Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Body shell
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-02-13
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Body shell
C296S173000, C296S100080, C296S100020, C296S100100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186580
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to trailer, and in particular, to a support structure for supporting a canopy on a trailer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is known, it is conventional to interconnect a trailer to a tow vehicle in order to transport various loads over a distance. By way of example, such loads may include snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and the like. In order to protect a load during transport, a trailer cover or canopy may be positioned on the trailer over the load.
A trailer canopy is relatively heavy in order to maintain the canopy on the trailer during the transport thereof. However, it is often desirable to gain access to the load within the canopy at intermittent time periods during transport of the trailer. Due to the weight associated with the canopy, it may be difficult to gain access to the load captured therein. Typically, the canopy must either be completely removed from the trailer, or alternatively, pivoted on one end of the trailer so as to allow access from the opposite end. While such an arrangement allows access to the portion of the load at one end of the trailer, it may be difficult or impossible to access the opposite end of the load since that portion of the load may still be partially or completely covered by the canopy.
In order to overcome such limitations in the art, mounting arrangements have been developed which allowed for the canopy to be tilted on the trailer toward the front and also toward the rear of the trailer thereby allowing access to the load at either the rear and the front of the trailer, respectively. By way of example, Christensen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,074 discloses a trailer cover arm for assisting in the opening of a trailer cover or canopy and supporting the canopy in an open position. The arm assembly disclosed in the Christensen '074 patent includes four elongated members interconnected to form a parallelogram shape. First and second elongated gas springs are placed within the parallelogram member to assist an operator in the opening and supporting of the canopy in the open position. While functional for its intended purpose, such an arm assembly requires numerous parts and may be time consuming to assemble. Consequently, it is highly desirable to provide a support structure for a canopy of a trailer which allows for “two-way” pivoting of the canopy on the trailer and which is less expensive to manufacture.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a support structure for a canopy of a trailer which is constructed from fewer components than prior support structures.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a support structure for a canopy of a trailer which allows the canopy to be tilted toward the front and also toward the rear of the trailer.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a canopy for a trailer which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a support structure is provided for supporting a canopy on a trailer. The supports structure includes a first support arm having a first and second opposite ends. The first end is pivotably connected to the canopy. A first end of an intermediate support arm is pivotably connected to a second end of the first support arm. The first end of a third support arm is pivotably connected to the second end of the intermediate support arm and the second end of the third support arm is pivotably connected to the trailer.
It is contemplated that a pneumatic spring interconnect the first support arm and the intermediate support arm. The pneumatic spring urges the first end of the first support arm away from the intermediate support arm. A second pneumatic spring interconnects the third support arm and the intermediate support arm. The second pneumatic spring urges the first end of the intermediate support arm away from the second end of the third support arm.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a support assembly is provided for supporting a canopy on a trailer. The support assembly includes first and second support structures. Each support structure includes a first support arm having first and second opposite ends. The first end is pivotably connected to the canopy. An intermediate support arm has a first end pivotably connected to the second end of the first support arm. The second end of the intermediate support arm is pivotably connected to the first end of a third support arm. The second end of the third support arm is pivotably connected to the trailer.
Each support structure may include a pneumatic spring. The pneumatic spring of each support structure interconnects the first support arm and intermediate support arm thereof. Each pneumatic spring has a first end pivotably connected to a corresponding first support arm and a second end pivotably connected to the intermediate support arm. Each support structure may also include a second pneumatic spring. The second pneumatic spring of each support structure interconnects the intermediate support arm and the third support arm thereof. Each pneumatic spring has a first end pivotably connected to a corresponding intermediate support arm and the second end pivotably connected to a corresponding third support arm.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a trailer is provided for transporting a load. The trailer includes a frame structure extending along a longitudinal axis. The frame structure is supported above the supporting surface by a wheel and axle assembly. A bed is mounted on the frame structure. The bed has forward and rearward ends and is defined by first and second sides. A canopy is positioned on the bed. The canopy also has forward and rearward ends. A support structure interconnects the canopy on the bed. The support structure includes a first support arm having first and second opposite ends. The first end is pivotably connected to the canopy. An intermediate support arm is also provided. The first end of the intermediate support arm is pivotably connected to the second end of the first support arm and the second end of the intermediate support arm is pivotably connected to the first end of a third support arm. The second end of the third support arm is pivotably connected to the trailer.
It is contemplated to provide a first releasable hinge for releasably interconnecting the forward end of the canopy to the forward end of the bed and a second releasable hinge to releasably interconnecting the rearward end of the canopy to the rearward end of the bed.
It is contemplated that the canopy include first and second opposite sides. Each side of the canopy terminates at an elongated generally U-shaped bracket. First and second side rails extend along opposite sides of the bed. Each side rail is receivable within a corresponding U-shaped bracket.
It is still further contemplated that the support structure include a first pneumatic spring having a first end pivotably connected to the first support arm and a second end pivotably connected to the intermediate support arm. A second pneumatic spring is also provided. The second pneumatic spring has the first end pivotably connected to the intermediate support arm and the second end pivotably connected to the third support arm.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2531140 (1950-11-01), Linde
patent: 2843418 (1958-07-01), Gray
patent: 3403936 (1968-10-01), Young
patent: 3514150 (1970-05-01), Wallace
patent: 3700124 (1972-10-01), Lawrance
patent: 3721467 (1973-03-01), Kerr
patent: 3765716 (1973-10-01), Van Gompel
patent: 3768855 (1973-10-01), Laue
patent: 4101162 (1978-07-01), Koehn
patent: 5104175 (1992-04-01), Enninga
patent: 5366266 (1994-11-01), Harbison
patent: 5505515 (1996-04-01), Turner
patent: 5681074 (1997-10-01), Christensen
patent: 5909921 (1999-06-01), Nesbeth
patent: 5988728 (1999-11-01), Lund et al.
Nothem Jeffrey M.
Priesgen Tony P.
Janson, Shupe, Bridge & Munger, Ltd.
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran
Triton Corporation
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