초록 ▼

Trailer racks, and more particularly to straddle-type trailer racks for closed trailers, which racks include a load platform supported by legs mounted directly to the trailer sub-frame, fit within the foot-print of the trailer wheels, do not interfere with side and rear doors, and are spaced from an

Trailer racks, and more particularly to straddle-type trailer racks for closed trailers, which racks include a load platform supported by legs mounted directly to the trailer sub-frame, fit within the foot-print of the trailer wheels, do not interfere with side and rear doors, and are spaced from and not supported on the trailer body top nor rely on it for structural rigidity. The inventive straddle-type trailer rack can also be adapted for use with open trailers. A wide range of options are available, including equipment brackets secured to the legs that can also be used as steps, lockable keeper assemblies, dual function lockable safety cross braces, catwalk for the load platform, access ladder, and forward extensions. The inventive rack is also configurable in kit form.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A trailer-mounted equipment rack, said trailer having an under-frame and at least one axle having wheels mounted thereon, the spacing of said wheels defining a track width of said trailer, said trailer being selected from an open top and a closed load box for carrying things, comprising elements

1. A trailer-mounted equipment rack, said trailer having an under-frame and at least one axle having wheels mounted thereon, the spacing of said wheels defining a track width of said trailer, said trailer being selected from an open top and a closed load box for carrying things, comprising elements as assembled together forming in operative combination: a. a generally horizontal rack load platform mounted on a trailer, said trailer having sidewalls, an under-frame and at least one axle having wheels mounted thereon, the spacing of said wheels defining a track width of said trailer, said trailer being selected from an open top and a closed load box for carrying things, said rack load platform having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to a central longitudinal axis of said trailer, a lateral width that is within the track width of said trailer, upstanding first and second, spaced, vertical side rail members, and cross braces spanning between a lower edge of said vertical side rail members;b. a plurality of leg members, disposed secured to and spaced along each of said side rail members and disposed vertically to extend downwardly from the top end of said legs toward the trailer under-frame;c. a mounting bracket secured to the bottom of each of said legs mounting said legs directly to said under frame of said trailer; andd. said equipment rack mounted on said trailer effectively straddling, and spaced outwardly from the side walls and top, if any, of the trailer load box, said rack load platform, legs and mounting brackets permitting said rack to carry substantial loads of equipment and materials without bearing on said trailer load box side or top walls. 2. An equipment rack as in claim 1 which includes an object support bracket mounted on at least one leg on at least one side of said rack medially between said leg bottom and said leg top, which bracket includes a horizontal retaining member and a vertical keeper member at an outer end of said bracket. 3. An equipment rack as in claim 2 wherein at least some of said legs to which a bracket is mounted includes a vertically adjustable security assembly comprising a horizontal member and a downwardly extending keeper member, the length of said horizontal member permitting said keeper of said security assembly to co-operatingly engage said keeper of said object support bracket so that objects do not jump off said object support bracket in transit. 4. An equipment rack as in claim 1 wherein said load platform framework and said legs are formed of tubular stock. 5. An equipment rack as in claim 1 which includes a forward leg, a rear leg and at least one middle leg per side. 6. An equipment rack as in claim 5 wherein said middle leg includes a foot at the bottom, said leg is selected to be of a length to permit said foot to rest on the top of a fender covering said wheel, a bracket is secured to said trailer frame just below where said leg foot rests on said fender, and said foot and bracket are secured together through said fender. 7. An equipment rack as in claim 1 wherein said load platform includes a catwalk disposed medially of said side rails. 8. An equipment rack as in claim 1 which includes a ladder assembly that is engagable to a cross-member or one of said side rails of said load platform and orientable to hang down from said load platform so that a user can mount the ladder to place or arrange objects on said load platform. 9. An equipment rack as in claim 8 wherein said ladder assembly is selected from an assembly secured to said load platform in a non-movable manner, and an assembly that is selected from pivotable, slidable or both pivotable and slidable with respect to said load platform to move it out of the way when not in use. 10. An equipment rack as in claim 1 wherein at least one spacer member is provided adjacent a top end of at least one of said legs to engage a side or top wall of an enclosed box-type trailer to assist in stabilizing said box during transit. 11. An equipment rack as in claim 1 wherein a cross-plate is provided to be secured to the trailer frame forward of the trailer load box and behind the hitch, a pair of vertical legs are provided secured to and extending upwardly from said cross-plate, and said load platform is extended forward of said trailer load box to engage said legs, said extension permitting loading lengths of objects longer than said trailer load box onto said load platform. 