AU2005100675A4 - A trailable frame - Google Patents

Description

22-AUG-2005 14:24 From:WYNNES PRT&TM ATTORN 0733421292 To:0262837999 o A TRAILABLE FRAME ;Z FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to wheeled frames for carrying a boat or the like.

The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for use as a wheeled frame and reassemble to form support framing for a camper trailer for

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Stransporting a boat. Reference to boats in the specification is by way of example it only and the invention is not limited to the transporting boats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When towing a trailer or a caravan, a boat to be used while traveling is usually carried on the roof rack of a vehicle or a frame on the trailer or caravan. Boats such as aluminum dinghies are often used to go fishing or venture through waterways.

Because they are usually transported on top of vehicles, trailers or caravans, it is often difficult for a person to lift and mount them in position and lower them when they have reached the desired destination. At least two people are required to lift the boat because of their size and weight. Where a person is elderly or simply does not have the strength or assistance, they are prevented from taking and using a boat during their travels. If a person is traveling to a number of destinations the boat must be mounted on and lifted off the vehicle, trailer or caravan on a regular basis which a person may find difficult and daunting.

Furthermore, where a person has set up camp may be some distance from the waterways and it is necessary for the boat to be lowered from its transported position and then carried by two or more persons to the waterways. The carrying of the boat can be arduous and problematic, particularly if the boat must be carried over rough ground or for some distance.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01435930 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:32 Date 2005-08-22 22-AUG-2005 14:25 From:WYNNES PRT&TM ATTORN 0733421292 To:02162837999 P.6 n -2- 0 0 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternate means of transporting and handling of a boat that overcomes at least in part one or more of the t 5 abovementioned disadvantages.

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o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0 In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a trailable frame 0 Cl including a support frame with at least two transverse members spaced apart from each other and fixed in position by at least one longitudinal member, said at least two transverse members each have at least one upright arm extending from adjacent an end and on the same side; wheel means for providing a wheel to each side of one of said transverse members; coupling means for enabling the support frame to be towed; pivot means adjacent the free end on two of the upright arms that are on one side of the frame for raising and lowering the support frame, wherein in the raised position the support frame is attachable to a vehicle or trailer by their upright arms and in the lowered position the support frame becomes an assembled trailable frame.

The support frame preferably has two transverse members fixed to at least one longitudinal member, Preferably both transverse members have an upright arm extending from adjacent each end and extending in the same direction.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01435930 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:32 Date 2005-08-22 22-FUG-2005 14:25 From:WYNNES PFATTM RTTORN 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.7 n -3- 0 0 The wheel means preferably includes removable axle connectors positionable on each end of said transverse member. The wheel means preferably includes a wheel mountable to each removable axle connector. In an alternate embodiment the

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wheel means may include two wheels with axle connectors mounted thereto.

The coupling means preferably includes a draw bar with a hitch fitting that can be coupled to a complementary tow bar on a vehicle. In a preferred form the draw o bar with the hitch fitting is positionable within the longitudinal member.

SThe pivot means preferably includes a pivot pin adapted to pass through C apertures in the upright arms and apertures in a vehicle frame. The pivot pin preferably serves to retain the position of the support frame when it is mounted on the vehicle, trailer or caravan and serves as the pivot for lowering the support frame from its mounted position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the preferred embodiment of the partially assembled trailable frame; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the preferred embodiment of the partially assembled trailable frame: Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the preferred embodiment of the partially assembled trailable frame; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the preferred embodiment of the partially assembled trailable frame; COMS ID No: SBMI-01435930 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:32 Date 2005-08-22 22-RUG-2005 14:25 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATTORN 0733421292 To:026837999 P.8/277 n-4- 0 0 Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the preferred embodiment of the partially assembled trailable frame; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side view of the preferred embodiment of the partially assembled trailable frame; Figure 7 a diagrammatic front view of the preferred embodiment of the rV partially assembled trailable frame; 0 SFigure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the preferred embodiment of the partially Sassembled trailable frame; Ci Figures 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views of the preferred embodiment of the partially assembled trailable frame (and a camping trailer is shown in phantom); and Figures 11 to 17 are photographic representations of the preferred embodiment of the trailable frame in different assembled forms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figures 1 to 17, there is shown a trailable frame 10 at different stages of assembly and reassembly. The trailable frame 10 has two transverse members 11 spaced apart from each other by a longitudinal member 12.

The longitudinal member 12 is welded to each transverse member 11. Each transverse member 11 has an upright arm 13 on each end. Each upright arm has an aperture 14 adjacent its free end through which a pivot pin 15 is positioned. The longitudinal member 12 is hollow and a draw bar 16 is positionable within the longitudinal member 12. The draw bar 16 has a hitch fitting 17 for coupling to a vehicle's tow bar. When the trailable frame is assembled as a trailer, the draw bar 16 is positioned and retained within the longitudinal member 12 so that the hitch COMS ID No: SBMI-01435930 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:32 Date 2005-08-22 22-RUG-2005 14:26 From:WYNNES PRT&TM ATTORN 0733421292 To:026283799 P.9/27 n 0 0 fitting extends outwardly from the adjacent transverse member 11. The distal Stransverse member 11 is adapted for positioning a wheel 19 on each end. The distal transverse member 11 is adapted to receive axle connectors 20 which are fixed in position by fasteners passing through apertures 21, 22. A wheel 19 is then mounted to the axle connectors 20 so that the frame forms an assembled trailer with wheels I\N 19 at one end and a hitch fitting 18 at the other end.

