Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Converting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-06-26
Echols, P. W. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Converting
C029S897200, C296S181700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249948
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to trailers for towing behind a motor vehicle and more particularly to a trailer construction method that includes the steps of a) providing a front wheel drive, uni-body van having two center chassis channel structures each having a tapered channel passageway formed therein; b) cutting the front wheel drive uni-body van just behind the front door frame to create a back trailer portion having a forward back trailer portion opening and two front channel openings into the two center chassis channel structures; c) providing a trailer conversion kit including a trailer frame member with a trailer ball receiving assembly attached to a forward frame member and two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members oriented in parallel with the forward frame member, two channel insertion member shims, a trailer closure panel having a bottom center indentation for receiving therein the two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members, and four securing bolt assembly each including a securing bolt, a lock washer and a lock nut; each of the two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members having two pairs of insertion member securing apertures formed through opposed top and bottom insertion member surfaces; each channel insertion member shim including two elongated lengths of square steel tubing secured together and spaced in parallel orientation by a short length of identical square steel tubing secured therebetween toward the rear facing ends of the two elongated lengths of square steel tubing and a forward height adjustment plate secured between forward facing end of the two elongated lengths of square steel tubing; the forward height adjustment plate having a thickness selected to compensate for the tapering of the tapered channel passageway of the two center chassis channel structures within which it is to be inserted; d) providing four concentrically aligned pairs of trailer frame securing bolt apertures formed through a back trailer portion floor and the two center chassis channel structures; e) inserting the two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members of the trailer frame member into the two tapered channel passageway of the two center chassis channel structures such that there is a gap between a bottom insertion member surface of each of the channel insertion members and a tapered interior bottom wall of the center chassis channel structure defining each of the tapered channel passageways; f) inserting one of the channel insertion member shims into each of the gaps between the bottom insertion member surface of one of the channel insertion members and the tapered interior bottom wall of one of the center chassis channel structure defining the tapered channel passageway; g) positioning a shaft end of each of the four securing bolts through one of the trailer frame securing bolt apertures drilled through the back trailer portion floor, one of the two pairs of insertion member securing apertures formed through opposed top and bottom insertion member surfaces, between the two elongated lengths of square steel tubing, and through one of the trailer frame securing bolt apertures drilled through the center chassis channel structure; h) positioning a lock washer over each shaft end and then threading a lock nut onto each shaft end to secure the back trailer portion and the trailer frame member together; and i) securing the trailer closure panel to the back trailer portion such that the forward back trailer portion opening is sealed and the two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members of the trailer frame member positioned within the bottom center indentation of the trailer closure panel.
BACKGROUND ART
Many individuals participate in activities wherein they are required to transport large items or a large number of items to a different location. Because many of these individuals have vehicles with a small amount of cargo area, it would be a benefit to have a trailer attachable to a trailer hitch for transporting these items to the desired location. Because it may be necessary to transport these items in inclimate weather, it would be a further benefit to have an enclosed trailer. Although enclosed trailer's protect the items stored within, enclosed trailers can be flimsily built and often constructed using wood or the like riveted to a metal frame. It would be a benefit, therefore, to have a trailer construction method that allowed for the use of a factory constructed chassis having a metal housing and doors constructed of steel for a reasonable price. Because junk vans are often typically crushed and sold for scrap metal, it would be a further benefit to have a trailer construction method that utilized a back portion of a junk front wheel drive van including the hinged back and side doors, the existing brake light system, and the rear axle and shock assembly.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a trailer construction method that includes the steps of a) providing a front wheel drive, uni-body van having two center chassis channel structures each having a tapered channel passageway formed therein; b) cutting the front wheel drive uni-body van just behind the front door frame to create a back trailer portion having a forward back trailer portion opening and two front channel openings into the two center chassis channel structures; c) providing a trailer conversion kit including a trailer frame member with a trailer ball receiving assembly attached to a forward frame member and two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members oriented in parallel with the forward frame member, two channel insertion member shims, a trailer closure panel having a bottom center indentation for receiving therein the two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members, and four securing bolt assembly each including a securing bolt, a lock washer and a lock nut; each of the two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members having two pairs of insertion member securing apertures formed through opposed top and bottom insertion member surfaces; each channel insertion member shim including two elongated lengths of square steel tubing secured -together and spaced in parallel orientation by a short length of identical square steel tubing secured therebetween toward the rear facing ends of the two elongated lengths of square steel tubing and a forward height adjustment plate secured between forward facing end of the two elongated lengths of square steel tubing; the forward height adjustment plate having a thickness selected to compensate for the tapering of the tapered channel passageway of the two center chassis channel structures within which it is to be inserted; d) providing four concentrically aligned pairs of trailer frame securing bolt apertures formed through a back trailer portion floor and the two center chassis channel structures; e) inserting the two spaced parallel oriented channel insertion members of the trailer frame member into the two tapered channel passageway of the two center chassis channel structures such that there is a gap between a bottom insertion member surface of each of the channel insertion members and a tapered interior bottom wall of the center chassis channel structure defining each of the tapered channel passageways; f) inserting one of the channel insertion member shims into each of the gaps between the bottom insertion member surface of one of the channel insertion members and the tapered interior bottom wall of one of the center chassis channel structure defining the tapered channel passageway; g) positioning a shaft end of each of the four securing bolts through one of the trailer frame securing bolt apertures drilled through the back trailer portion floor, one of the two pairs of insertion member securing apertures formed through opposed top and bottom insertion member surfaces, between the two elongated lengths of square steel tubing, and through one of the trailer frame securing bolt apertures drilled through the center chassi
Blount Steven A
Echols P. W.
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