Field

This invention relates to trailers, particularly but not exclusively to trailers that are reconfigurable to provide for a variety of different uses. In an illustrative embodiment the apparatus comprises a trailer that has a plurality of different operating configurations, wherein in a first of said configurations the apparatus is suitable for use as a support for one type of vehicle (such as a motorbike or jet ski) and in a second of said configurations the apparatus is suitable for use as a support for another type of vehicle (such as a boat or a car) or as a support for a storage box.

Background

Motor racing is a growing sport in the United Kingdom, and many persons who partake in the sport have their own vehicle that they take to circuits around the country for organised races. In some instances these vehicles are not road-legal (i.e. they do not comply with the normal legal regulations (for example as to noise output) for conventional vehicles, and as such it is necessary for the vehicles to be transported by trailer to the circuit.

Such trailers tend to be specifically designed for towing a particular type of vehicle. For example, a trailer for transporting sports bikes cannot be used for anything other than the transport of motorcycles. Thus a person who partakes in outdoor water sports and motorcycle racing will often have no option but to purchase one trailer for their sports bike and another for their boat. Since trailers are not inexpensive articles, it is a considerable financial burden to have to purchase multiple trailers.

There is also the issue that such trailers are usually quite bulky articles, and as such storage can be a problem - particularly in circumstances where an individual owns multiple trailers.

Another problem is that such trailers cannot be used for any other purpose than the transport of the vehicles that they were designed to support, and as such could not be used to support a storage compartment (such as that of a conventional box trailer) for the transport of goods or rubbish from one location to another. It is the case, therefore, that a user who wishes to transport goods as well as vehicles typically has to purchase a dedicated trailer for that purpose - thereby compounding the cost and storage problems mentioned above.

Another instance where trailers are useful is in the recovery of vehicles after a breakdown or an accident. In the United Kingdom, several companies offer breakdown services that can be invoked in the event that a member of the service is travelling in a vehicle that suffers a mechanical fault or is involved in an accident. In the event of a breakdown it is usual for repair personnel to be dispatched to deal with the incident, and if repair of the vehicle cannot be effected at the roadside the person sent to deal with the incident can sometimes transport the vehicle to a location of the owner's choosing. In most instances, however, the person sent to deal with the incident typically has to call another vehicle to the scene to transport the vehicle, and as the vehicles they can call upon can typically only transport one type of vehicle, there is often a considerable delay before the right type of vehicle can attend the scene.

The present invention has been devised with the foregoing problems in mind.

Summary

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, there is provided a trailer comprising four frame elements that are coupled together to form a frame, a first and a second element of said frame each being suitable for coupling to a respective wheel assembly, and a third of said elements being moveable relative to a fourth, said frame being configured so that a movement of said third frame element relative to said fourth effects a change in distance between said first and second elements.

In one arrangement, movement of said third element towards said fourth causes the distance between said first and second elements to increase.

Preferably, said third frame element is moveable relative to said beam. For example, said third frame element may be mounted on said beam for movement relative thereto. In a preferred arrangement, said third element can be slid back and forth along said beam.

The beam may be coupled at a first end to said fourth element.

The frame may further comprise means for coupling the trailer to a vehicle.

In one implementation, said frame is generally a parallelogram, said frame elements each being located at a respective apex of said parallelogram.

In a preferred arrangement said frame comprises a plurality of arms that couple adjacent elements together.

Other features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 to 4 are a perspective view of a trailer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in different configurations;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the trailer shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an underneath plan view of the trailer shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part of the trailer shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the underneath of the part shown in Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section along the line A— A in Fig. 5 showing this part of the trailer in an unlocked state;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section along the line A— A in Fig. 5 showing this part of a trailer in a locked state;

Fig. 1 1 is a perspective view of another part of the trailer; and

Fig. 12 is an elevation of a part of a locking mechanism for the part depicted in

Fig. 1 1 .

Detailed Description

Illustrative arrangements embodying the teachings of the invention will now be described with particular reference to the transport of various different vehicles in the different configurations. It will be appreciated, however, that this is merely illustrative of the teachings of the present invention and that other vehicles or other trailer attachments (such as a storage box) may be transported in these configurations. Accordingly, the following detailed description should be read as merely being illustrative of the teachings of the invention.

Referring now to Figs 1 to 4, there are shown perspective views of the trailer 1 in various configurations. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the trailer 1 comprises four frame elements 3, 5, 7 & 9 that are coupled together (in a manner that will later be described) to form a frame 1 1. The first and second frame elements 3, 5 are, in this particular arrangement, each coupled to a wheel assembly 13, but it will be appreciated that in some applications it might be beneficial to replace the wheel assemblies with skis or other devices that enable the trailer to be drawn behind a vehicle.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 , the trailer is shown in its storage configuration. In this configuration the trailer has been collapsed (by moving the third frame element 7 away from the fourth frame element 9 in the direction indicated by the arrow) to reduce its footprint, in particular by reducing the track (i.e. the spacing of, in this instance, the wheel assemblies) of the trailer, thereby facilitating storage or carriage of the trailer. In the configuration shown in Fig. 2, the third frame element 7 has been moved towards the fourth frame element 9 (in the direction indicated by the arrow), thereby causing the first and second frame elements 3, 5 to move apart and widen the track of the trailer. In this configuration the trailer is particularly suitable for supporting a bicycle, a motorbike or a jetski (either directly on the trailer or on a frame coupled to the trailer in a manner to be later described).

In the configuration shown in Fig. 3, the third frame element 7 has been moved further towards the fourth frame element 9, thereby causing the first and second frame elements to move further apart to further widen the track of the trailer. In this configuration the trailer is particularly suitable for supporting a storage compartment (the like of which is known in the art) so that the trailer and storage compartment resemble a so-called box trailer.

In the configuration shown in Fig. 4, the third frame element 7 has been moved even further towards the fourth frame element 9, thereby causing the first and second frame elements to move even further apart to further widen the track of the trailer. In this configuration the trailer is particularly suited for the transport of a larger storage compartment, a quad bike, two motorcycles or bicycles, or a boat (either directly on the trailer or on a frame coupled to the trailer).

As will be appreciated from Fig. 4, it is conceivable that further operating configurations could be provided by enabling the third frame element 7 to be moved even closer to the fourth frame element 9. In a configuration with the third frame element generally adjacent the fourth frame element, the trailer is particularly well suited for supporting the front wheels of a vehicle such as a car, either directly on the trailer or on a suitable frame attached to the trailer.

In the particular arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the trailer is configured to have one storage configuration and three operating configurations, and first, second and third frame elements of the trailer are configured (in a manner that will later be described) to enable the trailer to be locked in a desired configuration. It will be appreciated, as foreshadowed above, that further operating configurations may be provided if desired. It may also be the case that it is not necessary to lock all three frame elements, and that the trailer may be adequately locked in a desired configuration by providing fewer than three locking mechanisms.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the respective frame elements are coupled together by arms 15, in this instance by an upper 15(i) and a lower 15(ii) arm. Although two arms are preferred as a single arm would need to be substantially larger, and hence heavier, it will be appreciated that a single arm or indeed that more than two arms may be provided if desired.

In the preferred arrangement the arms are all of equal lengths so that the frame forms a parallelogram. This is not, however, an essential feature of the invention, and the arms coupling the fourth element 9 to the first and second elements 3, 5 could be longer or shorter than those coupling the third element 7 to the first and second elements 3, 5.

The frame elements, as will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, are coupled to arms in such a way that the arms can pivot about the frame elements to thereby allow the frame elements to move relative to one another. This may be accomplished by any one of a variety of different mechanisms each of which is known to persons skilled in the art, but in a preferred implementation the arms are coupled to the frame elements by means of pivot pins (one pivot pin 20 being visible in Fig. 8) of which that extend through the frame element and the arms to thereby enable the arms to pivot relative to the frame element. Further details of the frame elements and the manner in which they couple to the arms 15 are later provided with reference to Fig. 9.

The fourth element 9 is coupled to a beam 21 that bisects the parallelogram formed by the frame, and the third element 7 includes a through hole 22 (Fig. 1 1 ) that is configured to allow the beam 21 to extend therethrough. The arrangement is such that the third frame element can slide up and down the beam (when the locking mechanism has been unlocked) to vary the distance between the third and fourth frame elements 7, 9, and by virtue of the connecting arms 15 the distance between the first and second frame elements 1 , 3. As shown in Fig. 1 1 , the through hole may be lined with a low- friction material (such as a low friction plastics material) to facilitate sliding of the third element 7 up and down the beam 21.

As shown in Fig. 5, the beam 21 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 23

(one of which is obscured by the third frame element 7) that interlock with a locking mechanism provided on the third frame element 7 to lock the third element in position on the beam. As will be appreciated, the number of through-holes 23 corresponds with the number of different configurations for the trailer as a whole. Further details of the locking mechanism are provided hereafter in connection with Figs. 1 1 and 12. Although it is preferred for a locking mechanism to be provided, it will be appreciated that it may not be necessary to lock the third element 7 on the beam if the first and second elements 1 , 3 are locked. Locking of the third element may also be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms that need not necessarily project into and through the beam. For example, it may be sufficient for the third element 7 to be locked to the beam 21 by a friction lock between the beam 21 and a locking element. The beam 21 includes, at an end distal from the fourth element 9, a coupling 67 that enables the trailer to be coupled to a vehicle. The beam may also be provided with a retractable support 69 that can be deployed when the trailer is not coupled to a vehicle to keep the trailer level.

The upper arms 15(i) are each provided with a coupling 17 that enables a support frame or storage container to be attached to the trailer. Any of a variety of different couplings, the like of which are known in the art, may be provided.

