AU2019200551A1 - Trailer reversing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A trailer reversing apparatus for use with a trailer comprises a frame with a supporting axle upon which is mounted a pair of wheels. The frame includes a generally triangular draw bar at a bow end thereof and has a hitch attachment aperture at an apex of the draw bar. The trailer apparatus comprises an elongate beam adapted for disposal along a longitudinal centreline axis of the trailer frame and extending from the hitch attachment aperture towards a stern of the trailer frame. The hitch attachment aperture defines a front pivot axis. The elongate beam has a reverse mode aperture defining a rear pivot axis disposed towards a stern end thereof so as to be positioned rearwardly of the supporting axle in use. The trailer apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism that is selectively lockable in at least a forward travel configuration and a reverse travel configuration. The locking mechanism is adapted to allow pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the front pivot axis when in the first forward travel configuration thereof and to prevent pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the hitch attachment aperture when in a reverse travel configuration thereof so as to allow pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the rear pivot axis. 9+ \4-G 4-0 r6 42.. 4J+ -Ficg. 2..

Description

Trailer reversing apparatus

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a trailer. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus to assist trailer reversing and to a method of reversing a trailer.

Background [0002] Trailers that are towed behind a powered vehicle are well known and typically comprise a frame with an axle and wheels and, optionally, some form of container or platform attached to an upper side of the frame adapted to carry or support various goods or materials, for example watercraft, boxes, household items or bicycles. The trailer is typically attached to the rear of the vehicle at a pivotable trailer hitch that allows the trailer to pivot with respect to the rear of the vehicle. Vehicles having trailers attached to them are often found at boat ramps, DIY store carparks and camp sites.

[0003] Trailers that are attached to the rear of a vehicle can be difficult to manoeuvre. In particular, it can be notoriously difficult to successfully and safely reverse a vehicle and trailer, especially where a driver has not received adequate training in reversing a vehicle to which a trailer is attached. This is in part because steering the vehicle to the left can cause the trailer to move to the right, and vice versa, which is counter-intuitive. Incorrect reversing technique can cause difficulties in manoeuvring the trailer in the desired direction and can also lead to the trailer jack-knifing about the trailer hitch if corrective steering is not employed, meaning that the trailer can suddenly pivot forward about the trailer hitch towards the vehicle. This can cause potential damage to the vehicle or to an adjacent vehicle and can also place people and animals in the vicinity of the vehicle and trailer in danger. At best, it may take a driver longer than is desirable to safely reverse the trailer, causing delays to other road or car park users.

[0004] Trailer reversing aids include a second person manually assisting the driver and providing guidance as to how to steer the vehicle. However, such guidance is

2019200551 29 Jan 2019 dependent on the skill of the second person in identifying the correct reversing technique and informing the driver accordingly. Towing side mirrors and reversing cameras can assist a driver to see more than is possible using standard vehicle mirrors, however they do not reduce the complexity of manoeuvring the trailer.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Summary [0006] Throughout this specification the word comprise, or variations such as comprises or comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a trailer reversing apparatus for use with a trailer, the trailer comprising a frame with a supporting axle upon which is mounted a pair of wheels, the frame including a generally triangular draw bar at a bow end thereof and having a hitch attachment aperture at an apex of the draw bar, the trailer apparatus comprising:

an elongate beam adapted for disposal along a longitudinal centreline axis of the trailer frame and extending from the hitch attachment aperture towards a stern of the trailer frame, the hitch attachment aperture defining a front pivot axis; the elongate beam having a reverse mode aperture defining a rear pivot axis disposed towards a stern end thereof so as to be positioned rearwardly of the supporting axle in use;

and a locking mechanism that is selectively lockable in at least a forward travel configuration and a reverse travel configuration, the locking mechanism being adapted

2019200551 29 Jan 2019 to allow pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the front pivot axis when in the first forward travel configuration thereof and to prevent pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the hitch attachment aperture when in a reverse travel configuration thereof so as to allow pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the rear pivot axis.

[0007] According to a second aspect, a method of reversing a trailer attached to a vehicle using the trailer reversing apparatus of the first aspect comprises: selectively disabling movement of the trailer about the front pivot axis; placing the vehicle into reverse gear and driving the trailer in reverse.

