BACKGROUND ART 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to trailer assemblies. More specifically, the invention relates to trailer assemblies that are efficiently transported using a plurality of transportation modes.

2. Description of the Related Art Typically, trailers are used to transport items to a desired location. Many times, trailers are also used as structures designed to be inhabited for a particular purpose. The environments found within these trailers can be full of equipment to facilitate a particular operation. By way of example, an environment for a trailer may be used as a classroom, an office, a conference center, a health system/counseling center, a mobile command center, and the like. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any type of function that is performed within an enclosed space may be performed within a trailer environment.

To make a trailer more versatile, a trailer may be designed to expand to a greater volume once the trailer has been moved into the desired location for the operation. The

same trailer is also collapsible into a smaller volume allowing it to be transported using the road system. Typically, a secondary volume that is smaller than a primary volume of space extends between a collapsed position and an expanded position. This allows a trailer of normal dimensions to be transported to a remote location and then expanded thereat to enhance the functionality of the trailer.

These expandable and collapsible trailers fail to contemplate multiple modes of transportation. More specifically, these trailers are designed to be transported over the road system using tractors or trucks. The trailers are not, however, designed to be transported efficiently by rail or air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A trailer assembly includes a base. A primary enclosure extends upwardly from the base and defines a primary interior space. The trailer assembly also includes an axle/suspension carriage secured to the base. The axle/suspension carriage is movable between a retracted position and a storage position for use in a mode of transporting the trailer assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention with an axle/suspension carriage in an extended position;

Figure 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention with the axle/suspension carriage in a retracted position; Figure 3 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention with a secondary enclosure in an expanded position; and Figure 4 is a front view of one embodiment of the invention with the axle/suspension carriage in the extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figures 1 through 3, a trailer assembly is generally indicated at 10.

While the trailer assembly 10 may be any general size, the trailer assembly 10 shown in the Figures is typically referred to as a"semi trailer."The trailer assembly 10 includes a king pin 12 that allows the trailer assembly 10 to be coupled to a. mode of transport, such as a truck or a tractor (neither shown), for travel along a road system or other transport surface 14.

The trailer assembly 10 defines a base 16. A primary enclosure, generally indicated at 18, extends upwardly from the base 16. The primary enclosure 18 includes a roof 20, a front wall 22, a rear wall 24, and a pair of sidewalls 26, 28 each extending between the front 22 and rear 24 walls. A plurality of D-rings or tie downs 30 are fixedly secured along the base 16 for securing a load thereto.

The primary enclosure 18 defines a primary interior space 32. It is within the primary interior space 32 that a majority of the space and the equipment stored by the trailer assembly 10 are located.

The primary enclosure 18 also includes a front interior partition 34, which along with the front wall 22 and the pair of sidewalls 26,28 defines a forward compartment 36.

The forward compartment 36 houses a forward stand assembly, generally indicated at 38 and described in greater detail below.

A computer workstation 37 is disposed adjacent the front interior partition 34 opposite the forward compartment 36. It will be appreciated that although a computer workstation 37 is shown, any of a number of items could be placed adjacent the front interior partition 34 to fulfill the particular needs of each trailer assembly owner.

In addition, the primary enclosure 18 includes a rear interior partition 40 that cooperates with the rear wall 24 and the pair of sidewalls 26,28 to define a rearward compartment 42. The rearward compartment 42 houses an axle/suspension carriage, generally indicated at 44, a generator 46, and a cable power reel 48. The generator 46 is housed behind a generator housing grill 47, which helps ventilate the trailer assembly 10.

The trailer assembly 10 also includes a secondary enclosure, generally shown at 50. The secondary enclosure 50 defines a secondary interior space 52, which is smaller than the primary interior space 32. The secondary enclosure 50 telescopes in and out of the primary interior space 32, as is known to those skilled in the art. Thus, the secondary enclosure 50 is movable between a collapsed position, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2, and an expanded position, as is shown in Figure 3. It will be appreciated that although the trailer assembly 10 is shown having two secondary enclosures 50 (one telescoping out from each of the pair of sidewalls 26,28), the trailer assembly 10 may have only one secondary enclosure telescoping out from one of the pair of sidewalls 26,28.

When the secondary enclosure 50 is in the collapsed position, the trailer assembly 10 is capable of being stored efficiently. The trailer assembly 10 is also more transportable via the road system 14 when the secondary enclosure 50 is in the collapsed position. When the secondary enclosure 50 is in the expanded position, the total amount of space within the trailer assembly 10 is increased to accommodate various mobile work environments.

The axle/suspension carriage 44 includes a carriage platform 54 having a plurality of wheels 56 rotatably secured thereto for transporting the trailer assembly 10 via the road system 14. The axle/suspension carriage 44 is shown to have two sub-axles 58,60.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although two sub-axles are shown in Figures 1 through 3, the axle/suspension carriage 44 may have any number of sub- axles.

