AU2008201528B2 - A livestock trailer - Google Patents

Abstract

A livestock trailer (10) comprises a plurality of decks having fixed deck members (25) and hinged deck members (26). The hinged deck members (26) are arranged to be 5 pivoted between a substantially horizontal position and an upright position to enable an operator to stand upright in the trailer whilst loading livestock and cleaning out the trailer and performing other tasks. 25 32 26 26 32. 02---50 22- 46 -44 27 50 -24 51--51 -- 46 24 2 26 50 -24 51 12 --- 51

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO: LODGED: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED: ACCEPTED: PUBLISHED: RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: Francis Peter BERTOLA ACTUAL INVENTOR: Francis Peter BERTOLA ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA. INVENTION TITLE: "A LIVESTOCK TRAILER" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number 2007901811 filed on 5 April 2007 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: TITLE "A LIVESTOCK TRAILER" 5 The present invention relates to a livestock trailer. Conventionally, livestock trailers for the transport of livestock comprise multiple, vertically spaced decks. These vertically spaced decks are generally provided with a short vertical height there-between. These vertically spaced decks are fixed permanently in 10 position. Alternatively, the decks may be arranged to be vertically adjustable, such that the platforms are oriented at trailer level when the livestock are loaded, and the decks are moved and locked into an elevated transport position. 15 It is known for the trailer decks to be supported at a plurality of longitudinally spaced points along the side of the trailer by fasteners such as bolts. In order for the operator to gain access to these bolts, it is necessary for the operator to climb outside walls of the trailer. Further, when loading livestock into the trailer in these prior art systems, it is 20 often necessary for the operator to climb the outside of the trailer to coax the livestock to move into desired positions. Evidentially there is a high danger of personal injury to the operator, when climbing the outside walls of the trailer. The risk of injury is increased greatly as the operator will 2 generally be using only one hand to hold on to the trailer, and using the other hand for coaxing livestock or adjusting bolts and gates. Further the hazards associated with these systems are increased in certain weather conditions. 5 The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous livestock trailers. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a livestock trailer comprising a plurality of decks, each deck having at least one substantially 10 horizontal frame member, wherein the decks are provided with at least one hingedly mounted deck member which is arranged to be pivoted between a substantially horizontal position in which the deck member rests upon the frame member of the deck and an upright position in which an operator can stand upright in the frame member. 15 The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trailer comprising a plurality of decks in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 a cross sectional view of the trailer of Figure 1. 20 Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a livestock trailer 10 of the present invention, comprising a floor 12, a rear end 14, a front end 16, a right side 18 and a left side (not shown). The trailer 10 is provided with four wheels 20 (only two of which are shown). 3 Each of the rear end 14, front end 16, right side 18 and left side (not shown) comprise upright members 22 provided at longitudinally spaced intervals. Side horizontal members 24 are provided at the right side 18 and left side (not shown) of the trailer 10. Supporting 5 substantially horizontal intermediate members 27 are provided extending from the rear end 14 of the trailer 10 to the front end 16 of the trailer 10. Both the side horizontal members 24 and the supporting horizontal members 27 extend from the front end 16 of the trailer 10 to the rear end 14 of the trailer 10. It is preferred 10 that the side horizontal members 24 are substantially U-shaped (as shown in Figure 2). The side horizontal members 24 and the supporting horizontal members 27 are configured to provide support for a plurality of fixed deck members 25 and a plurality of hinged deck members 26. The hinged deck members 26 are provided with a number of 15 raised ridge portions 28 extending from a first side 30 of the deck member 26 to a second side 32 of the hinged deck member 26 at laterally spaced positions. A central portion 34 extends in a substantially central position from a first end 36 of the hinged deck member 26 to a second end 38 of the hinged deck member 26. It is preferred 20 that the deck members 25 and 26 be covered in a mesh-like material with a solid floor beneath the mesh-like material to enable effluent to drain away from feet of animals in the trailer. 4 Referring to Figure 2, first hinge portions 44 are provided on the upright members 22. The hinged deck members 26 are provided with a plurality of second hinge portions 46 which are spaced to correspond with the first hinge portions 44 arranged on the upright members 22. The second hinge portions 46 are provided with a transverse hole (not 5 shown) arranged to correspond with a transverse hole (not shown) of the first hinge portions 44 of the upright members 22. In this manner, the first hinge portions 44 and second hinge portions 46 can be joined. together by inserting a bolt (not shown) transversely through the aligned holes. It is preferable that the bolt is secured in place by a nut (not shown). 10 The hinged deck members 26 are able to be rotated about the joined first hinge portion 44 and second hinge portion 46 into a substantially vertical or upright position as shown in Figure 2. When the hinged deck members 26 are in the upright position, they may be engaged by a latching member 50 provided on a side of the side horizontal members 24 15 as shown in Figure 2. The latching member 50 may be a spring loaded bolt. Furthermore, the hinged deck members 26 may be rotated into a substantially horizontal position, in which case the second side 32 of the hinged deck members 26 locates in touching engagement with the supporting horizontal members 27. 20 It is preferred that the fixed deck members 25 extend across part of the width of the trailer 10. The hinged deck members 26 therefore occupy the balance of the width of the trailer 10, preferably against one side of the trailer 10. The deck members 25 may extend across a majority of the width of the trailer 10 whilst the hinged deck members 26 extend across a minority of the width of the trailer 10. 5 It is further preferred that the side horizontal members 24 along the side provide a drainage function whereby any fluids present on the trailer may drain outside the trailer through the U-shaped side horizontal members 24 and drains 51 (see Figure 2). In this 5 connection, the deck members 25 and 26 slope downwardly towards the exterior of the trailer 10. The present invention will now be described in the context of its intended use. 10 In order to facilitate the loading of livestock or the like (not shown) onto the trailer 10, hinged deck members 26 located on the second level from the floor 12 of the trailer 10 are pivoted into a substantially vertical or upright position as described previously. In this manner, an operator 52 is able to load livestock initially onto the fixed deck member 25 of the first level by standing upright on a lower hingedly mounted deck member 26 15 through an aperture A (see figure 2) created by pivoting an upper hinged deck member 26 to a substantially vertical position. Once the desired load of livestock on the first level is reached, the hinged deck members 26 on the second level can be rotated to a substantially horizontal position. The hinged 20 deck members 26 on the third level can then be raised to a substantially vertical position to allow for loading of livestock on the second level. This process is repeated up the trailer towards the top of the trailer 10 until the trailer 10 has reached the desired load of livestock. 6 Further, the trailer 10 of the present invention has the advantage that it is not necessary for operators to climb the outside of the trailer for securing bolts or the like or cleaning out the decks by means of a hose. 5 Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 7

Claims (9)

1. A livestock trailer comprising a plurality of decks, each deck having at least one substantially horizontal frame member, wherein the decks are provided with at least one hingedly mounted deck member which is arranged to pivot about a single axis, the deck member arranged to move between a substantially horizontal position in which the deck member rests upon the frame member of the deck and an upright position in which an operator can stand upright in the frame member.

2. A livestock trailer according to claim 1, wherein the trailer comprises a plurality of spaced substantially horizontal side members.

3. A livestock trailer according to claim 2, wherein the side members are U shaped and are connected to drains to facilitate drainage of fluids to outside of the trailer.

4. A livestock trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the trailer further comprises a plurality of spaced upright members.

5. A livestock trailer according to claim 4, wherein the or each hingedly mounted deck member is mounted by hinge means to an upright member.

6. A livestock trailer according to claim 5, wherein each hingedly mounted deck member is arranged when upright to be engaged by a latching member on a side of a horizontal frame member.

7. A livestock trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each deck having a hingedly mounted deck member also has a fixed deck member extending partially across the trailer.

8. A livestock trailer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each hingedly mounted deck member is covered in mesh-like material.

9. A livestock trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings