Anti-coupling device for semi-trailer

• US 6,394,480 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victoria Brennan
• Original Assignee: Victoria Brennan
• Inventors: Brennan, Victoria
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lum, L.
• Application Number:
  US09/661,128
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 280/432,507 70/14,232
• US Class Current: 280/432
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/085 fitted with anti-coupling devices, pivotal or retractable king pins, e.g. to prevent theft vehicle fittings for preventing theft in general B60R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5867 Encased

Abstract

An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer to prevent the coupling of a semi-trailer'"'"'s kingpin to a tractor'"'"'s fifth wheel comprising of a housing assembly mounted within a specific radius of the kingpin having a half sphere for engaging the tractor'"'"'s fifth wheel when the half sphere is locked in an active position by a locking assembly. The anti-coupling device may move between an active and a passive position by pneumatic valve system.

Claims

1. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer to prevent the coupling in any direction of a semi-trailer'"'"'s kingpin to a top surface of a tractor'"'"'s fifth wheel comprising:

(a) a housing assembly mounted within said semi-trailer within a specific radius to prevent the coupling of said kingpin to said semi-trailer from any direction, having an engaging means for engaging said top surface of said tractor'"'"'s fifth wheel thereby deflecting said semi-trailer upward and across said top surface of said fifth wheel when said engaging means is locked in an active position by a locking means; and

(b) a means for activating said anti-coupling device between said active position and a passive position.

2. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for activating said anti-coupling device is biasing system within said semi-trailer.

3. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said method for activating said biasing system is selected from a group consisting of manual activation, electronic activation, and remote electronic activation.

4. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said engaging means is a half sphere having a curved end and a flat end adapted for mounting to said housing assembly.

5. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said biasing system is a pneumatic system applying direct air pressure to activate said anti-coupling device.

6. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 5 wherein said biasing system is a spring system applying direct spring pressure to deactivate said anti-coupling device.

7. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a member for securing said half sphere to said housing assembly.

8. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 7 wherein said locking means is a spring loaded locking pin assembly for engaging said half sphere in said active position.

9. An anti-coupling device for a semi to prevent the coupling of a semi-trailer'"'"'s kingpin to a tractors fifth wheel comprising:

(a) a housing assembly mounted within said semi-trailer within a specific radius of said kingpin having a half sphere having a curved end and a flat end adopted for mounting to said housing assembly, for engaging said tractor'"'"'s fifth wheel thereby deflecting said semi-trailer upward and across said fifth wheel when said engaging means is locked in an active position;

(b) a pneumatic system for activating said anti-coupling device between said active position and a passive positions

(c) a pressure plate for receiving and securing said flat end of said half sphere; and

(d) a diaphragm for engaging said pressure plate and moving said pressure plate and said secured half sphere to said active position by said pneumatic system.

10. An anti-coupling device for a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said locking means is a spring loaded locking pin assembly for engaging said half sphere in said active position.

11. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer to prevent the coupling from any direction of a semi-trailer'"'"'s kingpin to a top surface of a tractor'"'"'s fifth wheel comprising:

(a) engaging an engaging means secured within a housing assembly mounted within said semi-trailer within a specific radius of said kingpin using a means for activating said anti-coupling device;

(b) deflecting said semi-trailer upward and across said tractor'"'"'s fifth wheel as said engaging means contacts said top surface of said fifth wheel.

12. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 11 further comprising activating said engaging means from a passive position to an active position using a pneumatic valve system applying direct air pressure to activate said anti-coupling device within said semi-trailer.

13. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 12 further comprising activating said pneumatic valve system by manual activation, electronic activation or remote electronic activation.

14. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 13 wherein said engaging means is a half sphere having a curved end and a flat end adopted for mounting to said housing assembly, said half sphere contacting said fifth wheel in said active position.

15. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 14 further comprising moving said half sphere between said active and passive positions by a pressure means.

19. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 15 further comprising floating said half sphere within said housing assembly by applying conical spring pressure.

16. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer to prevent the coupling of a semi-trailer'"'"'s kingpin to a tractor'"'"'s fifth wheel comprising:

(a) engaging a half sphere having a curved end and a flat end adopted for mounting within a housing assembly mounted within said semi-trailer within a specific radius of said kingpin using a diaphragm for engaging a pressure plate secured to said flat end of said half sphere;

(b) activating said half sphere using a pneumatic system within said semi-trailer by manual activation, electronic activation or a remote activation, such that said half sphere moves from a passive position to an active position, thereby deflecting said semi-trailer upward and across said fifth wheel as said half sphere contacts said fifth wheel.

17. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 16 further comprising locking said half sphere into said active position by a locking means.

18. A method for engaging an anti-coupling device to a semi-trailer as claimed in claim 16 further comprising retaining said half sphere within said housing assembly in said passive position, a spring system or air pressure system.