Abstract
A movable storage system provides a repositionable storage location for livestock tack, including saddles and blankets. The system is particularly well suited for horse trailers and other types of transport trailers. The system includes a pivotably movable upright panel or wall that is fitted with horizontal storage arms or shelves for supporting various equipment and tack. The system can be repositioned at different angular positions relative to the upright stationary walls of the trailer, as desired. The system includes hinges coupling one side of the storage system to the trailer to provide a vertical pivot axis about which the system is pivotable. Latches are provided to secure the system at a desired angular position within the trailer. Storage compartments and gates may be included with the storage system.
Claims
1. A moveable tack wall for a transport trailer, said moveable tack wall comprising: a pivotable upright wall coupled to an interior of the trailer and extending upward from a floor of the trailer, said pivotable wall is moveable between a plurality of angular positions relative to stationary upright walls of the trailer; a plurality of saddle racks extending from a face of said pivotable wall; a plurality of equipment support bars extending from said face of said pivotable wall; a latch pin coupled to a portion of said pivotable wall and spaced apart from a pivot axis of said pivotable wall; and a plurality of pin receivers disposed in spaced arrangement along a surface within the interior of the trailer, the positions of said plurality of pin receivers within the interior of the trailer define said plurality of angular positions for said pivotable wall and each of said plurality of pin receivers provides a latching point for said pivotable wall; wherein said latch pin is configured to selectively engage one of said plurality of pin receivers.
2. The moveable tack wall of claim 1, further comprising an upper pivot element and a lower pivot element disposed on one side of said pivotable wall and respectively coupled to the floor and a ceiling of the trailer, said upper pivot element and said lower pivot element defining a vertical pivot axis of said pivotable wall.
3. The movable tack wall of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hinges coupling a side of said pivotable wall to a vertical support of a livestock corral at the interior of the trailer, said vertical support disposed vertically between a ceiling and the floor of the trailer.
4. The movable tack wall of claim 1, further comprising a removable gate configured to form a barrier along an opening defined between said pivotable wall and a stationary upright wall of the trailer.
5. The moveable tack wall of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to said latch pin and operable to move said latch pin to engage or release said latch pin at one of said pin receivers.
6. The moveable tack wall of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of pin receivers comprises a latch plate disposed at at least one of the floor of the trailer and a ceiling of the trailer, said latch plates each comprising a receiver slot to receive a portion of said latch pin.
7. A transport trailer comprising said moveable tack wall of claim 1.
8. A moveable tack wall for a transport trailer, said moveable tack wall comprising: an upright panel pivotably mounted at an interior of the trailer and pivotable about a vertical pivot axis proximate one side of said upright panel to selectively position said upright panel at one of a plurality of angular positions; a plurality of storage arms extending from a face of said upright panel and configured for storing equipment; a latch pin coupled to said upright panel and spaced apart from said vertical pivot axis; a plurality of pin receivers positioned in a spaced arrangement along at least one chosen from a floor and a ceiling of the trailer adjacent to said upright panel, wherein the positions of said plurality of pin receivers define said plurality of angular positions for said upright panel and each of said plurality pin receivers providing a latching point for said upright panel; and a handle coupled to said latch pin and operable to move said latch pin to selectively engage or release said latch pin at one of said plurality of pin receivers.
9. The moveable tack wall of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of pin receivers comprises a latch plate comprising a receiver slot configured to receive a portion of said latch pin.
10. The moveable tack wall of claim 8, further comprising an equipment hanger bracket coupled to said upright panel, said equipment hanger bracket comprising a hollow, elongate main hanger body and an equipment support finger coupled to a portion of said main hanger body.
11. The moveable tack wall of claim 10, wherein said main hanger body defines a U-shaped cutout, wherein said equipment support finger is formed by a portion of said main hanger body in the center of said U-shaped cutout.
12. The moveable tack wall of claim 8, further comprising an upper pivot and a lower pivot disposed on one side of said upright panel and each coupled to a portion of the trailer, said upper and lower pivots defining said vertical pivot axis.
13. The moveable tack wall of claim 12, wherein said upper and lower pivots comprise barrel hinges disposed between said side of said upright panel and a vertical support that is disposed vertically at an interior of the trailer.
14. The moveable tack wall of claim 12, wherein said upper and lower pivots comprise cup and cone bearings disposed between said side of said upright panel and respective ones of a floor and a ceiling of the trailer.
15. The moveable tack wall of claim 8, wherein said plurality of storage arms comprise at least one of a saddle platform for supporting a saddle and an elongate bar for supporting livestock tack.
16. The moveable tack wall of claim 8, further comprising a removable gate configured to form a barrier along an opening defined between said upright panel and a stationary upright wall of the trailer.
