Trailer

Claim 2

A trailer comprising: a. an elongated load supporting frame extending longitudinally of a trailer; b. means on said frame for connecting same to a towing vehicle; c. an elongated axle extending transversely of said frame, said axle being spring metal to permit lateral deflection of said axle; d. means on opposite end portions of said axle for rotatably mounting wheels; and e. flat members spaced along said axle and having one end portion of each secured to said axle with said flat members extending upwardly therefrom and connected to said frame, said flat members being spring metal and having a greater width thereof extending generally parallel with the longitudinal dimension of said frame whereby said flat members hold said axle against movement longitudinally of said frame while permitting said axle to bend toward and away from said frame, said flat members bending transversely of said frame.

Claim 3

A trailer comprising: a. an elongated load supporting frame extending longitudinally of a trailer; b. means on said frame for connecting the trailer to a towing vehicle; c. an elongated axle extending transversely of said frame, said axle being spring metal to permit lateral deflection of said axle; d. means on opposite end portions of said axle for rotatably mounting wheels; and e. means extending between said axle and said frame for holding said axle against movement longitudinally of said frame while permitting said axle to bend throughout the entire length thereof between said wheel mounting means whereby said axle is a shock absorbing member.

Claim 4

A trailer comprising: a. an elongated load supporting frame extending longitudinally of a trailer; b. means on said frame for connecting the trailer to a towing vehicle; c. an elongated axle extending transversely of said frame, said axle being spring metal to permit lateral deflection of said axle; d. means on opposite end portions of said axle for rotatably mounting wheels; and e. means extending between said axle and said frame for holding said axle against movement longitudinally of said frame while permitting said axle to bend throughout the entire length thereof between said wheel mounting means whereby said axle is a shock absorbing member.

Claim 5

A trailer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wheel mounting means includes a spindle mounted on each opposite end of said axle, said spindles each being downwardly inclined whereby the wheels are positioned closer together at the bottom than at The top when the frame is in an unloaded condition and substantially upright when the frame is in a loaded condition in response to lateral bending of said axle.

Claim 6

A trailer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wheel mounting means includes: a. a substantially rigid standard secured to and extending upwardly from each end of said axle; and b. a downwardly inclined spindle secured to and extending outwardly from each of said standards whereby said wheels are closer together at the bottom than at the top when said frame is in an unloaded condition and substantially upright when said frame is in a loaded condition in response to lateral bending of said axle.

Claim 7

A trailer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means connecting said frame to a towing vehicle is an adjustable hitch mounted adjacent a forward end of said frame and having a movable portion mountable on a towing vehicle and means to hold said movable portion in a selected one of a plurality of parallel positions to thereby maintain said frame and trailer substantially level.

Claim 8

A trailer as set forth in claim 5 wherein said adjustable hitch includes: a. a standard secured to and extending upwardly from the forward end of said frame; b. a hitch member spaced from said standard; c. a plurality of spaced parallel arms extending between and each having opposite ends pivotally mounted on said standard and said hitch member respectively for permitting said hitch member to move between a plurality of parallel positions; and d. means engageable with said standard and at least one of said arms for holding said hitch member in a selected one of a plurality of parallel positions each parallel with said frame whereby said frame may be maintained in a level condition when said hitch member is mounted on a towing vehicle.

Claim 9

A trailer as set forth in claim 6 wherein said hitch member holding means includes: a. a plurality of spaced apertures in said standard, said apertures being arranged in an arcuate path spaced from the pivotal mounting of at least one of said arms; b. an aperture in said one arm selectively alignable with each of said apertures in said standard; and c. a fastening member mounted in said aperture in said one arm and a selected one of said apertures in said standard for holding said one arm in the selected position.

Claim 10

A trailer as set forth in claim 6 wherein said hitch member moving and holding means includes: a. an elongated threaded shaft having one end rotatably and pivotally mounted adjacent a forward end of said frame and adjacent said standard, said threaded shaft extending upwardly from said frame; b. a sleeve member threadedly engaged with said threaded shaft, said sleeve member having one end of one of said arms pivotally mounted thereon whereby movement of said sleeve member is effective to raise and lower said hitch member; and c. means on said threaded shaft for selectively rotating same to thereby move said sleeve member along said threaded shaft.

Claim 11

A trailer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said axle holding means includes: a. a saddle member secured to said axle for each longitudinal member of said frame; and b. a flat connection member for each saddle member and each flat connection member having one portion thereof secured to said respective saddle member and extending upwardly therefrom and connected to the respective longitudinal member of said frame, said flat connection members each being spring metal and having a greater width thereof extending generally parallel with the longitudinal dimension of said frame whereby said flat connection members hold said axle against movement longitudinally of said frame while permitting said axle to bend toward and away from said frame, said flat connection members bending transversely of said frame.

Claim 12

A trailer as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said wheel mounting means includes a spindle mounted on each opposite end of said axle, said spindlEs each being downwardly inclined to position the wheels closer together at the bottom than at the top when the frame is in an unloaded condition and substantially upright when the frame is in a loaded condition in response to lateral bending of said axle; b. said axle holding means includes a saddle member secured to said axle for each longitudinal member of said frame and a flat connection member for each saddle member and each flat connection member having one portion thereof secured to said respective saddle member and extending upwardly therefrom and connected to the respective longitudinal member of said frame, said flat connection members each being spring metal and having a greater width thereof extending generally parallel with the longitudinal dimension of said frame whereby said flat connection members hold said axle against movement longitudinally of said frame while permitting said axle to bend toward and away from said frame, said flat connection members bending transversely of said frame; and c. said means connecting said frame to a towing vehicle is an adjustable hitch mounted adjacent a forward end of said frame and having a movable portion mountable on a towing vehicle and means to hold said movable portion in a selected one of a plurality of parallel positions to thereby maintain said frame and trailer substantially level.