AU706081B2 - A trailer for a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

2 A TRAILER FOR A VEHICLE The present invention relates to trailers for transportation of goods and in particular to a one wheeled trailer.

Many different types of trailers are known, ranging from box-type to trailers for transportation of machinery, boats, motorcycles, bicycles amongst others.

Generally these are linked to the towing vehicle by means of a tow hitch and tow bar which provides a pivotal point near the body of the car and the like. This allows the trailer to corner and turn, although these capabilities are somewhat limited. These trailers generally require two or more wheels for stability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide 15 an alternative type of trailer.

0S@**O S"According to the present invention there is provided

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a trailer for a vehicle comprising a frame with a front o. section which is adapted to be connected to a vehicle to permit the trailer to pivot in a vertical plane and a 20 support section for carrying a load, the support section being pivotable in a horizontal plane with respect to the front section, at least one wheel supporting the trailer and a tensioning means for applying a resistance to relative movement between the front section and the support section wherein the front section comprises a connection portion which is adapted to be rigidly connected to a vehicle and a pivot section which permits the support section to pivot in a vertical plane with respect to the connection portion.

30 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the front section comprises a connection portion which is adapted to be rigidly connected to a vehicle and a pivot section which permits the support section to pivot in a vertical plane with respect to the connection portion.

The front section may comprise at least one elongate member pivotally connected to the connection portion.

It is preferred that the front section comprises a pair of parallel members pivotally connected to the :50545A/700 3 coupling portion to permit pivoting in a vertical plane therebetween.

The tensioning means may comprise a spring member which interconnects the front section and support section.

Preferably the tensioning means comprises an elongate element connected at one end to the front section and at an opposite end to the tightening means.

The tightening means may comprise a linear element connected at one end to the support section and at the other end to the elongate element.

According to one embodiment the tensioning means allows adjustability in the dampening force between the front section and the support section.

15 According to one embodiment of the invention a S"pulley wheel or the like may be mounted on an axle of a wheel supporting the support section and a belt may be used to drive a compressor or other mover for affecting a useful function for example, providing cooling for the 20 contents of a box located on the support section.

It is preferred that the support section comprises a box supported on a rectangular frame.

The front section and the support section may comprise corresponding sliding surfaces for swivelling S 25 movement of the two frames.

It will be appreciated that the trailer will preferably tilt with the tilt of the vehicle to which it is connected only so that a stable condition obtains and the swivelling action ensures that the wheel or wheels 30 follow the curvature of a road during cornering.

In one form of the invention the connection portion comprises an elongate element which is arranged to be bolted to a tow bar plate of a motor vehicle.

It is preferred that the connection portion element comprises pivot means at either end thereof to allow parallel members of the front frame to be connected thereto.

Preferably, cheek formations are located at either 4 end of the coupling portion and include a releasable bolt extending between them in a horizontal plane.

The frame may include a pair of tubular members adapted to fit between the cheek formations and receive a pin therethrough to act as a shaft for pivoting of the frame in the vertical plane.

The pins may be secured by means of a split pin or the like fastener for quick release of the trailer.

In a preferred form of the invention, the frame also comprises two parts or sliding surfaces, the lower part comprising a substantially rectangular structure attachable to a vehicle by means of an angle iron element as described above.

The lower part preferably comprises the front 15 section and an upper part in the form of the support 0ee@0O section is preferably adapted to receive the box and is .9 .pivotally associated with the lower part by means of a :vertical bolt fastening them together, each part S. including a washer or the like to facilitate swivelling S 20 of the trailer in the horizontal plane for turning 509909 purposes.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to :the accompanying drawings in which: o 25 Figure 1 shows an isometric bottom view of a one wheel trailer according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows an isometric top view of the trailer shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a top view of part of a front section of the trailer as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a top view of a rear part of the front section of the trailer as shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows a top view of a support frame of the trailer as shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 1 and 2 a trailer 50 is shown consisting of a front section 51 and a support section 52 pivotally _connected to the rear of the front section 51.

A700 5 The front section 51 comprises a rectangular frame having a front element 10 which is adapted to be rigidly affixed to a towing motor vehicle.

At each end of the front element 10 a pair of rectangular brackets 11, 12 is provided on an upper surface thereof. A pair of tubular bars 13, 14 are adapted to be inserted between these brackets 11, 12 and are provided with holes laterally through their ends to allow for receipt of pivot pins 15, 16 respectively. The bars 13, 14 are connected together at their rear ends by a cross beam 17 to complete the rectangular construction of the front section.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3 the front element is adapted to be connected to a motor vehicle through 15 connection ports 18.

