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US 5,810,544 AGranted
Ground level loading trailer
OwnerPhilip Wellmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a trailer having a load-bearing platform moveable between a ground-level loading position and a horizontal travel position supported on a U-shaped support frame, and having its wheels mounted on stub axles rather than a common axle. The stub axles are cantilevered on the support frame with suspension arms to keep the wheels in proper alignment with the support frame. The load-bearing platform is raised and lowered by a pivoting lever member, hinged at its rear end to the rear end of the platform, together with a block and tackle system which controls the lever member and raises and lowers the front end of the load platform.
Claims8
In combination with a ground-level-loading trailer apparatus comprising a generally U-shaped perimeter support frame having a closed front end and an open rear end;
- a load-bearing platform movable between a loading position on the ground and a raised horizontal travel position within said support frame;
- lifting means for raising and lowering said platform between said loading position and said travel position;
- hitch means for attaching said trailer to a towing vehicle;
- and ground-engaging wheel means supporting said support frame above ground, said wheel means mounted on individual stub axles for rotational movement:
- a suspension system for connecting said stub axles to said support frame, said suspension system comprising:
- a pair of suspension arms each arm having a front portion and a rear portion, each said rear portion being fixedly connected by boss means to one said stub axle, said boss means being suspended from a side of said frame by spring means, and said arm journaled at its front end to said front end of said support frame, whereby torsion of said axles relative to said frame, in response to varying road conditions during travel, is minimized.
3 more elements
A ground level loading trailer comprising:
- a generally U-shaped perimeter support frame having a front crossbeam attached at each end thereof to a pair of side beams, said side beams each having a forward portion and a rear portion;
- ground engaging wheels for supporting said support frame above the ground, each wheel mounted on a separate stub axle for rotational movement;
- a suspension system connecting said stub axles to the side beams of said support frame, said system comprising a pair of arms each pivotally attached at one end thereof to the front crossbeam adjacent its connection to one said side beam, the other end of each arm being connected to one said stub axle by mounting means, said axle being suspended from said side beam intermediate said forward and rear portions thereof by spring means, whereby torsion of said stub axles relative to said support frame is minimized;
- a load-bearing platform having a forward end and a rear end and movable between a ground-level loading position and a raised horizontal travel position within said support frame;
- a lifting assembly for raising and lowering said platform, said assembly comprising a generally U-shaped lever member pivotable between a raised horizontal travel position adjacent said support frame and a tilted ground-loading position, said lever member having a front crossbeam connecting a pair of arms each having a front portion, a rear portion and a fulcrum point intermediate said front and rear portions, each said arm pivotally connected at its fulcrum point to said rear portion of one said side beam of said support frame, said rear portion of each said arm being pivotally interconnected by said rear end of said platform to move as a unit for lifting and lowering the rear end of said platform, and raising and lowering means interconnecting said front crossbeam of said lever member, said front end of said platform, and said front beam of said support frame, whereby lowering said crossbeam pivots said lever member to its horizontal position and raises said platform to its travel position, and raising said crossbeam lowers both ends of said platform to ground level;
- locking means for securing said platform in its raised travel position within said support frame, and for securing said lever member adjacent said support frame in its horizontal travel position;
- hitch means affixed to said front beam of said support frame for removably attaching said trailer to a towing vehicle.
4 more elements
A ground level loading trailer comprising:
- a generally U-shaped perimeter support frame having a closed front end, an open rear end and a pair of sides;
- a lever member comprising a framework having a front end, a rear end, and side arms pivotally connected to the rear end of said support frame, for pivotal movement between a tilted ground-loading position and a raised horizontal position, with said front end being spaced above said front end of said support frame and its rear end at ground level when in the tilted position, and said lever member being adjacent said support frame in the horizontal position;
- a load-bearing platform movable between a loading position on the ground and a raised horizontal travel position within said support frame, said platform having a front end and a rear end, said rear end pivotally connected to the rear end of said lever member;
- raising and lowering means interconnecting said front end of said lever member and said front end of said platform to said front end of said support frame, whereby lowering said front end of said lever member pivots it to its horizontal position and raises said platform at both ends thereof to said travel position within said support frame;
- locking means for securing said platform and lever member to said support frame in the travel position;
- wheel means mounted on individual stub axles for rotational movement and support of said trailer;
- suspension means for connecting said stub axles to said support frame whereby torsion of said stub axles relative to said frame, responsive to varying road conditions during travel, is minimized;
- and
- hitch means for connecting said front end of said support frame to a towing vehicle.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.