The rearward compartment 42 includes a plurality of vertically extending track members 62 disposed along the pair of sidewalls 26,28 between the base 16 and the roof 20. The carriage platform 54 includes a plurality of bearing members 64 aligned with the plurality of vertically extending track members 62. The plurality of bearing members 64 slidingly engage the plurality of vertically extending track members 62 to provide vertical movement of the axle/suspension carriage 44 between an extended position (Figure 1) and a retracted position (Figure 2). A plurality of locking mechanisms 65 selectively retains the axle/suspension carriage 44 in the extended position.

A lifting mechanism 66 is fixedly secured to the base 16 and initiates movement of the axle/suspension carriage 44 along the plurality of vertically extending track members 62 between the extended and retracted positions. The lifting mechanism 66 is shown in the Figures as a hydraulic mechanism. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that mechanical and/or electrical systems might be incorporated as required by the capabilities of the trailer assembly 10 and the environments in which the trailer assembly 10 is going to be deployed.

When the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in the extended position, the trailer assembly 10 is in an elevated position due to the positioning of the plurality of wheels 56 substantially lower than the rearward compartment 42. The trailer assembly 10 can be coupled with a mode of transport via the king pin 12 to allow travel of the trailer assembly 10.

A stabilizing leg 68 is fixedly secured to the axle/suspension carriage 44. The stabilizing leg 68 includes an anchoring foot 69 that selectively contacts the road system 14. More particularly, the anchoring foot 69 is moved into contact with the road system 14 to assist in maintaining the trailer assembly 10 stationary when the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in the extended position.

When the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in the retracted position, the trailer assembly 10 is in a lowered position due to the fact that a portion of the axle/suspension carriage 44 is located within the rearward compartment 42. This reduces the height of the trailer assembly 10, which in turn reduces the overall volume consumed thereby. Thus, when the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in the retracted position, the trailer assembly 10

is able to fit inside or on top of various modes of transport, one example being inside of a military transport aircraft. As a result, the trailer assembly 10 may be efficiently stowed and transported via rail and/or air.

In addition, the trailer assembly 10 is movable via steel rollers or casters 70 when the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in its retracted position. A portion of the casters 70 is rotatably secured to the base 16 adjacent the rear wall 24. The rest of the casters 70 are rotatably secured to the forward stand assembly 38. Furthermore, when the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in the retracted position, the plurality of wheels 56 remains in contact with the road system 14. Thus, the plurality of wheels 56 is available to assist the casters 70 in movement of the trailer assembly 10 when the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in the retracted position.

The movement of the axle/suspension carriage 44 between its extended and retracted positions allows the trailer assembly 10 to be airlifted to a remote location and subsequently be moved away from the airport (or landing location) using the plurality of wheels 56 after they are moved to the extended position.

A rear bumper 72 is fixedly secured to the axle/suspension carriage 44. When the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in its extended position, the rear bumper 72 is in an operative position extending below the base 16 of the trailer assembly 10. When the axle/suspension carriage 44 is in its retracted position, the rear bumper 72 is located within the rearward compartment 42 so as not to interfere with stowage and transport of the trailer assembly 10 via rail and/or air.

Referring to Figure 4, the forward stand assembly 38 holds the trailer assembly 10 level when the axle/suspension carriage 44 is deployed to its extended position. The forward stand assembly 38 moves in concert with the axle/suspension carriage 44 to prevent the base 16 from moving in a non-parallel manner with respect to the road system 14 below it. The forward stand assembly 38 is designed to telescope between a stowed position, as shown in Figure 2, and a support position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

The forward stand assembly 38 is fixedly secured to the base 16 and includes a pair of support legs 76,78, each terminating at a distal end 80. One of the casters 70 is rotatably secured to the support legs 76,78 at each distal end 80 thereof. When the forward stand assembly 38 is in the support position, each of the support legs 76,78 is moved out and away from the forward compartment 36 using telescoping extensions 81, 83. The outward positioning of the support legs 76,78 supports the base 16 while simultaneously affording a truck or tractor access to the centrally located king pin 12.

More specifically, a truck or tractor is able to back up underneath the trailer assembly 10 and access the king pin 12 without interference from the forward stand assembly 38.

When the forward stand assembly 38 is in its stowed position, only the casters 70 extend below the base 16 to allow the trailer assembly 10 to be moved while in the lowered position.

The forward stand assembly 38 and the lifting mechanism 66 are operated in a coordinated manner such that each moves to their respective positions to ensure an even and parallel transition of the trailer assembly 10 between its elevated and lowered positions, Figures 1 and 2, respectively. The coordination may be done manually or electronically using a control circuit designed to coordinate this reciprocating motion.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.