099990 °In Figure 4 the rear end of the front section 51 has .9 a horizontal plate 19 connected between tubular members 13 and 14. The metal plate 19 is connected between cross beam 17 and an inner cross beam 20 which interconnects 20 the rear end of tubular members 13 and 14. A vertical 99.99.

pivot pin 21 is located through the centre of the plate 19 and connects a frame extension 22 of the support section 52 to the front section 51. The extension 22 consists of parallel rectangular beams 23, 24 connected 25 at their outer ends by cross beams 25, 26 which align with cross beams 20, 19 of the front section when the 99 front section and support section are aligned in S parallel.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the front section 30 swivels between the frame extension 22 of the support section 52 so that the respective frame sections can freely slide with respect to each other.

The support section 52 consists of a main rectangular frame 27 with a box 28 located thereon.

Below the support section 52 a single wheel 53 is located supported on a single axle element 54.

On the underside of the front section 51 and the support section 52 a torsion spring 55 in the form of an 6 elongate torsion bar extends between a support bracket 56 connected to the underside of front section 51 to a chain 57 extending downwardly from the front of the main frame section 27. The torsion spring 55 terminates in a circular loop 60 and includes therein a bush of resilient rubber having a hole extending therethrough for receiving a pin 61 for securing the spring to the bracket 56. The provision of the bush reduces the strain which can be placed on the coupling between the angle iron (front element 10) and the frame during cornering.

The lower end of the spring 55 can be connected at different points on chain 57 to vary the amount of tension between the front section 51 and the support section 52.

15 In use, the trailer is connected to a vehicle and @00000 when the vehicle and trailer are in motion the trailer is 00 .able to pivot both in a horizontal and vertical plane Swith respect to the vehicle. The degree of swivelling between the front section and support section of the trailer can be adjusted by altering the connection S0 between the torsion spring 55 and chain 57.

Alternatively, the length of chain can be changed so as to change the bend in the torsion spring S-0. *Alternative embodiments to the invention described o 25 above are encompassed by the present invention.

Accordingly, it is possible for the front section to be located above the rectangular extension of the support 0 section and an alternative dampening arrangement can be provided between the front section and the support 30 section.

00 7 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A trailer for a vehicle comprising a frame with a front section which is adapted to be connected to a vehicle to permit the trailer to pivot in a vertical plane and a support section for carrying a load and pivotable in a horizontal plane with respect to the front section, at least one wheel supporting the trailer and a tensioning means for applying a resistance to relative movement between the front and support sections wherein the front section comprises a connection portion which is adapted to be rigidly connected to a vehicle and a pivot section which permits the support section to pivot in a vertical plane with respect to the connection portion.

2 A trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the 15 front section comprises at least one elongate member pivotally connected to the connection portion.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the front section comprises a pair of parallel members pivotally connected to the connection portion to permit 20 pivoting in a vertical plane therebetween.

4. A trailer for a vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tensioning means comprises a spring member which interconnects the front section and support section.

5. A trailer for a vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the spring member is an elongate element connected at one end to the front section and at an opposite end to a tightening means.

6. A trailer as claimed in claim 5 wherein the tightening means comprises a linear element connected at one end to the support section and at the other to the elongate element.

7. A trailer as claimed in claim 6 wherein the linear element comprises a chain.

8. A trailer as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the elongate element comprises a torsion bar.

9. A trailer as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the elongate element may be connected to a different location

Claims (5)

11. A trailer as claimed in claim 8 wherein the torsion bar is connected to the front section through a bracket assembly having a resilient bush.

12. A trailer as claimed in claim 11 wherein the elongate element comprises a curved torsion spring.

13. A trailer as claimed in claim 12 wherein the front section comprises a rectangular frame with a vertical pivot pin for pivotally connecting the front section to the support section.

14. A trailer as claimed in claim 13 wherein the linear element is located behind the pivot connection between the front and support sections.

15. A trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 4th day of February 1999 CORNELIUS JOHANNES ANNANDALE By his Patent Attorney GRIFFITH HACK 00 0 60 O° 0 e 0 r S:50545A/700 ABSTRACT A trailer for a vehicle comprising a frame with a front section which is adapted to be connected to a vehicle to permit the trailer to pivot in a vertical plane and a support section for carrying a load and pivotable in a horizontal plane with respect to the front section, at least one wheel supporting the trailer and a tensioning means for applying a resistance to relative movement between the front and support sections. 0 0* *0 0 *o 0 S S:50545A/700