12. An equipment rack as in claim 1 which includes at least one horizontal cross brace with fittings to span between spaced front end side legs or rear end side legs medially of the tops and bottoms of said side legs to provide additional lateral structural rigidity when in place. 13. An equipment rack as in claim 12 wherein at least the rear horizontal cross brace is removably mountable to fittings on said rear side legs to prevent opening of a rear door when in place. 14. An equipment rack as in claim 12 wherein the at least one horizontal cross brace is a front horizontal cross brace substantially permanently mounted to said front side legs. 15. An equipment rack as in claim 1 wherein said trailer is an enclosed trailer which includes a door on at least one side, said legs of said rack on the door side of the trailer are disposed spaced to permit said door to open. 16. An equipment rack as in claim 15 wherein said rack includes a removably mountable horizontal bar spanning between legs disposed on either side of said side door so that said bar may be locked in place to prevent said door from being opened. 17. An equipment rack as in claim 1 wherein said enumerated elements are provided in un-assembled form as a kit for user assembly into said equipment rack and mounting on said trailer. 18. An equipment rack for trailers having an under-frame and at least one axle having wheels mounted thereon, the spacing of said wheels defining a track width of said trailer, said trailer being selected from an open top and a closed load box for carrying things, comprising elements as assembled together forming in operative combination: a. a generally horizontal rack load platform for trailers having an under-frame and at least one axle having wheels mounted thereon, the spacing of said wheels defining a track width of said trailer, said trailer being selected from an open top and a closed load box for carrying things, said rack load platform having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to a central longitudinal axis of said trailer, a lateral width that is within the track width of said trailer, upstanding first and second, spaced, vertical side rail members, and cross braces spanning between a lower edge of said vertical side rail members;b. a plurality of leg members, disposed secured to and spaced along each of said side rail members and disposed vertically to extend downwardly from the top end of said legs toward the trailer under-frame;c. a mounting bracket secured to the bottom of each of said legs to permit mounting said legs directly to said under frame of said trailer;d. said equipment rack as mounted on said trailer effectively straddling, and spaced outwardly from the side walls and top, if any, of the trailer load box, said rack load platform, legs and mounting brackets permitting said rack to carry substantial loads of equipment and materials without bearing on said trailer load box side or top walls;e. said equipment rack includes an object support bracket mounted on at least one leg on at least one side of said rack medially between said leg bottom and said leg top, which bracket includes a horizontal retaining member and a vertical keeper member at an outer end of said bracket; andf. wherein at least some of said legs to which a bracket is mounted includes a vertically adjustable security assembly comprising a horizontal member and a downwardly extending keeper member, the length of said horizontal member permitting said keeper of said security assembly to co-operatingly engage said keeper of said object support bracket so that objects do not jump off said object support bracket in transit. 19. An equipment rack as in claim 18 wherein said keepers are fitted with a slot and a hole respectively, oriented so that a lock shackle may be passed there-through to lock them together. 20. An equipment rack for trailers having an under-frame and at least one axle having wheels mounted thereon, the spacing of said wheels defining a track width of said trailer, said trailer being selected from an open top and a closed load box for carrying things, comprising elements as assembled together forming in operative combination: a. a generally horizontal rack load platform for trailers having an under-frame and at least one axle having wheels mounted thereon, the spacing of said wheels defining a track width of said trailer, said trailer being selected from an open top and a closed load box for carrying things, said rack load platform having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to a central longitudinal axis of said trailer, a lateral width that is within the track width of said trailer, upstanding first and second, spaced, vertical side rail members, and cross braces spanning between a lower edge of said vertical side rail members;b. a plurality of leg members, disposed secured to and spaced along each of said side rail members and disposed vertically to extend downwardly from the top end of said legs toward the trailer under-frame;c. a mounting bracket secured to the bottom of each of said legs to permit mounting said legs directly to said under frame of said trailer;d. said equipment rack as mounted on said trailer effectively straddling, and spaced outwardly from the side walls and top, if any, of the trailer load box, said rack load platform, legs and mounting brackets permitting said rack to carry substantial loads of equipment and materials without bearing on said trailer load box side or top walls;e. said equipment rack includes a forward leg, a rear leg and at least one middle leg per side; andf. wherein said middle leg includes a foot at the bottom, said leg is selected to be of a length to permit said foot to rest on the top of a fender covering said wheel, a bracket is secured to said trailer frame just below where said leg foot rests on said fender, and said foot and bracket are secured together through said fender.