Utility trailer including automatic tailgate assembly
OwnerRobert E. Cockraminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A utility trailer having an automatic loading and unloading ramp and tailgate assembly and a front trigger plate assembly operationally interconnected by an actuating linkage or other drive unit so that when loading the trailer with the item to be transported, the item contacting the front trigger plate assembly causes the movement of the rear automatic ramp assembly into a tailgate forming position. A lock or latching mechanism is provided to automatically retain the rear ramp assembly in the tailgate forming position.
Claims21
A utility trailer, comprising a trailer body having a trailer bed and spaced sidewalls extending along opposite sides of said trailer bed and upwardly beyond the plane of said trailer bed to define an open end at one end of said trailer body, trigger means pivotally connected to said trailer bed for pivotal movement between a first and a second position relative to said trailer bed, said trigger means including load receiving surface means extending outwardly from said trailer bed between said spaced sidewalls and substantially in the plane of said trailer bed when said trigger is in said first position, a ramp means pivotally connected to said trailer bed in spaced relation to said trigger means for pivotal movement between a third and a fourth position relative to said trailer bed, said ramp means extending upwardly relative to the trailer bed and substantially perpendicular thereto across the open end of said body between said sidewalls to close said open end when said ramp means is in the third position and being inclined downwardly from the pivotal connection with said trailer bed when said ramp means is in the fourth position, and drive means mounted on said trailer body, said drive means being connected to said ramp means and also connected for operation by said trigger means, said drive means operating to move said ramp means from said fourth to said third position in response to movement of said trigger means from said second to said first position.
A utility trailer comprising a trailer bed having a trailer bed, trigger means mounted on said trailer body adjacent to a first end of said trailer bed for movement between a first and a second position relative to said trailer bed, said trigger means including load receiving surface means extending substantially in the plane of said trailer bed when said trigger means is in said first position and moving to a position away from the plane of said trailer bed when said trigger means is in said second position, a ramp means mounted upon said trailer body for pivotal movement relative to said trailer bed between a third and a fourth position, at least a portion of said ramp means extending substantially perpendicular to said trailer bed when said ramp means is in the third position and said ramp means being inclined outwardly from said trailer bed when said ramp means is in the fourth position, and drive means connected between said trigger means and said ramp means, said drive means operating to move said ramp means from said fourth to said third position when said trigger means is moved from said second to said first position and to move said trigger means from said first to said second position when said ramp means is moved from said third to said fourth position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.