초록 ▼

A foldable trailer that is attachable to a vehicle, particularly an ATV, for hauling a load. The trailer includes a hitch assembly for attachment to the vehicle, a first bed rotatably attached to the hitch assembly, and a second bed rotatably attached to the first bed by a unique hinge. The trailer

A foldable trailer that is attachable to a vehicle, particularly an ATV, for hauling a load. The trailer includes a hitch assembly for attachment to the vehicle, a first bed rotatably attached to the hitch assembly, and a second bed rotatably attached to the first bed by a unique hinge. The trailer may be tightly folded to, and carried by, the ATV so that the trailer can be brought through otherwise inaccessible terrain. Moreover, when in the folded position, a rear rail of the trailer may be opened to carry articles. When the trailer is deployed, the first bed is coplanar with the second bed to provide an enlarged area for holding articles. The hinge, joining the first bed to the second bed, allows the trailer to support a significant load.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A trailer that is capable of being towed by a vehicle, said trailer comprising: a first bed having a top surface, a bottom surface, a fore member, a pair of spaced apart side members attached to said fore member, an intermediate member disposed between said side members and a

What is claimed is: 1. A trailer that is capable of being towed by a vehicle, said trailer comprising: a first bed having a top surface, a bottom surface, a fore member, a pair of spaced apart side members attached to said fore member, an intermediate member disposed between said side members and attached to said fore member, and a rear member attached to said side members and to said intermediate member; a hitch, having a top surface and a bottom surface, rotatably attached to said first bed, wherein said hitch is adapted for being coupled to the vehicle and wherein a first axis of rotation is defined between said hitch and said first bed; a second bed, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a fore beam a pair of spaced apart side beams, an intermediate beam disposed between said side beams and attached to said fore beam, and a rear beam attached to said side beams and to said intermediate beam, wherein said second bed is rotatably attached to said first bed and wherein a second axis of rotation is defined between said first bed and said second bed; wherein said first bed is adapted to rotate about the first axis such that an angle between the first bed top surface and the hitch top surface is smaller when said trailer is folded than when said trailer is in a deployed position; wherein said second bed is adapted to rotate about the second axis such that an angle between the first bed bottom surface and the second bed bottom surface is smaller when said trailer is folded than when said trailer is in the deployed position; and wherein said trailer may be supported above the ground by the vehicle while being coupled to the vehicle. 2. The trailer according to claim 1 further including a first rail pivotably connected to said second bed at a third axis of rotation, wherein said first rail may be rotated about the third axis from a first position that is at said second bed top surface to a second position that is generally perpendicular to said second bed top surface while said trailer is folded and coupled to the vehicle. 3. The trailer according to claim 2 further including a rigid first floor attached to said first bed and a rigid second floor attached to said second bed. 4. The trailer according to claim 1 further including a support attached to said trailer where an end of said support is placed against the ground and said support is placed in compression and offsets at least a portion of the weight of said trailer while said trailer is being lifted into the folded position. 5. The trailer according to claim 1 wherein said fore beam abuts and reacts against said rear member when said trailer is in the deployed position in order to provide load bearing for said trailer. 6. The trailer according to claim 5 wherein said fore beam abuts said side members when said trailer is in the deployed position. 7. The trailer according to claim 6 wherein said fore beam abuts said intermediate member when said trailer is in the deployed position. 8. The trailer according to claim 7 wherein said side members are pivotally attached to said side beams. 9. The trailer according to claim 8 wherein said intermediate member is pivotally attached to said intermediate beam. 10. A trailer that is capable of being towed by a vehicle, said trailer comprising: a first bed having a top surface, a bottom surface, a fore member, a pair of spaced apart side members attached to said fore member, and a rear member attached to said side members; a hitch, having a top surface and a bottom surface, rotatably attached to said first bed, wherein said hitch is adapted for being coupled to the vehicle and wherein a first axis of rotation is defined between said hitch and said first bed; a second bed, having a top surface, and a bottom surface, a fore beam, a pair of spaced apart side beams, and a rear beam attached to said side beams, wherein said second bed is rotatably attached to said first bed and wherein a second axis of rotation is defined between said first bed and said second bed; wherein said first bed is adapted to rotate about the first axis such that an angle between the first bed top surface and the hitch top surface is smaller when said trailer is folded than when said trailer is in a deployed position; wherein said second bed is adapted to rotate about the second axis such that an angle between the first bed bottom surface and the second bed bottom surface is smaller when said trailer is folded than when said trailer is in the deployed position; and wherein said trailer may be supported above the ground by the vehicle while being coupled to the vehicle. 11. The trailer according to claim 10 further including a first rail pivotably connected to said second bed at a third axis of rotation, wherein said first rail may be rotated about the third axis from a first position that is at said second bed top surface to a second position that is generally perpendicular to said second bed top surface while said trailer is folded and coupled to the vehicle. 12. The trailer according to claim 11 further including a rigid first floor attached to said first bed and a rigid second floor attached to said second bed. 13. The trailer according to claim 10 further including a support attached to said trailer where an end of said support is placed against the ground and said support is placed in compression and offsets at least a portion of the weight of said trailer while said trailer is being lifted into the folded position. 14. The trailer according to claim 10 wherein said fore beam abuts and reacts against said rear member when said trailer is in the deployed position in order to provide load bearing for said trailer. 15. The trailer according to claim 14 wherein said fore beam abuts said side members when said trailer is in the deployed position. 16. The trailer according to claim 15 wherein said side members are pivotally attached to said side beams.