US4219210A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Auxiliary trailer
Assignee: L KNIGHT AND CO Ltd
•
Filing: 1978-05-12
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Granted: 1980-08-26
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Expires: 1998-05-12
Abstract
Abstract An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self supporting load. A forward end of the load is carried on a bunk on the tractor, and the bunk that normally supports the aft end of the load is removed and fitted on a turntable of the auxiliary trailer. A lower portion of the turntable fitted on the main trailer receives a complementary forward portion of the auxiliary trailer and the load now extends between bunks fitted on the tractor and the auxiliary trailer, the main trailer serving merely to support a forward end of the auxiliary trailer and to transmit turning forces to the auxiliary trailer. In this manner, the number of load bearing axles and spacing between the axles is increased, thus increasing capacity of the vehicle. Normal onboard load measuring gear is adaptable to indicate vehicle load. Equivalent structure for coupling the auxiliary trailer to the main trailer can be substituted for the turntables.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan G. Genberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:33
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/06; B62D53/067; B62D13/00; B62D13/02; B62D49/00; B62D49/005; B62D53/08; B62D53/0857; B62D53/0864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self-supporting load, in which: the tractor has a forward coupling means cooperating with forward load supporting means to carry a forward end of the load; and the main trailer has: a rear axle supporting in part the main trailer, a main trailer reach extending forwardly from the rear axle to couple the main trailer to the tractor for towing therebehind, and a first coupling means adjacent the rear of the main trailer, and the tractor is adapted to carry the trailer when traveling unloaded; the auxiliary trailer being characterized by: (a) an auxiliary trailer rear axle supporting in part an auxiliary trailer, (b) an auxiliary trailer tongue extending forwardly from the auxiliary trailer rear axle, the tongue having a second coupling means complementary to the first coupling means of the main trailer to connect therewith for towing the auxiliary trailer behind the main trailer, (c) an aft coupling means positioned on the auxiliary trailer tongue rearwardly of the second coupling means and forwardly of the auxiliary trailer rear axle and adapted to cooperate with aft load supporting means to support an aft portion of the load to obtain desired axle loading, (d) a connector to interconnect the main trailer reach and the auxiliary trailer tongue when the tractor carries the trailers and the tongue and reach extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart vertically relative to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self-supporting load, in which: the tractor has a forward coupling means cooperating with forward load supporting means to carry a forward end of the load; and the main trailer has: a rear axle supporting in part the main trailer, a main trailer reach extending forwardly from the rear axle to couple the main trailer to the tractor for towing therebehind, and a first coupling means adjacent the rear of the main trailer, and the tractor is adapted to carry the trailer when traveling unloaded; the auxiliary trailer being characterized by: (a) an auxiliary trailer rear axle supporting in part an auxiliary trailer, (b) an auxiliary trailer tongue extending forwardly from the auxiliary trailer rear axle, the tongue having a second coupling means complementary to the first coupling means of the main trailer to connect therewith for towing the auxiliary trailer behind the main trailer, (c) an aft coupling means positioned on the auxiliary trailer tongue rearwardly of the second coupling means and forwardly of the auxiliary trailer rear axle and adapted to cooperate with aft load supporting means to support an aft portion of the load to obtain desired axle loading, (d) a connector to interconnect the main trailer reach and the auxiliary trailer tongue when the tractor carries the trailers and the tongue and reach extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart vertically relative to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An auxiliary trailer as claimed in claim 1 in which: (a) the auxiliary trailer has spaced lateral support means on either side of the aft coupling means to cooperate with the aft load supporting means to reduce lateral rolling of the load, thus improving lateral stability of the load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
259 words
An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self-supporting load, in which: the tractor has a forward coupling means cooperating with forward load supporting means to carry a forward end of the load; and the main trailer has: a rear axle supporting in part the main trailer, a main trailer reach extending forwardly from the rear axle to couple the main trailer to the tractor for towing therebehind, and a first coupling means adjacent the rear of the main trailer, and the tractor is adapted to carry the trailers when traveling unloaded; the auxiliary trailer being characterized by: (a) an auxiliary trailer rear axle supporting in part an auxiliary trailer, (b) an auxiliary trailer tongue extending forwardly from the auxiliary trailer rear axle, the tongue having a second coupling means complementary to the first coupling means of the main trailer to connect therewith for towing the auxiliary trailer behind the main trailer, (c) an aft coupling means positioned on the auxiliary trailer tongue rearwardly of the second coupling means and forwardly of the auxiliary trailer rear axle and adapted to cooperate with aft load supporting means to support an aft portion of the load to obtain desired axle loading, (d) a reach connector interconnecting the auxiliary trailer tongue and main trailer reach when the tractor carries the trailers and the main trailer reach extends in parallel relationship to the auxiliary tongue, and a forward portion of the auxiliary trailer tongue is adjacent and above the axle of the main trailer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
259 words
An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self-supporting load, in which: the tractor has a forward coupling means cooperating with forward load supporting means to carry a forward end of the load; and the main trailer has: a rear axle supporting in part the main trailer, a main trailer reach extending forwardly from the rear axle to couple the main trailer to the tractor for towing therebehind, and a first coupling means adjacent the rear of the main trailer, and the tractor is adapted to carry the trailers when traveling unloaded; the auxiliary trailer being characterized by: (a) an auxiliary trailer rear axle supporting in part an auxiliary trailer, (b) an auxiliary trailer tongue extending forwardly from the auxiliary trailer rear axle, the tongue having a second coupling means complementary to the first coupling means of the main trailer to connect therewith for towing the auxiliary trailer behind the main trailer, (c) an aft coupling means positioned on the auxiliary trailer tongue rearwardly of the second coupling means and forwardly of the auxiliary trailer rear axle and adapted to cooperate with aft load supporting means to support an aft portion of the load to obtain desired axle loading, (d) a reach connector interconnecting the auxiliary trailer tongue and main trailer reach when the tractor carries the trailers and the main trailer reach extends in parallel relationship to the auxiliary tongue, and a forward portion of the auxiliary trailer tongue is adjacent and above the axle of the main trailer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An auxiliary trailer as claimed in claim 3 in which the reach connector is characterized by: (a) a loop extending downwardly from the auxiliary trailer tongue to accept the main trailer reach threaded therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
