Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Patent
1991-03-14
1992-12-29
Mitchell, David M.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
414483, B60P 310
Patent
active
051745968
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to trailers and to methods of loading and unloading articles thereon. The invention is particularly applicable to trailers for road transport of boats such as catamarans and other articles capable of being lifting by application of upthrust at two spaced locations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional trailers for catamarans and other boats require two or more men to lift the boat onto the trailer, and a separate launch trolley to enable the boat to be rolled into the water to a point at which it can be floated off the trailer.
Accordingly, there is a considerable requirement for improvements and simplifications in relation to trailers and trolleys for towing and launching boats such as catamarans, whereby the labour and/or time and/or effort involved in loading and unloading the boat and/or in launching and recovering same are reduced in one way or another.
An object of the present invention is to provide a trailer, and a method of using same offering improvements in relation to one or more of these matters, or generally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a trailer, and a method of using same, as defined in the accompanying claims.
In a preferred embodiment there is provided a trailer suitable for road transport of boats such as catamarans and other articles capable of being lifted by application of upthrust at two spaced locations. The trailer comprises a trailer frame having towing means such as a hook for connection to a towing vehicle. First and second lifting members are mounted on the frame to apply upthrust to lift and lower a boat or the like article thereon, the upthrust being applied at spaced locations on the article. The first lifting member has means to define its position relative to the trailer frame for lifting purposes. The second lifting member is pivotally or otherwise movably mounted on the trailer frame and thrust means is connected between the trailer frame and the second lifting member to pivot the latter in the lifting direction, and to apply a corresponding reaction thrust to the trailer frame.
In the preferred embodiment, a pivotally mounted first lifting member is provided for engagement with the article to be lifted and transported, and thrust means is provided to pivot the second lifting member in the lifting direction and to apply a corresponding reaction thrust therefrom to the first lifting member, this reaction thrust being likewise in the lifting direction, being applied to the assembly on the opposite side of the pivot provided by the ground wheels.
In the preferred embodiment the thrust means comprises a lever mechanism. The lever mechanism has roller means to apply the reaction thrust to the trailer frame. The lever mechanism is in the form of a stiff or rigid lever structure carrying the roller means and pivotally connected to the second arm. The lever mechanism is arranged to be self-locking by going over-center so that the assembly remains in its boat-raised position until positively lowered. The lever mechanism provides a hand lever for manual operation. A winch may be provided, connected to the lever mechanism, to provide an alternative means of actuation.
In another preferred embodiment the first lifting member is provided by a rearward extension of the trailer frame, the rearward extension being rigid with the frame and extending upwardly therefrom. In this manner, reaction thrust from the thrust means, applied to the trailer frame on one side of the pivot provided by the trailer wheels/axle assembly, is transmitted as an upthrust to the second lifting member, which is located on the rearward side of the wheel/axle assembly. In another embodiment, the first lifting member is pivotally mounted and provided with stop means to limit its pivotal movement in the downward direction, whereby it functions in the above-described manner and can be pivoted upwards to a retracted transport position if desired.
There is described below a trailer which provides both the features of a one-man operated boat tr
REFERENCES:
patent: 2748962 (1956-06-01), Murray
patent: 2905481 (1959-09-01), Schramm
patent: 2919825 (1960-01-01), Hornsby
patent: 3032218 (1962-05-01), Grigonis
patent: 3604579 (1971-09-01), Jenkins
patent: 4286800 (1981-09-01), Lomas
patent: 4589814 (1986-05-01), Cates
patent: 4673328 (1987-06-01), Shiels
Hurley Kevin
Mitchell David M.
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