Trailer for transporting vehicles

Claim 2

A trailer for transporting vehicles comprising: a. a lower deck comprising first, second and third sections; b. an upper deck spaced apart from the lower deck, the upper deck having at least one section which is vertically raisable and lowerable; c. a cylinder mechanism for raising the section; d. means for fixing the section in position, said means comprising: 1. an apertured frame post extending between the upper and lower deck, 2. a slide collar mounted on the post, 3. a strap connected at one end to the upper deck and to the collar at its other end, the strap being responsive to movement of the cylinder to thereby raise and lower the collar, and 4. means insertable into an aperture of the post immediately below the position of the collar; e. means for supporting a load placed on the section; f. at least one section of the upper deck being pivotally moveable between a horizontal and inclined position; g. means for fixing the pivotally moveable section in the horizontal position; and h. means for adjusting the relative height between the second and third sections of the lower deck, the means for adjusting the height comprising: 1. a pulley fixedly secured to a frame post of the trailer and extending between the upper and lower deck, and 2. a cable passing through the pulley, one end of the cable being attached to the second section and the other end of the cable being attached to the third section.

Claim 3

a slide collar mounted on the post,

Claim 4

a slide collar mounted on the post,

Claim 5

The trailer of claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the load comprises: a. an apertured tubular member pivotally connected to the frame of the trailer associated with the upper deck; b. a slide collar mounted on the tubular member; c. a strap interconnecting the collar to the section such that the collar is axially slidable along the tubular member in response to the movement of the section; and d. means insertable into an aperture immediately below the position of the collar.

Claim 6

a cable passing through the pulley, one end of the cable being attached to the second section and the other end of the cable being attached to the third section.

Claim 7

a cable passing through the pulley, one end of the cable being attached to the second section and the other end of the cable being attached to the third section.

Claim 8

The trailer of claim 2, wherein the section includes a first rearward portion and a second forward portion, the means for supporting the load being disposed proximate the forwardmost end of the forward portion.

Claim 9

a strap connected at one end to the upper deck and to the collar at its other end, the strap being responsive to movement of the cylinder to thereby raise and lower the collar, and

Claim 10

a strap connected at one end to the upper deck and to the collar at its other end, the strap being responsive to movement of the cylinder to thereby raise and lower the collar, and

Claim 11

The trailer of claim 3, wherein the cylinder extends between the base frame of the trailer and is pivotally connected to the frame of the trailer associated with the upper deck, the cylinder being mounted proximate the rearwardmost end of the rearward portion of the section.

Claim 12

means insertable into an aperture of the post immediately below the position of the collar; e. means for supporting a load placed on the section; f. at least one section of the upper deck being pivotally moveable between a horizontal and inclined position; g. means for fixing the pivotally moveable section in the horizontal position; and h. means for adjusting the relative height between the second and third sections of the lower deck, the means for adjusting the height comprising:

Claim 13

means insertable into an aperture of the post immediately below the position of the collar; e. means for supporting a load placed on the section; f. at least one section of the upper deck being pivotally moveable between a horizontal and inclined position; g. means for fixing the pivotally moveable section in the horizontal position; and h. means for adjusting the relative height between the second and third sections of the lower deck, the means for adjusting the height comprising:

Claim 14

The trailer of claim 4, wherein the means for supporting the load further includes a cylinder operatively connected thereto for adjusting the position of the forwardmost portion of the section.

Claim 15

The trailer of claim 1 which further includes a cylinder mechanism for adjusting the initial height of the third section, the cylinder being operatively associated with the means for supporting the load.

Claim 16

The trailer of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections each have a pocket lift associated therewith for accommodating the tires of a vehicle stored therewithin.

Claim 17

In a tractor-trailer assembly for transporting vehicles of the type having an upper deck and a lower deck, the upper deck and lower deck each having a plurality of sections for loading a vehicle thereon including a rearwardmost upper deck section having a forward and rearward end and a rearwardmost lower deck section having a forward end and a rearward end, the improvement which comprises: means for pivotally raising and lowering the rearwardmost upper deck section between a first substantially horizontal position to a second inclined position, the means comprising: a. a hydraulic cylinder having an extensible and retractable cylinder rod pivotally connected at one end thereof to the rearwardmost upper deck section and to the rearwardmost lower deck section at the other end thereof, b. an apertured support post extending between the rearwardmost lower deck section and the rearwardmost upper deck section; c. a slide collar mounted on the support post and connected to the cylinder, the slide collar being responsive to movement of the cylinder rod, d. means for actuating the cylinder to cause extension or retraction of the cylinder rod, e. means insertable into an aperture of the post immediately below the collar, and wherein retraction of the cylinder rod pivotally rotates the rearwardmost upper deck section such that the rearward end overlies and abuts and remains within the rearward end of the rearwardmost lower deck section, the forward end of the rearwardmost upper deck section remaining substantialy stationary, whereby the trailer may be loaded within the 60 foot legal limit.

Claim 18

In a tractor-trailer assembly for transporting vehicles of the type having an upper deck and a lower deck, the upper deck and lower deck each having a plurality of sections for loading a vehicle thereon including a rearwardmost upper deck section having a forward and rearward end and a rearwardmost lower deck section having a forward end and a rearward end, the improvement which comprises: means for pivotally raising and lowering the rearwardmost upper deck section between a first substantially horizontal position to a second inclined position, the means comprising: a. a hydraulic cylinder having an extensible and retractable cylinder rod pivotally connected at one end thereof to the rearwardmost upper deck section and to the rearwardmost lower deck section at the other end thereof, b. an apertured support post extending between the rearwardmost lower deck section and the rearwardmost upper deck section; c. a slide collar mounted on the support post and connected to the cylinder, the slide collar being responsive to movement of the cylinder rod, d. means for actuating the cylinder to cause extension or retraction of the cylinder rod, e. means insertable into an aperture of the post immediately below the collar, and wherein retraction of the cylinder rod pivotally rotates the rearwardmost upper deck section such that the rearward end overlies and abuts and remains within the rearward end of the rearwardmost lower deck section, the forward end of the rearwardmost upper deck section remaining substantialy stationary, whereby the trailer may be loaded within the 60 foot legal limit.