Trailer stabilizer

• US 8,567,820 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stabilock LLC
• Original Assignee: Midwest Industrial Door, Inc.
• Inventors: Kimener, R. Peter, Kimener, Thomas Terrence, Wahlstrom, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US13/611,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20130001922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 280/763.1, 280/79.4, 280/43.24, 280/400, 280/406.2, 280/475, 414/401, 414/402
• US Class Current: 280/763.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/665 comprising supporting wheels, e.g. dollies
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/02 for only lifting or supporting
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/04 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/16 for operating only on one end of vehicle B60S9/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0857 Auxiliary semi-trailer handling or loading equipment, e.g. ramps, rigs, coupling supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/003 Restraining movement of a vehicle at a loading station using means not being part of the vehicle

Abstract

A trailer stabilizer and signaling system comprising: (a) a repositionable freight trailer stabilizer comprising a frame having mounted thereto a wheel, the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer including a repositionable jack; and, (b) a stabilizer signaler operatively coupled to the trailer stabilizer, the stabilizer signaler including a deployable signal configured to confirm the trailer stabilizer is secured under a parked freight trailer.

Claims

1. A trailer stabilizer and signaling system comprising:

a repositionable freight trailer stabilizer comprising a frame having mounted thereto a wheel, the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer including a repositionable jack; and

,

a stabilizer communicator operatively coupled to the trailer stabilizer, the stabilizer communicator including a deployable signaler configured to confirm the trailer stabilizer is secured under a parked freight trailer; and

,

a dock communicator adapted to be remote from the stabilizer communicator, the dock communicator configured to at least one of receive a signal from the stabilizer communicator and send a signal to the stabilizer communicator;

wherein the dock communicator includes a first visual display configured to display a message indicative of the trailer stabilizer being secured to the parked freight trailer.

2. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer communicator includes a controller communicatively coupled to the deployable signaler.

3. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 2, further including a link in electrical communication with the controller and the stabilizer communicator configured to establish electrical communication between the controller and the stabilizer communicator.

4. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 1, wherein the deployable signaler includes a repositionable arm.

5. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 4, wherein the repositionable arm includes at least two of a wired transmitter, a wireless transmitter, a wired receiver, and a wireless receiver.

6. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 5, wherein:

the repositionable arm includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver;

the wireless transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter; and

,

the wireless receiver comprises an infrared receiver.

7. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 5, wherein:

the repositionable arm includes a first wireless transmitter, a second wireless transmitter, and a wireless receiver;

the first wireless transmitter comprises a first infrared transmitter;

the second wireless transmitter comprises a second infrared transmitter;

the wireless receiver comprises an infrared receiver; and

,

the first infrared transmitter operates at a first frequency and the second infrared transmitter operates at a second frequency different than the first frequency.

8. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 4, wherein the repositionable arm comprises a yieldable arm.

9. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 8, wherein:

the stabilizer communicator includes a controller communicatively coupled to the deployable signaler; and

,

the controller is configured to control repositioning of the yieldable arm between a stowed position and a deployed position.

10. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 9, wherein:

the yieldable arm is operatively coupled to a fluid actuated cylinder that is concurrently coupled to the frame, the fluid actuated cylinder configured to reposition the yieldable arm between the stowed position and the deployed position; and

,

the controller controls repositioning of the fluid actuated cylinder.

11. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 1, wherein the first visual display is configured to change at least one of color and text when the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer is secured to the parked freight trailer.

12. A trailer stabilizer and signaling system comprising:

a repositionable freight trailer stabilizer comprising a frame having mounted thereto a wheel, the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer including a repositionable jack;

a stabilizer communicator operatively coupled to the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer, the stabilizer communicator including a deployable signaler configured to confirm the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer is secured under a parked freight trailer; and

,

a dock communicator adapted to be remote from the stabilizer communicator, the dock communicator configured to at least one of receive a signal from the stabilizer communicator and send a signal to the stabilizer communicator;

wherein the dock communicator includes at least one of a wired transmitter, a wireless transmitter, a wired receiver, and a wireless receiver.

13. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 12, wherein:

the dock communicator includes a wireless transmitter, a first wireless receiver, and a second wireless receiver;

the wireless transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter;

the first wireless receiver comprises a first infrared receiver configured to receive infrared signals at a first frequency;

the second wireless receiver comprises a second infrared receiver configured to receive infrared signals at a second frequency; and

,

the first frequency is different from the second frequency.

14. A trailer stabilizer and signaling system comprising:

a repositionable freight trailer stabilizer comprising a frame having mounted thereto a wheel, the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer including a repositionable jack; and

,

a stabilizer communicator operatively coupled to the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer, the stabilizer communicator including a deployable signaler configured to confirm the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer is secured under a parked freight trailer; and

,

a dock communicator adapted to be remote from the stabilizer communicator, the dock communicator configured to at least one of receive a signal from the stabilizer communicator and send a signal to the stabilizer communicator;

wherein the dock communicator includes a first visual display configured to display a message indicative of the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer being properly aligned with respect to the parked freight trailer.

15. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 14, wherein the first visual display is configured to change at least one of color and text when the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer is properly aligned with respect to the parked freight trailer.

16. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 14, wherein the dock communicator includes a second visual display configured to display a message indicative of the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer being secured to the parked freight trailer.

17. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 16, wherein the first visual display is configured to change at least one of color and text when the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer is properly aligned with respect to the parked freight trailer.

18. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 14, wherein the message includes illuminating at least one of a plurality of lights, at least two of the lights having a different color.

19. The trailer stabilizer and signaling system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lights include at least two of a red light, a green light, a yellow light, an amber light, and a blue light.