Highway message board sign trailer
OwnerKenneth L. MacDougallinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low profile highway sign trailer wherein the message board positioned lengthwise resting upon the trailer frame during transport. The rear end of the sign board is fastened to and raised vertically by a rack, utilizing gearing and portable power drill or the like. The trailer tongue pivots on the frame to a vertical position utilizing a curved rack, to add support to the forward end of the sign board and locked in that position. Two handles are provided for manually positioning the trailer at a desired display angle. A rear section may house a generator and/or battery packs and solar panels are located on the roof. The trailer can store equipment accessible from both sides and the rear.
Claims14
A trailer vehicle for transporting and displaying signs including highway message board signs, comprising:
- a wheel-mounted trailer with a normally horizontal frame;
- tow bar tongue means having a front portion with a coupler hitch for connecting to a towing vehicle and having a rear end portion;
- pivot means connecting said rear end portion of the tongue means to a front of the frame, said pivot means allowing pivoting of the tongue means relative to the frame between a first position in which the tongue means is connected to the towing vehicle, and a second, raised position generally perpendicular to the first position when the trailer vehicle is stationary;
- means for temporarily securing the tongue means relative to the frame in the first and second positions;
- a message board carried by said frame in vertical, fore-and-aft orientation;
- and locating means mounted on a front portion of the tow bar tongue means for engaging a front end portion of the message board when the trailer vehicle is stationary and when the tongue means is in said second position.
A method for converting a trailer vehicle from a transporting mode to a message board display mode, wherein the vehicle has a wheel-mounted trailer frame with tow bar tongue means having a front end with a coupler hitch for connection to a towing vehicle, and pivot means connecting the tow bar tongue means to a front of the frame, means for temporarily securing the tongue means relative to the trailer frame in a first, generally horizontal position and also in a second, generally vertical, position, a vertically orientated message board carried by said trailer frame and aligned fore-and-aft therewith, the tongue means having locating means for engaging a front portion of the message board when the tongue means is in said second position, the trailer also having a leg means attached to a front part of the trailer frame so as to support the frame when the tongue is disconnected from the towing vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) moving the leg means to support the front of the trailer;
- (b) releasing the coupler hitch from the towing vehicle;
- (c) releasing the means for temporarily securing the tongue means to the frame, and
- (d) raising the tongue means into a vertical position allowing the locating means to engage the front portion of the message board.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.