Material or article handling – Self-loading or unloading vehicles – Conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-23
2001-02-13
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Self-loading or unloading vehicles
Conveyor
C014S071100, C296S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186734
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a detachable tail for a trailer and more particularly to a detachable tail with an improved attaching and detaching mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Standard flatbed trailers of the type pulled by semi-trailer trucks typically load from the side. A detachable tail has been known to be bolted to the back of such a flatbed trailer for allowing wheeled implements, motorized for mobile vehicles or things which can be pulled on and off to be loaded from the rear. This detachable tail essentially provides a ramp for loading and unloading. A major disadvantage of having a tail which is bolted to the rear of a standard flatbed trailer is that it can add 1,000 to 2,000 pounds to the pay load limits of what the trailer can haul, i.e. it reduces the amount that the trailer can haul because of the additional weight of the detachable tail itself. And for a tail which bolts on and off, it is extremely inconvenient to remove it when it is desired to haul a normal payload which does not need to be loaded from the rear.
A detachable tail does however allow for a dual purpose of having a ramp structure for loading wheeled vehicles or the like from the rear or, alternatively removing the detachable tail and having a standard flatbed trailer which can be loaded from the side without having weight disadvantages from having the detachable tail on it.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a detachable tail which is easier to attach and detach than what has been known in the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a trailer with a detachable tail having a top, a bottom, a front end and a rear end. A pair of female receiving sockets are disposed in the trailer and the detachable tail has a pair of male extension members attached to the front thereof with pin receiving portions thereon for being received in the pair of female receiving sockets. Pins are operatively disposed for being received in a pin receiving portion of the male extension members for holding the tail to the trailer.
Additionally, other aspects of the invention include a rockshaft for holding the pins and moving them in unison between a tail holding position to which these pins are biased and a non-holding position to allow the tail to be removed. A cam locking and moving mechanism is also provided for selectively moving the rockshaft and thereby the pins between the holding position and the non-holding position.
A still further aspect of the invention are removable ramps pivotally attached to the rear of the detachable tail which can be pivoted from a stored position on top of the movable tail to an operable position on a driving surface for allowing wheeled vehicles to be driven or winched thereover and onto the back of the trailer. These ramps also have an adjusting mechanism for allowing them to move toward each other or away from each other to adjust for the width between tires of vehicles which vary considerably between, for example, a passenger vehicle and an agricultural vehicle.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved detachable tail for a trailer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable tail with a mechanism that allows it to be quickly and easily attached or detached from the trailer.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism for quickly, easily and dependably attaching a detachable tail to a trailer.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 4020957 (1977-05-01), Wren
patent: 4088235 (1978-05-01), Thacker
patent: 4144979 (1979-03-01), Leach et al.
patent: 4400005 (1983-08-01), Losh
patent: 5678984 (1997-10-01), Petersen
patent: 5769593 (1998-06-01), Buffaloe
patent: 5971465 (1999-10-01), Ives et al.
Gilchrist Michael C.
Lakes Enterprises, Inc.
Laurenzo Brian J.
O'Connor Gerald J.
Olszewski Robert P.
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