Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-05-15
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C254S419000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231081
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to load carriers and more particularly to a semitrailer landing gear which markedly reduces pits, cracks, marks and depressions in pavements and extends the lives of pavements at truck terminals and delivery sites.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One principal drawback of semitrailer landing gears is that they damage and shorten the life of pavements, particularly asphalt pavements. The greatest damage occurs when asphalt pavements are soft during high temperature days, when semitrailers are parked for considerable amounts of time, and when landing gears contact obstacles, such as debris and stones. The damage occurs in the form of pits, cracks, marks and depressions which deteriorate the appearance, collect water, damage seal coats and shorten a pavement's life.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to eliminate the damage caused by semitrailer landing gears on pavements, reduce the maintenance costs of pavements and extend the lives of pavements and landing gears.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved landing gear shoe which can be mounted on existing landing gears.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved landing gear plate which can be mounted on existing landing gear shoes and to support additional heavier semitrailer loads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The drawbacks and difficulties encountered with prior landing gears are overcome by the present invention. In order to overcome these drawbacks, the present invention substantially reduces the contact forces of a landing gear on a pavement and provides a resilient contact surface which deflects when the landing gear rests on an inclined or irregular surface or on obstacles such as stones, rocks or other hard debris. Another benefit of the invention is that it is easily applied to existing landing gears and landing gear shoes.
In employing the teaching of the present invention, a plurality of alternate constructions can be adopted to achieve the desired capabilities. In this disclosure, some alternate constructions are discussed. However, these embodiments are intended as examples, and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.
The invention broadly comprises a means for reducing pavement stresses which can be substituted for or applied to an existing landing gear shoe. In a first aspect of the invention, an auxiliary landing gear shoe is mounted on an existing landing gear shoe. A resilient pad is adhesively bonded to a lower surface of the auxiliary shoe. In a second aspect of the invention, an existing landing gear shoe is replaced with an improved landing gear shoe. Reducing the need for expensive maintenance and replacements is a financial boon to owners of parking and delivery sites.
Further features and benefits will become apparent by reference to the drawings and ensuing detailed description of a preferred embodiment which discloses the best mode contemplated in carrying out the invention. The exclusive rights which are claimed are set forth in each of the numbered claims following the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3219362 (1965-11-01), Epstein
patent: 3666290 (1972-05-01), Dalton et al.
patent: 3998470 (1976-12-01), Houston
patent: 4039206 (1977-08-01), Nault
patent: 4073454 (1978-02-01), Sauber
patent: 4281852 (1981-08-01), Konkle
patent: 4421290 (1983-12-01), Frank
patent: 4634144 (1987-01-01), Ringe
patent: 4889362 (1989-12-01), Lagsdin
patent: 4903977 (1990-02-01), Baxter
patent: 5409251 (1995-04-01), Thorndyke
patent: 2 207 102 (1989-01-01), None
Berke Joseph J.
Michael Charles T.
Berke Joseph J.
Dickson Paul N.
Rhodes Alex
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