Patent classifications
F16F1/3686
Lightweight trailer
A trailer includes a trailer frame using suspension cables supported from vertically extending towers on opposite sides of the trailer frame and connected to distal ends of the trailer frame for supporting distal portions of the trailer frame. The trailer bed frame comprises a plurality of folding frame sections which can be unfolded into planar alignment to form the trailer frame and folded into an overlapping or stacked alignment for storage. Left and right wheels are rotatably mounted on left and right suspensions which are removably securable to left and right sides of the trailer frame. The suspensions comprise quarter elliptical leaf spring suspensions formed from curved upper and lower leaf springs spaced apart by inner and outer spacers.
Resiliently flexible composite articles with overmolded rigid portions
Resiliently flexible articles include a resiliently flexible element, a first rigid element, and a second rigid element. The resiliently flexible element is formed of a fiber reinforced polymeric composite. The first rigid element is formed of a first thermoplastic composition and at least a portion of the first rigid element is bonded, such as by an overmolding process, onto a first portion of the resiliently flexible element. Similarly, the second rigid element is formed of a second thermoplastic composition and at least a portion of the second rigid element is bonded, such as by an overmolding process, onto a second portion of the resiliently flexible element. The resiliently flexible articles can be useful as springs, limbs, living hinges, and the like.