초록 ▼

The present invention relates to the field of utility trailers and more specifically, to a covered utility trailer and a kit for assembling same. The covered utility trailer includes a trailer bed for supporting cargo. The trailer bed has a leading edge, an opposed trailing edge spaced apart from t

The present invention relates to the field of utility trailers and more specifically, to a covered utility trailer and a kit for assembling same. The covered utility trailer includes a trailer bed for supporting cargo. The trailer bed has a leading edge, an opposed trailing edge spaced apart from the leading edge and a pair of first and second, spaced apart, side edges joining the leading edge to the trailing edge. A pair of first and second, spaced apart, sidewalls and a leading wall are also provided. Each sidewall extends upright from a respective side edge of the trailer bed. The leading wall is mounted between the first and second sidewalls and extends upright from the leading edge of the trailer bed. A rear cargo access door assembly is disposed opposite the leading wall and between the first and second sidewalls. The rear cargo access door assembly extends upright from the trailing edge of the trailer bed. The rear cargo access door assembly includes a door frame and a pair of first and second cargo access doors hingedly mounted to the door frame in a double door arrangement. Each of the cargo access doors frame is selectively deployable in one of a swing door configuration and a ramp-forming configuration. The covered utility trailer also includes a roof assembly carried above the trailer bed. The roof assembly is supported by the leading wall and the first and second sidewalls, and is connected to the door frame. The trailer bed, the first and second sidewalls, the leading wall, the rear cargo access door assembly and the roof assembly co-operate with each other to define a box-like structure having an interior cargo storage space. A trailer transport rack assembly is also provided for carrying a plurality of kits to be shipped.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A door assembly for providing access to a cargo storage space within a vehicle, the door assembly comprising: a door frame defined by a pair of first and second, spaced apart vertically extending door jambs, and a pair of upper and lower, spaced apart, horizontally extending

What is claimed is: 1. A door assembly for providing access to a cargo storage space within a vehicle, the door assembly comprising: a door frame defined by a pair of first and second, spaced apart vertically extending door jambs, and a pair of upper and lower, spaced apart, horizontally extending door frame members extending between the first and second door jambs; and at least one door mounted within the door frame, the at least one door being defined by a bottom edge, a top edge and a pair of spaced apart, first and second side edges; at least one pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies pivotally connecting the at least one door to the door frame, the at least one pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies being operable to allow the at least one door to be selectively deployed in one of a swing door configuration and a ramp-forming configuration; when in the swing door configuration, the at least one door is pivotally connected to the first door jamb adjacent the first side edge thereof for rotation about a vertical axis and is moveable between a closed position and an open position; when in the ramp-forming configuration, the at least one door is pivotally connected to the lower door frame member adjacent the bottom edge thereof for rotation about a horizontal axis and is moveable between the closed position and a ramp-deployed position; the lower hinge assembly including: a hinge member having a generally vertically extending portion, a generally horizontally extending portion and a transition portion joining the vertically extending portion to the horizontally extending portion; at least one lower hinge bracket fixed to the first door jamb, the at least one lower hinge bracket receiving therein the vertically extending portion of the hinge member, the vertically extending portion of the hinge member being rotatable about the vertical axis when the at least one door is deployed in the swing door configuration; a generally horizontally extending tubular member carried by the at least one door below the bottom edge thereof, the tubular member having a passageway defined therein, the passageway receiving the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member therein, the tubular section being rotatable about the horizontal axis when the at least one door is deployed in the ramp-forming configuration; and at least one retaining member attached to the lower door frame member for supporting a part of the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member. 2. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper hinge assembly includes: an upper hinge bracket fixed to the first door jamb proximate the upper door frame member, a tubular hinge knuckle attached to the first side edge of the at least one door proximate to the top edge thereof, and a hinge pin housed within the hinge knuckle and rotatable relative thereto, the hinge pin being operatively engageable with the upper hinge bracket to hingedly connect the at least one door to the first door jamb. 3. The door assembly of claim 2 wherein: the hinge pin is moveable relative to the upper hinge bracket between a first position and a second position; in the first position, the hinge pin operatively engages the upper hinge bracket to thereby permit the at least one door to be deployed in the swing door configuration; in the second position, the hinge pin is operatively disengaged from the upper hinge bracket to thereby permit the at least one door to be deployed in the ramp-forming configuration. 4. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the upper hinge assembly further includes means for locking the hinge pin in the first position. 5. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the hinge pin is retractable within the hinge knuckle. 6. The door assembly of claim 5 wherein the hinge pin is spring loaded. 7. The door assembly of claim 6 wherein the hinge pin is resiliently biased toward the first position. 8. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one retaining member is substantially C-shaped and has an opening defined therein sized to permit the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member to swing clear of the at least one retaining member when the at least one door is deployed in the swing door configuration and is moved between the closed position and the open position. 9. The door assembly of claim 8 wherein: the at least one retaining member includes first and second, spaced apart retaining members; and the lower hinge assembly further includes a cylindrical member extending between, and captively retained by, the first and second retaining members, the cylindrical member having a longitudinal cutout defined therein to receive the terminal end of the horizontally extending hinge member portion, the cylindrical member being rotatable about the horizontal axis to permit rotational displacement of the cutout. 10. The door assembly of claim 9 wherein: the cylindrical member is moveable between a blocking position and a clearance position relative to the terminal end of the horizontally extending hinge member portion; in the blocking position, the cylindrical member is oriented with the cutout lying out of alignment with the openings defined in the retaining members thereby causing the terminal end of the horizontally extending hinge member portion to be captively retained within the cutout, and impeding deployment of the at least one door in the swing door configuration; in the clearance position, the cylindrical member is oriented with the cutout lying in alignment with the openings defined in the retaining members thereby allowing the horizontally extending hinge member portion to swing clear of the cutout when the at least one door is deployed in the swing door configuration and is moved between the closed position and the open position. 11. The door assembly of claim 10 further comprising at least one door locking assembly for maintaining the at least one door in the closed position. 12. The door assembly of claim 11 wherein the at least one door locking assembly includes a first door locking assembly disposed adjacent the bottom edge of the at least one door and a second door locking assembly disposed adjacent the top edge of the at least one door. 13. The door assembly of claim 12 wherein the first door locking assembly is operable to maintain the cylindrical member in the blocking position. 14. The door assembly of claim 13 wherein the first door locking assembly is defined by: a first latch mounting bracket mounted to the at least one door near the bottom edge thereof, a locking pin slideably moveable relative to the first latch mounting bracket between a first locked position and a first unlocked position; and the cylindrical member of the lower hinge assembly, the cylindrical member having a bore defined therein for receiving a portion of the locking pin therein; when moved to the first locked position, a portion of the locking pin engages the bore of the cylindrical member to thereby maintain the cylindrical member in the blocking position. 15. The door assembly of claim 14 wherein the second door locking assembly includes: a second latch mounting bracket mounted to the at least one door near the top edge thereof; a vertically oriented, locking bar slideably moveable relative to the second latch mounting bracket between a second locked position and a second unlocked position; and an apertured latch plate mounted to the upper door frame member, the apertured latch plate being adapted to receive a portion of the locking bar therein; when moved to the second locked position, a portion of the locking bar engages the apertured latch plate thereby impeding deployment of the at least one door. 16. The door assembly of claim 15 wherein the at least one door is moveable to the open position when the locking pin of the first door locking assembly is moved to the first unlocked position and the locking bar of the second door locking assembly is moved to the second unlocked position. 17. The door assembly of claim 15 wherein the at least one door is moveable to the ramp-deployed position when the hinge pin of the upper hinge assembly is moved to the second position and the locking bar of the second door locking assembly is moved to the second unlocked position. 18. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein: the at least one door includes first and second doors; each door is defined by a bottom edge, a top edge and a pair of spaced apart, first and second side edges; the first and second doors are mounted within the door frame in a double door arrangement. 19. The door assembly of claim 18 wherein the at least one pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies includes a first pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies pivotally connecting the first door to the door frame and a second pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies pivotally connecting the second door to the door frame. 20. The door assembly of claim 19 wherein the upper hinge assembly of each pair includes: an upper hinge bracket fixed to one of the first and second door jambs proximate the upper door frame member; a tubular hinge knuckle attached to the first side edge of one of the first and second doors proximate the top edge thereof; and a hinge pin housed within the hinge knuckle and rotatable relative thereto, the hinge pin being operatively engageable with the upper hinge bracket to hingedly connect one of the first and second doors to one of the first and second door jambs. 21. The door assembly of claim 20 wherein: the hinge pin is moveable relative to the upper hinge bracket between a first position and a second position; in the first position, the hinge pin operatively engages the upper hinge bracket to thereby permit one of the first and second doors to be deployed in the swing door configuration; in the second position, the hinge pin is operatively disengaged from the upper hinge bracket to thereby permit one of the first and second doors to be deployed in the ramp-forming configuration. 22. The door assembly of claim 19 wherein the at least one retaining member is substantially C-shaped and has an opening defined therein sized to permit the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member to swing clear of the at least one retaining member when one of the first and second door is deployed in the swing door configuration and is moved between the closed position and the open position. 23. The door assembly of claim 22 wherein: the horizontally extending portion has a proximal end adjacent the transition portion and a terminal end opposed from the proximal end; the at least one retaining member includes first and second, spaced apart retaining members; and the lower hinge assembly further includes a cylindrical member extending between, and captively retained by, the first and second retaining members; the cylindrical member having a longitudinal cutout defined therein to receive the terminal end of the horizontally extending hinge member portion, the cylindrical member being rotatable about the horizontal axis to permit rotational displacement of the cutout. 24. The door assembly of claim 23 wherein: the cylindrical member is moveable between a blocking position and a clearance position relative to the terminal end of the horizontally extending hinge member portion; in the blocking position, the cylindrical member is oriented with the cutout lying out of alignment with the openings defined in the retaining members thereby causing the terminal end of the horizontally extending hinge member portion to be captively retained within the cutout, and impeding deployment of one of the first and second doors in the swing door configuration; in the clearance position, the cylindrical member is oriented with the cutout lying in alignment with the openings defined in the retaining members thereby allowing the horizontally extending hinge member portion to swing clear of the cutout when the one of the first and second doors is deployed in the swing door configuration and is moved between the closed position and the open position. 25. The door assembly of claim 24 further comprising at least one door locking assembly for maintaining the first and second doors in their respective closed positions. 26. The door assembly of claim 25 wherein the at least one door locking assembly includes a first door locking assembly disposed adjacent the bottom edge of the at least one door and a second door locking assembly disposed adjacent the top edge of the at least one door. 27. A door assembly for providing access to a cargo storage space within a vehicle, the door assembly comprising: a door frame defined by a pair of first and second, spaced apart vertical doorjambs, and a pair of upper and lower, spaced apart, horizontal door frame members extending between the first and second door jambs; and first and second doors mounted within the door frame in a double door arrangement; a first pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies for hingedly connecting the first door to the door frame and a second pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies for hingedly connecting the second door to the door frame, the upper and lower hinge assemblies being operable to allow each door to be selectively deployed in one of a swing door configuration and a ramp-forming configuration, each lower hinge assembly including: a hinge member having a generally vertically extending portion, a generally horizontally extending portion and a transition portion joining the vertically extending portion to the horizontally extending portion; at least one lower hinge bracket fixed to the first door jamb, the at least one lower hinge bracket receiving therein the vertically extending portion of the hinge member, the vertically extending portion of the hinge member being rotatable about the vertical axis when the at least one door is deployed in the swing door configuration; a generally horizontally extending tubular member carried by the at least one door below the bottom edge thereof, the tubular member having a passageway defined therein, the passageway receiving the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member therein, the tubular section being rotatable about the horizontal axis when the at least one door is deployed in the ramp-forming configuration; and at least one retaining member attached to the lower door frame member for supporting a part of the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member; when in the swing door configuration, each door is hingedly connected to one of the door jambs for rotation about a vertical axis and is moveable between a closed position and an open position; when in the ramp-forming configuration, each door is hingedly connected to the lower door frame member for rotation about a horizontal axis and is moveable between the closed position and a ramp-deployed position. 