US 8,191,921 B2Granted

Folding, re-configurable, expandable, multi purpose, portable, utility trailer

AssigneeRPH Engineering

InventorRyan P Hyde

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Abstract

A utility trailer, as for example may be towed behind a vehicle, is disclosed. A description of the assembly, reconfiguration, expandability and folding of the trailer is described. The trailer is easy to store, manufacture, reconfigure and disassemble in large measure due to the unique repeated nature of the main frame components. The frame components can also be removed from the trailer assembly and reconfiguring into different useful devices. The reconfiguration requires minimal additional hardware and is further simplified by the locking mechanisms, located at the connection locations of is each frame panel. The trailer/accessory system also offers advantages over other trailers in that it may be maintained by replacement of common panel components. The wheel assemblies are also collapsible to further reduce necessary storage space and shipping requirements.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A trailer system, comprising:

a center deck assembly comprising a center deck panel, a first wheel assembly, a second wheel assembly, and an axle;
multiple side deck panels;
a hitch assembly;
and
a rectangular steel tube that fits in a receiver hitch;
wherein in a first configuration the axle is pinned in multiple locations to prevent lateral rotation of the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly;
wherein removal of the axle permits the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly to rotate laterally from the first configuration into a folded configuration;
wherein the axle is attached to the center deck panel in order to lock the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly in the folded configuration;
wherein each side deck panel is attached to the center deck panel or to another side deck panel via a locking mechanism;
wherein at least two side deck panels of the multiple side deck panels are configured as a cargo platform;
wherein each side deck panel of the at least two side deck panels comprises a gusset, so that the at least two side deck panels collectively comprise multiple gussets;
wherein the gussets on the at least two side deck panels facilitate attachment of the at least two side deck panels to the rectangular steel tube when the at least two side deck panels are configured as the cargo platform;
and
wherein the locking mechanism is used to connect the at least two side deck panels for use as the cargo platform.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.