EE01482U1 - Trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled - Google Patents

Abstract

The body of a trailer cover used as a watercraft or sled includes a bottom, side walls, rear wall, front wall, lifting and fastening means, the body being made in one piece and being rigid and having a substantially flat bottom. The free edges of the sidewalls of the trailer cover are wider than the thickness of the sidewalls and are covered with a protective layer, and the sidewalls are surrounded by a rubber rim on the outer perimeter of the edges. The rear wall of the trailer body is reinforced with a cover and the rear wall has a lifting handle. The front wall of the trailer cover is convex and has an attachment point for attaching the trailer cover to various objects. The trailer cover used as a craft corresponds to the craft design category C or D valid in the European Union.

Description

Technical field

The invention belongs to the field of removable rigid covers adapted for trailers of transport vehicles, which are used in reverse as a watercraft or sled.

State of the art

Monolithic and rigid (plastic) passenger car trailer covers are well known (http://www.tiki.ee/haagised/kastihaagised/cs300-lh-plastkaanega).

A watercraft from Etablissements J. Gallion (EP0483030, published 29.04.1992) is known, which is placed on a special trailer or on the roof of a vehicle for transport over land. It consists of two boxes that are folded in the middle (folded on top of each other) and are similar in shape, which can be used as a boat hull in the unfolded position (the boxes are separated from each other by a partition in this case) and as a storage space carried with the vehicle in the folded position. In this solution, the capacity of the box in the transport position is smaller than in trailers or roof boxes in common use, due to the blunt box ends.

A special trailer folded in two parts is known (FR2698824, Claye Invest, published 10.06.1994), which, when unfolded in the middle, is adapted for use as a watercraft (the individual parts are then separated from each other by a partition). The front part of the trailer is the rear part of the boat and has a recess that is reinforced for the engine.

The common disadvantage of both solutions is that they are watercraft that have been adapted for land transport as a special trailer. When transporting a watercraft as a trailer over land, a complete set must be purchased (a special trailer and a trailer box solution compatible with it for use as a watercraft), whereas the specially manufactured trailer within the framework of the solution does not have the usual use as a car trailer, and conversely, the trailer box specially developed within the framework of the solution and the solution used as a watercraft cannot be used with the most common vehicle trailers.

as a cover. In addition, the watercraft consists of two separately assembled parts, which changes the driving characteristics and comfort of the watercraft, and such a watercraft also does not meet the safety requirements of the C or D construction category for watercraft in the EU. These solutions are also not intended for use as a sled.

There is a known invention (US4474131, Cat-A-Van Associates, published 02.10.1984), in which a reversible boat/box cover is adapted for use selectively as a cover for either a boat body or an off-road vehicle box (i.e., an off-road vehicle with a certain box size is required for the solution), the rear part of which carries the load and the rear part of the car box has two side walls and a rear wall on which panels are placed, which are attached to the walls of the car box with mounting brackets. In the invention, the car box cover is also used as a watercraft, whereby the watercraft is assembled from different parts, which is time-consuming, cumbersome for the user and also worsens the driving characteristics of the watercraft. The dimensions of such a watercraft are also limited by the dimensions of the car box. In addition, the watercraft used as a car box cover does not meet the safety requirements of the C or D construction category for watercraft in the EU. This solution is also not intended for use as a sled. Within the framework of this solution, the box cover specially developed for the respective car box and the solution used as a watercraft cannot also be used as a cover for a vehicle trailer.

The closest to the invention in terms of technical nature is a vehicle cover used as a watercraft (USD356773, Brett A. Lange, published 28.03.1995). The body of the presented vehicle cover includes a bottom, side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, lifting and fastening means. The body of the vehicle cover is made in one piece and is rigid and has a substantially flat bottom. The free edges of the side walls are wider than the thickness of the side walls and the rear wall is reinforced with a cover. The sides of the vehicle cover have loops with which it is possible to secure the vehicle cover to the vehicle during transportation using fastening means, and the vehicle cover has two tables for sitting perpendicular to the sides of the vehicle cover. The disadvantage of this solution is that its front wall is not curved and it lacks locking means for locking the vehicle cover to the vehicle.

The essence of the invention

The aim of the invention is to create a trailer cover that can be used as a watercraft or sled.

a construction that is easy to manufacture and use, suitable for use as a standard (width) trailer cover for a passenger car, and that meets high safety requirements for watercraft.

