Expandable trailer having a position locking feature
First Claim
1. An expandable trailer having a position locking feature, comprising:
- a fixed portion;
an expandable portion;
a first telescoping member coupled to one of said fixed portion or expandable portion;
a second telescoping member coupled to the other of said fixed portion or expandable portion, wherein the first and second telescoping members are operable to move in telescopic engagement to assist in expanding the expandable portion;
a locking member coupled to the first telescoping member; and
a stop block coupled to the second telescoping member, the stop block including a transverse surface extending external to the second telescoping member;
wherein at a suitable expansion position during telescopic movement of the first and second telescoping members, the locking member abuts the transverse surface of the stop block and thereby prevents telescopic movement in a first direction.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A position locking feature for an expandable trailer by which the trailer may be automatically locked in either an expanded or a retracted position. A stop block having a transverse striking plate is mounted to an expansion box beam carrying the expandable portion of the trailer. A locking assembly is mounted to a fixed box beam carrying the fixed portion of the trailer. The locking assembly biases a plunger toward the expansion box beam such that the plunger abuts the transverse striking plate, thereby preventing relative movement of the fixed and expandable portions in one direction. A pair of such stop blocks may be used to lock the trailer in either of the expanded or retracted positions.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An expandable trailer having a position locking feature, comprising:
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a fixed portion; an expandable portion; a first telescoping member coupled to one of said fixed portion or expandable portion; a second telescoping member coupled to the other of said fixed portion or expandable portion, wherein the first and second telescoping members are operable to move in telescopic engagement to assist in expanding the expandable portion; a locking member coupled to the first telescoping member; and a stop block coupled to the second telescoping member, the stop block including a transverse surface extending external to the second telescoping member; wherein at a suitable expansion position during telescopic movement of the first and second telescoping members, the locking member abuts the transverse surface of the stop block and thereby prevents telescopic movement in a first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An expandable trailer having a position locking feature, comprising:
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a fixed portion; an expandable portion; a first telescoping member coupled to one of said fixed portion or expandable portion; a second telescoping member coupled to the other of said fixed portion or expandable portion, wherein the first and second telescoping members are operable to move in telescopic engagement to assist in expanding the expandable portion; a locking assembly coupled to the first telescoping member and including a plunger biased toward the second telescoping member; a stop block coupled to the second telescoping member, the stop block including a transverse surface extending external to the second telescoping member and a camming surface extending external to the second telescoping member; wherein the camming surface is operative to deflect the plunger away from the second telescoping member during telescopic movement of the first and second telescoping members; and wherein at a suitable expansion position during telescopic movement of the first and second telescoping members, the plunger abuts the transverse surface of the stop block and thereby prevents telescopic movement in a first direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An expandable trailer having a position locking feature, comprising:
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a fixed portion; an expandable portion; a first telescoping member coupled to one of said fixed portion or expandable portion; a second telescoping member coupled to the other of said fixed portion or expandable portion, wherein the first and second telescoping members are operable to move in telescopic engagement to assist in expanding the expandable portion; a locking assembly coupled to the first telescoping member and including a plunger biased toward the second telescoping member; a first stop block coupled to the second telescoping member, the first stop block including a first transverse surface extending external to the second telescoping member; a second stop block coupled to the second telescoping member, the second stop block including a second transverse surface extending external to the second telescoping member; wherein at an expanded position of the trailer, the plunger abuts the first transverse surface and thereby prevents telescopic movement in a retracting direction; and wherein at a retracted position of the trailer, the plunger abuts the second transverse surface and thereby prevents telescopic movement in an expanding direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification