Patent Application
20110163523
The present disclosure relates generally to trailer supports. In particular, trailer supports configured to pivot from a stowed position to a support position to drain water from a boat supported by a trailer are described herein.
Known trailer supports are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. Specifically, known trailer supports are not satisfactory for draining water from a boat stored on a trailer. If a boat is stored on a trailer, one option for draining water from the boat is to support the trailer at an angle so that the drain hole of the boat is at or near the boat's lowest point, For example, the tongue of the trailer may be supported an elevated position by a stack of tires, an elongated piece of wood (such as a two-by-four beam), or any other miscellaneous object to which a boat user has access. These support devices, though providing any desired elevation of the trailer, often suffer from severe safety and strength problems.
As another example, the trailer may be supported by integral trailer stand attached to the tongue of the trailer. These support devices often suffer from lack of adjust-ability and difficulty in storage due to their design. In addition, many of these devices add excessive weight to the tongue of the trailer, and may be difficult to deploy and/or adjust by a single person.
Thus, there exists a need for trailer supports that improve upon and advances the design of known trailer supports. Examples of new and useful trailer supports relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.
Disclosure addressing one or more of the identified existing needs is provided in the detailed description below. References relevant to trailer supports include U.S. patent References: USD269420, USD291017, USD310799, U.S. Pat. No. 3,345,037, U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,569, U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,348, U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,418, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,937. The complete disclosures of the above patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
The present disclosure is directed to trailer supports and methods to support and elevate a trailer at various heights to facilitate water drainage from a boat supported on the trailer. In one embodiment, the present trailer support includes a coupling plate coupled configured to couple to a tongue section of a trailer, a pivot plate attached to the coupling plate, the pivot plate including a pivot hole and defining a plurality of pivot plate lock holes, a pivot element including a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end and defining a plurality of pivot element lock holes, and the proximal end of the pivot element being pivotally fixed at the pivot hole and moveable along an arc from a stowed position extending substantially parallel to the tongue section to a substantially upright support position, wherein at least one of the plurality of pivot element lock holes may be selectively aligned with at least one of the plurality of pivot plate lock holes for locking the pivot element.
The disclosed trailer supports will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.
Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various trailer supports are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
With reference to
The illustrated embodiment of an adjustable trailer support is made of a metallic material, typically steel or aluminum, which can be welded, machined, cast, and otherwise formed as necessary. However, other materials may be used in constructing a trailer support, provided the appropriate modifications are made to the way the pieces are coupled to one another and to a supported object. For example, the support could be made of composite materials (such as carbon fiber), or plastics, or a combination of appropriate materials.
Body element 22 is configured to couple to front end 18 of trailer 12. Body element includes a coupling plate 60, a first pivot member 62, and a second pivot member 64. Body element 22 is made of a metallic material, such as aluminum or steel, which can be cast, welded, machined, and otherwise formed as necessary.
In the example shown in
As shown in
Coupling plate 60 defines a number of coupling holes 22a, as shown perhaps most clearly
In the illustrated embodiment, for example, coupling holes 22a having spacing appropriate for a 2-inch trailer beam are shown toward the top of
In
As shown most clearly in
Thus, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
To lock pivot element 26 to body element 22 in a pivotable manner, a user of adjustable trailer support 10 may align a body lock hole 22c with a pivot element lock hole 27. The user may then pass a bolt, pin, or other fixation element, such as a nylon nut 40 (or Nylok nut) and bolt 42 as shown in
Once fixed at pivot element lock hole 27 by pivot element 26, leg 24 may be relatively freely moved along arc 44 as shown most clearly in
To accomplish vertical and horizontal positioning, the pivot element lock holes and body lock holes may be used. First pivot member 62 defines a stowed lock hole 22d for holding leg 24 in a stowed position, which is relatively horizontal in this example. To hold the leg in this position, it may first be rotated around its fixation point at one of the pivot element lock holes. When leg 24 reaches a substantially horizontal position (position B), a bolt, pin or other fixation element may be passed through stowed lock hole 22d, which is aligned with a corresponding stowed lock hole defined in the second pivot member. In the present example, the stowed lock holes are positioned such that leg 24 can be supported on top of the bolt, or other fixation element when inserted through the stowed lock holes. In other examples, a complimentary hole is defined in the leg and aligned with the stowed lock holes such that placing a bolt through the aligned holes supports the leg.
Likewise, body element 22 includes deployed lock holes 22e for holding leg 24 in a deployed position, which is relatively vertical in the example shown in
As shown in the figures, leg 24 further includes extension element 28, which is slidably coupled to distal end 26b of pivot element 26. Leg 24 is configured to pivot between a stowed position B where the leg is longitudinally aligned with the trailer as shown in
To extend and retract leg 24, pivot element 26 defines a plurality of pivot element lock holes 26c between proximal end 26a of pivot element 26 and distal end 26b of pivot element 26. Additionally, extension element 28 includes a proximal end 28a and a distal end 28b opposite proximal end 28a and defines a plurality of extension element lock holes 28c. Pivot element lock holes 26c may be used in concert with one or more extension element lock holes 28c provided in extension element 28.
To lock pivot element 26 and extension element 28 in a desired lengthwise configuration, a user of the adjustable trailer support 10 may a pivot element lock hole 26c with a desired extension element lock hole 28c. A user may then pass a bolt 52 (as shown in
The fixation element may be put to place permanently or temporarily, though the illustrated embodiment contemplates removable fixation in most cases. Using the described mechanism, the disclosed adjustable trailer support 10 may be fixed to different lengths. In the example shown the figures, the adjustable length spans between 36 to 62 inches. Embodiments accommodating shorter or longer overall lengths may, of course, be constructed.
Additionally, adjustable trailer support 10 may be adjusted to change the elevation of the front end of the trailer relative to the rear end of the trailer. For example, adjusting extension element 28 from a first position of an initial length, for example inches, to a second position of a second length for example 62 inches, may cause the trailer to adjust from a first angle to a second angle whereby the front end of the trailer is elevated relative to the rear end of the trailer.
The first angle and the second angle may be measured between a trailer plane and a surface contact plane. The trailer plane being defined as substantially longitudinal with the tongue of the trailer and intersecting the front end of the trailer and the rear end of the trailer. The surface contact plane being defined as intersecting a point of contact of the extension element and points of contact of the trailer wheels.
Extension element 28 is internally spring-loaded against pivot element 26 to assist with extending and retracting extension element 28, Expressed another way, a spring (not pictured) resides inside pivot element 28, between an upper end of extension element 28 and an internal upper portion of pivot element 26. Such spring loading assists when either extending or retracting extension element 28 relative to pivot element 26.
Alternatively, the extension element and the pivot element may move past each other without assistance from a spring or other biasing means. For example, a user may simply slide the two elements past each other by hand, or an extension element may slide out of the pivot element when the pivot element is rotated to a relatively vertical position.
Further, the pivot and extension elements may be provided with structures to prevent them from sliding past each other so far that they are no longer coupled. For example, the two elements may contain raised or indented portions of their side walls that collide when the extension element reaches a selected maximum travel distance, thus inhibiting or preventing it from falling out of the pivot element. Although shown as having the extension element reside partially within the pivot element, this arrangement may be reversed without affecting the function of the trailer support.
As can be seen from the Figures, body element 22 may be a cast part, for example aluminum or steel, with cast or machined holes. Alternatively, the body element may be constructed out of a plate material, for example plate steel. Leg 24 may be constructed of tubular material, for example tubular steel. Typically the tubular material has a substantially square cross-section.
However, tubes having other shapes may be used, as appropriate. For example, the leg could be made of tubular steel having an oval cross-section, or it could be of a non-tubular I-beam design. Many different configurations are possible which will provide the same or similar functions and capabilities.
As seen in
The particular configuration of the foot, whether it be a plate, wheel, or other structure may provide advantages for certain applications. For example, providing a static plate may make the support more stable, such as on angled ground. Providing a wheel may make the trailer support more maneuverable.