The presented trailer cover body used as a watercraft or sled includes a bottom, side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, lifting and fastening means, wherein the body is made in one piece and is rigid and is substantially flat with a bottom of either a catamaran or trimaran type. The edges of the side walls of the trailer cover body are covered with a protective layer and the side walls are surrounded by a rubber rim on the outer perimeter of the edges. The rear wall of the trailer cover body is reinforced with a coating and the rear wall has a lifting handle. The front wall of the trailer cover is curved and has a fastening point for fastening the trailer cover to various objects. The bottom and walls of the trailer cover are double walls and their intermediate layer is preferably filled with foam material. Metal reinforcements are placed under the bottom of the trailer cover. Lifting and fastening means for the trailer cover that can be removed without assistance are mounted in the side walls of the trailer cover. The rear of the trailer cover has a mounting bracket on the sides for attaching the trailer cover body or locking it with a lock to the trailer. The mounting bracket is also adapted for attaching the trailer cover body to a berth. The interior of the trailer cover body has benches with storage compartments and a storage compartment, whereby the benches are removable and their position can be changed via rails on the inner walls of the side walls.

List of drawings

Figure 1 shows a side view of a trailer with a trailer cover according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the interior of an inverted trailer cover (for use as a watercraft) (with a separately mounted boat motor);

Figure 3 shows a rear view of a trailer with a trailer cover according to the invention (section B-B in Figure 1);

Figure 4 shows a side view of a trailer with a trailer cover according to the invention in the open position of the trailer cover;

Figure 5 shows the trailer cover attachment handle (detail C, from Figure 3);

Figure 6 shows the trailer cover lifting and fastening device (detail A, from Figure 4).

Example of carrying out the invention

The trailer cover body according to the invention comprises a substantially flat bottom 1, side walls 2, rear wall 3, and curved front wall 4. The edges of the side walls 2 are flat edges wider than the thickness of the side walls, which are covered with a protective layer, and the side walls 2 are surrounded by a rubber rim 6 on the outer perimeter of the edges.

The bottom and walls of the trailer cover body according to the invention are double walls, which ensure the necessary rigidity for the trailer cover. The intermediate layer between the inner and outer layers of the bottom and walls of the trailer cover body is filled with a special foam material for the purpose of better stability and stability of the trailer cover when used as a watercraft.

The central part of the rear wall 3 is reinforced with a cover so that when used as a watercraft, it is also possible to use a boat motor.

To attach the trailer cover according to the invention to the trailer, fasteners and lifting mechanisms with similar operating logic are used, which are also used for standard trailer covers available on the market.

The lifting and fastening device 7 of the trailer cover according to the invention is similar to the existing lifting and fastening devices of the car trailer cover. These are lifting cylinders located in the front part of the trailer cover, with which the trailer cover can be lifted up at an acute angle on the trailer. In the invention, these cylinders, together with the reinforcing bars, which are attached to the inner wall of the side with bolts, are placed between the double walls of the side (hidden inside the wall of the trailer cover) and they can be removed from the trailer cover without using auxiliary means (tools) (the trailer cover can be lifted up in such a way that the cylinders come out from inside the partition wall), see also Figures 4 and 6. When removing the trailer cover, threaded plugs are placed in the openings of the lifting and fastening device 7 of the trailer cover (when used as a watercraft).

Lifting the trailer cover at an acute angle is done with at least one lifting handle on the rear wall 3 (not shown in the figure).

The trailer cover attachment handle 8 of the invention is a device on the sides of the trailer cover at the rear, to which the attachment clip on the trailer door can be attached (see Figure 5). If necessary, the trailer cover can be locked to the trailer with a separate lock via this attachment clip. The attachment handle 8 can also be used to attach a watercraft to a quay or to attach fenders to it.

The rubber skirt 6 is a protective device commonly used on small watercraft, which protects the trailer cover body from rubbing against the dock when used as a watercraft.

On the outer side of the front wall 4 there is an attachment point 9 for attaching the trailer cover to various objects, whereby the attachment point 9 is adapted for attaching the trailer to a watercraft, for transporting (towing) it on land and water, or for attaching an anchor end.

When the invention is used as a watercraft or sled, benches 10a and 10b with storage compartments and a storage compartment 11 located in the front are installed in its interior. To increase the capacity of the trailer cover base of a passenger car, the benches 10a and 10b are easily removable and their positions can be changed using rails 5.

The seat 10a at the rear of the trailer cover used as a watercraft is in one piece with the storage compartment and the removable seat resting on the bottom of the trailer cover (which has, for example, a folding handle and whose storage compartment part is also separately lockable) can be attached to the trailer drawbar against the front of the trailer after removal, even during transportation, and thus used, for example, as a tool box. The storage compartment of the middle seat 10b is attached under the seat and does not rest on the bottom of the watercraft. The position of at least one removable seat 10a or 10b equipped with a storage compartment when used as a watercraft in the invention can be changed using rails 5 on the inner walls of the side walls. The seats 10a and 10b together with the storage compartments are made of lightweight material (material that is stable on the water surface).

The invention has a flat bottom (e.g. catamaran or trimaran type), which gives it a streamlined and

a shape with a larger capacity for use as a trailer cover. It is also possible to install port elevations on the trailer to increase the capacity of the trailer. Together with the port elevations, the internal vertical dimension of the trailer is approximately 1.5 m. The trailer cover according to the invention, like a conventional trailer cover, can also be installed on the port elevations of the trailer.

To use the invention as a sled, it is possible to install, for example, stainless metal reinforcements under its bottom, which protect the bottom pontoons of the trailer cover from friction and wear against the ground.

The trailer cover according to the invention rests on the edges of the trailer door by means of a flat edge on the sides of the trailer cover (see figure 5). The width of the edge is approximately 7 cm, the width of the trailer door is approximately 2-2.5 cm, which means that the width of the trailer cover partially extends beyond the side edges of the trailer door. In this way, the invention can be used as a trailer cover on trailers of different lengths, since it is sufficient to rest only on the side doors of the trailer.

The flat edge resting on the edge of the trailer is covered with a durable rubber protective layer, which protects the trailer cover according to the invention as a trailer cover when closed against metal trailer edges from friction and impacts that may occur when driving with the trailer on uneven roads. In addition, the protective layer reduces the noise generated by the collision of the cover and the trailer. All metal parts of the trailer cover according to the invention are made of stainless steel (AISI 316).

The total height of the trailer cover according to the invention is approximately 60 cm, but the more precise measurement depends on the ratio of its length to width, since in the end it is important that its dimensions are in suitable proportions for the watercraft. The width of the trailer cover usually results from the dimensions of the trailer, since the cover rests on the edges of the trailer doors or on the edge elevations. In terms of length, the invention is also suitable for trailers that are longer or shorter than this. If necessary, part of the trailer is simply left uncovered by the trailer cover or it is overlapped.

The weight (empty weight) of a trailer cover used as a watercraft is similar to the weight of a conventional trailer cover (60 kg).

The invention has been designed to comply with the European Union's C or D watercraft design category when used as a watercraft. Both oars and a boat motor can be used to move the watercraft.

The trailer cover according to the invention is preferably made of ABS plastic, which is durable in its properties and suitable for use as a trailer cover, a sled, and a watercraft.

An important useful feature is that the trailer cover according to the invention is a separate monolithic and multifunctional product that can perform the functions of a vehicle trailer cover, watercraft and sled immediately (no separate assembly required) and is compatible with standard vehicle trailers available on the market, i.e. the trailer cover itself does not form a vehicle trailer box and does not require a special purpose vehicle trailer for its use. It is also a trailer cover used as a watercraft, which corresponds to the C or D construction category of watercraft valid in the European Union.

Claims (11)

1. A trailer cover used as a watercraft or a sled, the body of which includes a bottom (1), side walls (2), a rear wall (3), a front wall (4), lifting and fastening means (7), wherein the trailer cover body is made in one piece and is rigid and has a substantially flat bottom (1); the free edges of the side walls (2) of the trailer cover are wider than the thickness of the side walls and the rear wall (3) is reinforced with a coating, characterized in that the edges of the side walls (2) of the trailer cover body are covered with a protective layer and the side walls (2) are surrounded by a rubber rim (6) on the outer perimeter of the edges; the front wall (4) is curved and has a fastening point (9) for fastening the trailer cover to various objects and the rear wall (3) has a lifting handle. 2. A trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (1) and walls of the trailer cover are double walls and their intermediate layer is filled with foam material. 3. A trailer cover used as a watercraft or a sled according to claim 1, characterized in that lifting and fastening means (7) for the trailer cover, which can be removed without any auxiliary means, are mounted in the side walls (2) of the trailer cover. 4. A trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled according to claim 1, characterized in that the sides of the rear part of the trailer cover have a fastening handle (8) for fastening or locking the trailer cover body to the trailer. 5. A trailer cover used as a watercraft or a sled according to claim 1, characterized in that the interior of the trailer cover body has benches (10a, 10b) with storage compartments and a storage compartment (11), wherein the benches are removable and the position of at least one bench (10a, 10b) can be changed via rails (5) on the inner walls of the side walls (2). 6. A trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the storage compartment of the rear bench seat (10a) is lockable. 7. A trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment point (9) is adapted for attaching the trailer cover to a trailer or to an anchor point or towing device. 8. A trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (1) of the trailer cover is a catamaran-type bottom. 9. A trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (1) of the trailer cover is a trimaran-type bottom. 10. A trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled according to claim 1, characterized in that stainless metal reinforcements are installed under the bottom (1) of the trailer cover. 11. A trailer cover for use as a watercraft or sled according to claim 4, characterized in that the attachment bracket (8) is adapted for attaching the trailer cover to a dock.