IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,632,891
Granted Patent B2
US 10,632,891 · App. 15/947,761 · Granted Apr 28, 2020

Lift-and-tilt trailer

Inventor: Paul A. Derstine (Thorp, WI)
B60P1/34B60P1/162B62D59/04B62D63/06B66F7/00B66F7/0683B66F11/042B60D1/665B60P1/165B62D63/068
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,632,891
App. No.
15/947,761
Granted
Apr 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trailer lift that rises to high levels that may tilt for loading and unloading. The trailer lift includes a lift-and-tilt mechanism, a trailer base, and a trailer platform. The lift-and-tilt mechanism includes a lower-strut link, an upper-strut link, a support member, a lower lift cylinder, and an upper cylinder. The lower-strut link and the upper-strut link are pivotably and terminally attached to each other. The support member is positioned offset to the lower-strut link and is pivotably attached to the upper-strut link to guide the upper-strut link. The trailer platform is terminally and pivotably connected to the upper-strut link. Similarly, the trailer base is pivotably and terminally connected to the lower-strut link and the support member. The upper lift cylinder is pivotably mounted in between the upper-strut link and the trailer platform. The lower lift cylinder is pivotably mounted between the upper-strut link and the lower-strut link.

Claims (76)

1. A lift-and-tilt trailer comprises:

an at least one lift-and-tilt mechanism;

a trailer base;

a trailer platform;

the lift-and-tilt mechanism comprises a lower-strut link, an upper-strut link, a support member, a lower lift cylinder, and an upper lift cylinder;

the lift-and-tilt mechanism being positioned in between the trailer base and the trailer platform;

the lower-strut link and the upper-strut link being terminally and pivotably attached to each other;

the support member being positioned offset to the lower-strut link along the upper-strut link;

the upper-strut link being terminally and pivotably connected to the support member;

the trailer platform being terminally and pivotably connected to the upper-strut link, opposite the lower-strut link;

the trailer base being terminally and pivotably connected to the lower-strut link and the support member, opposite the upper-strut link;

the upper lift cylinder being pivotably mounted in between the upper-strut link and the trailer platform;

the lower lift cylinder being pivotably mounted in between the lower-strut link and the upper-strut link;

a plurality of lower crossmembers;

a plurality of upper crossmembers;

the at least one lift-and-tilt mechanism comprises a first linkage and a second linkage;

the first linkage and the second linkage being oriented parallel to each other;

the first linkage and the second linkage being positioned offset to each other across the trailer base and the trailer platform;

the plurality of lower crossmembers being distributed along the lower-strut link of the first linkage and the lower-strut link of the second linkage;

each of the plurality of lower crossmembers being connected in between the lower-strut link of the first linkage and the lower-strut link of the second linkage;

the plurality of upper crossmembers being distributed along the upper-strut link of the first linkage and the upper-strut link of the second linkage;

each of the plurality of upper crossmembers being connected in between the upper-strut link of the first linkage and the upper-strut link of the second linkage;

an initial lift cylinder;

wherein the lift-and-tilt mechanism, the trailer platform, and the trailer base are configured into a collapsed configuration;

the trailer platform being positioned parallel and adjacent to the trailer base;

the initial lift cylinder being positioned in between the first linkage and the second linkage;

a first end of the initial lift cylinder is perpendicularly connected to a select lower member from the plurality of lower crossmembers; and

a second end of the initial lift cylinder being pressed against a select upper member from the plurality of upper crossmembers.

2. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the trailer platform being pivotably connected to the upper-strut link about a first axis;

the upper-strut link and the lower-strut link being pivotably connected to each other about a second axis;

the trailer base being pivotably connected to the lower-strut link about a third axis;

the trailer base being pivotably connected to the support member about a fourth axis;

the upper-strut link being pivotably connected to the support member about a fifth axis;

the first axis, the second axis, the third axis, the fourth axis, and the fifth axis being oriented parallel to each other;

the third axis and the fourth axis being positioned offset to each other along the trailer base; and

the second axis and the fifth axis being positioned offset to each other along the upper-strut link.

3. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 2 comprises:

a first end of the upper lift cylinder and a second end of the lower lift cylinder being positioned offset to each other along the upper-strut link;

the first end of the upper lift cylinder being pivotably mounted to the upper-strut link, adjacent to the first axis;

a second end of the upper lift cylinder being positioned offset to the first axis along the trailer platform; and

the second end of the upper lift cylinder being pivotably mounted to the trailer platform.

4. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 2 comprises:

a first end of the upper lift cylinder and a second end of the lower lift cylinder being positioned offset to each other along the upper-strut link;

the second end of the lower lift cylinder being pivotably mounted to the upper-strut link, adjacent to the second axis;

a first end of the lower lift cylinder being pivotably mounted to the lower-strut link, adjacent to the second axis; and

the fourth axis being positioned in between the second end of the lower lift cylinder and the second axis.

5. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the trailer base comprises a structural frame, an at least one pair of wheels, and a plurality of drop-legs;

the plurality of drop-legs being perimetrically distributed about the structural frame;

each of the plurality of drop-legs being oriented normal to the structural frame;

each of the plurality of drop-legs being laterally mounted to the structural frame;

the pair of wheels being coaxially positioned opposite to each other, across the structural frame; and

each of the pair of wheels being laterally and rotatably mounted to the structural frame.

6. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

an electric generator;

an at least one hydraulic pump;

the lower lift cylinder and the upper lift cylinder being a hydraulic lift;

the hydraulic pump and the electric generator being mounted to the trailer base;

the hydraulic pump, the lower lift cylinder, and the upper lift cylinder being in fluid communication with each other; and

the electric generator being electrically connected to the hydraulic pump.

7. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a triangular-shaped frame;

a drive wheel assembly;

the drive wheel assembly comprises a U-shaped frame, a first motorized wheel, a second motorized wheel, a control lift cylinder, and a mounting arm;

the triangular-shaped frame being laterally connected to the trailer base;

the drive wheel assembly being positioned within the triangular-shaped frame;

the first motorized wheel being perpendicularly and rotatably mounted to a first leg of the U-shaped frame;

the second motorized wheel being perpendicularly and rotatably mounted to a second leg of the U-shaped frame;

the mounting arm being rotatably and centrally mounted to a connecting web of the U-shaped frame;

the triangular-shaped frame being terminally and rotatably connected to the mounting arm, opposite to the U-shaped frame; and

the control lift cylinder being pivotably mounted in between the mounting arm and the triangular-shaped frame.

8. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 7 comprises:

a trailer hitch coupler;

the trailer hitch coupler being positioned adjacent to the triangular-shaped frame, opposite to the trailer base; and

the trailer hitch coupler being laterally connected to the triangular-shaped frame.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62482521 · Apr 6, 2017
Related Publication 20180290581A1 · Oct 11, 2018
Cited By (3)
US 12,208,845 US 12,257,893 US 12,686,452