GB1602285A - Collapsible trailer - Google Patents

Description

(54) COLLAPSIBLE TRAILER (71) We, WILLIAM WEAVER ENGINEER ING LIMITED, a British Company of 86-92 Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a collapsible trailer for supporting a wheeled vehicle to be towed, and is particularly applicable to such a trailer for a motor cycle.

According to the invention, a collapsible trailer comprises a main support having a longitudinal support member and a transverse support member, a pair of carrier members detachably securable to the longitudinal support member in alignment therewith so as to extend respectively in opposite directions and adapted and arranged, in use, to be engaged by the wheels of a vehicle, opposed end portions of the transverse support member and respective wheel supports being adapted to be detachably interconnected.

In one convenient arrangement, the carrier members are channel-shaped. Said detachable interconnection is formed by telescopic engagement of said opposed end portions and the respective wheel supports.

Preferably, one of the carrier members is provided with a pivotable ramp to facilitate loading and unloading of a vehicle on to the assembled trailer.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the trailer of the invention with some parts omitted, and Figure 2 is a partly exploded side view of the complete trailer of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, these show a motorcycle trailer having a main support designated generally 1 and including a longitudinal support member 2 and a transverse support member 3. The transverse support member 3 is in the form of a tube 4 of rectangular cross-section projecting from either side of the support 1 and receiving wheel support members 5 of cross-section such as to fit closely within the tubes 4. The wheel support members are releasably locked in position by screw locking means, one of which is shown at 6. Wheels 7 are mounted on the supports 5 by way of torsion type suspension members shown generally at 8. The tubes 4 also carry mudguards 9 (only one of which is shown) mounted on supports 9a and securing means 10 are provided for straps or the like intended to tie a motorbike securely onto the trailer.

A pair of carrier members 11 and 12 are mounted on the support members 2 and extend in opposite directions in longitudinal alignment with the support member 2. The carrier members 11 and 12 are of generally chanel-shaped cross-section to receive the front and rear wheels of a motorcycle (not shown) and the sides of the forward carrier 12 converge in a forward direction and terminate in a towing device 13, such as a Watson-Jones coupler or other conventional mechanism. The carriers 11 and 12 are located on the support member 2 in overlapping relationship with the member 12 lying beneath the member 11. A pair of bolts 14 extend upwardly from the member 12 through corresponding holes in the member 11 and locking wing nuts 15 secure the carriers together. Further bolts 16 and 17 extend downwardly from the carrier 11 and through corresponding holes in the member 2 (the bolt 17 extending also through the lower carrier 12) and winged locking nuts 18 secure the carrier members to the support 2.

A loading ramp 19 is mounted within the channel 11 and is movable between an extended position as shown and a position in which it lies wholly within the channel 11 and is retained therein by a further bolt 20 and locking nut 21 which serve also to secure in place a lighting and number-plate board 22 mounted on a bracket 23 which latter fits within the channel 11. When extended, the outer end of the ramp 19 may rest on the ground to facilitate loading of a motorcycle onto the trailer. The inner end of the ram is provided with a stop bar 24 which co-operates with corresponding abutment means 25 on the carrier 11 to prevent the ramp 19 from being withdrawn entirely from the carrier 11.

It will be appreciated that, when not in use, the trailer can be dismantled by removing the carriers 11 and 12 and wheel support tubes 4 from the main support 1 and the dismantled trailer can then be stored in a relatively confined space such as the boot of a car. It can, however, be rapidly assembled when required for use.

Various details of the construction described above may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the various bolts and locking nuts may be replaced by any convenient form of locking device and the various components may be of any convenient shape.

If desired, the longitudinal support member may have two parallel portions, each having a respective transverse support member and carrier members secured thereto, and in this form, the trailer could be used to transport two motorcycles, or a light fourwheeled vehicle. It would also be possible, with any form of the trailer, for the carriers to be securable at alternative locations along the longitudinal support member, thus providing a degree of adjustment of overall length of the trailer to accommodate different sizes of wheeled vehicle.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A collapsible trailer comprising a main support having a longitudinal support member and a transverse support member, a pair of carrier members detachably securable to the longitudinal support member in alignment therewith so as to extend respectively in opposite directions and adapted and arranged, in use, to be engaged by the wheels of a vehicle, opposed end portions of the transverse support member and respective wheel supports being adapted to be detach ably interconnected.

2. A trailer according to Claim 1, wherein the carrier members are channel shaped.

3. A trailer according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said detachable interconnection is formed by telescopic engagement of said opposed end portions and the respective wheel supports.

4. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the carrier members is provided with a pivotable ramp to facilitate loading and unloading of a vehicle on to the assembled trailer.

5. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier members are securable to the longitudinal support member in longitudinal overlapping Yelationship.

6. A trailer according to Claim 4, wherein the ramp is longitudinally slidable relative to the carrier on which it is pivoted so that it may be slid within that carrier when not in use.

7. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal support member has two parallel portions each having a pair of said carrier members and a respective transverse support member.

8. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriers are securable at alternative locations along the longitudinal support member to provide a degree of adjustment of the overall length of the trailer.

9. A collapsible trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. end of the ram is provided with a stop bar 24 which co-operates with corresponding abutment means 25 on the carrier 11 to prevent the ramp 19 from being withdrawn entirely from the carrier 11. It will be appreciated that, when not in use, the trailer can be dismantled by removing the carriers 11 and 12 and wheel support tubes 4 from the main support 1 and the dismantled trailer can then be stored in a relatively confined space such as the boot of a car. It can, however, be rapidly assembled when required for use. Various details of the construction described above may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the various bolts and locking nuts may be replaced by any convenient form of locking device and the various components may be of any convenient shape. If desired, the longitudinal support member may have two parallel portions, each having a respective transverse support member and carrier members secured thereto, and in this form, the trailer could be used to transport two motorcycles, or a light fourwheeled vehicle. It would also be possible, with any form of the trailer, for the carriers to be securable at alternative locations along the longitudinal support member, thus providing a degree of adjustment of overall length of the trailer to accommodate different sizes of wheeled vehicle. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A collapsible trailer comprising a main support having a longitudinal support member and a transverse support member, a pair of carrier members detachably securable to the longitudinal support member in alignment therewith so as to extend respectively in opposite directions and adapted and arranged, in use, to be engaged by the wheels of a vehicle, opposed end portions of the transverse support member and respective wheel supports being adapted to be detach ably interconnected.

2. A trailer according to Claim 1, wherein the carrier members are channel shaped.

3. A trailer according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said detachable interconnection is formed by telescopic engagement of said opposed end portions and the respective wheel supports.

4. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the carrier members is provided with a pivotable ramp to facilitate loading and unloading of a vehicle on to the assembled trailer.

5. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier members are securable to the longitudinal support member in longitudinal overlapping Yelationship.

6. A trailer according to Claim 4, wherein the ramp is longitudinally slidable relative to the carrier on which it is pivoted so that it may be slid within that carrier when not in use.

7. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal support member has two parallel portions each having a pair of said carrier members and a respective transverse support member.

8. A trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriers are securable at alternative locations along the longitudinal support member to provide a degree of adjustment of the overall length of the trailer.

9. A collapsible trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.