238 words
An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self-supporting load, in which: the tractor has a forward coupling means cooperating with forward load supporting means to carry a forward end of the load and is adapted to carry the trailers piggyback when travelling unloaded; and the main trailer has: a rear axle supporting in part the main trailer, a main trailer reach extending forwardly from the rear axle to couple the main trailer to the tractor for towing therebehind, and a first coupling means adjacent the rear of the main trailer; the auxiliary trailer being characterized by: (a) an auxiliary trailer rear axle supporting in part the auxiliary trailer, (b) an auxiliary trailer tongue extending forwardly from the auxiliary trailer rear axle, the tongue having a second coupling means complementary to the first coupling means of the main trailer to connect therewith for towing the auxiliary trailer behind the main trailer, and a reach connector adapted to cooperate with the main trailer reach when the tongue and reach extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart vertically relative to each other, (c) an aft coupling means positioned on the auxiliary trailer tongue rearwardly of the second coupling means and forwardly of the auxiliary trailer rear axle and adapted to cooperate with aft load supporting means to support an aft portion of the load to obtain desired axle loading.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
238 words
An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self-supporting load, in which: the tractor has a forward coupling means cooperating with forward load supporting means to carry a forward end of the load and is adapted to carry the trailers piggyback when travelling unloaded; and the main trailer has: a rear axle supporting in part the main trailer, a main trailer reach extending forwardly from the rear axle to couple the main trailer to the tractor for towing therebehind, and a first coupling means adjacent the rear of the main trailer; the auxiliary trailer being characterized by: (a) an auxiliary trailer rear axle supporting in part the auxiliary trailer, (b) an auxiliary trailer tongue extending forwardly from the auxiliary trailer rear axle, the tongue having a second coupling means complementary to the first coupling means of the main trailer to connect therewith for towing the auxiliary trailer behind the main trailer, and a reach connector adapted to cooperate with the main trailer reach when the tongue and reach extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart vertically relative to each other, (c) an aft coupling means positioned on the auxiliary trailer tongue rearwardly of the second coupling means and forwardly of the auxiliary trailer rear axle and adapted to cooperate with aft load supporting means to support an aft portion of the load to obtain desired axle loading.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An auxiliary trailer as claimed in claim 5 in which the reach connector is further characterized by: (a) a loop extending downwardly from the auxiliary trailer tongue to accept the main trailer reach threaded therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
An auxiliary trailer as claimed in claim 5 in which: (a) the auxiliary trailer has spaced lateral support means on either side of the aft coupling means to cooperate with the aft load supporting means to reduce lateral rolling of the load, thus improving lateral stability of the load.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
244 words
An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self-supporting load, in which: the tractor has a forward coupling means cooperating with forward load supporting means to carry a forward end of the load; and the main trailer has: a rear axle supporting in part the main trailer, a main trailer reach extending forwardly from the rear axle to couple the main trailer to the tractor for towing therebehind, and a first coupling means adjacent the rear of the main trailer; the auxiliary trailer being characterized by: (a) an auxiliary trailer rear axle supporting in part the auxiliary trailer, (b) an auxiliary trailer tongue extending forwardly from the auxiliary trailer rear axle, the tongue having: a second coupling means complementary to the first coupling means of the main trailer to connect therewith for towing the auxiliary trailer behind the main trailer; a pair of spaced apart longitudinal members and means securing the longitudinal members together at forward and aft ends thereof to permit the trailer to deflect torsionally to accommodate lateral road surface variations; a cross member extending between the longitudinal members to carry the aft coupling means thereon, (c) an aft coupling means positioned on the auxiliary trailer tongue rearwardly of the second coupling means and forwardly of the auxiliary trailer rear axle and adapted to cooperate with aft load supporting means to support an aft portion of the load to obtain desired axle loading.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
244 words
An auxiliary trailer for towing behind a tractor and main trailer combination adapted to carry an elongated self-supporting load, in which: the tractor has a forward coupling means cooperating with forward load supporting means to carry a forward end of the load; and the main trailer has: a rear axle supporting in part the main trailer, a main trailer reach extending forwardly from the rear axle to couple the main trailer to the tractor for towing therebehind, and a first coupling means adjacent the rear of the main trailer; the auxiliary trailer being characterized by: (a) an auxiliary trailer rear axle supporting in part the auxiliary trailer, (b) an auxiliary trailer tongue extending forwardly from the auxiliary trailer rear axle, the tongue having: a second coupling means complementary to the first coupling means of the main trailer to connect therewith for towing the auxiliary trailer behind the main trailer; a pair of spaced apart longitudinal members and means securing the longitudinal members together at forward and aft ends thereof to permit the trailer to deflect torsionally to accommodate lateral road surface variations; a cross member extending between the longitudinal members to carry the aft coupling means thereon, (c) an aft coupling means positioned on the auxiliary trailer tongue rearwardly of the second coupling means and forwardly of the auxiliary trailer rear axle and adapted to cooperate with aft load supporting means to support an aft portion of the load to obtain desired axle loading.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-26 | 1984-02-25 | 1984-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-26 | 1988-02-25 | 1988-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-26 | 1992-02-25 | 1992-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |