Trailer for transporting a vehicle and method for placing a vehicle for transport on a trailer

Abstract

A trailer for transporting a vehicle may include a supporting structure adapted to carry the vehicle. A bracket structure including a tail light assembly may be attached to a section of the supporting structure. The tail light assembly may include tail lights for the trailer. The bracket structure may be movable between a first position in which the tail lights are positioned at the rear of the trailer in a driving position, and a second position in which the tail lights are positioned away from the rear of the trailer in a loading position. The bracket structure may be adapted to fixate the vehicle to the supporting structure when placed in the first position. A method may also be provided for placing a vehicle for transport on a trailer.

Claims

1. A trailer for transporting a vehicle, the trailer comprising: a supporting structure adapted to carry the vehicle; and a bracket structure supporting a tail light assembly, the tail light assembly including tail lights for the trailer; wherein the bracket structure is mounted for movement relative to the supporting structure between a first position in which the tail lights are positioned at a rear of the trailer in a driving position, and a second position in which the tail lights are positioned away from the rear of the trailer in a loading position; and wherein the bracket structure is adapted to fixate the vehicle to the supporting structure when placed in the first position.

2. The trailer according to claim 1, further comprising a locking device for locking the bracket structure to the supporting structure when placed in the first position.

3. The trailer according to claim 2, wherein the locking device is attached to an end section of the supporting structure.

4. The trailer according to claim 2, wherein the locking device is adapted for locking engagement with the tail light assembly.

5. The trailer according to claim 1, wherein the bracket structure includes a resilient portion exerting a pressure on the vehicle when the bracket structure is placed in the first position.

6. The trailer according to claim 1, wherein the tail light assembly includes a license plate for the trailer.

7. A method for placing a vehicle for transport on a trailer, the trailer having a supporting structure adapted to carry the vehicle, and a bracket structure supporting a tail light assembly that includes tail lights for the trailer, the method comprising: placing the bracket structure in a second position in which the tail lights are positioned away from a rear of the trailer; loading the vehicle on the supporting structure of the trailer; and placing the bracket structure in a first position in which the tail lights are positioned at the rear of the trailer, such that the bracket structure fixates the vehicle to the supporting structure.

8. The trailer according to claim 1, wherein the tail light assembly is positioned on the bracket structure such that, when the bracket structure is placed in the first position, the vehicle is captured between the tail light assembly and the supporting structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals may be used for similar elements, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a trailer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a bracket structure being placed in a first position,

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the trailer with the bracket structure being placed in a second position,

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the trailer carrying a vehicle and the bracket structure being placed in a first position, and

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear view of the trailer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 illustrates a trailer 1 for transporting a water vehicle 2. The trailer 1 comprises a supporting structure 3 which is adapted to carry the water vehicle 2, and a bracket structure 4 which is used to fixate the water vehicle 2 to the trailer 1. The bracket structure 4 comprises a tail light assembly 5 which is attached to an end section thereof, and which comprises tail lights 6 and a license plate 10 for the trailer 1. The bracket structure 4 is movable between a first position (FIG. 1) in which the tail lights 6 are positioned at the rear of the trailer 1, in a driving position, and a second position (FIG. 2) in which the tail lights 6 are positioned away from the rear of the trailer 1, in a loading position. The trailer 1 has two rear wheels 7, one front wheel 8, and a connecting means (not shown) for connection to a driving vehicle (not shown). However, the trailer 1 could have any suitable number of rear wheels 7, e.g. four such wheels. The trailer 1 further comprises a locking device 9 attached to the end section of the supporting structure 3 and adapted for locking engagement with the tail light assembly 5 in a snap-lock manner. This way, the bracket structure 4 will be locked in relation to the supporting structure 3 when placed in the first position, thereby placing the trailer 1 in the driving position.

(7) In FIG. 2, the trailer 1 is illustrated when the bracket structure 4 is placed in the second position, which in turn means that the trailer 1 is placed in the loading position.

(8) FIG. 3 illustrates the trailer 1 carrying a water vehicle 2. The bracket structure 4 has been placed in the first position thereby fixating the water vehicle 2 to the trailer 1 and placing the same in the driving position.

(9) In FIG. 4, the trailer 1 is illustrated viewed from the rear. The tail light assembly 5, the tail lights 6 and the license plate 10 of the trailer 1 is shown when the bracket structure 4 is placed in the first position.

(10) The exemplary embodiment of the trailer 1, which is described above, functions according to the following. When a water vehicle 2 is to be transported using the trailer 1 the bracket structure 4 is placed in the second position. The trailer 1 is thereby placed in a loading position in which the tail light assembly 5 is positioned away from the rear of the trailer 1. The water vehicle 2 can now be loaded onto the trailer 1. When the water vehicle has been placed on the supporting structure 3 of the trailer 1 the bracket structure 4 is placed in the first position. The bracket structure 4 is fixated to the locking device 9 in a snap-lock manner and is accordingly locked in relation to the supporting structure 3, thereby placing the trailer 1 in the driving position with the tail light assembly 5 positioned at the rear of the trailer 1. When the water vehicle 2 is to be unloaded in to water the bracket structure 4 is again placed in the second position such that the tail light assembly 5 is positioned away from the rear of the trailer 1. The trailer 1 can now be backed down a ramp until the water vehicle 2 is in a position with respect to the surface of the water, at which the water vehicle 2 can be unloaded, without risking that the tail light assembly 5 will come into contact with the water.

(11) The skilled person realizes that a number of modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

(12) For instance, the bracket structure may comprise a resilient portion exerting a pressure on the vehicle when the bracket structure 4 is placed in the first position.

(13) Naturally, the trailer may be used for transport of any suitable vehicle. That is to say, both water vehicles and land vehicles can be transported on the trailer.

(14) The tail light assembly may include any combination of tail lights, stop lights, fog lights, reversing lights, and direction indicator lights.

(15) The trailer may be of any suitable sort and comprise any suitable combination of components. For example, the placing and amount of wheels may be varied.