US4728144A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer construction
Assignee: Bank of America NA
•
Filing: 1986-10-20
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Granted: 1988-03-01
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Expires: 2006-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A desirable travel trailer can be constructed so that the internal floor within such a trailer is capped by a series of joists located on the chassis of the trailer. The spaces between the joists can be used to hold various tanks and other items assocated with the use of the trailer. Preferably the tanks which are expected to be heaviest as the trailer is used are located directly above the undercarriage of the trailer so that the tongue weight of the trailer is not altered or significantly altered as the weight of such tanks are changed due to changes in their contents.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Crean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:49
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A trailer including an elongated chassis having front and rear ends and sides. means for towing the trailer attached to the front end of said chassis so as to extend therefrom, undercarriage means including wheels attached to said chassis between the ends thereof, said undercarriage means including wheels for supporting said trailer extending beneath said chassis and a trailer body having an internal floor mounted on said chassis so as to extend upwardly therefrom, said body extending from the front to the rear of said chassis and having sides corresponding to the sides of said chassis in which the improvement comprises: a series of spaced, parallel joist means mounted on said chassis, said floor being supported by said joist means and being spaced from said chassis by said joist means, said floor being continuous and flat between the sides and ends of said body, all of said joist means extending transverse to the length of said chassis, all of said joist means except those adjacent to said undercarriage means extending between the sides of said body, said undercarriage means being constructed so that said wheels extend generally upwardly from said chassis means adjacent to the sides of said body, those of said joist means adjacent to said undercarriage means terminating within the sides of said body so as to provide spaces located generally above said undercarriage means for said wheels at the sides of said body, and tank means for holding fluids associated with the use of said trailer located between those joist means generally above said undercarriage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
A trailer including an elongated chassis having front and rear ends and sides. means for towing the trailer attached to the front end of said chassis so as to extend therefrom, undercarriage means including wheels attached to said chassis between the ends thereof, said undercarriage means including wheels for supporting said trailer extending beneath said chassis and a trailer body having an internal floor mounted on said chassis so as to extend upwardly therefrom, said body extending from the front to the rear of said chassis and having sides corresponding to the sides of said chassis in which the improvement comprises: a series of spaced, parallel joist means mounted on said chassis, said floor being supported by said joist means and being spaced from said chassis by said joist means, said floor being continuous and flat between the sides and ends of said body, all of said joist means extending transverse to the length of said chassis, all of said joist means except those adjacent to said undercarriage means extending between the sides of said body, said undercarriage means being constructed so that said wheels extend generally upwardly from said chassis means adjacent to the sides of said body, those of said joist means adjacent to said undercarriage means terminating within the sides of said body so as to provide spaces located generally above said undercarriage means for said wheels at the sides of said body, and tank means for holding fluids associated with the use of said trailer located between those joist means generally above said undercarriage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said tank means includes a tank for holding consumable water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said tank means includes a tank for holding liquid waste.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said tank means includes a tank of holding consumable water and another tank for holding liquid waste which is normally filled as water from said first mentioned tank is used.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: functional items associated with the use of said trailer are located within said spaces both toward the front and toward the rear of said trailer from said undercarriage means so as to achieve a weight balance on each side of said undercarriage means such that the weight at said means for towing is suitable to the use of said trailer behind a towing vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: means for filling and emptying said tanks are located within said spaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
a trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: at least some of said spaces other than those spaces located generally above said undercarriage means are useful for storage purposes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said tank means includes a tank for holding consumable water and another tank for holding liquid waste which is normally filled as water from said first mentioned tank is used, functional items associated with the use of said trailer are located within said spaces both toward the front and toward the read of said trailer from said undercarriage means so as to achieve a weight balance on each side of said undercarriage means such that the weight at said means for towing is suitable to the use of said trailer behind a towing vehicle, means for filling and emptying said tanks are located within said spaces and at least some of said spaces other thoan those spaces located generally above said undercarriage means are useful for storage purposes.
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Cited
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Cited
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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) | 1991-03-01 | 1991-08-31 | 1992-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-01 | 1995-08-31 | 1996-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-01 | 1999-08-31 | 2000-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |