Frame assembly for mobile structures

Claim 2

A readily attachable and removable frame assembly for transporting a building structure, comprising, a pair of similar, relatively long, spaced apart, substantially parallel side frame members; a pair of longitudinally adjustable cross-frame members extending transversely to said side frame members and connected to said side frame members adjacent the opposite ends of the side frame members; separate and independent wheel means connected to each of said side frame members at opposite sides of said frame assembly intermediate the ends of the side frame members; a hitch means on said frame for towing said frame, said hitch means comprising two elongate hitch booms pivotally interconnected to eAch other at one end and pivotally connected at their other ends to the opposite sides, respectively, of said frame, and means on said frame assembly for readily removably attaching a building structure thereto.

Claim 3

A removable frame as in claim 1, wherein said cross-frame members include means for securing said cross-frame members at a predetermined adjusted position.

Claim 4

A removable frame as in claim 2, wherein each of said cross-frame members comprise a pair of angle irons telescopically engaged with one another.

Claim 5

A removable frame as in claim 3, wherein the angle irons of each cross-frame member are nested one within the other.

Claim 6

A removable frame as in claim 4, wherein one of said angle irons of said pair of angle irons in each cross-frame member has a pair of guide tabs on the opposite flanges thereof adjacent one end and the flanges of the other angle iron of said cross-frame member are received by said tabs to guide and maintain said angle irons in said nested relationship.

Claim 7

A removable frame as in claim 1, wherein each said wheel means is removably connected to said frame.

Claim 8

A removable frame as in claim 6, wherein each said wheel means is mounted on a suspension assembly, each said suspension assembly comprising an elongate swing arm, pivot means on one end of said elongate swing arm pivotally connecting said elongate swing arm at one end to said frame, and means on the other end of said elongate swing arm removably connecting said other end to said frame.

Claim 9

A removable frame as in claim 7, wherein each said wheel means is mounted adjacent the other end of a respective swing arm, and spring means is connected between said other end of each said swing arm and said frame resiliently supporting said wheel means relative to said frame means.

Claim 10

A removable frame as in claim 1, wherein said hitch means is removable from said frame.

Claim 11

A removable frame as in claim 3, wherein there is a front cross-frame member connected at its opposite ends to the respective ends of said side frame members and a rear cross-frame member connected at its opposite ends to the side frame members intermediate the ends thereof.

Claim 12

A removable frame as in claim 10, wherein said hitch booms are pivotally connected at their said other ends to respective ones of said side frame members intermediate the ends of said side frame members and means are on said hitch booms securing them intermediate their ends to said front cross-frame member.

Claim 13

A removable frame as in claim 11, wherein each said wheel means is mounted on a suspension assembly, each said suspension assembly comprising an elongate swing arm, means pivotally connecting one end of each said swing arm to said rear cross-frame member and a respective, adjacent side frame member, and spring means connected between said other end of each said swing arm and a respective one of said side frame members, each said wheel means comprising a hub and wheel assembly mounted to an associated swing arm adjacent said other end thereof.

Claim 14

A removable frame as in claim 12, wherein said means pivotally connecting each said swing arm to said cross-frame member and said side frame member comprises a tubular suspension pivot bearing in said one end of said swing arm, a suspension pivot shaft received through said pivot bearing and having a mounting bracket on one end thereof, said mounting bracket secured to said side frame member, and a suspension pivot bracket secured to said rear cross-frame member, the other end of said suspension pivot shaft secured to said pivot bracket.

Claim 15

A removable frame as in claim 13, wherein said pivot shaft is tubular and has means secured therein threadably receiving a bolt extended through said suspension pivot bracket into said tubular suspension pivot shaft to secure said pivot shaft to said rear cross-frame member.

Claim 16

A readily attachable and removable frame assembly for a building structure to render it mobile comprising a pair of elongate, substantially pArallel, spaced apart, one-piece, rigid side frame members, an end cross-frame member connected at its opposite ends to said side frame members at one end thereof, an intermediate cross-frame member connected at its opposite ends to said side frame members intermediate the ends thereof, said side frame members each having a free end, said cross-frame members being longitudinally adjustable to effect changes in width of said frame assembly, a pair of wheel means connected to said frame assembly for movably supporting said frame assembly on a supporting surface, said wheel means supported inwardly of said frame members in the space between said intermediate cross-frame member and the free ends of said side frame members and selectively movable into and out of operative position relative to said supporting surface without interference with the building structure, the free ends of said side frame members turned inwardly toward one another and connectable to said building structure to rigidify and reinforce the building structure, a hitch means on said frame for towing said frame, said hitch means comprising two elongate hitch booms pivotally interconnected to each other at one end and pivotally connected at their other ends to the opposite sides, respectively, of said frame, and means for removably attaching said frame assembly to a building structure so that said frame assembly can be used to transport said building structure from one location to another location and then removed from said building structure or left thereon to serve as a frame for said building structure, as desired.

Claim 17

A readily attachable and removable frame assembly for a building structure to render it mobile comprising a pair of elongate, substantially pArallel, spaced apart, one-piece, rigid side frame members, an end cross-frame member connected at its opposite ends to said side frame members at one end thereof, an intermediate cross-frame member connected at its opposite ends to said side frame members intermediate the ends thereof, said side frame members each having a free end, said cross-frame members being longitudinally adjustable to effect changes in width of said frame assembly, a pair of wheel means connected to said frame assembly for movably supporting said frame assembly on a supporting surface, said wheel means supported inwardly of said frame members in the space between said intermediate cross-frame member and the free ends of said side frame members and selectively movable into and out of operative position relative to said supporting surface without interference with the building structure, the free ends of said side frame members turned inwardly toward one another and connectable to said building structure to rigidify and reinforce the building structure, a hitch means on said frame for towing said frame, said hitch means comprising two elongate hitch booms pivotally interconnected to each other at one end and pivotally connected at their other ends to the opposite sides, respectively, of said frame, and means for removably attaching said frame assembly to a building structure so that said frame assembly can be used to transport said building structure from one location to another location and then removed from said building structure or left thereon to serve as a frame for said building structure, as desired.

Claim 18

A readily attachable and removable frame assembly for a building structure to render it mobile comprising a pair of elongate, substantially parallel, spaced apart, one-piece, rigid, box beam side frame members, a pair of cross-frame members connected at their opposite ends to said side frame members, one of said cross-frame members connected to one end of said side frame members and the other cross-frame member connected to said side frame members intermediate the ends thereof, said side frame members extending beyond said other cross-frame member and each terminating in a free end, the free end of each side frame member turned inwardly a relatively short distance toward the other side frame member, said cross-frame members each comprising a pair of angle irons in nested longitudinally adjustable relationship to effect changes in width of said frame assembly, a pair of inturned tabs on opposite flanges of one of the angle irons in each cross-frame member engaged with the edges of the flanges of the other angle iron to hold and guide the angle irons in nested relationship, means on said angle irons to hold the angle irons in adjusted position, a pair of wheel suspension means connected to said frame assembly at opposite sides thereof for movably supporting said frame assembly on a supporting surface, said wheel suspension means each including an elongate swing arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to a removable pivot bracket means removably secured to said other cross-frame member and to an adjacent side frame member, a leaf spring means secured to the other end of said swing arm and to an adjacent side frame member adjacent the free end thereof, and wheel means secured to each swing arm adjacent the other end thereof, said wheel suspension means supported inwardly of said side frame members adjacent said other cross-frame member in the space between said other cross-frame member and the free ends of said side frame members and selectively pivotally movable into and out of operative position relative to said supporting surface without interference with the building structure, adjustable hitch means removably connected to said frame for towing said frame, said hitch means including a pair of elongate hitch booms pivotally connected together at one end thereof and each pivotally connected at the other end thereof to a respective side frame member, each said hitch boom releasably secured iNtermediate its ends to said one cross-frame member to rigidly the frame assembly and hitch means in both the collapsed and extended positions of the frame assembly, and means for removably attaching said side frame members, including the inturned ends thereof, to a building structure so that said frame assembly can be used to transport said building structure from one location to another location and then removed from said building structure or left thereon to serve as a frame for said building structure, as desired.

Claim 19

A readily attachable and removable frame assembly for a building structure to render it mobile comprising a pair of elongate, substantially parallel, spaced apart, one-piece, rigid, box beam side frame members, a pair of cross-frame members connected at their opposite ends to said side frame members, one of said cross-frame members connected to one end of said side frame members and the other cross-frame member connected to said side frame members intermediate the ends thereof, said side frame members extending beyond said other cross-frame member and each terminating in a free end, the free end of each side frame member turned inwardly a relatively short distance toward the other side frame member, said cross-frame members each comprising a pair of angle irons in nested longitudinally adjustable relationship to effect changes in width of said frame assembly, a pair of inturned tabs on opposite flanges of one of the angle irons in each cross-frame member engaged with the edges of the flanges of the other angle iron to hold and guide the angle irons in nested relationship, means on said angle irons to hold the angle irons in adjusted position, a pair of wheel suspension means connected to said frame assembly at opposite sides thereof for movably supporting said frame assembly on a supporting surface, said wheel suspension means each including an elongate swing arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to a removable pivot bracket means removably secured to said other cross-frame member and to an adjacent side frame member, a leaf spring means secured to the other end of said swing arm and to an adjacent side frame member adjacent the free end thereof, and wheel means secured to each swing arm adjacent the other end thereof, said wheel suspension means supported inwardly of said side frame members adjacent said other cross-frame member in the space between said other cross-frame member and the free ends of said side frame members and selectively pivotally movable into and out of operative position relative to said supporting surface without interference with the building structure, adjustable hitch means removably connected to said frame for towing said frame, said hitch means including a pair of elongate hitch booms pivotally connected together at one end thereof and each pivotally connected at the other end thereof to a respective side frame member, each said hitch boom releasably secured iNtermediate its ends to said one cross-frame member to rigidly the frame assembly and hitch means in both the collapsed and extended positions of the frame assembly, and means for removably attaching said side frame members, including the inturned ends thereof, to a building structure so that said frame assembly can be used to transport said building structure from one location to another location and then removed from said building structure or left thereon to serve as a frame for said building structure, as desired.