As shown in Fig. 5, in addition to the arms 15(i) and 15(ii) there are also provided a pair of stabilising bars 19 that extend between the third element 7 and each of the first and second elements 3, 5. The stabilising bars 19 are capable of pivoting relative to the frame elements to enable the frame to be reconfigured, and function to stiffen the frame when the frame has been locked in a selected configuration.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the stabilising bars 19 are coupled to a lower plate 25 of the third element by respective pivot pins 27, and include at an end distal from the pivot pins 27 a locking plate 29 that is pivotably coupled to the first and second elements, respectively. As shown in Fig. 8, the locking plates include a plurality of locking apertures 31 , the number of apertures corresponding to the number of through-holes 23 in the beam 21 and hence the number of different trailer configurations. In this particular arrangement the apertures in the locking plate 29 are generally circular.

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, further details of the locking mechanism 33 for each of the first and second elements 3, 5 will now be provided.

Referring to Fig. 9, the first and second elements 3, 5 comprise upper and lower plates 35, 37 that are joined by a column 39. A pin 41 extends through the column 39 and is coupled to one end of a handle 43 that includes a cam surface 45. The cam surface is configured so that a pivotal movement of the handle towards the upper plate 35 (in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9) of the element tends to draw the pin 41 out of the column 39.

The other end of the pin 41 (i.e. the end distal from the handle 43) includes a washer 47 that is sized and configured to fit into the apertures 31 in the locking plate 29. The pin 41 is sized so that the handle can only be pivoted to lie adjacent (as shown in Fig. 10) the upper plate 35 of the element when the washer 47 is aligned with an aperture 31 in the locking plate. In the preferred arrangement, when the washer is so aligned, the third element locking mechanism (described below) overlies one of the through-holes 23 in the beam 21 .

In general terms, the locking mechanism 33 comprises an overcentre mechanism that can only be operated to draw the pin 35 out of the cylinder and thereby enable the handle to lie adjacent the upper plate 35 of the element when the washer at the end of the pin 41 is registered with one of the apertures 31 in the locking plate 29. As will be appreciated, when the washer 47 is received in one of the apertures 31 in the locking plate, the locking plate (and hence the stabilising bar 19 to which the plate is attached) cannot move relative to the element - thereby locking the element in a predetermined position relative to the stabilising bar 19.

Fig. 9 shows the locking mechanism in an unlocked state where the handle is generally upright, and the washer lies below the locking plate 29. Fig. 10 shows the locking mechanism in a locked configuration, and as shown the handle 43 is adjacent the upper plate and the washer is located in an aperture in the locking plate 29. To unlock the locking mechanism one need only pull the handle in the direction indicated in Fig. 10, whereupon the washer moves out from registration with the locking plate and the element can move relative to the arms 15 and stabilising bar 19.

Also shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are the pivot pins 20 that coupled the arms 15 to the elements. In the preferred arrangement the pivot pins 20 include a threaded end portion that is configured to screw into the lower plate 37 to lock the pins in place, and an upper end that is formed as a nut to permit the pin to be tightened.

Referring now to Fig. 1 1 , the third element 7 comprises an upper plate 49 that is joined to the lower plate 25 by a column 53. The third element includes a locking mechanism 55 that comprises a locking pin 57 which is shown in Fig. 12.

The locking pin 57 includes a knurled knob section 59, a threaded barrel 61 (that engages with a complementary thread within the column 53), a conical section 63 that is configured to fit into complimentary funnel shaped inserts (not shown) located within the beam 21 in registration with the through holes 23, and a distal pin 65 that projects from the underside of the beam 21 when the third element is properly locked to the beam (and thereby provides a user of the trailer with an easy way to check that the third element is properly locked in place). In a preferred configuration, the locking pin 57 is formed (for example, machined) as a one-piece unit for strength.

Whilst none of the support structures for attachment to the trailer (which support structures will likely be configured for supporting a particular type of vehicle) have been described herein, persons skilled in the art will readily be able to construct suitable support structures. For example, in the context of a motorcycle, the support structure may comprise bars that attach to the couplings 17 and a panel attached to the bars on which the wheels of the motorcycle bear. The motorcycle may then be strapped to the trailer to keep it upright, or in a preferred arrangement adjustable stabilising bars may be provided that bear on the supporting bars at one end and on the motorcycle at the other. It will also be apparent that the configuration of each wheel assembly has not been described herein, but as such assemblies are very well known in the art it is considered that a skilled person would be able to construct a suitable wheel assembly without specific instructions.

The trailer may be provided with one or more ramps that engage with the trailer to facilitate the loading of a vehicle thereon. In a particularly preferred arrangement the ramps may be configured to couple to the trailer when not in use to facilitate storage.

The aforementioned coupling component may have any of a number of known forms. For example it could be of a conventional type that is configured to couple to a towball hook on the rear of a vehicle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that the teachings of the present invention provide a trailer that can readily be reconfigured for different uses. It will also be appreciated that the trailer can also be collapsed to facilitate storage when it is not being used.

It will be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, whilst the teachings of the present invention have been described in the context of a trailer for supporting vehicles or storage compartments, it is conceivable that the trailer could be used to support other items. For example, the trailer could be used to transport a generator, a series of solar panels (for renewably generating electricity at a location where a mains supply is not available), or indeed a communications module that could be rolled out to provide temporary wireless or mobile coverage in the event of a malfunction with the existing infrastructure.

It should also be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features herein disclosed.