In the example shown in
Turning attention to
As can be seen in
Instead, trailer support 110 includes a unitary pivot element 116 that adjusts the height of the front of the trailer relative to the height of the rear of the trailer by deploying between a stowed position and a deployed position. In this manner, the length of pivot element 116 determines directly the height to which the front of the trailer will be elevated and supported. A unitary pivot element, such as pivot element 116, may be preferred in some applications to simplify manufacturing, reduce design complexity, and reduce the number of moving parts of the trailer support. However, the combination of a pivot element and an extension element, such as pivot element 26 and extension element 28, may be preferred in other applications to provide a trailer support with more flexibility and range of use.
Coupling plate 112 is configured to couple to the to section of the trailer. Pivot plate 114 is attached to the coupling plate and defines a pivot hole 118 and defines a plurality of pivot plate lock holes 120.
Typically, and in the illustrated embodiment, coupling plate 112 send pivot plates 114 will be made of a metal, such as steel. To help fix the relative arrangement of coupling plate 112 and pivot plates 114, they may be welded together. In addition, coupling plate 112 may include a plate slot, and each pivot plate 114 may include a complementary plate tab. The plate tab can be inserted into the slot, helping to stabilize the final welded assembly.
The final welded assembly of the coupling plate and one or more pivot dates is similar in function and shares many of the same features as body element 22 discussed above. Because of the similarities between the final welded assembly and body element 22 the reader is advised to refer to the discussion above for in depth detail relating to the coupling plate and pivot plate features alone or in combination.
Pivot element 116 includes a proximal end 116a and a distal end 116b opposite the proximal end 116a and defines a plurality of pivot element lock holes. Proximal end 116a of pivot element 116 is pivotally fixed at pivot hole 118 of pivot plate 114. As shown in
The illustrated embodiment includes a pair of pivot plates 114 welded to a single coupling plate 112, but other arrangements are possible while maintaining the function of those elements. For example, some embodiments may function with only a single pivot plate, or with a coupling plate having a different shape.
Coupling plate 112 may include a number of coupling holes similar to those on the body element described above and shown on the body element more clearly in
Coupling plate 112 further includes an upper surface, which is similar to the upper surface of the body element described above and shown in
Each pivot plate 114 includes features to rotatably support picot 116 and reversibly fix its position. As shown in
Once fixed at the pivot hole, pivot element 116 may be relatively freely moved along arc 124 as shown
To fix pivot element desired rotational position, the pivot plates define a plurality of lock holes 120. The pivot plates define a horizontal lock hole 120 for holding pivot element 116 in a relatively horizontal position. To hold pivot element 116 in this position, it may first be rotated around its fixation point at the pivot hole. When pivot element 116 reaches a substantially horizontal position (position B), a bolt, pin or other fixation element may be passel through aligned horizontal lock holes 120 in the pivot plates.
In the illustrated embodiment, the horizontal lock holes 120 are placed such that pivot element 116 can be supported above the bolt, pin, or other fixation element. The fixation element may or may not pass through the leg to fix the posit of pivot element 116.
Likewise, pivot plates 114 include deployed lock holes 121 for holding pivot element in a deployed or support position, which is relatively vertical in the example shown in
Pivot plate 114 may additionally define an integrated step C to accommodate components of the tongue section of the trailer. Integrated step C is similar many respects to the integrated discussed above with respect to the first embodiment.
In some embodiments, trailer support 110 may include an extension element which is similar to the extension element described above with regard to the first embodiment. The extension element may include a proximal end and a distal end opposite proximal end, and the extension element may define a plurality of extension element lock holes. The proximal end of extension element may be slidably coupled to distal end 116b of pivot element 116. Additionally, at least one of the plurality of pivot element lock holes may be selectively aligned with at least one of the plurality of extension element lock holes for locking extension element. For further detail the reader should refer to the discussion above on the extension element.
In some embodiments, the extension element may be configured to extend and change the elevation of the tongue section of the trailer relative to the rear end of the trailer. Additionally, extension element may reside partially within the pivot element. In other embodiments, the pivot element may reside partially within the extension element.
As seen in
To lock interchangeable rotatable wheel 160 and pivot element 116 in a desired configuration, a user of trailer support 110 may align a rotatable wheel lock hole 128 with a desired pivot element lock hole 122. A user may then pass a bolt, pin, or other fixation element (not shown) through the aligned holes to fix their relative position. Similarly, to lock interchangeable static plate 162 and pivot element 116 in a desired configuration, a user of trailer support 110 may align a static plate lock hole 126 with a desired pivot element lock hole 122. A user may then pass a bolt, pin, or other fixation element (not shown) through the aligned holes to fix their relative position.
The fixation element may be put into place permanently or temporarily though the illustrated embodiment contemplates removable fixation in most cases. To release interchangeable rotatable wheel 160 from pivot element 116 a user may simply remove the fixation element that aligns rotatable wheel lock hole 128 with pivot element lock hole 122. Interchangeable static plate 162 may be removed from pivot element 116 in a similar mariner.
The particular configuration of the foot, whether it be a static plate, rotatable wheel, or other structure may provide advantages for certain applications. For example, providing a static plate may make the support lore stable, such as on angled ground. Providing a wheel may make the trailer support more maneuverable. Additionally, having an interchangeable foot allows users to have greater flexibility and to switch between a static plate, rotatable wheel, or other device to flu their needs and circumstances.
A pivot element without an interchangeable static plate (as shown in
In the example shown in
Turning attention to
Method 210 includes providing an adjustable trailer support at step 212, where the trailer support includes a body configured for coupling to the proximal end of the trailer and an extensible leg for supporting the trailer. Method 210 further includes pivoting the extensible leg from a stowed position to a support position at step 214. Additionally, method 210 includes adjusting the length of the extensible leg at step 216 until the proximal end of the trailer is elevated relative to the distal end of the trailer. At step 218, method 210 includes securing the extensible leg in place.
Attaching the adjustable trailer support to the trailer at step 212 may be accomplished by coupling the body to the proximal end of the trailer. A user may couple the body to the trailer by first mating a top surface of the body with a bottom portion of a trailer frame beam near the proximal end of the trailer. Second, a user may pass one or more U-bolts through coupling holes that are located on the top surface of the body thereby sandwiching the trailer frame beam between the one or more U-bolts and the top surface of the body.
Next, a user may secure the U-bolts in place by tightening one or more nuts to the U-bolts. Once the nuts are tightened, the nuts will contact a bottom surface of the body. The coupling holes may have any desired spatial arrangement to accommodate different configurations of trailers, coupling plates, mounting means, and so on. Additionally, other methods of fixing the adjustable trailer support to the trailer are envisioned beyond using one or more U-bolts in combination with nuts. For example, a coupling plate may be used combination with one or more bolts and nuts. The coupling plate contacts the top surface of the trailer frame beam and similarly sandwiches the trailer frame between the body and the coupling plate, which is secured using the one or more bolts and nuts.
Pivoting the extensible leg from a stowed position to a support position at step 214 may be accomplished by releasing the extensible leg from the stowed position. A user may release the extensible leg from the stowed position by removing any fixation element used to hold the extensible leg in the stowed position. Once released from the stowed position, a user may pivot the extensible leg along an arc until the extensible leg is to a deployed position, which is relatively vertical. Once the extensible leg; reaches the deployed position a user may pivot the extensible leg along the arc until a deployed lock hole on the body aligns with an extensible leg lock hole on the extensible leg, and then a user may pass a bolt, pin, or other fixation element through the aligned holes to fix their relative position. The extensible leg and the body are pivotably attached and define the adjustable trailer support.
Adjusting the length of the extensible leg at step 216 may be accomplished by first sliding an extension element along a pivot element until an extension element contacts a surface capable of supporting the combined loading the adjustable trailer support, trailer, and trailer load. Once the extensible leg contacts such a surface a user may further slide the extension element along the pivot element thereby adjusting the length of the extensible leg until the proximal end of the trailer is elevated relative to the distal end of the trailer. The extension element and the pivot element are slidably attached and define the extensible leg.
Securing the extensible leg at step 218 may be accomplished by further sliding the extension element along the pivot element until an extension element lock hole aligns with a pivot element lock hole, and then passing a bolt, pin, or other fixation element through the aligned holes to fix their relative position.
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. application, Ser. No. 61292012, filed on Jan. 4, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61292012 | Jan 2010 | US |
