Trailer stabilizer
First Claim
1. A portable trailer restraint for restraining a parked freight trailer at a loading dock, the portable trailer restraint comprising a portable frame repositionably coupled to a vertically floating spring-biased king pin receiver configured to receive a king pin of the parked freight trailer, the portable trailer restraint also including a repositionable connector configured to releasably mount to an anchor remote from the portable trailer restraint and the parked freight trailer, the connector repositionable between a first position and a second position, where the first position couples the portable trailer restraint to the anchor, and where the second position decouples the portable trailer restraint from the anchor, wherein the floating king pin receiver includes a fifth wheel pivotally connected to a support in order to change the horizontal angle of the fifth wheel with respect to the support, the support and portable frame operatively coupled to a spring that biases the floating king pin receiver with respect to the portable frame, wherein the support comprises a cross-member that is pivotally connected to the fifth wheel, the cross-member concurrently mounted to a pair of spaced apart vertical beams and the spring interposes the support and the portable frame to allow the fifth wheel to vertically float upon the portable frame.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels and a hitch, the stabilizing device including a repositionable jack.
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A portable trailer restraint for restraining a parked freight trailer at a loading dock, the portable trailer restraint comprising a portable frame repositionably coupled to a vertically floating spring-biased king pin receiver configured to receive a king pin of the parked freight trailer, the portable trailer restraint also including a repositionable connector configured to releasably mount to an anchor remote from the portable trailer restraint and the parked freight trailer, the connector repositionable between a first position and a second position, where the first position couples the portable trailer restraint to the anchor, and where the second position decouples the portable trailer restraint from the anchor, wherein the floating king pin receiver includes a fifth wheel pivotally connected to a support in order to change the horizontal angle of the fifth wheel with respect to the support, the support and portable frame operatively coupled to a spring that biases the floating king pin receiver with respect to the portable frame, wherein the support comprises a cross-member that is pivotally connected to the fifth wheel, the cross-member concurrently mounted to a pair of spaced apart vertical beams and the spring interposes the support and the portable frame to allow the fifth wheel to vertically float upon the portable frame.
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8. A method of restraining a parked freight trailer at a loading dock, the method comprising:
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wedging a portable device underneath a forward portion of the parked freight trailer so the portable device bears at least a portion of a weight of the forward portion of the parked freight trailer without repositioning a landing gear of the parked freight trailer; coupling the portable device to a ground anchor while the portable device is wedged underneath the parked freight trailer and without repositioning the landing gear of the parked freight trailer, the ground anchor being located underneath the parked freight trailer and behind the king pin; applying at least one of a pulling force and a pushing force upon a king pin of the parked freight trailer using the portable device, where at least one of the pulling force and the pushing force includes a vector in a direction toward the loading dock; and
,continuing at least one of the pulling force and the pushing force while contents are at least one of loaded onto and unloaded from the parked freight trailer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of restraining a parked freight trailer at a loading dock, the method comprising:
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positioning a portable trailer restraint underneath a forward portion of the parked freight trailer at the loading dock without repositioning the landing gear of the parked freight trailer so the portable trailer restraint contacts the parked freight trailer, where the portable trailer restraint is configured to bear a weight of a forward portion of the parked freight trailer; coupling the portable trailer restraint to an anchor at an anchor location that is configured to apply a force on the parked freight trailer in a direction toward a rear of the parked freight trailer to retard displacement of the parked freight trailer with respect to the loading dock, the anchor location positioned underneath the parked freight trailer and rear of a kingpin of the parked freight trailer, the anchor being in a fixed position with respect to the portable trailer restraint and the parked freight trailer; and
,retaining coupling of the portable trailer restraint to the anchor while contents are at least one of loaded onto and unloaded from the parked freight trailer; wherein the act of the portable trailer restraint contacting the parked freight trailer includes repositioning a jack of the portable trailer restraint from a vertically floating spring-biased position with respect to the ground to a wedged position where the jack concurrently contacts the ground and an underside of the parked freight trailer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of restraining a parked freight trailer at a loading dock, the method comprising:
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wedging a portable device underneath a forward portion of the parked freight trailer so the portable device bears at least a portion of a weight of the forward portion of the parked freight trailer while a landing gear of the parked freight trailer remains in contact with the ground and without repositioning the landing gear; coupling the portable device to a ground anchor while the landing gear remains in contact with the ground and without repositioning the landing gear; applying at least one of a pulling force and a pushing force upon a king pin of the parked freight trailer using the portable device, where at least one of the pulling force and the pushing force includes a vector in a direction toward the loading dock; and
,continuing at least one of the pulling force and the pushing force while contents are at least one of loaded onto and unloaded from the parked freight trailer.
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Specification