28. A utility trailer comprising: a trailer bed for supporting cargo, the trailer bed having a leading edge; an opposed trailing edge spaced apart from the leading edge and a pair of first and second, spaced apart, side edges joining the leading edge to the trailing edge; a pair of first and second, spaced apart, sidewalls; each sidewall extending upright from a respective side edge of the trailer bed; a leading wall mounted between the first and second sidewalls and extending upright from the leading edge of the trailer bed; a rear cargo access door assembly disposed opposite the leading wall and between the first and second sidewalls, the rear cargo access door assembly extending upright from the trailing edge of the trailer bed, the rear cargo access door assembly including a door frame, a pair of first and second cargo access doors hingedly mounted to the door frame in a double door arrangement, a first pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies for hingedly connecting the first cargo access door to the door frame and a second pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies for hingedly connecting the second cargo access door to the door frame, the upper and lower hinge assemblies being operable to allow each cargo access door to be selectively deployed in one of a swing door configuration and a ramp-forming configuration, each lower hinge assembly including: a hinge member having a generally vertically extending portion, a generally horizontally extending portion and a transition portion joining the vertically extending portion to the horizontally extending portion; at least one lower hinge bracket fixed to the first door jamb, the at least one lower hinge bracket receiving therein the vertically extending portion of the hinge member, the vertically extending portion of the hinge member being rotatable about the vertical axis when the at least one door is deployed in the swing door configuration; a generally horizontally extending tubular member carried by the at least one door below the bottom edge thereof, the tubular member having a passageway defined therein, the passageway receiving the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member therein, the tubular section being rotatable about the horizontal axis when the at least one door is deployed in the ramp-forming configuration; and at least one retaining member attached to the lower door frame member for supporting a part of the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member; and a roof assembly carried above the trailer bed, the roof assembly being supported by the leading wall and the first and second sidewalls and connected to the door frame; the trailer bed, the first and second sidewalls, the leading wall, the rear cargo access door assembly and the roof assembly co-operating with each other to define a box-like structure having an interior cargo storage space. 29. A kit for assembling a utility trailer comprising: a trailer bed for supporting cargo, the trailer bed having a leading edge; an opposed trailing edge spaced apart from the leading edge and a pair of first and second, spaced apart, side edges joining the leading edge to the trailing edge; a pair of first and second, spaced apart, sidewalls; each sidewall being mountable to extend upright from a respective side edge of the trailer bed; a leading wall for placement between the first and second sidewalls, the leading wall being mountable to extend upright from the leading edge of the trailer bed; a rear cargo access door assembly for placement opposite the leading wail and between the first and second sidewalls, the rear cargo access door assembly being mountable to extend upright from the trailing edge of the trailer bed, the rear cargo access door assembly including a door frame, a pair of first and second cargo access doors hingedly mounted to the door frame in a double door arrangement, a first pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies for hingedly connecting the first cargo access door to the door frame and a second pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies for hingedly connecting the second cargo access door to the door frame; when the kit is fully assembled, the upper and lower hinge assemblies being operable to allow each cargo access door to be selectively deployed in one of a swing door configuration and a ramp-forming configuration, each lower hinge assembly including: a hinge member having a generally vertically extending portion, a generally horizontally extending portion and a transition portion joining the vertically extending portion to the horizontally extending portion; at least one lower hinge bracket fixed to the first door jamb, the at least one lower hinge bracket receiving therein the vertically extending portion of the hinge member, the vertically extending portion of the hinge member being rotatable about the vertical axis when the at least one door is deployed in the swing door configuration; a generally horizontally extending tubular member carried by the at least one door below the bottom edge thereof, the tubular member having a passageway defined therein, the passageway receiving the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member therein, the tubular section being rotatable about the horizontal axis when the at least one door is deployed in the ramp-forming configuration; and at least one retaining member attached to the lower door frame member for supporting a part of the horizontally extending portion of the hinge member; and a roof assembly for placement above the trailer bed, the roof assembly being connectable to the leading wall, the first and second sidewalls and the door frame; the trailer bed, the first and second sidewalls, the leading wall, the rear cargo access door assembly and the roof assembly connectable to each other to define a box-like structure having an interior cargo storage space. 30. A kit for converting a flat bed trailer into a covered utility trailer, the kit comprising: a pair of first and second, spaced apart, sidewalls; each sidewall being mountable to extend upright from the floor of the flat bed trailer; a roof assembly for placement above the floor of the flat bed trailer, the roof assembly being connectable to the leading wall, the first and second sidewalls and the door frame; the first and second sidewalls, the leading wall, the rear cargo access door assembly, the roof assembly and the floor being connectable to each other to define a box-like structure having an interior cargo storage space.