Trailer

Abstract

A folding trailer may be selectively moved between an extended or use position and a collapsed or storage position. The folding trailer may include an axle that is capable of being moved between a first position in which the axle is generally aligned along an axis and a second position in which the axle is disposed in a folded configuration. The axle is preferably located in generally the same plane in the first and second positions. In addition, the axle preferably moves in a generally rearward direction when the axle is moved from the first to the second position. The trailer may also include a bed that is capable of being moved between a first position in which first and second portions of the bed are generally aligned with a first plane and a second position in which the first and second portions of the bed are disposed in a folded position and generally aligned with a second plane. The axle and bed are preferably disposed in the first positions when the trailer is in the use position. The axle and bed are preferably disposed in the second positions when the trailer is in the storage position.

1 . A folding trailer that is capable of moving between a use position and a storage position, the folding trailer comprising:
 a bed including a first portion and a second portion, the bed being movable between a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of the bed are generally aligned and disposed in a generally horizontal plane, and a second position in which the first portion of the bed is not aligned with the second portion of the bed and the first portion of the bed and the second portion of the bed are generally vertically disposed; and   an axle connected to the bed, the axle movable between a first position in which the axle is generally aligned along an axis and a second position in which the axle is disposed in a folded configuration, the axle being disposed in generally the same plane in the first position and the second position, the axle being sized and configured to move in a generally rearward direction when the axle is moved from the first position to the second position; and   wherein the axle is disposed in the first position and the bed is disposed in the first position when the trailer is in the use position; and   wherein the axle is disposed in the second position and the bed is disposed in the second position when the trailer is in the storage position.   
   
   
       2 . The trailer as in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more wheels connected to the axle, the wheels being sized and configured to facilitate movement of the trailer whether the folding trailer is in the use position or in the storage position. 
   
   
       3 . The trailer as in  claim 1 , further comprising a frame, a first side of the axle being connected to a first side of the frame, a second side of the axle being connected to a second side of the frame; and
 wherein a center portion of the axle is not connected to a center portion of the frame.   
   
   
       4 . The trailer as in  claim 1 , wherein when the bed is in the second position, the first portion of the bed is generally aligned with a first plane that is at least substantially vertically aligned and the second portion of the bed is generally aligned with a second plane that is at least substantially vertically aligned. 
   
   
       5 . The trailer as in  claim 4 , wherein when the bed is in the second position, the first plane is generally parallel to the second plane. 
   
   
       6 . The trailer as in  claim 1 , further comprising a towing arm disposed in an extended position that extends beyond a front portion of the bed when the axle is in the first position, the towing arm disposed in a retracted position when the axle in the second position, the towing arm being sized and configured to move in a rearward direction as the axle folds from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       7 . The trailer as in  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge member interconnecting a first portion of the axle and a second portion of the axle, the hinge member connecting the first portion of the axle and the second portion of the axle in a substantially straight line when the axle is in the first position. 
   
   
       8 . The trailer as in  claim 7 , further comprising a towing arm connected to the hinge member, the towing arm disposed in an extended position that extends beyond the front portion of the bed when the axle is in the first position, the towing arm disposed in a retracted position when the axle in the second position, the towing arm being sized and configured to move in a rearward direction as the axle folds from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       9 . The trailer as in  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge member interconnecting a first portion of the axle and a second portion of the axle, the first portion of the axle and the second portion of the axle extending forwardly at an angle of approximately five degree or less when the axle is in the first position. 
   
   
       10 . The trailer as in  claim 9 , the towing arm disposed in an extended position that extends beyond the front portion of the bed when the axle is in the first position, the towing arm disposed in a retracted position when the axle in the second position, the towing arm being sized and configured to move in a rearward direction as the axle folds from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       11 . The trailer as in  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge member interconnecting a first portion of the axle and a second portion of the axle, the first portion of the axle and the second portion of the axle extending rearwardly at an angle of approximately five degree or less when the axle is in the first position. 
   
