For example, mounting the lights  30  within the cover  14  significantly reduces the likelihood of damaging the lights  30  while backing up the trailer  10  to another object such as, but not limited to, a mound of snow, dirt, hill, or the like. One reason for this is because the cover  14  can be raised prior to backing up the trailer  10  thereby moving the lights  30  away from the rear of the trailer  10 . Typically the hinge  28  is arranged about the proximate end of the cover  14  such that the cover  14  swings upwards and towards the tow vehicle in the direction of arrow A as shown in  FIG. 3 . As a result, the lights  30  are moved upwards and behind the vertical plane of the trailer  10 . Thus, the rear of the trailer  10  is more likely to contact the mound of snow than the lights  30 .  
         [0022]     Additionally, even if the cover  14  is in the closed position shown in  FIG. 2 , the lights  30  can be mounted near the top region  32  of the cover  14 . In most situations, the base of the mound of snow extends outwardly further than the top of the mound. Consequently, when the user backs the trailer  1  up to the mound of snow, the bottom rear or bumper  26  of the trailer  10  is more likely to come into contact with the mound of snow prior to top region  32  of the cover.  
         [0023]     Because the lights  30  according to the present invention are less likely to be damaged, the present invention greatly facilitates the loading and unloading process. In practice, the user can simply back up to the mound of snow slowly until the rear or bumper  26  comes into contact with the mound of snow without fear of braking the lights  30 . Additionally, the visibility of the lights  30  is significantly increased because the lights  30  can be mounted higher. Having the lights  30  mounted higher allows the lights  30  to be more easily seen behind and reduces the amount of debris (such as snow, slush, mud and the like) from building up on the lights  30  as the trailer  10  is driven down the road.  
         [0024]     Another unexpected benefit of the present invention is that the wiring  34  is protected from the environment and debris and is significantly easier to access and troubleshoot. As mentioned above, the known trailers  1  ( FIG. 1 ) typically run the wiring along the bottom of the trailer  1 . As a result, the wiring is exposed to the environment and debris (especially debris from the wheels), significantly increasing the likelihood of damaging the wiring. Furthermore, one must crawl under the trailer  1  in order to access and troubleshoot the wiring. This is particularly undesirable, especially if the trailer  1  is covered in rain, mud, snow, or ice.  
         [0025]     In contrast, most of the wiring  34  according to the present invention is disposed within the interior cavity  36  formed by the cover  14 . As a result, this wiring  34  is protected from the environment and debris and is significantly less likely to be damaged. Moreover, in the event the wiring  34  needs to be serviced, the wiring  34  is easily accessible without having to crawl under the trailer  10 .  
         [0026]     The wiring  34  preferably exits the cover  14  proximate the hinge  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the wiring  34  includes a sufficient amount of extra wiring to allow the wiring  34  to move/bend about the hinge  28 . The wiring  34  may also be encased in a protective covering. The region  40  of the wiring  34  outside of the cover  14  may be either run along a side of the tongue  20  or alternatively may be disposed within an interior portion of the tongue  20 .  
         [0027]     As mentioned above, the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated or implied object or feature of the invention and should not be limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as is suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the claims when interpreted in accordance with breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.