Platform lift trailer and coupling system

摘要

A platform lift trailer includes a chassis to which a lift device is mounted. The chassis is configured to be coupled to a standard motor vehicle trailer hitch or the like using a coupler. Some embodiments of the coupler provide protection against larges torsional forces applied between a motor vehicle and coupled trailer when they are angularly displaced relative to one another. One or more ground-engaging wheel assemblies are mounted to the chassis to assist in supporting the weight of the lift and any cargo thereon. The platform lift trailer is highly adaptable so that a wide variety of lifts can be mounted to the platform lift trailer and thus to smaller motor vehicles. Adaptation of mobility lifts and the like to a larger array of motor vehicles is therefore possible. One or more embodiments of a trailer coupler use torque-limiting apparatus so that vertical angular displacements of a motor vehicle and a coupled trailer do not apply large forces directly between the motor vehicle and the trailer. Instead, the coupler torque-limiting structure limits such forces using a biasing means such as a spring or the like to accommodate or limit torsional forces applied between the motor vehicle and the trailer. The biasing means also can limit the maximum angular displacement allowed between the motor vehicle and coupled trailer.

主权项

1. A platform lift trailer comprising:
a chassis comprising a transverse support beam and a lift mounting bracket mounted to the beam; a motor vehicle coupler mounted to the chassis, wherein the motor vehicle coupler comprises a hitch bar connector configured to engage a conventional receiver hitch socket of a motor vehicle; a first caster assembly mounted to the beam and a second caster assembly mounted to the beam and laterally spaced apart from the first caster assembly, each caster assembly comprising:
a tire mounted to a suspension apparatus by a tire mounting bracket; anda swivel mounting apparatus coupling the suspension apparatus to the beam to permit 360° swiveling of the tire and the suspension apparatus relative to the beam;wherein the suspension apparatus comprises a tubular suspension housing mounted to the swivel mounting apparatus and a torsion shaft coupled to the tire mounting bracket and extending coaxially through the tubular suspension housing in which the torsion shaft rotates, wherein cushioning elements within the suspension housing resist rotation of the torsion shaft generated by movement of the tire or the chassis transmitted through the tire mounting bracket; and a personal mobility device lift mounted to the lift mounting bracket, wherein the lift comprises:
a platform movable between an open stored position and a fully deployed position that is vertically lower and horizontally displaced from the open stored position; andcontrol apparatus for controlling operation of the lift;wherein the first and second caster assemblies are located beneath the platform when the platform is in the open stored position.