   
       12 . The trailer as in  claim 11 , further comprising a towing arm connected to the hinge member, the towing arm disposed in an extended position that extends beyond the front portion of the bed when the axle is in the first position, the towing arm disposed in a retracted position when the axle in the second position, the towing arm being sized and configured to move in a rearward direction as the axle folds from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       13 . The trailer as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a towing arm connected to the axle, the towing arm disposed in an extended position that extends beyond the front portion of the bed when the axle is in the first position, the towing arm disposed in a retracted position when the axle in the second position, the towing arm being sized and configured to move in a rearward direction as the axle folds from the first position to the second position; and   a guide connected to the towing arm, the guide being sized and configured to contact a portion of the bed when the towing arm moves in the rearward direction to facilitate moving the bed from the first position to the second position.   
   
   
       14 . A folding trailer that is capable of moving between a use position and a storage position, the folding trailer comprising:
 a frame;   an axle connected to the frame, the axle movable between a first position in which the axle is generally aligned along an axis and a second position in which the axle is disposed in a folded configuration, the axle being disposed in generally the same plane in the first position and the second position, the axle being sized and configured to move in a generally rearward direction when the axle is moved from the first position to the second position, the axle being sized and configured to move in a generally forward direction when the axle is moved from the second position to the first position; and   a towing arm disposed in an extended position when the axle is in the first position, the towing arm disposed in a retracted position when the axle in the second position, the towing arm being sized and configured to move in the generally rearward direction when the axle is moved from the first position to the second position, the towing arm being sized and configured to move in the generally forward direction when the axle is moved from the second position to the first position.   
   
   
       15 . The trailer as in  claim 14 , further comprising a guide connected to the towing arm, the guide being sized and configured to contact a portion of the frame when the towing arm moves in the rearward direction to facilitate moving the frame between a first position and a second position. 
   
   
       16 . The trailer as in  claim 14 , further comprising a bed connected to the frame, the bed including a first portion and a second portion, the bed being movable between a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of the bed are generally aligned and disposed in a generally horizontal plane, and a second position in which the first portion of the bed is not aligned with the second portion of the bed and the first portion of the bed and the second portion of the bed are generally vertically disposed. 
   
   
       17 . The trailer as in  claim 14 , wherein the frame includes a first portion and a second portion that are movable between a first position and a second position, the first portion of the frame and the second portion of the frame being generally aligned and disposed in a generally horizontal position when the trailer is in the use position, the first portion of the bed and the second portion of the bed being generally vertically disposed when the trailer is in the storage position. 
   
   
       18 . The trailer as in  claim 14 , wherein the frame includes a first portion and a second portion that are movable between a first position and a second position, the first portion of the frame and the second portion of the frame being generally aligned and disposed in the same plane when the frame is in the first position, the first portion of the frame being generally aligned with and disposed in a first plane when the frame is in the second position, the second portion of the frame being generally aligned with and disposed in a second plane when the frame is in the second position, the first plane and the second plane being at least generally vertically disposed. 
   
   
       19 . A folding trailer that is capable of moving between a use position and a storage position, the folding trailer comprising:
 a frame including a first portion and a second portion, the frame being movable between a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of the frame are generally aligned and disposed in a generally horizontal plane, and a second position in which the first portion of the frame is not aligned with the second portion of the frame and the first portion of the frame and the second portion of the frame are generally vertically disposed;   an axle connected to the frame;   at least one wheel connected to the axle;   a towing arm connected to the axle, the towing arm being sized and configured to move in a generally rearward direction from an extended position to a retracted position when the trailer is moved from the use position to the storage position; and   a guide connected to the towing arm, the guide being sized and configured to contact a portion of the frame when the towing arm moves in the rearward direction to facilitate moving the frame from the first position to the second position.   
   
   
       20 . The trailer as in  claim 19 , wherein the guide includes a ramp that is sized and configured to contact a portion of the frame to facilitate moving the frame from the first position to the second position.