Patent Application
20220396105
Not Applicable
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The disclosure relates to trailer moving assisting device and more particularly pertains to a new trailer moving assisting device for providing leverage for a person both in steering and moving a trailer such that the trailer can be moved by hand and without the help of a motorized vehicle. In particular, the device allows connection to the tongue of a trailer with a wheeled jack and a handle attached to the jack which allows steering of the jack. The handle is elongated such that the user is positioned forward of the tongue and thereby can pull on the handle to move the jack. A length of the handle is generally orientated perpendicular to an axle of the wheel on the jack so that as the user moves lateral relative to the tongue, the wheel will remain directed at the user.
The prior art relates to trailer moving assisting devices that are typically attachable to a trailer to allow it some freedom to roll and be directed by utilizing a steerable jack when the trailer is being pushed or driven by an electric motor.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a jack that is vertically elongated. A bracket is attached to the jack and engages a tongue of a trailer. A wheel mount is attached to and extends downwardly from the jack. The wheel mount is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the jack when the bracket is attached to the trailer tongue. At least one wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle of the wheel mount. A coupler is mounted on the wheel mount. An elongated handle is removably coupled to the coupler.
In another embodiment, a method of moving a trailer includes providing a trailer having a tongue and attaching a bracket to the tongue of the trailer. A jack is attached to the bracket and extends downwardly therefrom. A wheel mount is attached to and extends downwardly from the jack, wherein the wheel mount is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the jack when the bracket is attached to the trailer tongue. At least one wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle of the wheel mount. A coupler is mounted on the wheel mount. A handle is then releasably attached to the coupler such that the handle extends away from the wheel mount. The handle is elongated and including a grip is positioned opposite of the coupler. A user grips the grip and pulls the handle to in turn pull the trailer.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A bracket 34 is attached to the jack 12 and will most typically be positioned on the upper section 18 whereas the wheel mount 24 is attached to the lower section 20. The lower section 20 may be rotatable with respect to the upper section 18 to allow the wheel mount 24 to rotate relative to the trailer 30 and bracket 34 or the wheel mount 24 may be rotationally coupled to the lower section 20. The bracket 34 is configured to engage a tongue 36 of the trailer 30. The bracket 34 is generally conventional and extends around the tongue 36 and may be attached to a plate mechanically or permanently attached to the jack 12.
A coupler 38 is mounted on the wheel mount 24. In one embodiment the coupler 38 includes a saddle with a central member 40 and a pair of arms 42 extending away from the central member 40. Each of the arms 42 is attached to the axle 26 wherein the lateral walls 32 are positioned between the arms 42. The coupler further includes a first mating member 44. The first mating member 44 of this embodiment includes a post 46 that is attached to the central member 40. The post 46 extends in an opposite direction from the central member 40 with respect to the arms 42. A detent is mounted on the post. In one embodiment, the post 46 has a distal end 48 with respect to the central member 40. The detent 50 is mounted on a peripheral surface of the post 46 and is positioned between the central member 40 and the distal end 48, though the detent 50 may be positioned directly adjacent to the distal end 48.
A handle 52 is removably coupled to the coupler 38. The handle 52 is elongated and will have a length between 3.0 feet and 6.0 feet. The handle 52 more particularly includes an elongated member 60 having a first end 62, a second end 64 and a peripheral surface 66 extending between the first 62 and second 64 ends. For clarification purposes, the peripheral surface 66 has a top side 68 and a bottom side 70. The top side 68 has a lower bend 72 therein positioned adjacent to the first end 62 that forms an angle between 145° and 175°. The top side 68 has an upper bend 74 therein positioned adjacent to the second end 64 that forms an angle between 145° and 175°. The lower 72 and upper 74 bends in the elongated member 60 cause the handle 52 to extend outwardly and upwardly to facilitate gripping of the handle 52 without bending over while ensuring the handle 52 extends outwardly away from the trailer 30 to clear any objects positioned thereon.
As shown in the enlarged inset view of
It is contemplated that the first 44 and second 76 mating members may be reversed such that the first mating member 44 comprises the structure of the second mating member 76 as described above and that the second mating member 76 comprises the structure of the second mating member 44 as described above. Additionally, the coupler 38 may be retained in a fixed position relative to the axle 26 or may be pivotable such that, for example, the post 46 of the first mating member 44 is vertically movable relative to the jack 12.
A grip 88 is attached to the second end 64 of the elongated member 60. As can be seen in
In use, the bracket 34 is attached to the tongue 32 of the trailer 30 and the jack 12 actuated such that the tongue 32 is supported, at a desired height, relative to a floor or ground surface. The user may then attach the handle 52 to the wheel mount 24 with the coupler 38 such that the handle 52 provides the user with the ability to easily turn the wheel mount 24 and thereby direct the wheel(s) 28 in a desired direction. The user may then pull or push on the grip 88 to move the trailer 30 as needed. The length of the handle 52, which is typically at least 4.0 feet, allows for fine adjustments while changing the direction of the wheel(s) 28. Also, the positioning of the grip 88 relative to the trailer 30 provides for more leverage for the user as the trailer 30 is being moved by hand. This allows movement of a trailer 30 and an object thereon without having to secure the trailer 30 to a motorized vehicle.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
I hereby claim the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional application 63/208,795 filed Jun. 9, 2021.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63208795 | Jun 2021 | US |
