GB2359281A

GB2359281A - Collapsible vehicle trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2359281A
Application number: GB0003691A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew George Milne
Original assignee: AVPROD Ltd
Current assignee: AVPROD Ltd
Priority date: 2000-02-18
Filing date: 2000-02-18
Publication date: 2001-08-22
Also published as: GB0003691D0

Abstract

A collapsible trailer comprises a substantially rigid frame 10 formed from a plurality of releasably interconnectable sections, a plurality of ground-engaging wheels 14 and means 16 for releasably connecting the frame to a towing vehicle. The frame may comprise two elongate lateral frame members 20 and two elongate transverse frame members (22 and 24, Fig 2). The wheels may be connected to an axle 12 which forms one of the interconnectable frame sections. The trailer may also comprise an enclosure 18 having one or more collapsible, foldable, upstanding fabric walls (70, Fig 7) and a removable collapsible base (76, Fig 7). The enclosure may be supported by a plurality of upstanding posts 36, pivotally mounted to the frame. The dismantled trailer may be contained in a flexible container (80, Fig 8).

Description

- 1 DESCRIPTION VEHICLE TRAILER

2359281 The present invention relates to vehicle trailers and in particular to collapsible vehicle trailers.

Vehicle trailers are commonly, by their very nature, used only intermittently, the trailers being detached from the vehicle and stored when not in use. The requirement for storage space for a trailer when not in use discourages occasional users of trailers from purchasing their own trailer, and instead it is more usual for a trailer to be hired or borrowed by occasional or infrequent users.

There is also a problem for those who tow a trailer frequently, in those situations where the trailer is empty after having transported a load to a particular destination. At present, it is necessary for the trailer to be towed empty, which imposes speed restrictions on the towing vehicle.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle trailer which is collapsible to enable it to be stored in a small space when not required.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention a vehicle trailer comprises a substantially rigid frame formed from a plurality of releasably interconnectable sections, a plurality of ground-engaging wheels and means for releasably connecting the frame to a towing vehicle.

By forming the frame from a plurality of releasably interconnectable sections, the trailer can be dismantled and stored in a relatively small space when not in use.

Preferably, the trailer further comprises an enclosure having means for releasable connection to the frame and comprising one or more collapsible walls. This allows the trailer to carry items in the manner of a box trailer yet still allows the trailer components to be dismantled and stowed when not in use.

The collapsible walls are preferably foldable. In one embodiment, the walls are flexible and may, for example, be formed from fabric. One of the collapsible walls may comprise a collapsible base wall. The enclosure also preferably comprises a plurality of upstanding walls.

The means for releasable connection of the enclosure to the frame may comprise one or more loops on one or more of the upstanding walls for receipt of a frame portion. The or each loop may be located at or adjacent to the upper edge of the upstanding wall or walls and the portion of the frame member receivable within the loops may comprise an elongate rod releasably supportable between two other portions of the frame.

Preferably the frame comprises a plurality of upstanding posts and the enclosure comprises a plurality of loops releasably locatable on the posts. The or each post is preferably pivotally mounted.

In one embodiment, the fi-ame comprises two elongate, substantially parallel lateral frame members and two elongate substantially parallel transverse frame members connectable between the lateral frame members.

Preferably the wheels are connected to an axle and preferably the axle forms one of the releasably interconnectable frame sections.

One or more of the releasably interconnectable frame sections may comprise -3 a pivotally mounted member, which may be pivotable from a stowed position to an upstanding operative position. For example, the pivotally mounted member may comprise a support post which may be located at or adjacent to one end of an elongate frame member.

The trailer preferably further comprises a container for holding the dismantled trailer components, which is preferably itself flexible so that it can be rolled or folded into a small volume when not in use.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of vehicle trailer in accordance with the present invention, in an assembled condition; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame of the trailer shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the frame of the trailer shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of an axle of the trailer shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 5a an 5b are perspective and plan views respectively of a securing bracket forming part of the trailer of Fig. 1; Fig. 6a is a perspective detailed view showing the interconnection of a side member and rear member of the trailer of Fig. 1; Fig. 6b is a perspective view showing the side member of Fig. 6a in an alternative position; Fig. 6c is a perspective view of the upper portion of the post shown in Figs. 6a and 6b; Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the trailer illustrated in Fig. 7; and Figs. 8a to 8c are perspective views showing how the dismantled trailer of Fig. 1 can be stowed away.

Referring to the Figures, a trailer comprises a generally rectangular metal frame 10 supported on a transverse axle 12 having a wheel 14 at each end. A towing beam 16 is connected to the frame and to the axle and extends perpendicularly to the axle such that it projects from one end of the frame. A flexible-walled containing structure 18 is releasably securable to the frame to allow objects to the placed in and carried by, the trailer.

The frame 10 comprises two parallel, elongate, box-section metal side beams 20, a front, transversely-extending box-section metal beam 22 and a rear transversely-rearwardly open channel-section metal beam 24. The rear beam 24 also conveniently houses the trailer lights L and number plate N. Each end of the front and rear transversely-extending box section beams 22, 24 is provided with a locating and mounting bracket 26 for receipt of one end of a side frame member 20. As best seen in Fig. 5, the mounting bracket comprises a generally U-shaped piece of plate steel formed into upstanding parallel flanges 28, 3 0 interconnected by abase wall 32. The inner face of the outermost flange 28 is welded to the end of either a front or rear transversely-extending beam 22, 24 and the longitudinally outermost end 30a of the inner flange 30 is bent inwardly at a right angle and is secured to the longitudinally inner side face of the front or rear longitudinally-extending beam to which it is connected.

At each end of the side members 20, a container support post 36 is hingedly attached by means of a hinge 38 welded to the upper face of the side member. Each of the posts 36 can be pivoted from a first, operative position in which it extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the side member, through 90' to a second, stowed position in which the member lies substantially flat against the upper face of the side member, with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to that of the side member. It will be observed that the side walls of each of the posts 36 and the side members 20 are provided with aligned apertures 40a, 40b which, when the ends of the side members are received correctly in the sockets 26 of the transverselyextending members, are aligned with corresponding apertures 42a, 42b in the flanges 28, 30 of the brackets. As will be explained, these aligned apertures allow securing bolts 44 to secure the side and end portions of the frame together.

At the upper end of each of the posts, the post walls which face another of the posts are each provided with a U-shaped cut-out 45 and the end of each post receives a releasably locatable cap 46 having corresponding Ushaped cut-outs 48 in its downwardly depending walls. When the cap is in position on the post the U-shaped cut-outs 45, 48 in the cap and in the post define a circular aperture, for receipt of a retaining rod, as will be explained.

The axle 14 comprises a straight box-section beam 49 and each wheel 14 is mounted on the axle by means of a conventional bearing 50. Each bearing is mounted on a trailing limb 52 projecting rearwardly and downwardly from the end -6of the axle. Each end of the axle is received in a downwardly-open socket 53 on the undersurface of the respective side member 20, the socket being defined by two angle irons 56, one face of each of which is secured to the undersurface of the respective side member, the other limbs of the angle irons projecting downwardly parallel to one another. The upstanding limbs of the angle irons are provided with aligned through apertures 58 for receipt of a securing bolt, as will be explained.

The tow beam also comprises a section of straight box-section beam 60. At one end a conventional attachment 62 for securing to a vehicle tow ball is secured and to the other end an upwardly-open U-shaped bracket 63 is welded. The U-shaped section is shaped and dimensioned to receive the central portion of the axle, to which it is releasably secured by bolts passing through the U-shaped bracket 63, and the tow beam itself, when, the trailer is assembled, is received between two downwardlyprojecting parallel flanges 64 welded to the undersurface of the front transverselyextending box-section beam 22. Reinforcing beams 66 formed from L-shaped crosssection metal are also releasably secured, in use, between the tow beam and the axle, by means of bolts. A U-shaped foot 67 is also secured to the undersurface of the portion of the towing beam which projects from the trailer, to engage the ground when the trailer is not secured to a vehicle.

The load container 18 comprises a rectangular base 68, two upstanding side walls 70 and two upstanding end walls 72. The base, the side walls and the end walls are made from a flexible material such as a woven man- made fibre. They can be made from a single piece of material sewn together to form four corners or can be -7made from separate pieces of material stitched or otherwise secured together.

Each corner is provided with a loop 73 adjacent the base which is adapted to slide over the upstanding post 36 when in its operative, raised position. The upper edge of each of the side walls and end walls is also formed into a series generally aligned of loops 74 by stitching or other securing means. The loops 74, in use, can receive a stiffening rod 75, the ends of which can be received in the cut-out portions 45 in the additional frame members 38. A removable floor in the form of wooden decking 76 comprising a plurality of hingedly interconnected parallel wooden slats 77 can be received on the flexible base.

When it is desired to assemble the trailer, the side frame members 20 are first of all located on the axle by receiving the axle in the sockets 53 on the undersurface of the side frame members 20. The side frame members 20 and the axle 12 are then secured in position with respect to one another by means of securing bolts passing through aligned apertures 58 in the flanges 56 forming the sockets 53 and in the axle. Securing bolts can conveniently be held in place by means of a resilient retaining pin passing through an aperture in the shank of the bolt.

The front and rear transversely-extending frame members 22, 24 are then secured between the front and rear ends respectively of the side members 20 by locating the ends of the side members 20 between the parallel flanges 28, 30 of the brackets secured to the ends of the front and rear frame members. The posts 36 are pivoted so that they lie perpendicularly to the side member. The apertures 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b in the brackets 26 the side members 20 and posts 36 are aligned and the -8securing bolts 44 are then passed through the aligned apertures and held in place by a flexible retaining pin passing through a diametrically- extending aperture in the shanks of the bolts.

The tow beam 16 is then connected by positioning the U-shaped bracket 63 located at one end of the tow beam at the centre of the axle 12 and locating the boxsection 60 of the tow beam between the downwardlyprojecting securing flanges 64 extending from the undersurface of the front transversely-extending frame member. The tow beam is secured to the axle and to the flanges on the front frame member by passing securing bolts through aligned apertures and retaining the securing bolts in place by resilient retaining pins passing through diametrically-extending apertures in the bolt shanks.

The reinforcing frame members 66 are likewise connected between the axle 12 and the side face of the tow beain 60.

The flexible container portion 18 is then unrolled and each retaining loop 73 is located over a respective one of the upstanding posts 36. A reinforcing rod 75 is then passed through the aligned loops 74 in the uppermost edge of each of the side and end walls and the ends of each securing rod are located within the upstanding posts via the cut-out portions 45. The square-section cap 46 is then located over the end of each upstanding additional frame member to prevent the stiffening rods 75 from coming loose. Finally, the wooden decking 76 is unrolled and placed on the base wall 68 of the flexible container.

The trailer is thus assembled and can be attached to the tow ball of a vehicle in the conventional manner.

When it is desired to dismantle the trailer, the above procedure can be reversed. In particular, once the components have been separated the upstanding posts 36 are rotated through 90' to lie flat against the upper face of the side frame members 20 and the flexible container portion 18 and the wooden decking 76 can be rolled up into a very small volume. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the side frame members 20 and the end frame members 22, 24 can then be located between the wheels 14 of the axle 12 and the flexible container section and the wooden decking can be rolled up around the axle and side and end frame members. A flexible fabric bag 78 is also provided for retaining securing bolts and the like and this can also be wrapped within the flexible container portion and the wooden decking.

The rolled up components can then be enclosed within a generally tubular flexible fabric retaining bag 80 and can then be carried or stored, as required.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, the stiffening rods 75 could be replaced with a loop of wire held in tension by a wire tensioner.

1 1, 1. 1 t 111 f

Claims

-10CLAIMS

1. A vehicle trailer comprising a substantially rigid frame formed from a plurality of releasably interconnectable sections, a plurality of groundengaging wheels and means for releasably connecting the frame to a towing vehicle.

2. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an enclosure having means for releasable connection to the frame and comprising one or more collapsible walls.

3. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the collapsible walls are foldable.

4. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the collapsible walls are flexible.

5. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the collapsible walls comprise fabric.

6. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein one of the collapsible walls comprises a collapsible base wall.

7. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, further comprising a removable floor portion releasably receivable within the enclosure.

8. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the floor portion is collapsible.

9. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the collapsible walls comprise a plurality of upstanding walls.

10. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for releasable - 11 connection of the enclosure to the frame comprises one or more loops on one of more of the upstanding walls for receipt of a frame portion.

11. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each loop is located at or adjacent to the upper edge of the upstanding wall or walls.

12. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the portion of the frame member receivable within the loops comprises an elongate rod supportable between two other portions of the frame.

13. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 12, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of upstanding posts and the enclosures comprises a plurality of loops releasably locatable on the posts.

14. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 13, wherein the or each post is pivotally mounted.

15. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises two elongate substantially parallel lateral frame members and two elongate substantially parallel transverse frame members connectible between the lateral frame members.

16. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the wheels are connected to an axle.

17. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 16, wherein the axle forms one of the releasably interconneetable frame sections.

18. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the releasably interconnectible frame sections comprises a pivotally -12mounted member.

19. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the pivotally mounted member is pivotable from a stowed position to an upstanding operative position.

20. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pivotally mounted member comprises a support post.

21. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the pivotally mounted member is located at or adjacent to one end of one of the elongate frame members.

22. A vehicle trailer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a container for holding the dismantled trailer components.

23. A vehicle trailer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the container comprises a flexible container.

24. A vehicle container substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.