Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Wheeled vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-16
2002-10-15
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Particular article accommodation
Wheeled vehicle
C410S003000, C410S004000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06464436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to trailers, and more specifically relates to a trailer for transporting walk-behind greensmowers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional walk-behind greensmower
10
is shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
. Referring to
FIGS. 1A and 1B
, walk-behind greensmower
10
comprises an engine
11
and an intermediary drive mechanism
12
, both supported by a frame
13
. Intermediary drive mechanism
12
interconnects engine
11
with a rear drive roller
14
. A wheel axle
15
a
and a wheel axle
15
b
extend into rear drive roller
14
with a wheel
16
a
being removably mounted to wheel axle
15
a
, and a wheel
16
b
being removably mounted to wheel axle
15
b
. Intermediary drive mechanism
12
also interconnects engine
11
with a cutting reel drive
17
, and a leading edge of a bed knife
18
is positioned adjacent to cutting reel drive
17
. A free-wheeling front roller
19
is rotatably mounted to a front end of frame
13
, and a vertical adjustment mechanism (not shown) enables a user of greensmower
10
to raise or lower front roller
19
relative to frame
13
. A free-wheeling grass conditioning roller
20
is also rotatably mounted to a front end of frame
13
, and an additional vertical adjustment mechanism (not shown) enables a user of greensmower
10
to raise or lower grass conditioning roller
20
relative to frame
13
.
One type of trailer known in the art for transporting greensmower
10
secures greensmower
10
to the trailer by clamping frame
13
, wheel axle
15
a
after wheel
16
a
has been dismounted from wheel axle
15
a
, and wheel axle
15
b
after wheel
16
b
has been dismounted from wheel axle
15
b
. Frame
13
, wheel axle
15
a
, and wheel axle
15
b
are clamped in a manner that abuts front roller
19
against the trailer bed, and suspends rear drive roller
14
, cutting reel drive
17
, bed knife
18
, and grass conditioning roller
20
above the trailer bed. A disadvantage with the clamping type of prior art trailers for greensmower
10
is the clamps are constructed, dimensioned, and positioned on the trailer bed as a function of the specific construction and dimensions of greensmower
10
. As a result, it is impractical to utilize a clamping type trailer for greensmower
10
to transport an alternative model of greensmowers having a dissimilar construction and/or significantly different dimensions. Consequently, a maintenance crew for a golf course must maintain a separate clamping type trailer for each procured model of greensmower, and therefore the overall cost for maintaining a golf course can therefore be significantly inflated. Another disadvantage is the inability to minimize, if not prevent, an alteration in an alignment of one or both vertical adjustment mechanisms of greensmower
10
as greensmower
10
is being transported due to the abutment of front roller
19
with the trailer bed and sporadic contact between grass conditioning roller
20
and the trailer bed.
Another type of trailer known in the art for transporting greensmower
10
has a bedliner positioned within a cargo box of a trailer. The bedliner is configured to seat wheel axle
15
a
and wheel axle
15
b
after wheels
16
a
and
16
b
have been dismounted therefrom, respectively. With this seating arrangement, front roller
19
abuts the floor of the bedliner, and rear drive roller
14
, cutting reel drive
17
, bed knife
18
, and grass conditioning roller
20
are suspended above the floor of the bedliner. A disadvantage with the seating types of prior art trailers for greensmower
10
is the wheel axle seats are constructed, dimensioned, and positioned on the bedliner as a function of the specific construction and dimensions of greensmower
10
. As a result, it is impractical to utilize a bedliner for greensmower
10
to transport an alternative model of greensmowers having a dissimilar construction and/or significantly different dimensions. Consequently, a maintenance crew for a golf course must maintain a separate bedliner for each procured model of greensmower, and the overall cost for maintaining a golf course can therefore be significantly inflated. Another disadvantage is the inability to minimize, if not prevent, an alteration in an alignment of one or both vertical adjustment mechanisms of greensmower
10
as greensmower
10
is being transported due to the abutment of front roller
19
with the floor of the bedliner and sporadic contact between grass conditioning roller
20
and the floor of the bedliner.
Therefore, there is a primary need for a greensmower trailer that can be utilized to transport any model of greensmower. There is also a secondary need for a greensmower trailer that minimizes, if not prevents, an alteration in an alignment of one or both vertical adjustment mechanisms of a transported greensmower.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a greensmower trailer that addresses the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the prior art. Various aspects of the present invention are novel, non-obvious, and provide various advantages. While the actual nature of the present invention described in detail herein can only be determined with reference to the claims appended hereto, certain features which are characteristic of the present invention disclosed herein can be described briefly.
One embodiment of the present invention is a trailer for transporting a variety of models of greensmowers comprising a deck and a universal coupler. The deck supports a greensmower. The universal coupler secures the greensmower to the deck, and includes a latch assembly and a brace. The latch assembly is adjoined to the deck, and the brace is securable by the latch assembly. The brace is constructed to be adjoined to a first set of one or more models of greensmowers.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a trailer for transporting a variety of models of greensmowers comprising a deck and a universal coupler. The deck supports a greensmower, and includes a first portion and a second portion rearwardly and downwardly extending from the first portion. The universal coupler is adjoined to the deck and is constructed to bc adjoined to the greensmower for securing the greensmower to the deck. A rear driver roller of the greensmower abuts the first portion of the deck when the greensmower is secured to the deck. A cutting reel drive, a bed knife, a front roller, and a grass condition roller of the greensmower are suspended above the second portion of the deck when the greensmower is secured to the deck.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a trailer for transporting a variety of models of greensmower comprising a deck, a universal coupler, a first wheel, a first bumper, a second wheel, and a second bumper. The deck supports a greensmower. The universal coupler is adjoined to the deck and is constructed to be adjoined to the greensmower for securing the greensmower to the deck. The first wheel and the second wheel are rotatably adjoined to the deck. The first bumper is adjoined to the deck and adjacent a tread of the first wheel. The second bumper is adjoined to the deck and adjacent a tread of the second wheel.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a trailer for transporting a variety of models of greensmower comprising a deck, a universal coupler, a ramp, and a ramp prop. The deck supports a greensmower. The universal coupler is adjoined to the deck and is constructed to be adjoined to the greensmower for securing the greensmower to the deck. The ramp is slidably adjoined to the deck, and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The ramp prop is adjoined to the deck, and upholds a portion of the ramp adjacent the deck when the ramp is in the extended position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and unique trailer for transporting a variety of models of greensmowers.
Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred e
Gordon Stephen T.
GreensGroomer Worldwide, Inc.
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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