Utility trailer

• US 4,078,821 A
• Filed: 02/02/1976
• Issued: 03/14/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence P. Kitterman
• Original Assignee: Lawrence P. Kitterman
• Inventors: Kitterman, Lawrence P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Forman, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/654,552
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 280/78, 280/292, 280/402, 280/460 R, 280/490 R, 280/179 R, 280/179 A, 280/179 B, 280/401, 280/106 T, 224/29 R, 224/42.45 R, 224/42.03 B, 296/35 A, 214/450, D12/101, D12/158, 403/118, 403/343, 403/41, 403/45, 403/46
• US Class Current: 280/460.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/07 for carrying road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/067 single wheeled (rigid or semi-rigid couping)
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/293 having operating mechanism

Abstract

A utility trailer for towing behind a vehicle, for uses such as carrying a motorcycle. The frame is rectangular and comprised of tubular members, with longitudinal channels on top of the tubular members for receiving motorcycle wheels. A detachable castor wheel supports the frame and is connected to it by means of leaf springs attached to the wheel on opposite sides. Two hitches for connecting the trailer to a vehicle are spaced apart on the forward end of the frame. Each hitch has two tabs, one connected to the vehicle and one to the frame that are coupled together by a pin. The hitch portion that is connected to the frame is L-shaped so that it can be inverted to change the height for different vehicle sizes. The mounting system for securing motorcycles includes a pair of telescoping tubes that are threaded together so that their combined length may be varied. The tubes have eyes attached to opposite ends with self-aligning bearings for insertion over pins that are connected to the motorcycle and to the frame.

Claims

1. In a utility trailer of the type having a frame, a castor wheel assembly attached to the rear of the frame for supporting the trailer while being towed, and a pair of hitch means mounted to the forward end of the frame for connection to a vehicle, an improved castor wheel assembly comprising:

a wheel journalled on an axle;

a pair of leaf springs, spaced apart with the wheel inserted therebetween, each spring perpendicular to and connected at its lower end to the axle;

a cross member connecting the upper ends of the springs together;

a shaft rigidly connected to the cross member and extending upwardly into a receptacle in the frame;

a flange encircling the shaft and bearing against the rearward lateral member; and

a pin carried by the frame transverse to the shaft and below the flange for retaining the castor wheel to the frame.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cross member is a tube.

3. In a trailer for carrying motorcycles of the type having a frame, a channel member mounted to the frame for placing the wheels of the motorcycle within, an improved mounting means for securing the motorcycle in an upright position to the frame, comprising:

a pair of pin means, one fastened to the motorcycle and one fastened to the frame of the trailer;

a pair of tubes telescoping within each other and engaged together by a threaded bolt carried concentrically within the tubes so that the over-all length varies as one tube is rotated with respect to the other;

a pair of eyes, each mounted rigidly to the outer end of each tube, each eye containing self-aligning bearings for insertion over one of the pin means;

the tubes and eyes extending between the frame of the trailer and the motorcycle; and

strap means, attached to the frame, for releasably securing the wheels of the motorcycle to the channel members.

4. A utility trailer comprising:

a pair of longitudinal tubular members spaced apart;

forward and rearward lateral tubular members connecting the longitudinal tubular members together at each end to define a rectangular frame;

a pair of first channel members, one member mounted on each longitudinal tubular member with its length parallel with the longitudinal member;

the channel of each first channel member facing upward and being sufficiently wide to receive a motorcycle tire;

a castor wheel assembly mounted to the rearward lateral tubular member intermediate the longitudinal tubular members;

a pair of hitch means, each attached to the forward end of the frame on opposite sides for releasably connecting the trailer to a vehicle;

mounting means for releasably securing a motorcycle to the trailer in an upright position; and

a pair of second channel members for providing wheel stops;

each second channel member pivotally connected at one end to and received within one of the first channel members adjacent the forward end of the trailer;

each second channel member being flush with the top of the sides of the first channel member while in retracted position.

5. A utility trailer comprising:

a pair of longitudinal tubular members spaced apart;

forward and rearward lateral tubular members connecting the longitudinal tubular member together at each end to define a rectangular frame;

a pair of first channel members, one member mounted on each longitudinal tubular members with its length parallel with the longitudinal member;

the channel of each first channel member facing upward and being sufficiently wide to receive a motorcycle tire;

a pair of hitch means, each attached to the forward end of the the frame on opposite sides for releasably connecting the trailer to a vehicle;

mounting means for releasably securing a motorcycle to the trailer in an upright position;

a castor wheel assembly mounted to the rearward lateral tubular member intermediate the longitudinal tubular members, said castor wheel assembly comprising;

a wheel journalled on an axle;

a pair of leaf springs, spaced apart, with the wheel inserted therebetween, each spring perpendicular to and connected at its lower end to the axle;

a cross member connecting the upper ends of the springs together;

a shaft rigidly connected to the cross member perpendicular to it and adapted to extend into a receptacle in the rearward lateral member;

a first flange encircling the shaft and bearing against the rearward lateral member;

a second flange depending downward from the rearward lateral member with an aperture adapted to be aligned directly below the first flange; and

a retaining pin adapted for insertion within the aperture for releasably retaining the castor wheel to the rearward lateral member.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the cross member is a tube.