Brief Description of Drawings [0008] One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of specific example(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] Fig. 1 a is a schematic bottom plan view of a vehicle towing a trailer according to an embodiment;

[0010] Fig. lb is a schematic side view of the vehicle and trailer of Fig. 1;

[0011] Fig. 2 is a schematic bottom plan view of a first embodiment of the trailer of Fig. 1 in a forward travel configuration;

[0012] Fig. 3 is a schematic bottom plan view of a second embodiment of the trailer of Fig. 2 in a reverse travel configuration;

[0013] Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a towbar for use in attaching the trailer to a vehicle;

[0014] Fig. 5a is a schematic plan view of the operation of a 12v electric ram for use with a first embodiment of the trailer reversing apparatus;

2019200551 29 Jan 2019 [0015] Fig. 5b is a schematic partial perspective view of the electric ram of figure 5a mounted inside an elongate beam of the trailer reversing apparatus;

[0016] Figure 6 is a schematic bottom plan view of a second embodiment of the trailer of Fig. 1;

[0017] Figure 7 is a schematic bottom plan view of the embodiment of Figure 6 showing a front winch system; and [0018] Figure 8 is a schematic bottom plan view of the embodiment of Figure 6 showing a rear winch system.

Description of Embodiments [0019] Figure 1 a and Figure lb show a plan view and a side view of a vehicle 1, which is a car in this example, and a trailer 10 attached to a rear end of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 has an elongate towbar 15 attached laterally to an underside of the rear of the vehicle 1 for hitching the trailer 10 the vehicle 1. The towbar 15, shown more clearly in Figure 4, includes a vehicle attachment portion 13 at a front or bow end thereof that is insertable into the tow bar of many different cars as is known in the art, and a trailer hitch 17 at a centre thereof for attachment to the trailer 10. In this manner, the trailer 10 is supported at a front or bow end thereof by the towbar 15. The trailer 10 includes an elongate, generally rectangular frame 12 upon which goods to be towed can be placed. The frame 12 is supported towards a rear or stern end thereof by a supporting axle 30 upon which is mounted a pair of wheels 35.

[0020] The rectangular frame 12 is a welded stainless steel or aluminium frame that includes a front horizontal frame member 14, a rear horizontal frame member 16 a left side longitudinal frame member 18 and a right side longitudinal frame member 20 that connect the respective ends of the front horizontal frame member 14 and the rear horizontal frame member 16 together. A triangular shaped drawbar 22 extends between the front end of the trailer 10 and the towbar 15 such that an apex of the triangular

2019200551 29 Jan 2019 shaped drawbar 22 extends forwardly of the trailer frame 12. The trailer frame 12 also includes one or more horizontal support members 26 that extend between the left side longitudinal frame member 18 and the right side longitudinal frame member 20 at intervals along the length thereof as necessary to provide structural support to the trailer frame 12. The trailer 10 may optionally include a trailer bed 28 having shallow longitudinal and front and/or rear walls and side walls being disposed on top of the frame 12 for receiving goods to be towed and helping to ensure they do not fall off the trailer 10 during transit.

[0021] The trailer includes a trailer reversing apparatus 30 thereon. The trailer reversing apparatus is, in this embodiment, integrally constructed with the trailer 10. In an alternative embodiment, the trailer reversing apparatus 30 is retro-fitted to the trailer 10. The trailer reversing apparatus 30, best seen in Figures. 2 and 3, includes an elongate stainless steel or aluminium beam or hollow bar 40 that extends over the length of the draw bar 22 and which has a front hitch attachment aperture 24 adapted for securely receiving the trailer hitch 17 for attaching and un-attaching the trailer to the trailer hitch 17. The elongate beam 40 extends underneath the drawbar 22 and frame 12 , clearing above the support axle 30, and is pivotably attached to an underside of the rear horizontal frame member 16 via a generally ball shaped reverse mode hitch 42 affixed or welded to a lower surface thereof. The reverse mode hitch 42 co-operates with a reverse mode aperture 44 located at the longitudinal centreline of the elongate beam 40, in which the reverse mode hitch 42 is securely yet pivotably received in a manner similar to the trailer hitch 17 and the hitch attachment aperture 24, so that the elongate beam 40 can pivot with respect to the trailer 10. The trailer hitch 17 and hitch attachment aperture 24 define a front pivot axis of the trailer 10 whilst the reverse mode hitch 42 and reverse mode aperture 44, which lie rearwardly of the support axle 30, define a rear pivot axis of the trailer.

[0022] The trailer reversing apparatus 30 further comprises a locking mechanism that includes a longitudinal slot 46 in an upper surface of a portion of the elongate beam 40 that extends forwardly of the front horizontal frame member 14 and the apex of the drawbar 22. The slot 46 has a front or bow end 47 defining a forward travel position

2019200551 29 Jan 2019 and a rear or stern end 49 defining a reverse travel position. A pin 50 resides in the slot such that it protrudes therefrom and is movable in the slot 46 between the forward travel position and the reverse travel position. The locking mechanism further comprises an elongate flexible member 52, which in the present embodiment is a chain. The chain 52 is attachable to the elongate towbar 15 at the ends thereof. For this purpose, the elongate towbar 15 includes a pair of D-rings 54 welded to a rear surface thereof, one at each end of the towbar 15 as shown in Figure 4. The chain 52 includes a latch or clip or other suitable fastening means (not shown) at each end thereof for secure fastening to the D-rings 54. A middle portion of the chain 52 is operatively associated with the pin 50 such that movement of the pin 50 in the slot 46 also moves the middle portion of the chain 52. For example, the pin 50 may be attached to one of the chain links of the chain 52 via suitable clip or latch or other fastening means (not shown).

[0023] Figure 2 shows the locking mechanism in a forward travel configuration, which is to be used when the vehicle 1 and trailer 10 are to be driven in a forward direction. In this configuration, the pin 50 is locked in the forward travel position at the front end 47 of the slot 46. In this position of the pin 50, the chain 52 has some play in it and hangs loosely from the towbar 15. Accordingly, the locking mechanism does not change the usual operation of the trailer 10 relative to the vehicle 1, and the trailer 10 is permitted to pivot about the front pivot axis at the trailer hitch aperture 24 and trailer hitch 17.

[0024] When it is desired to reverse the vehicle and the trailer, the trailer reversing apparatus 30 is placed into the reverse travel configuration, shown in Figure 3. This is achieved by moving the pin 50 to the reverse travel position at the rear end 49 of the slot 46. In this position, the chain 52 is fully taut, creating a brace against the towbar 15 such that the trailer 10 is no longer permitted to pivot about the front pivot axis. Instead, when the vehicle is driven in reverse gear, the trailer 10 will pivot about the rear pivot axis at the rear end of the trailer. The rear pivot axis lies rearwardly of the support axle 30. For this reason, when travelling in reverse, the trailer 10 will straighten up relative to the vehicle 1 rather than swing in the opposite direction.

2019200551 29 Jan 2019 [0025] It is envisaged that the locking mechanism of the trailer reversing apparatus may be operated in a number of ways. In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the pin 50 can be moved manually in the slot 46, into apertures or returns defining the forward travel position and the reverse travel position within the slot 46. Alternatively, the pin 50 may form part of a 12v linear actuator, for example an electric ram 60, a schematic example of which is seen in Figure 5(a) and Figure 5(b), installed within the elongate beam or hollow bar 40 such that the pin 50 protrudes from and within the slot as in the first embodiment. The 12v ram 60 comprises an elongate rod 63, a first end of which is mounted to the pin 50. A second end 65 of the 12v ram 60 is mounted to an interior of the elongate beam 40. Accordingly, the hollow elongate beam 40 must have an internal volume that is large enough for the 12v ram to be installed inside it.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, the pin 50 is automatically actuated via a remote control 70 between a retracted position of the pin at the forward travel position and an extended position of the pin 50 within the slot 46 at the reverse travel position. It can therefore be operated by the driver of the vehicle from inside the vehicle. The electric ram is driven by a 12v motor 70 that can retract and extend the pin 50 with enough force to lock or unlock the front pivot axis as appropriate. Electrical power is provided to the ram 60 via a cable 85 connecting the ram 60 with the vehicle electric motor 70. The electric operation of the ram can be designed with the electric circuit of the trailer reverse lights so that as the vehicle to which the trailer is attached is placed into reverse, the reverse lights switch on, the front pivot axis is disabled and the pin 50 extended, ready for reverse travel. As such, the locking mechanism is automatic and can be conveniently operated by the driver from inside the vehicle.

[0026] Accordingly, when it is desired to reverse the trailer, the driver of the vehicle 1 disables movement of the trailer 10 about the front pivot axis by either manually or automatically moving the pin 50 from the forward travel position to the reverse travel position such that the locking mechanism is locked in the reverse travel configuration in which the trailer 10 is permitted to pivot about the rear pivot axis.

