IP Library Granted Patent US 9,290,215
Granted Patent B2
US 9,290,215 · App. 13/667,322 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

High tonnage trailer combination, trailer components, and method of use

Inventor: Francis V. Smith (Bozeman, MT)
B62D53/061B60D1/14B60D1/483B60P1/4471B60P3/062B62D53/00B62D53/067B62D61/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,290,215
App. No.
13/667,322
Granted
Mar 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trailer combination and trailer components are designed to provide dual functionality in terms of hauling a very high tonnage piece of heavy equipment and the ability to continue to haul more typical pieces of heavy equipment. To accomplish this task, a trailer auxiliary is provided that is adapted to connect to a typical low boy trailer. The trailer auxiliary is equipped with mechanisms to provide a bed assembly that is designed to link to the low boy trailer so that the bed assembly and bed of the trailer auxiliary receive the high tonnage piece of equipment. The trailer auxiliary can be equipped with ramps to interface with the trailer and auxiliary to facilitate the loading of the heavy equipment. The trailer combination also includes a hauling vehicle for each of the low boy trailer and auxiliary, with a spacing bar assembly mounted to one of the vehicles to link the vehicles together when hauling the trailer and the auxiliary.

Claims (18)

1. A u-shaped trailer auxiliary comprising:

opposing sides,

a rear section having a width extending between the opposing sides,

an axle assembly mounted to the rear section, the axle assembly extending across the width of the rear section, and

means to link the u-shaped trailer auxiliary to a low boy trailer,

the opposing sides and the rear section forming a u-shape and defining a space between the opposing sides and rear section sized to receive a low boy trailer.

2. The u-shaped trailer auxiliary of claim 1 , wherein the linking means are a plurality of grab hook assemblies mounted to the auxiliary trailer, a grab hook of each assembly adapted to engage a member on the low boy trailer for linking purposes.

3. The u-shaped trailer auxiliary of claim 2 , wherein the grab hook assemblies are mounted on each side of the u-shaped trailer auxiliary.

4. The u-shaped trailer auxiliary of claim 3 , wherein the grab hook assemblies are mounted on a center portion of the rear section of the u-shaped trailer auxiliary.

5. The u-shaped trailer auxiliary of claim 1 , wherein the linking means include means to link the u-shaped trailer auxiliary to a center portion of the rear section of the low boy trailer.

6. The u-shaped trailer auxiliary of claim 1 , wherein each side of the u-shaped trailer auxiliary includes a ramp.

7. The u-shaped trailer auxiliary of claim 1 , wherein the rear section is fixed in width.

8. A method of hauling a piece of equipment comprising:

providing a low boy trailer,

providing the u-shaped trailer auxiliary of claim 1 ,

positioning the low boy trailer inside a space created by the u-shaped trailer auxiliary and linking the low boy trailer to the u-shaped trailer auxiliary to form a trailer combination, and

loading the equipment on the trailer combination and hitching a hauling vehicle to a hitch of the low boy trailer and hauling the trailer combination to a location.

9. A trailer combination comprising a low boy trailer and the u-shaped auxiliary of claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2022
From: TOWHAUL CORPORATION
To: GROUND FORCE MANUFACTURING LLC
Reel/Frame 061704/0669 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2022
From: SMITH, FRANCIS V.
To: TOWHAUL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061704/0744 →
Continuity (3)
Division 12453192 · May 1, 2009
Provisional Application 61071505 · May 2, 2008
Related Publication 20130058755A1 · Mar 7, 2013