17. The moveable tack wall of claim 8, further in combination with the transport trailer.
18. The moveable tack wall and transport trailer of claim 17, further comprising a removable wheel cover for covering a wheel section at the exterior of said trailer while said trailer is not in transport, and wherein said upright panel defines a portion of a compartment configured to receive said wheel cover.
19. The moveable tack wall and transport trailer of claim 18, wherein said wheel cover comprises a support bracket for coupling said wheel cover to the exterior of said trailer.
20. The movable tack wall and transport trailer of claim 7, further comprising a removable wheel cover for covering a wheel section at the exterior of said trailer while said trailer is not in transport, and said pivotable wall defining a portion of a compartment that defines a storage space and is configured to receive and secure said wheel cover, said wheel cover comprising a support bracket for coupling said wheel cover to the exterior of said trailer.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a movable storage system in accordance with the present invention;
(2) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the movable storage system of FIG. 1 disposed in a rear portion of a transport trailer, depicting the movable storage system in a transport configuration;
(3) FIG. 3 is another top plan view of the movable storage system of FIG. 2, depicting the movable storage system in a tacking configuration;
(4) FIG. 4 is another top plan view of the movable storage system of FIG. 2, depicting the movable storage system in a load/unload or access configuration;
(5) FIG. 5 is a front view of the movable storage system of FIG. 1;
(6) FIG. 6 is a right side view of the movable storage system of FIG. 1;
(7) FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the movable storage system of FIG. 1 disposed in a transport trailer, depicting the movable storage system in the tacking configuration;
(8) FIG. 8 is another rear perspective view of the movable storage system of FIG. 7, depicting the storage system in the load/unload or access configuration;
(9) FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a plurality of bridle hangers disposed on the movable storage system of FIG. 1;
(10) FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the bridle hangers of FIG. 9; and
(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a wheel cover sized and shaped to fit within a compartment of the movable storage system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(12) Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a movable storage system or tack wall 10 provides a storage location within a transport trailer 12 for storing various types of equipment such as livestock tack, e.g. saddles 14, blankets 15, leads, headstalls, etc. The storage system 10 may be utilized with various types of transport trailers or vehicles, such as livestock trailers, campers, recreational vehicles, and the like. The storage system 10 may be coupled to the trailer 12 such that it is accessible from an interior or an exterior of the trailer 12. The storage system 10 is particularly well suited for use with horse transport trailers for storage of saddles 14 and other tack while allowing for repositioning of the storage system 10 to provide access to the various portions of the horse trailer and ergonomic access to the load or unload saddles 14 and tack thereon. The storage system 10 is repositionable within the trailer 12 for various activities, including for loading and unloading livestock into the trailer 12, for storing or removing equipment from the storage system 10, and for transport of the trailer 12.
(13) As shown in the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, the movable storage system 10 includes a vertical panel 16 defining a moveable wall or door, which is pivotably mountable within the interior of the transport trailer 12. The panel 16 is pivotably coupled to a portion of the interior of the trailer 12 to enable the storage system 10 to be selectively pivoted about a vertical pivot axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical pivot axis is proximate a left side 16b of the vertical panel 16 when viewing the panel 16 from the rear of the trailer 12 (FIGS. 1-5 and 7-8). The storage system 10 includes a plurality of storage arms or shelves, including elongated saddle platform arms or racks 18 and elongated bar arms 20 for supporting various types of equipment, such as blankets 15 and leads. The storage arms 18, 20 are fixed to at least one face of the panel 16, such as a rear face 16a of the panel 16, such that the storage arms 18, 20 are extend generally horizontal and outward from the vertical panel 16. The storage arms 18, 20 may be inclined and extend from the panel 16 at an upward angle relative to the floor of the trailer to retain equipment and prevent the equipment from accidently sliding off of the storage arms 18, 20. Optionally, the storage arms 18, 20 may be movable vertically relative to the vertical panel 16 to adjust the height of the stored equipment to make loading and unloading at each storage arm 18, 20 easier.
(14) The storage system 10 includes hinges 22 to pivotably couple the panel 16 to a vertical support 24 that is disposed in the trailer 12 (FIGS. 1-5). The vertical pivot axis of the storage system 10 is defined by the pivoting axis of the hinges 22. In the illustrated embodiments, the vertical support 24 defines a portion of a livestock corral or living quarter 26, such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 10,568,297, issued on Feb. 25, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The hinges 22 may be barrel hinges or other types of hinges or pivot elements, such as cone and cup bearings. In an alternative embodiment, hinges may be disposed in the ceiling and the floor of the trailer 12, to pivotably support the storage system 10 directly at the ceiling and the floor of the trailer 12.
