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US 2006/0125271 A1Published application
Trailer Tailgate
AssigneeMidwest Industries, Inc.
InventorsJon Devitt, Gerald Wiertsema
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wedge-shaped trailer tailgate providing a loading ramp and a planar surface in combination with the trailer deck when the tailgate is in its transport position. A planar deck is better for cargo hauling, but also provides little wind resistance for improved hauling efficiency. The wedge shape with elastic bumpers attached provides for support on loading heavy objects such as motorcycles. Taillights are recessed into the thick end of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate so they face backward when the tailgate is in its transport position and are shielded under the trailer deck when the tailgate is in its loading-ramp position.
Claims15
1-7. (canceled)
A trailer apparatus comprising:
- a frame having a front, a rear, a first side and a second side;
- a tongue operatively attached to the frame for operatively attaching the tongue to a prime mover and extending forwardly;
- at least two wheels operatively attached to the frame for allowing the frame to be towed from place to place;
- a first substantially planer surface disposed in a first plane, the substantially planer surface being operatively attached to the frame between the wheels and extending rearwardly of the wheels, the first substantially planer surface having a front, a rear, a first side and a second side;
- a second substantially planer surface operatively attached to the frame, the second substantially planer surface having a front, a rear, a first side and a second side, the second substantially planer surface being positioned in a second plane disposed at an angle with respect to the first plane, said second substantially planer surface being disposed rearwardly of the first substantially planer surface and being in juxtaposition with the rear of the first substantially planer surface, the front of the second substantially planer surface being higher than the rear of the second substantially planer surface;
- a wedge-shaped trailer tailgate operatively pivotally attached at one end thereof to the frame adjacent the rear of the second substantially planer surface, the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate having a thick end, disposed to a front of the trailer when the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate is in a loading position, the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate having a first planer surface on one side thereof and a second planer surface on the other side thereof;
- a hinge operatively attached to the frame and to the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate, an axis of rotation of the hinge being disposed closer to the first planer surface on one side thereof than the second planer surface on the other side thereof of wedge-shaped trailer tailgate;
- when the wedge-shaped trailer tail gate is in the loading position, the other end of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate is disposed downwardly towards a same surface on which the wheels are resting and the first planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate is disposed in a plane substantially the same as the second substantially planer surface of the trailer and a transport position wherein the second planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate is substantially aligned with the first substantially planer surface of the trailer when the tailgate is in the transport position for creating a substantially continuous planar surface between the first substantially planer surface of the trailer and the second planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate, and wherein the first planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate lies in a different plane than second planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate;
- and
- at least one bumper operatively attached to the second planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate at a position closer to the one end thereof with the hinge thereon than to the other end of the a wedge-shaped trailer tailgate, the at least one bumper extending downwardly in the transport position of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate and being disposed above the other end of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate when there is no substantial load on the trailer for substantially preventing the second side of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate from contacting the same surface on which the wheels are resting, thereby substantially preventing any marring of the second side of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate.
7 more elements
A trailer apparatus comprising:
- a frame having a front, a rear, a first side and a second side;
- a tongue operatively attached to the frame for operatively attaching the tongue to a prime mover and extending forwardly;
- at least two wheels operatively attached to the frame for allowing the frame to be towed from place to place;
- a first substantially planer surface disposed in a first plane, the substantially planer surface being operatively attached to the frame between the wheels and extending rearwardly of the wheels, the first substantially planer surface having a front, a rear, a first side and a second side;
- a second substantially planer surface operatively attached to the frame, the second substantially planer surface having a front, a rear, a first side and a second side, the second substantially planer surface being positioned in a second plane disposed at an angle with respect to the first plane, said second substantially planer surface being disposed rearwardly of the first substantially planer surface and being in juxtaposition with the rear of the first substantially planer surface, the front of the second substantially planer surface being higher than the rear of the second substantially planer surface;
- a wedge-shaped trailer tailgate operatively pivotally attached at one end thereof to the frame adjacent the rear of the second substantially planer surface, the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate having a thick end, disposed to a front of the trailer when the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate is in a loading position, the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate having a first planer surface on one side thereof and a second planer surface on the other side thereof;
- a hinge operatively attached to the frame and to the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate, an axis of rotation of the hinge being disposed closer to the first planer surface on one side thereof than the second planer surface on the other side thereof of wedge-shaped trailer tailgate;
- when the wedge-shaped trailer tail gate is in the loading position, the other end of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate is disposed downwardly towards a same surface on which the wheels are resting and the first planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate is disposed in a plane substantially the same as the second substantially planer surface of the trailer and a transport position wherein the second planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate is substantially aligned with the first substantially planer surface of the trailer when the tailgate is in the transport position for creating a substantially continuous planar surface between the first substantially planer surface of the trailer and the second planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate, and wherein the first planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate lies in a different plane than second planer surface of the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate;
- and
- wherein the wedge-shaped trailer tailgate additionally comprising taillights recessed into the thick end disposed to face rearwardly when the wedge-shaped tailgate is in the transport position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.