0 o When the trailable frame 10 is in the form of a mounted frame on a vehicle, Scaravan or trailer, the draw bar 16 is stored in the other end of the longitudinal Smember 12 and retained in position by fasteners passing through apertures 23, 24.

When the draw bar 16 is in the stored position, only the hitch fitting 18 protrudes from the longitudinal member 12.

The trailable frame 10 in the form of a mounted frame on a vehicle, caravan or trailer is fixed in position by pivot pins 15 which connect the upright arms 13 with the vehicle frame 30. The pivot pin 15 passes through apertures 14 in the upright arms 13 and corresponding apertures in the co-operative section of the vehicle frame With all four upright arms 13 fixed to the vehicle frame 30, the trailable frame forms a stable mounted frame for the transport of a boat.

When the boat is to be lowered, the pivot pins 15 on one side of the trailable frame 10 are removed and the mountable frame is rotated about the remaining pivot pins 15 on the other side of the trailable frame 10. The mounted frame is lowered so that the boat rests on the ground. The remaining pivot pins 15 are removed and the mounted frame is separated from the vehicle frame 30. The trailable frame 10 is then lifted off the boat and reassembled in the form of a trailer. The draw bar 16 is removed from its stored position and located in the trailable position. The draw bar 16 is fixed in the trailable position by a fastener passing through apertures 23, 24.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01435930 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:32 Date 2005-08-22 22-FUG-2005 14:26 From:WYNNES PFT&TM ATTORN 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.10/27 n -6- 0 0 Axle connectors 20 are positioned in the ends of the distal transverse member 11 and fixed in position by fasteners passing through apertures 21, 22. After the axle connectors 20 are fitted, a wheel 19 is mounted to each axle connector 20. With the mounting of the wheels 19, the trailable frame 10 is reassembled in the form of a trailer. The boat is then positioned on the trailer between the upright arms 13 and IN towed or pushed to the waterway.

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ADVANTAGES

C The preferred embodiment of the trailable frame provides the advantage that it can be used to mount a boat or the like on a vehicle, trailer or caravan, assist in lowering the boat or like from its mounted position, and be reassembled to carry or tow the boat or the like to a desired location such as a waterway. The preferred embodiment of the trailable frame removes many of the problems In transporting, lifting and carrying boats and the like when traveling with a caravan, camper trailer or trailer. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment is that the trailable frame complies with government requirements and can be registered for use on the road.

VARIATIONS

IT will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01435930 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:32 Date 2005-08-22

Claims (1)

1. 22-RUG-2005 14:26 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATTORN 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.II/27 S-7- 0 o CLAIMS 1. A trailable frame including a support frame with at least two transverse members spaced apart from each C other and fixed in position by at least one longitudinal member, said at least two transverse members each have at least one upright arm extending from adjacent an Io end and on the same side; o wheel means for providing a wheel to each side of one of said transverse Smembers; 0 Ci coupling means for enabling the support frame to be towed; pivot means adjacent the free end on two of the upright arms that are on one side of the frame for raising and lowering the support frame, wherein in the raised position the support frame is attachable to a vehicle or trailer by their upright arms and in the lowered position the support frame becomes an assembled trailable frame. 2. A trailable frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support frame has two transverse members fixed to at least one longitudinal member and the transverse members have an upright arm extending from adjacent each end and extending in the same direction. 3. A trailable frame as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the wheel means includes removable axle connectors positionable on each end of said transverse member, said wheel means includes a wheel mountable to each removable axle connector, COMS ID No: SBMI-01435930 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:32 Date 2005-08-22 22-RUG-2005 14:26 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATTORN 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.1227 tn -3- O 0 4. A trailable frame as claimed in any one of the abovementioned claims, wherein the coupling means includes a draw bar with a hitch fitting that can be coupled to a complementary tow bar on a vehicle, said draw bar with the hitch fitting is positionable within the longitudinal member, said pivot means includes a pivot pin adapted to pass through apertures in the upright arms and apertures in a vehicle v\0 frame, said pivot pin serves to retain the position of the support frame when it is 0 o mounted on the vehicle, trailer or caravan and serves as the pivot for lowering the 0 support frame from its mounted position. 0 5. A trailable frame as substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS TWENTY SECOND DAY OF AUGUST 2005 GRAHAM JOHN HOWARD AND SHIRLEY JOY HOWARD by their Patent Attorneys WYNNES PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS COMS ID No: SBMI-01435930 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:32 Date 2005-08-22