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US 2003/0147732 A1Published application
Drivable trailer
OwnerWilliam B. Bellis JR.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trailer which can be used to tow a vehicle and which can be towed by the same vehicle while that vehicle is inside the trailer and lowered down to ground level.
Claims44
A method for carrying a towed vehicle on a trailer having a main frame and including a coupler, for coupling the trailer to a towing vehicle, and at least one trailer wheel, comprising the steps of:
- driving the towed vehicle along the ground and into the main frame of the trailer by means of driving feet;
- securing to the trailer the towed vehicle that is inside the trailer's main frame;
- driving the secured, towed vehicle along the ground, thereby driving the trailer;
- raising the towed vehicle relative to the main frame of the trailer to a raised position in which at least one of the driving feet of the towed vehicle is out of contact with the ground;
- hitching a towing vehicle to the trailer coupler;
- and
- using the towing vehicle to tow the trailer and towed vehicle in the raised position.
4 more elements
A trailer and towed vehicle combination, comprising:
- a towed vehicle, including a vehicle frame and a plurality of driving feet for propelling the vehicle along the ground;
- a main trailer frame;
- a towing tongue supported by said main trailer frame for connecting the main trailer frame to a towing vehicle;
- at least one trailer wheel mounted on said main trailer frame for supporting and carrying the main trailer frame along the ground;
- a carrier supported on said main trailer frame;
- and
- means for moving said vehicle up and down relative to said main trailer frame from a lowered position to a raised position, wherein said carrier includes lifting points which, in the raised position, support the vehicle off of the ground, and wherein, in the lowered position, at least one of the driving feet contact the ground when the vehicle is inside the trailer;
- and
- a connector which secures the towed vehicle to one of said main trailer frame and said carrier while the vehicle is inside the trailer and the carrier is in the lowered position, so that the towed vehicle can drive the trailer along the ground.
6 more elements
A trailer assembly for carrying a towed vehicle having driving feet, comprising:
- a main trailer frame;
- wheels mounted on said main trailer frame and supporting said main trailer frame;
- a towing tongue supported by said main trailer frame;
- a vehicle carrier supported on said main trailer frame and defining at least one opening to permit the driving feet of the vehicle to contact the ground and drive the vehicle when the carrier is in a lowered position;
- a lift for raising and lowering said vehicle carrier relative to said main trailer frame so as to raise and lower the vehicle in the trailer;
- and
- a mounting bracket including first and second parts, said first part mounted on one of said main trailer frame and said vehicle carrier, and the second part including means for mounting to the towed vehicle, wherein said first and second parts latch together to permit the towed vehicle to drive the main trailer frame when the towed vehicle is in the trailer and the carrier is lowered, and said first and second parts permit vertical movement of the second part relative to the first part so the towed vehicle can be moved up and down relative to the main trailer frame while remaining mounted to the trailer by the mounting bracket.
4 more elements
A trailer for carrying a vehicle having driving feet, comprising:
- a main frame;
- wheels supporting said main frame;
- a tongue for hitching the trailer to a towing vehicle;
- means for securing a vehicle to said main frame when the vehicle is inside said main frame;
- means for raising and lowering the elevation of a secured vehicle relative to said main frame, said means for raising and lowering including lift points for contacting and lifting the vehicle, said lift points defining at least one opening to permit the vehicle's driving feet to contact the ground when in the lowered position;
- and
- means for adjusting the relative positions of said lift points in order to accommodate various vehicles.
4 more elements
A trailer and vehicle combination, comprising:
- a main trailer frame defining an opening;
- wheels supporting said main trailer frame;
- a receptacle supported on said main trailer frame;
- a vehicle, including driving feet and at least one movable arm, wherein said receptacle receives said movable arm so that raising and lowering said movable arm lowers and raises the vehicle relative to the main trailer frame;
- wherein, when said vehicle is lowered, said driving feet extend through said opening to the ground.
2 more elements
A trailer, comprising:
- a main frame;
- a plurality of wheels supporting said main frame;
- forward and rear ramps mounted on said main frame and defining an opening between said forward and rear ramps large enough to permit the front wheels of a vehicle to reach the ground through said opening;
- and
- means for securing a vehicle to said main frame to permit the vehicle to drive the main frame when its wheels are extending to the ground through said opening.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.