Vehicle mobile service trailer

• US 6,173,941 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Johnston
• Original Assignee: Paul Johnston
• Inventors: Johnston, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, LEE D
• Application Number:
  US09/571,510
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 254/89.H, 254/88, 254/90, 254/420, 254/216, 254/221, 187/216, 187/221
• US Class Current: 254/89.00H
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/14 the object being a workshop for servicing, for maintenance, or for carrying workmen during work lifting devices for movable platforms or cabins for workmen B66F11/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/12 of telescopic type
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/243 Ramps

Abstract

A mobile vehicle service trailer provides a portable maintenance facility for motor vehicles (passenger cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, etc.) without need to transport the vehicle to a maintenance facility at a fixed location. The present trailer has rearwardly disposed wheels and laterally extendible ramps, enabling the trailer to be positioned laterally at the front or rear of the vehicle needing service and the vehicle to be positioned laterally across the trailer. This configuration provides for ease of loading and unloading the vehicle to and from the trailer in cramped parking situations, such as parking lots and garages, etc. The rear wheels of the trailer are pivotally mounted, allowing the trailer body to be lowered to the underlying surface for placement of a vehicle thereon. A specially formed trailer hitch may be provided for the towing vehicle, allowing the hitch ball to be lowered to the underlying surface to lower the trailer tongue without disconnecting the trailer from the towing vehicle. Corner jacks are provided for raising and lowering the trailer body as desired. A forward and a rearward hydraulically powered lift hoist are provided on the trailer body, for raising the vehicle for access to the underside thereof for maintenance operations (oil changes, etc.). The present trailer also includes a hydraulic power supply for operating the corner jacks, vehicle hoists, and for raising and lowering the ramps as desired.

Claims

1. A vehicle mobile service trailer for towing behind a towing vehicle to a desired site and for accessing and servicing the underside of a vehicle placed thereon, comprising:

a low, generally flat platform having a forward end, a rearward end, and a left and a right side;

said platform further including a laterally open and unbroken vehicle maintenance area extending between said forward end and said rearward end thereof, for removably placing a vehicle thereon for maintenance of the vehicle;

road wheels extending rearwardly from said rearward end of said platform;

hitch means extending forwardly from said forward end of said platform;

means for laterally loading and unloading the vehicle from said left and said right side of said platform, and for placing the vehicle laterally across said platform for maintenance of the vehicle; and

vehicle lift means for raising the vehicle for maintenance access to the underside thereof.

2. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle lift means comprises:

a first hydraulically actuated chain hoist disposed at said forward end of said platform; and

a second hydraulically actuated chain hoist disposed at said rearward end of said platform.

3. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 1, with said platform including:

left and right forward corners;

a wheel carriage frame extending from said rearward end of said platform;

said wheel carriage frame defining left and right rearward corners; and

each of said corners including a corner jack for raising and lowering said platform.

4. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 3, wherein each said corner jack is hydraulically actuated.

5. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 1, wherein said road wheels are pivotally attached to said platform for selectively raising and lowering said platform to the underlying surface as desired.

6. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 5, with said platform including:

a wheel carriage frame extending from said rearward end of said platform;

said wheel carriage frame including left and right longitudinal arms and a rearwardly disposed crossmember extending therebetween;

a road wheel support frame carrying said road wheels and extending forwardly from said rearward crossmember of said wheel carriage frame;

said road wheel support frame being pivotally mounted to said rearward crossmember and disposed between said left and right longitudinal arms of said wheel carriage frame and between said rearward crossmember and said rearward end of said platform; and

locking means disposed upon said rearward end of said platform and communicating with said road wheel support frame, for selectively locking said road wheel support frame with said road wheels lowered for towing and transport.

7. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 1, wherein said hitch means folds for selectively raising and lowering said forward end of said platform without disconnecting said hitch means from said platform or from the towing vehicle.

8. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 7, wherein said hitch means comprises:

a tongue structure extending forwardly from said platform;

said tongue structure having a forward end;

first hitch connection means extending from said forward end of said tongue structure;

a rigid tow bar extending rearwardly from the towing vehicle;

said rigid tow bar having an open bottom with an arcuately movable tow bar installed therein;

said arcuately movable tow bar having a forward end pivotally installed in said rigid tow bar, and a rearward end having second hitch connection means disposed thereon; and

said first hitch connection means being removably connected to said second hitch connection means of said arcuately movable tow bar, for selectively raising and lowering said platform without disconnecting said first and said second hitch connection means from one another.

9. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 1, including:

a left side pair of vehicle loading and unloading ramps retractably extending from said left side of said platform, and;

a right side pair of vehicle loading and unloading ramps retractably extending from said right side of said platform.

10. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 9, wherein:

said ramps of said left side pair are connected by a common left side torque member, and said ramps of said right side pair are connected by a common right side torque member;

each said torque member being pivotally attached respectively to said left side and to said right side of said platform; and

each said torque member communicating respectively with a left side and a right side actuating member for selectively raising and lowering said ramps as desired.

11. A vehicle mobile service trailer for accessing and servicing the underside of a vehicle placed thereon, comprising:

a low, generally flat platform having a forward end, a rearward end, and a left and a right side;

said platform further having a laterally open and unbroken vehicle maintenance area extending between said forward end and said rearward end thereof, for removably placing a vehicle thereon for maintenance of the vehicle;

means for laterally loading and unloading the vehicle from said left and said right side of said platform, and for placing the vehicle laterally across said platform for maintenance of the vehicle; and

a first vehicle lift means disposed at said forward end of said platform and a second vehicle lift means disposed at said rearward end of said platform, for raising the vehicle for maintenance access to the underside thereof.

12. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 11, wherein said first and said vehicle lift means each comprise a hydraulically actuated chain hoist.

13. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 11, with said platform including:

left and right forward corners;

a wheel carriage frame extending from said rearward end of said platform;

said wheel carriage frame defining left and right rearward corners; and

each of said corners including a corner jack for raising and lowering said platform.

14. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 13, wherein each said corner jack is hydraulically actuated.

15. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 11, including road wheels pivotally attached to said platform for selectively raising and lowering said platform to the underlying surface as desired.

16. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 15, with said platform including:

a wheel carriage frame extending from said rearward end of said platform;

said wheel carriage frame including left and right longitudinal arms and a rearwardly disposed crossmember extending therebetween;

a road wheel support frame carrying said road wheels and extending forwardly from said rearward crossmember of said wheel carriage frame;

said road wheel support frame being pivotally mounted to said rearward crossmember and disposed between said left and right longitudinal arms of said wheel carriage frame and between said rearward crossmember and said rearward end of said platform; and

locking means disposed upon said rearward end of said platform and communicating with said road wheel support frame, for selectively locking said road wheel support frame with said road wheels lowered for towing and transport.

17. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 11, including folding hitch means for selectively raising and lowering said forward end of said platform without disconnecting said hitch means from said platform or from the towing vehicle.

18. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 17, wherein said hitch means comprises:

a tongue structure extending forwardly from said platform;

said tongue structure having a forward end;

first hitch connection means extending from said forward end of said tongue structure;

a rigid tow bar extending rearwardly from the towing vehicle;

said rigid tow bar having an open bottom with an arcuately movable tow bar installed therein;

said arcuately movable tow bar having a forward end pivotally installed in said rigid tow bar, and a rearward end having second hitch connection means disposed thereon; and

said first hitch connection means being removably connected to said second hitch connection means of said arcuately movable tow bar, for selectively raising and lowering said platform without disconnecting said first and said second hitch connection means from one another.

19. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 11, including:

a left side pair of vehicle loading and unloading ramps retractably extending from said left side of said platform, and;

a right side pair of vehicle loading and unloading ramps retractably extending from said right side of said platform.

20. The vehicle mobile service trailer according to claim 19, wherein:

said ramps of said left side pair are connected by a common left side torque member, and said ramps of said right side pair are connected by a common right side torque member;

each said torque member being pivotally attached respectively to said left side and to said right side of said platform; and

each said torque member communicating respectively with a left side and a right side actuating member for selectively raising and lowering said ramps as desired.