US 5,489,137 A · Trailer with sloped article holding spaces

Abstract

A trailer for transporting articles which, if laid flat, would cause the trailer to exceed the maximum highway width requirements imposed by state and federal highway regulations. The trailer includes a frame structure with a number of article spaces which slope continuously upward from a first, loading side to the opposite side of the trailer. Each article space is formed by a pair of rail subassemblies, each including a sloping transverse rail member with a first, lower end located in proximity to the trailer loading side and a second, upper end located in proximity to the trailer opposite side. Articles for which the trailer is designed include pick-up covers, which, if laid flat with their longitudinal axis perpendicular to that of the trailer, would exceed the highway maximums. With the pick-up covers loaded into the continuously sloped spaces, the trailer meets the highway standards.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A trailer, which comprises:

(a) a frame structure including
(i) a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side, and a second side;
(ii) a plurality of columns arranged in pairs of first and second columns with the first column in each pair being adjacent said frame structure first side and the second column in each pair being adjacent said frame structure second side, said pairs of columns dividing said trailer into a plurality of juxtaposed, transverse bays;
and
(b) a rail system comprising a plurality of rails, each said rail having a first, lower end located in proximity to said frame structure first side and a second, upper end located in proximity to said second side, each said rail sloping upwardly from its first end to its second end, said rails being stacked and arranged in opposing pairs within respective ones of said bays to thereby divide each said bay into multiple, transverse, continuously sloped article receiving spaces, said article receiving spaced being sized to accomodate pick-up covers.

2 more elements

A trailer with a chassis and a plurality of supporting wheels, which includes:

(a) a frame structure having:
(1) a top;
(2) a bottom;
(3) a front;
(4) a back;
(5) a first side;
(6) a second side;
(7) a plurality of transversely-spaced pairs of columns, each said pair including a front column and a back column, each column being connected to said chassis adjacent to one of said frame structure sides, said column pairs being longitudinally spaced on said chassis whereby a plurality of juxtaposed, transverse bays are formed between adjacent pairs of columns;
(8) a plurality of cross members extending transversely between respective columns in each said column pair, each said column pair having a plurality of parallel, vertically-spaced cross members extending therebetween;
(b) a plurality of rail subassemblies each including:
(1) a transverse rail member with a first, lower end positioned in proximity to said frame structure first side and a second, upper end positioned in proximity to said frame structure second side, each said transverse rail member extending in parallel, spaced relation to a respective cross member;
(2) a first, lower mounting arm having a proximate end connected to a respective cross member and a distal end connected to a respective transverse rail member in proximity to said transverse rail member first, lower end;
and
(3) a second, upper mounting arm having a proximate end connected to a respective frame structure cross member and a distal end connected to a respective transverse rail member in proximity to its second, upper end;
whereby
(c) said rail subassemblies form a plurality of continuously sloped, article-receiving spaces vertically stacked in each said bay, said article receiving spaces being sized to accommodate pick-up covers.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Trailer with sloped article holding spaces

Life of this patent

Trailer with sloped article holding spaces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17