7. A utility trailer comprising:

a pair of longitudinal tubular members spaced apart;

forward and rearward lateral tubular members connecting the longitudinal tubular members together at each end to define a rectangular frame;

a pair of first channel members, one member mounted on each longitudinal tubular member with its length parallel with the longitudinal member;

the channel of each first channel member facing upward and being sufficiently wide to receive a motorcycle tire;

a castor wheel assembly mounted to the rearward lateral tubular member intermediate the longitudinal tubular members;

mounting means for releasably securing a motorcycle to the trailer in an upright position; and

a pair of hitch means, each attached to the forward end of the frame on opposite sides for releasably connecting the trailer to a vehicle, comprising;

a first bracket mounted to the forward end of the frame;

a second bracket having a generally L-shaped configuration, with a first coupling member defining one leg of the L and the other leg of the L having a plurality of apertures for releasably coupling the second bracket to the first bracket;

the apertures being spaced so that the second bracket may be selectively coupled to the first bracket with the first coupling member in an upper position and in a lower position for varying the height of the hitch for different vehicles;

a second coupling member mounted to the vehicle for engagement with the first coupling member;

the first and second coupling members having apertures therethrough;

pin means for insertion through the apertures in the first and second coupling members when the coupling members are aligned; and

at least one of the first and second coupling members having a notch located on an edge for bearing against the pin means when the pin means is inserted through the aperture of the opposite coupling member prior to coupling the members together, to enable one side of the trailer to be coupled to the vehicle while the other side is held in approximate alignment by the notch.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7

wherein the second coupling member is a single tab, and the first coupling member is a pair of tabs spaced apart, defining a slot for the reception of the second coupling member;

and

wherein each tab of the first coupling member has a notch on its upper edge and a notch on its lower edge adjacent the aperture in the tab, for bearing against the pin means when the pin means is inserted through the tab of the second coupling member prior to coupling the members together.

9. A utility trailer comprising:

a pair of longitudinal tubular members spaced apart;

forward and rearward lateral tubular members connecting the longitudinal tubular members together at each end to define a rectangular frame;

a pair of first channel members, one member mounted on each longitudinal tubular member with its length parallel with the longitudinal member;

the channel of each first channel member facing upward and being sufficiently wide to receive a motorcycle tire;

a castor wheel assembly mounted to the rearward lateral tubular member intermediate the longitudinal tubular members;

a pair of hitch menas, each attached to the forward end of the frame on opposite sides for releasably connecting the trailer to a vehicle; and

mounting means for releasably securing a motorcycle to the trailer in an upright position, comprising;

a pair of pin means, one fastened to the motorcycle and one fastened to the frame of the trailer;

a pair of tubes telescoping within each other and engaged together by a threaded bolt carried concentrically within the tubes so that the overall length varies as one tube is rotated with respect to the other;

a pair of eyes, each mounted rigidly to the outer end of each tube, each eye containing self-aligning bearings for insertion over one of the pin means;

the tubes and eyes extending between the frame of the trailer and the motorcycle; and

strap means, attached to the frame, for releasably securing the wheels of the motorcycle to the channel members.

10. In a utility trailer of the type having a frame, a castor wheel assembly attached to the rear of the frame for supporting the trailer while being towed, and a pair of hitch means mounted to the forward end of the frame adjacent its sides for connection to a vehicle, an improved hitch means comprising:

a first bracket mounted to the forward end of the frame;

a second bracket having a generally L-shaped configuration, with a first coupling member defining one leg of the L and the other leg of the L having a plurality of apertures for releasably coupling the second bracket to the first bracket;

the apertures being spaced so that the second bracket may be selectively coupled to the first bracket with the first coupling member in an upper position and in a lower position for varying the height of the hitch for different vehicles;

a second coupling member mounted to the vehicle for engagement with the first coupling member;

at least one of the first and second coupling members having a notch located on an edge for bearing against the pin means when the pin means is inserted through the aperture of the opposite coupling member prior to coupling the members together, to enable one side of the trailer to be coupled to the vehicle while the other side is held in approximate alignment by the notch.

11. In a utility trailer of the type having a frame, a castor wheel assembly attached to the rear of the frame for supporting the trailer while being towed, and a pair of hitch means mounted to the forward end of the frame adjacent its sides for connection to a vehicle, an improved hitch means comprising:

a first bracket mounted to the forward end of the frame;

a second bracket having a generally L shaped configuration, with a first coupling member defining one leg of the L and the other leg of the L having a plurality of apertures for releasably coupling the second bracket to the first bracket;

the apertures being spaced so that the second bracket may be selectively coupled to the first bracket with the first coupling member in an upper position and in a lower position for varying the height of the hitch for different vehicles;

a second coupling member mounted to the vehicle for engagement with the first coupling member;

the first and second coupling members having apertures there through;

pin means for insertion through the apertures in the first and second coupling members when the coupling members are aligned;

the second coupling member being a single tab, and the first coupling member being a pair of tabs spaced apart, defining a slot for the reception of the second coupling member; and

each tab of the first coupling member having a notch on its upper edge and a notch on its lower edge adjacent the aperture in the tab, for bearing against the pin means when the pin is inserted through the tab of the second coupling member prior to coupling the members together.