US4021074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle trailer
Assignee: AGRI IND OF SOUTH DAKOTA
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Filing: 1976-04-26
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1996-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle trailer of the fifth wheel type particularly adapted for attachment to a light towing vehicle such as a pickup truck. The trailer body includes front, rear, and sidewalls and a floor which slopes downwardly to the rear of said trailer body at a substantial angle. The trailer includes a chassis supporting the trailer body, and the chassis includes chassis rails disposed beneath and parallel to the trailer floor. These chassis rails include an upper, forward portion and a lower, rearward portion and a wheel mounting sub-frame disposed beneath the lower, rearward portion of said chassis rails. The attachment arrangement includes a tongue having a rear portion thereof attached to and extending forwardly from the upper, forward portion of said chassis rails, and a tube or the like extending downwardly from a forward portion of the tongue for engaging a fifth wheel or ball on the bed of the towing vehicle. Because of its configuration, the trailer includes an elevated front body portion with the floor thereof extending substantially above and forwardly of the lower, rearward portion of said chassis. In use, the elevated front body portion thereof is disposed in overlying relation to the rearmost portion of the towing vehicle, and the wheels and axles are spaced substantially apart from said rearmost portion of said towing vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome Jacob Heiser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/04; B60P1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A vehicle trailer having a trailer body, a trailer frame and a portion adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle, said trailer body including at least rear wall, side wall and bottom wall portions, said bottom wall portion forming the floor of said trailer body and extending upwardly and forwardly from the rear of said trailer body at a substantial angle, a trailer chassis disposed beneath and supporting said trailer body, said chassis including principal chassis rails disposed beneath said body floor in substantially parallel relation thereto, said principal chassis rails extending upwardly and forwardly for a substantial portion of the entire extend of said body floor so as to include an upper, forward portion and a lower, rearward portion, wheel mounting means disposed beneath said lower, rearward portion of said chassis rails, said attachment portion comprising a tongue having a rear portion thereof attached to and extending forwardly from said upper, forward portion of said chassis rails, means extending downwardly from a forward portion of said tongue for engaging trailer attachment means on the bed of said towing vehicle, said trailer thus including an elevated front body portion having the floor thereof extending substantially above and forwardly of said lower, rearward portion of said chassis and being adapted, in use, to have said elevated front body portion thereof disposed in overlying relation to the rearmost portion of said towing vehicle, and to have said wheel mounting means spaced substantially longitudinally apart from said rearmost portion of said towing vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A vehicle trailer having a trailer body, a trailer frame and a portion adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle, said trailer body including at least rear wall, side wall and bottom wall portions, said bottom wall portion forming the floor of said trailer body and extending upwardly and forwardly from the rear of said trailer body at a substantial angle, a trailer chassis disposed beneath and supporting said trailer body, said chassis including principal chassis rails disposed beneath said body floor in substantially parallel relation thereto, said principal chassis rails extending upwardly and forwardly for a substantial portion of the entire extend of said body floor so as to include an upper, forward portion and a lower, rearward portion, wheel mounting means disposed beneath said lower, rearward portion of said chassis rails, said attachment portion comprising a tongue having a rear portion thereof attached to and extending forwardly from said upper, forward portion of said chassis rails, means extending downwardly from a forward portion of said tongue for engaging trailer attachment means on the bed of said towing vehicle, said trailer thus including an elevated front body portion having the floor thereof extending substantially above and forwardly of said lower, rearward portion of said chassis and being adapted, in use, to have said elevated front body portion thereof disposed in overlying relation to the rearmost portion of said towing vehicle, and to have said wheel mounting means spaced substantially longitudinally apart from said rearmost portion of said towing vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle further as defined in claim 1 in which said trailer further includes a front body wall extending substantially vertically upwardly from the forward portion of said body floor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle trailer as defined in claim 1 in which means are provided adjacent said lower, rearward portion of said chassis for mounting said trailer body for pivotal movement with respect to said chassis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A Vehicle trailer as defined in claim 1 which further includes means mounting said trailer body for pivotal movement in respect to said chassis, and means adapted to raise a portion of said body with respect to said chassis for dumping the contents of said trailer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vehicle trailer as defined in claim 1 in which said rear wall portion of said trailer body comprises a door mounted by hinges having the pivot axis thereof located at the top of said door and lying in a generally horizontal plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A vehicle trailer as defined in claim 1 in which said trailer body further includes trailer body rails, said body rails being disposed beneath said floor in supporting relation thereto, said body rails directly overlying said chassis rails throughout a substantial portion of the length of said chassis rails when said trailer body is in a normal position of use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vehicle trailer as defined in claim 1 in which said wheel mounting means includes tandem axles arranged so that the wheel and tire assemblies mounted thereon are closely spaced apart from front to rear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vehicle trailer as defined in claim 1 in which said tongue extends generally horizontally from said chassis rails, and in which said downwardly extending means includes an adapter to permit mounting either a ball or socket connector therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle trailer as defined in claim 1 in which said floor is inclined at an angle of from about 10° to about 20° from the horizontal in the normal position of use of said trailer body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |