trailer with folding and retractable uprights towed by a land vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a trailer (100) towed by a land vehicle, equipped with transverse (40 and 40') and longitudinal (50 and 50') uprights that fold inwards towards the trailer. These uprights, in the unfolded position, are held together at the four corners by means of indexing and clamping devices. The longitudinal uprights advantageously fold to half their height, in order to obtain a usable upright height substantially equal to the width of the trailer, while maintaining the trailer's symmetry along the longitudinal plane. The device according to the invention is particularly advantageous for passing the trailer through a doorway or corridor that is too narrow, as well as for storing the trailer in a compact manner. Figure to be published with the abstract: [Fig 1]

Description

Title of the invention: trailer with foldable and retractable uprights towed by a land vehicle Technical field and prior art

[0001] The subject of the present invention relates to the field of trailers towed by a land vehicle.

[0002] By "trailer" in the sense of the present invention, it is necessary to understand at least a rolling platform by means of at least two coaxial wheels, as well as a bar called "drawbar", which connects said rolling platform to the vehicle which tows it. At the end of this drawbar is provided a ball joint, to allow the articulation necessary for taking turns, as well as accompanying changes in the unevenness of the road. Whatever the vehicle used for towing, a trailer makes it possible to transport large volumes of loads for all useful purposes.

[0003] The subject of the present invention relates to the design of trailer sides (or uprights) capable of folding, as well as the system for indexing and clamping the uprights together which accompanies it, with the aim of reducing the height of said trailer when it is not in use.

[0004] The present invention has been designed for a trailer towed by a bicycle, in a non-limiting manner. A similar design for a model towed by another vehicle such as a car is possible.

[0005] Traditionally, trailers with non-folding uprights have two disadvantages: they are bulky for storage or transport, and, when they exceed certain dimensions, do not allow them to pass through tight spaces such as doors or corridors.

[0006] Traditionally, trailers with folding uprights only allow a useful height of uprights limited to half the width. Beyond this value, the longitudinal uprights overlap in the folded position. An alternative solution consists of raising the folding axis of the left or right longitudinal upright relative to the other, which gives an asymmetry to the trailer, and is therefore not desirable: a. From an industrial point of view: more spare parts to manage in manufacturing, inventory management and after-sales service, b. From a practical point of view in use: this asymmetrical solution would give additional thickness to the folded trailer, c. From the point of view of design complexity, and therefore cost price: it is necessary to provide a different hanging system between the left and the right.

[0007] Traditionally, trailers with folding uprights have transverse uprights that fold outward from the trailer. This makes it easier to load and unload the contents of the trailer, but does not reduce the size of the trailer for storage or transport. An alternative solution is to separate these transverse uprights, but it is then difficult to handle the assembly without the help of a third party, for example to handle the trailer to the place where it is stored. Subject and summary of the present invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to correct these defects.

[0009] The transverse and longitudinal uprights fold before the longitudinal uprights, towards the inside of the trailer.

[0010] The longitudinal uprights themselves fold in two, via a longitudinal folding axis located at half the height of said uprights. This additional folding makes it possible to obtain a useful height of uprights substantially equal to the width of the trailer.

[0011] Combined with any system of removable wheels, for example with "beta" pins, the trailer can be stored vertically along a wall, advantageously taking up little space.

[0012] A system for holding the uprights together vertically is provided, ensuring the integrity of said uprights so that the load can be installed there.

[0013] To handle the folded trailer by hand, elastic ropes (or tensioners) can be used to hold the uprights attached to the trailer bed.

[0014] The cross members can be removed (or retracted) in order to allow the loading of contents longer than the trailer, such as for example planks or tubes which would protrude from the rear of the trailer. Brief description of the figures

[0015] [Fig.l] schematically represents the different stages of unfolding the uprights (40 and 40' and 50 and 50') of the trailer (100) in a single figure.

[0016] [Fig.2] shows the trailer (100) folded in isometric view towards the front.

[0017] [Fig.3] shows the trailer (100) folded in isometric view towards the rear.

[0018] [Fig.4] represents the trailer (100) unfolded in isometric view towards the front.

[0019] [Fig.5] represents the trailer (100) unfolded in isometric view towards the rear.

[0020] [Fig.6] represents the first stage of unfolding: any one of the uprights longitudinal (50 or 50') which are deployed via its two folding axes. This is the case even for the other longitudinal amount (50 or 50'), there is therefore no figure dedicated to its unfolding.

[0021] [Fig.7] represents the second stage of unfolding: any one of the uprights transverse (40 or 40') which are placed vertically.

[0022] [Fig.8] represents the third stage of unfolding: the raising of any one longitudinal uprights (50 or 50') vertically with one hand, while the other hand holds the transverse upright (40 or 40') already unfolded.

[0023] [Fig.9] represents the fourth stage of unfolding: the indexing of one of the plots (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') in its housing located on the corresponding support surface (51 to 54 and 51' to 54').

[0024] [Fig. 10] represents the fifth stage of unfolding: engaging the two corresponding locks (411 to 414 and 411' to 414') on the longitudinal (50 or 50') and transverse (40 or 40') uprights already unfolded with one hand, while the other hand holds the transverse upright already unfolded. At this stage, there is no longer any need to hold the longitudinal upright already unfolded, since it is held vertically by means of the studs (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') in their respective housings.

[0025] [Fig. 11] represents the sixth stage of unfolding: raising the other longitudinal upright (50 or 50') vertically. At this stage, there is no longer any need to hold any other upright, since the two that are already raised are held together vertically by the studs and the locks.

[0026] [Fig. 12] represents the seventh step of unfolding: raising the other transverse upright (40 or 40') vertically. The steps of indexing the other studs (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') and engaging the other locks (411 to 414 and 411' to 414') are identical to those shown in Figures 9 and 10, so there is no figure dedicated to these steps.

[0027] [Fig. 13] shows the installation of one of the tensioners (60 or 60') passing through the rear of the bearing surfaces of the upper halves (52 and 54, or 52' ​​and 54') of the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') when they are folded.

[0028] [Fig. 14] represents the first stage of the retraction of one of the transverse uprights (40 or 40'): one of the latches (71 or 72 or 71' or 72') which hold in place the pivot axes of the transverse uprights (49 and 49'), as well as its unclipping allowing it to be removed from its housing (11 or 12 or 11' or 12').

[0029] [Fig. 15] represents the second stage of the retraction of one of the transverse uprights (40 or 40'): the sliding of said transverse upright into the folded position, allowing it to be removed from its housing (11 and 12, or 11' and 12') and thus removed.

[0030] [Fig. 16] shows the trailer (100) unfolded, with one of the transverse uprights (40 or 40') removed (or retracted). Description of several examples of implementation

[0031] The transverse uprights (40 and 40') fold before the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50'), towards the inside of the trailer.

[0032] The longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') also fold towards the inside of the trailer. Their main folding axis is substantially offset upwards so that they can be placed horizontally above the transverse uprights (40 and 40').

[0033] The longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') themselves fold in two, via a longitudinal folding axis located at half the height of said uprights. This additional folding makes it possible to obtain a useful height of uprights substantially equal to the width of the trailer (100).

[0034] Combined with any system of removable wheels (20 and 20'), for example with "beta" pins at the ends of the axle of said wheels, the trailer can be stored, for example vertically along a wall, advantageously occupying little space.

[0035] The blocking of the rotation of the transverse uprights (40 and 40') towards the outside of the trailer (100) is ensured by transverse bearing surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54') integral with the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50'), acting as a stop. These said bearing surfaces are therefore perpendicular to said longitudinal uprights, and are only a few tens of millimeters wide.

[0036] The locking of the rotation of the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') towards the inside of the trailer (100) is ensured by the transverse uprights (40 and 40') themselves once unfolded.

[0037] The locking of the rotation of the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') towards the outside of the trailer (100) is ensured by studs (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') integral with the transverse uprights (40 and 40'), which are inserted into holes of complementary shape in the aforementioned support surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54'). The opposite also works: said studs can be integral with said support surfaces, and the holes made in the surface of said transverse uprights.

[0038] The rotation of the transverse uprights (40 and 40') towards the inside of the trailer is blocked by locks (411 to 414 and 411' to 414') integral with said transverse uprights which retain the aforementioned bearing surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54') against the surface of said transverse uprights. These said locks at the same time prevent the aforementioned studs (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') from coming out of their respective holes. These said locks can be engaged by a rotary or translational movement.

[0039] To manually handle the folded trailer (100), elastic ropes (or tensioners (60 and 60')) can be used to hold the uprights (40 and 40' and 50 and 50') attached to the trailer bed. Attached to the front and rear transverse parts of the trailer bed (10), said tensioners are gripped and then tensioned by passing through the rear of the support surfaces of the upper halves (52 and 54, or 52' ​​and 54') of said longitudinal uprights when they are folded.

[0040] The transverse uprights (40 and 40') being folded between the plate (10) and the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50'), this manipulation is sufficient to secure all of said uprights to said plate.

[0041] This fixing system can also be implemented by a latch type fixing, the first part of this latch being secured to the plate and the second part secured to the upper part of the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50').

[0042] The transverse uprights (40 and 40') can be removed in order to allow the loading of contents longer than said trailer (100). The folding axis (49 and 49') of said transverse uprights is a round rod which crosses the entire width of the trailer. This said rod is permanently secured to said transverse uprights, and is fixed to the platform (10) through housings (11 and 12 and 11' and 12') secured to said platform, just above said platform of said trailer. The maintenance of these said folding axes in said housings is ensured by latches (71 and 72 and 71' and 72') which slide into holes on said housings. The body of these latches are then tangent to said rods. These latches are themselves clipped to said housings to prevent them from coming out of said housings when said trailer is towed on a rough road surface and therefore subject to causing said trailer to vibrate.

[0043] The trailer (100) comprises at least: a. A tray (10); b. At least two coaxial wheels (20 and 20') fixed directly or indirectly on said plate; c. A drawbar (30) connecting said trailer and the vehicle towing it, articulated via a ball joint (31) at the end of said drawbar; d. Longitudinal (50 and 50') and transverse (40 and 40') uprights.

[0044] The uprights (40 and 40' and 50 and 50') fold towards the inside of said trailer via horizontal pivot connections, substantially coplanar with each said upright respectively, located substantially at the height of the platform (10) for the transverse uprights (40 and 40'), and at this same height increased by the thickness of said transverse uprights for the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50'), which fold after having folded said transverse uprights.

[0045] The longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') are equipped with transverse bearing surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54') permanently fixed at the lateral ends of said longitudinal uprights, the role of which is to serve as a stop for the uprights transverse (40 and 40') when the whole is unfolded, in order to prevent said transverse uprights from unfolding towards the outside of said trailer.

[0046] Studs (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') integral with the transverse uprights (40 and 40') are inserted into holes of complementary shape in the support surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54'), in order to prevent the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') from unfolding towards the outside of said trailer.

[0047] Studs (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') are integral with the support surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54'), and are therefore inserted into holes of complementary shape in the transverse uprights (40 and 40').

[0048] Locks (411 to 414 and 411' to 414'), rotating or translative, integral with the transverse uprights (40 and 40'), retain the bearing surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54') against the respective surfaces of said transverse uprights, in order to prevent said transverse uprights from folding towards the inside of said trailer.

[0049] The longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') themselves fold in two via horizontal pivot connections, substantially coplanar with said respective uprights, located substantially at mid-height of said uprights, in order to obtain a useful height of uprights (40 and 40' and 50 and 50') substantially equal to the width of said trailer, without said longitudinal uprights folding one above the other.

[0050] The longitudinal uprights (50 and 50'), and therefore the transverse uprights (40 and 40') folded under said longitudinal uprights, are fixed in the folded position by tensioners (60 and 60') at the front and rear of said trailer, integral with the platform (10), and in which said tensioners are gripped then stretched by passing through the rear of the bearing surfaces of the upper halves (52 and 54, or 52' ​​and 54') of said longitudinal uprights when they are folded.

[0051] The pivot axes (49 and 49') of the transverse uprights (40 and 40') are fixed to the plate (10) by means of housings (11 and 12 and 11' and 12') themselves integral with said plate.

[0052] The pivot axes (49 and 49') are held in the housings (11 and 12 and 11' and 12') by latches (71 and 72 and 71' and 72') which slide into holes on said housings, in which the body of said latches are then tangent to said pivot axes, and in which said latches are themselves clipped to said housings to prevent them from coming out of said housings.

Claims

Claims

1. Trailer (100) comprising at least: • a) A platform (10); • b) At least two coaxial wheels (20 and 20') fixed directly or indirectly on said platform; • c) A drawbar (30) making the connection between said trailer and the vehicle which tows it, articulated via a ball joint (31) at the end of said drawbar; • d) Longitudinal (50 and 50') and transverse (40 and 40') uprights.

2. Trailer (100) according to claim 1, in which the uprights (40 and 40' and 50 and 50') fold towards the inside of said trailer via horizontal pivot links, substantially coplanar with each said upright respectively, located substantially at the height of the platform (10) for the transverse uprights (40 and 40'), and at this same height increased by the thickness of said transverse uprights for the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50'), which fold after having folded said transverse uprights.

3. Trailer (100) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') are equipped with transverse bearing surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54') fixed permanently at the lateral ends of said longitudinal uprights, the role of which is to serve as a stop for the transverse uprights (40 and 40') when the whole is unfolded, in order to prevent said transverse uprights from unfolding towards the outside of said trailer.

4. Trailer (100) according to claim 3, in which studs (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') integral with the transverse uprights (40 and 40') are inserted into complementary shaped holes in the bearing surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54'), in order to prevent the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') from unfolding towards the outside of said trailer.

5. Trailer (100) according to claim 3, in which studs (41 to 48 and 41' to 48') are integral with the bearing surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54'), and are therefore inserted into holes of complementary shape in the transverse uprights (40 and 40').

6. Trailer (100) according to claim 3 or 4, in which locks (411 to 414 and 411' to 414'), rotary or translative, integral transverse uprights (40 and 40'), retain the bearing surfaces (51 to 54 and 51' to 54') against the respective surfaces of said transverse uprights, for the purpose of preventing said transverse uprights from folding towards the inside of said trailer.

7. Trailer (100) according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, in which the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50') themselves fold in two via horizontal pivot connections, substantially coplanar with said respective uprights, located substantially at mid-height of said uprights, in order to obtain a useful height of uprights (40 and 40' and 50 and 50') substantially equal to the width of said trailer, without said longitudinal uprights folding one above the other.

8. Trailer (100) according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 6, in which the longitudinal uprights (50 and 50'), and therefore the transverse uprights (40 and 40') folded under said longitudinal uprights, are fixed in the folded position by tensioners (60 and 60') at the front and rear of said trailer, integral with the platform (10), and in which said tensioners are gripped and then tensioned by passing through the rear of the bearing surfaces of the upper halves (52 and 54, or 52' ​​and 54') of said longitudinal uprights when they are folded.

9. Trailer (100) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the pivot axes (49 and 49') of the transverse uprights (40 and 40') are fixed to the platform (10) by means of housings (11 and 12 and 11' and 12') themselves integral with said platform.

10. Trailer (100) according to claim 9, in which the maintenance of the pivot axes (49 and 49') in the housings (11 and 12 and 11' and 12') is ensured by latches (71 and 72 and 71' and 72') which slide into holes on said housings, in which the body of these said latches are then tangent to said pivot axes, and in which these said latches are themselves clipped to said housings to prevent them from coming out of said housings.

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