2019200551 29 Jan 2019 [0027] In a second embodiment of the trailer reversing apparatus, shown in Figures 6 to 8, the locking mechanism includes front and rear winch systems that control the locking and unlocking of the front and rear pivot points respectively. The front winch system includes a small front 12v electric winch 90a and the rear winch system includes a small rear 12v electric winch, shown in Figure 5. The elongate flexible element takes the form of a synthetic rope or steel cable 152. The front winch system is more clearly shown in Figure 7. The front winch 90a is mounted to the underside of the elongate beam 40 so that it extends laterally in front of the front horizontal frame member 14. A pair of the synthetic ropes or steel cables 152 is attached to the front winch 90a such that one of the cables 152 is wound around each side of the winch that extends laterally of the elongate beam when centred along a longitudinal axis of the frame 12. The ropes or cables 152 are arranged over a series of pulleys 62 that are disposed on a lateral cross-bar 13 mounted to the elongate beam 40 so as to extend laterally and evenly each side of the elongate beam 40 as it is centred along the longitudinal axis. The cross-bar 13 is mounted to the elongate beam 40 at a position along its length that is between the front horizontal frame member 14 and the apex of the drawbar 22. Two of the four pulleys 62 are mounted to the cross-bar 13 to the left of the elongate beam 40 and two to the right, such that the arrangement of the rope or cables 152 past the pulleys 62 is symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the frame 12. The ends of the cables 152 are attached to the D-rings 54 of the towbar 15 as in the first embodiment. The winch 90a is a 12v winch that is controllable to loosen or tighten the cables 152. If the winch is ‘backed off’ such that the cable wound around the winch is loosened, the elongate beam 40 is free to pivot about the front pivot axis and the trailer is operable as a standard trailer. However, with the winch activated, the cables will tighten, essentially locking the front pivot point in the reverse travel position. As with the first embodiment, the elongate beam 40 cannot pivot about the first pivot axis when locked in the reverse travel position. The use of two cables 152 allows the winch 90a to pull evenly either side of the elongate beam 40 and has the effect of centering the elongate beam 40 as the winch 90a is tightened.

[0028] The rear winch system includes a small rear winch 90b mounted to the underside of the elongate beam 40 in a spaced relationship from the front winch 90a.

2019200551 29 Jan 2019

In this regard, the pulleys 62 allow the front winch 90a to be operated over a shorter length of the elongate beam 40 than might otherwise be required so as to ensure sufficient space for the rear winch 90a to operate. The rear winch system is shown more clearly in Figure 8. The rear winch 90a is a 12v electric winch. An additional longitudinal centre strut 170 is attached to an upper side of the frame between the apex of the triangular shaped drawbar 22 and the front horizontal frame member 14. A cable 162 has one end attached to and wound around the winch 90b and an opposite end 165 attached to a D-clip or other fixing mechanism mounted to the upper side of the longitudinal centre strut 170. When it is desired to move the trailer in a forward direction, the winch 90b is activated to shorten the cable 162 to maintain the elongate beam 40 in a central position relative to the frame. In this forward travel position, the elongate beam 40 is unable to pivot about the rear pivot axis. When it is desired to reverse the trailer, the winch 162 is backed-off so as to loosen the cable 162, freeing up the elongate beam 40 to pivot about the rear pivot axis. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 8, the elongate beam 40 can swing away from the longitudinal centreline of the frame from the rear pivot axis as the trailer is reversed.

[0029] The front and rear winches 90a, 90b are both 12v electric winches. The electric operation of the winches 90a, 90b can be designed with the electric circuit of the trailer reverse lights so that as the vehicle to which the trailer is attached is placed into reverse, the reverse lights switch on, movement of the elongate beam 40 about the front pivot axis is disabled and the rear pivot axis is unlocked, ready for reverse travel. Accordingly, the locking mechanism is automatic and can be conveniently operated by the driver from inside the vehicle.