(15) The movable storage system 10 is pivotably repositionable to a plurality of angular positions within the trailer 12 to provide access to storage system 10 and the various portions of the trailer's interior. Angular positions of the system 10 include a transport configuration 10a depicted in FIGS. 2 and 7, a tacking configuration 10b depicted in FIG. 3, and an access configuration 10c depicted in FIGS. 4 and 8. When the storage system is in the transport configuration 10a, the vertical panel 16 is at an oblique angle relative to the upright sidewalls 12a, 12b and rear end 12c of the trailer 12 (FIG. 2). In the transport configuration 10a, the vertical panel 16 cooperates with the corral 26 and functions as a stall wall to contain and/or support a rear quarter of the animal contained within the corral 26, such as in the event that the animal stumbles or slides backward toward the rear of the trailer 12 (FIG. 2). When the storage system is in the tacking configuration 10b, the vertical panel 16 is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls 12a, 12b of the trailer and parallel to the rear end 12c of the trailer (FIG. 3).
(16) In the tacking configuration 10b, a user is able to load or unload equipment on to the storage arms 18, 20 while standing inside of the trailer 12. The user is able to ergonomically lift the equipment substantially without straining to reach at an awkward angle or position relative to the storage system 10, providing for safe and efficient loading and unloading of equipment. As shown in FIG. 4, when the storage system is in the access configuration 10c, the vertical panel 16 is positioned at an oblique angle, relative to the rear end 12c, that is substantially greater than the oblique angle of the panel 16 in the transport configuration 10b. In the access configuration 10c, an access opening 28 is created between the panel 16 and sidewall 12b to allow livestock or users to enter into living quarter 26 or the interior space of the trailer forward of the storage system 10 (FIGS. 4 and 8). A gate or “butt bar” 30 may be provided to form a barrier along the access opening 28 to temporarily pen livestock into the trailer 12 while the storage system 10 is in the access configuration 10c (FIG. 8).
(17) As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5-6, the storage system 10 includes an upper latching pin 32a and a lower latching pins 32b disposed respectively at upper and lower portions of a right side 16c of the vertical panel 16. The latching pins 32a, 32b may be manually operated and/or spring loaded pins that are spring-biased to extend and engage a portion of the trailer 12 to secure the storage system 10 at one of the plurality of angular positions. The latching pins 32a, 32b are selectively operable (via handles or knobs 33a and 33b) to release the storage system 10 for repositioning it to a different configuration. As an example, the upper latching pin 32a may be a spring-biased pin and the lower latching pin 32b may be a gravity-biased pin. Thus, to operate the latch pins 32a, 32b when repositioning the storage system 10, a user lifts the handle 33b corresponding to the lower latch pin 32b (against gravity) and lowers the handle 33a corresponding to the upper latch pin 32a (against spring force). Once the storage system 10 is in the desired configuration, the user releases the handles 33a and 33b and the upper latch pin 32a raises due to the spring force and the lower latch pin 32b falls due to gravity.
(18) As shown in FIGS. 2-4, a plurality of latching points 34a, 34b, and 34c are disposed in spaced arrangement within the trailer 12 to provide receiver locations that receive the latch pins 32a and 32b when the vertical panel 16 is positioned at an angular position (configuration) corresponding to one of the latching points 34a, 34b, 34c. The locations of the latching points 34a, 34b, and 34c each define a set angular position of the storage system 10. When the latch pins 32a, 32b engage a forward or transport latching point 34a, the storage system 10 is in the tacking configuration 10b (FIG. 3). When the latch pins 32 engage a middle or tacking latching point 34b, the storage system 10 is in the transport configuration 10a (FIG. 2). When the latch pins 32 engage a rearward or access latching point 34c, the storage system 10 is in the access configuration 10c (FIG. 4). Each latching point 34a, 34b, and 34c includes one latch plate 34 disposed in the floor of the trailer 12 and one latch plate disposed in the ceiling of the trailer 12, such that each corresponding pair of plates are vertically aligned with one another. Each latch plate 34 includes a hole 35 that defines a receiver slot that is sized and shaped to receive the extending end of a respective latch pin 32a, 32b. It will be appreciated that a single latch pin and single latch plate may be sufficient to secure the storage system 10 at a desired configuration. For example, the upper latch pin 32a and the ceiling latch plate(s) may be omitted such that only the lower latch pin 32b and latch plate(s) 34 on the floor at latching points 34a, 43b, and 34c are provided to secure the storage system 10 in the transport configuration (FIG. 2), the tacking configuration (FIG. 3), or the access configuration (FIG. 4).
(19) The storage system 10 includes a compartment 36 to store large, narrow or flat equipment, such as trailer wheel covers 38 (FIGS. 1 and 5-8). The compartment 36 is defined by a narrow vertical opening proximate the right side 16c of the vertical panel 16. The compartment 36 at least partially defines rear face 16a of the panel 16 and may extend from the bottom of the panel 16 to the top, and toward the left side 16b of the panel. The wheel cover 38 is provided for covering the wheels of the trailer 12 so that livestock animals near the exterior of trailer cannot fidget with the wheels or extends their bodies or limbs under the wheel wells of the trailer (FIGS. 2-4 and 7-8). The wheel cover 38, as best shown in FIG. 11, may be dimensioned and shaped to cover various sizes of wheel well opening sections of the trailer, such as for single, double, or triple axle trailers, for example. The wheel cover may be formed of metal, plastic, wood, or the like, such that it is durable and resilient yet lightweight to allow a single user to carry the wheel cover 38. The wheel cover 38 includes cutouts 39 to receive or fit over wheel hubs of the wheels of the trailer 12 and a handle cutout 41 to provide a grip or handle for a user to transport the wheel cover 38 (FIG. 11).
(20) Referring to FIGS. 2-4, 7-8, and 11, the wheel cover 38 includes a hanger or support bracket 40 for securing the wheel cover alongside an exterior wall of the trailer 12 such that the wheel cover is secured in place adjacent to the wheels 13 (FIGS. 7 and 8) of the trailer 12. In other words, the wheel cover 38 can be secured to the trailer 12 so that an animal or person cannot easily dislodge or displace the wheel cover 38 from its position alongside the wheels 13 of the trailer. The bracket 40 defines a gap forming a channel or track 42 in the bracket body. The channel 42 is dimensioned to receive and engage a bolt, lug, or stud that is fixed to the exterior of the trailer 12 proximate the wheel well of the trailer. The width of the gap forming the channel 42 is slightly larger than the thickness of the main body of the stud and the gap of the channel is smaller than the thickness of a head portion of the stud. The wheel cover 38 is installed by placing the bracket channel 42 over the trailer stud and lowering the wheel cover 38 down so that the channel 42 straddles the body of the stud with the body of the bracket 40 positioned between the head of the stud and the trailer 12. Thus, the bracket channel 42 can receive or straddle the body of the stud when the wheel cover 38 is installed on the trailer 12 and the bracket 40 is secured on the stud by the stud's head. In other words, when the bracket 40 is installed on the stud, the bracket 40 cannot slide off of the stud along the axial direction of the stud. In order to remove the wheel cover 38, it must be lifted upward until the channel 42 has cleared the stud.
(21) Referring to the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10, bridle or equipment hangers 44 are provided for supporting and organizing equipment, such as livestock bridles or headstalls. Each hanger 44 extends generally horizontal and outward from the vertical panel 16 and may be inclined and extend from the panel 16 at an upward angle relative to the floor of the trailer 12 to retain equipment and prevent the equipment from accidently sliding off of the hanger 44. Each hanger 44 is defined by a round main body and includes an equipment support tab or finger 46. The finger is formed by a portion of the main hanger body that is at the center of a horseshoe or U-shaped cutout 48, as best shown in FIG. 10, in the body of the hanger 44. The finger 46 may be bent or angled away from the main body of the hanger 44 and is provided for supporting an equipment article on a lower side of the hanger 44. For example, long equipment items such as a bridle or headstall 50 for a horse (FIGS. 7 and 9), may be hung over the top of the hanger 44 such extended portions of the equipment (e.g. the reins 50a of the headstall 50 (FIG. 9)) hang downward from the hanger 44 and then route back upward and over the finger 46.
(22) Embodiments of the movable storage system may support and store at least four saddles and a various additional tack and equipment including saddle blankets, head stalls, leads, etc. The storage system can be positioned or re-positioned in multiple positions or configurations to serve different functions, including a “load/unload” or access configuration to load or unload livestock, a transport configuration that creates a support for the rear quarter of a horse while the trailer is being transported, and a tacking or “tacking up” configuration in which a user can stand next to a saddle and slide it off the storage system more easily than if standing on the ground and reaching into the trailer to retrieve the saddle. The storage system may include latch elements to secure the movable storage system at desired angular positions. The storage system may also include storage compartments for storage of large and narrow equipment. The storage system may coordinate with the trailer to form a barrier or wall to form a pen or corral for an animal. It will be appreciated that although the illustrated embodiment of the storage system is disposed in a transport trailer, it may also be adapted for use in recreational vehicles, such as a camper, as well as in stationary structures, such as a barn.
(23) Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.
