Tow trailer with folding carrier platform

Claim 2

A vehicle tow trailer comprising: an axle having wheels mounted on the opposite ends thereof; a draw bar connected to said axle and extending forwardly therefrom; a vehicle carrier platform having a forward, inner end supported on said axle by mounting means including a pivotal connection to said platform defining a horizontal axis about which said platform may be folded upwardly and forwardly from a rearwardly extending position of use to a collapsed storage position in overlying relation to said draw bar; swivel wheel means on the outer end of said platform constructed and arranged to engage the ground and support said platform in a substantially horizontal position in cooperation with said mounting means when said platform is in said rearwardly extending position of use; and support means mounted on said draw bar and extending thereabove to serve as a support rest to hold said outer end of said platform at an elevated level above said draw bar when said platform is folded to said collapsed position.

Claim 3

A vehicle tow trailer as defined in claim 1 wherein: said vehicle carrier platform has an upright wall structure extending substantially perpendicular thereto at said inner end thereof against which the wheels of a towed vehicle abutt when said towed vehicle wheels are resting on said platform.

Claim 4

A vehicle tow trailer as defined in claim 2 wherein: said platform mounting means comprises a pair of elongated support arm structures attached to said draw bar at laterally spaced locations thereon and extending rearwardly therefrom, said support arm structures being pivotally connected at their outer ends to said upright wall structure at locations rearwardly of said axle so that neither said axle or said draw bar is in the path of said upright wall structure when pivoting said carrier platform forwardly to said collapsed storage position.

Claim 5

A vehicle tow trailer as defined in claim 1 wherein: said vehicle carrier platform has a width greater than the lateral space between said trailer wheels on said axle; and said platform mounting means comprises a pair of support arm structures attached to said axle at laterally spaced locations thereon and extending rearwardly therefrom, the inner end of Said platform being pivotally connected to the outer ends of said support arm structures at locations rearwardly of said trailer wheels whereby said platform is supported in its entirety rearwardly of said wheels, and said pivotal connections of said platform to said support arm structures being at such elevations as to permit said platform to clear said trailer wheels when said platform is folded upwardly and forwardly to said collapsed storage position.

Claim 6

A vehicle tow trailer as defined in claim 4 wherein: said vehicle carrier platform has an upright wall structure at said inner end thereof serving as a stop device for the wheels of a towed vehicle having one end thereof supported on said platform; and upwardly projecting extensions on the outer ends of said support arm structures, said upright wall structure being pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper ends of said extensions, whereby said wall structure will be inverted when said platform is folded to said collapsed storage position and will support said platform at an elevated level above said wheels.

Claim 7

A vehicle tow trailer as defined in claim 5, and further including: removable lock pins securing the lower end of said wall structure to the lower ends of said extensions to hold said platform in said substantially horizontal, rearwardly extending position of use.

Claim 8

A vehicle tow trailer as defined in claim 1 wherein: said swivel wheels means includes at least one swivel wheel and a manual locking device associated therewith operable to selectively lock said swivel wheel in either a straight back position or in an inwardly turned position.

Claim 9

A vehicle tow trailer as defined in claim 1 wherein: said platform includes a substantially rectangular frame structure having cross bars extending transversely to said draw bar; and said platform mounting means comprises a pair of elongated support arm structures attached to said axle at laterally spaced locations thereon and extending rearwardly therefrom, said support arm structures being pivotally connected at their outer ends to said inner end of said platform at locations above said axle, whereby said frame structure will not be obstructed by said axle or said draw bar when pivoted to its forwardly collapsed storage position.

Claim 10

A vehicle tow trailer comprising: an axle having wheels mounted on the opposite ends thereof; a draw bar connected to said axle and extending forwardly therefrom; a vehicle carrier platform having a width greater than the lateral space between said trailer wheels and pivotally supported at its forward, inner end of said axle by mounting means including a pivotal connection to said platform defining a horizontal axis about which said platform may be folded upwardly and forwardly from a rearwardly extending position of use to a collapsed storage position in overlying relation to said draw bar, said pivotal connection being located rearwardly of said trailer wheels at such an elevation that said platform will clear said trailer wheels when in its rearwardly extending position of use or when pivoted upwardly and forwardly to said collapsed storage position; and swivel wheel means on the outer end of said platform which engage the ground and support said platform in a substantially horizontal position in cooperation with said mounting means when said platform is in said rearwardly extending portion of use.

Claim 11

A vehicle tow trailer comprising: an axle having wheels mounted on the opposite ends thereof; a draw bar connected to said axle and extending forwardly therefrom; a vehicle carrier platform having a width greater than the lateral space between said trailer wheels and pivotally supported at its forward, inner end of said axle by mounting means including a pivotal connection to said platform defining a horizontal axis about which said platform may be folded upwardly and forwardly from a rearwardly extending position of use to a collapsed storage position in overlying relation to said draw bar, said pivotal connection being located rearwardly of said trailer wheels at such an elevation that said platform will clear said trailer wheels when in its rearwardly extending position of use or when pivoted upwardly and forwardly to said collapsed storage position; and swivel wheel means on the outer end of said platform which engage the ground and support said platform in a substantially horizontal position in cooperation with said mounting means when said platform is in said rearwardly extending portion of use.

Claim 12

A vehicle tow trailer as defined in claim 9, and further including: a winch assembly mounted on said draw bar and a support rest on said winch assembly so located as to receive the outer end of said platform when said platform is folded to said collapsed position so as to thereby hold said platform at an elevated level above said draw bar when said platform is in said collapsed, storage position.