Trailer for securing and hauling steel coils

Abstract

A vehicular trailer for transporting cylindrical objects such as metal coils. The trailer includes front and rear deck portions and a middle deck portion positioned lower than and between the front and rear portions. Two or more chocks are pivotably secured to the trailer. The movable chocks and one or more straps secure a coil loaded on the middle deck portion for transport.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A vehicular trailer for transporting cylindrical objects, comprising: 
 a front deck portion and a rear deck portion separated along the trailer's defined direction of travel;    a middle deck portion disposed between and at a vertical distance below said front and rear deck portions;    a first transitional wall portion disposed at an angle between and connecting said front deck portion and said middle deck portion;    a second transitional wall portion disposed at an angle between and connecting said rear deck portion and said middle deck portion; and,    means for suspending a cylindrical object between said transitional wall portions and above said middle deck portion, wherein the cylindrical object has a diameter and a central axis transverse to the direction of travel.    
   
   
       26 . The trailer of  claim 25 , wherein said means for suspending is zero, one or two chocks arranged on middle portions of said transitional wall portions and adapted to tangentially contact and hold the cylindrical object.  
   
   
       27 . The trailer of  claim 26 , wherein said diameter is approximately forty-eight, approximately sixty or approximately seventy-two inches.  
   
   
       28 . The trailer of  claim 26 , wherein said means for suspending comprises middle portions of said transitional wall portions adapted to tangentially contact and hold the cylindrical object.  
   
   
       29 . The trailer of  claim 28 , wherein said middle deck portion has a length such that said transitional wall portions are arranged to hold a cylindrical object with a diameter of approximately forty-eight, approximately sixty or approximately seventy-two inches.  
   
   
       30 . The trailer of  claim 28 , wherein said first transitional wall portion is disposed at an angle between said front deck portion and said middle deck portion between approximately 40 and 55 degrees, and, wherein said second transitional wall portion is disposed at an angle between said rear deck portion and said middle deck portion between approximately 40 and 55 degrees.  
   
   
       31 . The trailer of  claim 30  wherein said first transitional wall portion is disposed at an angle between said front deck portion and said middle deck portion of approximately 45 degrees, and, wherein said second transitional wall portion is disposed at an angle between said rear deck portion and said middle deck portion of approximately 45 degrees.  
   
   
       32 . The trailer of  claim 28  wherein said middle deck portion is disposed a distance below said front and rear deck portions between approximately 18 and 22 inches.  
   
   
       33 . The trailer of  claim 32  wherein said trailer further comprises means mounted to said middle deck portion for securing the cylindrical object to the trailer.  
   
   
       34 . The trailer of  claim 32  wherein said front deck portion, said rear deck portion and said middle deck portion are substantially parallel.  
   
   
       35 . The trailer of  claim 34  wherein the trailer length in the direction of travel consists of the length of said front deck portion, the length of said rear deck portion and the length of said middle deck portion.  
   
   
       36 . The trailer of  claim 34  wherein said front deck portion, said rear deck portion and said middle deck portion are formed by a frame comprised of I-beams.  
   
   
       37 . A vehicular trailer for transporting cylindrical objects, comprising: 
 a front deck portion and a rear deck portion separated along the trailer's defined direction of travel;    a middle deck portion disposed between and a distance below said front and rear deck portions;    a first transitional wall portion disposed at an angle between and connecting said front deck portion and said middle deck portion;    a second transitional wall portion disposed at an angle between and connecting said rear deck portion and said middle deck portion; and,    wherein said first and second transitional wall portions are configured to support a cylindrical object having a diameter and having an axis transverse to the direction of travel;    wherein said axis and said diameter define a radius length, and wherein radii lines of the cylindrical object are substantially perpendicular to said first and second transitional walls; and,    wherein the distance from the axis to said middle deck is greater than said radius length.    
   
   
       38 . The trailer of  claim 37 , wherein said diameter is approximately forty-eight, approximately sixty or approximately seventy-two inches.  
   
   
       39 . The trailer of  claim 38 , wherein said first transitional wall portion is disposed at an angle between said front deck portion and said middle deck portion between approximately 40 and 55 degrees, and wherein said second transitional wall portion is disposed at an angle between said rear deck portion and said middle deck portion between approximately 40 and 55 degrees.  
   
   
       40 . The trailer of  claim 39  wherein said middle deck portion is disposed a distance below said front and rear deck portions between approximately 18 and 22 inches.  
   
   
       41 . The trailer of  claim 40  wherein the trailer length consists of said front deck portion, said rear deck portion and said middle deck portion.  
   
   
       42 . A method of securing a cylindrical coil to a vehicular trailer, comprising: 
 providing a trailer with one lower surface separating two upper surfaces and angled transitional surfaces disposed between said upper surfaces and said lower surface;    placing a cylindrical coil of a substantially set diameter in place to engage portions of said transitional surfaces below said upper surfaces;    suspending the cylindrical coil above the lower surface; and,    securing said cylindrical coil in place.