[0030] The trailer reversing apparatus 30 provides a straightforward mechanism by which the reverse travel of a trailer 10 can be controlled, making it easier for a driver to manoeuvre a trailer in the reverse direction. This is because forcing the trailer 10 to move about the rear pivot axis causes the trailer 10 to automatically straighten up with the vehicle 1 rather than pulling against it as is the case with a standard trailer and trailer hitch. Accordingly, the trailer reversing apparatus 30 makes reversing a trailer more intuitive as the driver can anticipate where the trailer move, therefore making it

2019200551 29 Jan 2019 easier to control the manoeuvre safely. The trailer reversing apparatus 30 can be easily retro-fitted to an existing box trailer and the elongate towbar 15 can be easily retrofitted to a vehicle.

[0031 ] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A trailer reversing apparatus for use with a trailer, the trailer comprising a frame with a supporting axle upon which is mounted a pair of wheels, the frame including a generally triangular draw bar at a bow end thereof and having a hitch attachment aperture at an apex of the draw bar, the trailer apparatus comprising:

   an elongate beam adapted for disposal along a longitudinal centreline axis of the trailer frame and extending from the hitch attachment aperture towards a stern of the trailer frame, the hitch attachment aperture defining a front pivot axis; the elongate beam having a reverse mode aperture defining a rear pivot axis disposed towards a stern end thereof so as to be positioned rearwardly of the supporting axle in use;

   and a locking mechanism that is selectively lockable in at least a forward travel configuration and a reverse travel configuration, the locking mechanism being adapted to allow pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the front pivot axis when in the first forward travel configuration thereof and to prevent pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the hitch attachment aperture when in a reverse travel configuration thereof so as to allow pivotable movement of the elongate beam about the rear pivot axis.
2. 2. The trailer reversing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an elongate flexible member and a pin operatively associated with the elongate flexible member and being moveable between a forward travel position and a reverse travel position.
3. 3. The trailer reversing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongate flexible member is fixable in position at the ends thereof and operatively associated with the pin at a middle portion thereof, wherein the elongate flexible member hangs loosely when the pin is in the forward travel position and is taut when the pin is in the reverse travel position.

   2019200551 29 Jan 2019
4. 4. The trailer reversing apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an actuator for selectively actuating movement of the pin between the forward travel position and the reverse travel position.
5. 5. The trailer reversing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the actuator and the pin comprise an electrically actuatable ram.
6. 6. The trailer reversing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pin is manually movable between the forward travel position and the reverse travel position.
7. 7. The trailer reversing apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the pin is moveable within a slot in the elongate support member, the forward travel position being positioned at a bow end of the slot and the reverse travel position being positioned at a stern end of the slot.
8. 8. The trailer reversing apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising an elongate towbar adapted for attachment to the rear of a vehicle, the towbar having a fixing device at or towards the ends thereof for attaching the ends of the elongate flexible member thereto, and a trailer hitch at a centre thereof.
9. 9. The trailer reversing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a front winch and a rear winch mounted to the elongate beam and at least one elongate flexible member operably associated with each of the front winch and the rear winch, wherein the front winch and the rear winch are operable together to selectively place the locking mechanism in the forward travel configuration or the reverse travel configuration.
10. 10. The trailer reversing apparatus of claim 9, comprising two elongate flexible members operably associated with the front winch, each elongate flexible member being fixed in position at a first end thereof and being wound around and secured to the front winch at a second end thereof, and being simultaneously operable between a

    2019200551 29 Jan 2019 forward travel position in which the front winch is loosened and a reverse travel position in which the front winch is tightened.
11. 11. The trailer reversing apparatus of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the rear winch is operable between a forward travel position in which it is tightened and a reverse travel position in which it is loosened.
12. 12. The trailer reversing apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the elongate flexible element comprises a chain or a cable.
13. 13. A trailer, having a trailer reversing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims mounted thereon.
14. 14. A trailer, having a trailer reversing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13 integrally constructed therewith.
15. 15. A method of reversing a trailer attached to a vehicle using the trailer reversing apparatus of claim 1 or any one of the preceding claims, comprising: selectively disabling movement of the trailer about the front pivot axis; placing the vehicle into reverse gear and driving the trailer in reverse.
16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of selectively disabling the front pivot axis comprises moving the locking mechanism from the forward travel configuration to the reverse travel configuration.
17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an electrically actuatable ram and pin, and the step of moving the locking mechanism comprises moving the pin by actuating the electric ram.
18. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a front winch and a rear winch and the step of moving the locking mechanism comprises operating the front winch and the rear winch together to tighten the front winch and loosen the rear winch.