Supports – Props and braces
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-01-23
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Props and braces
C248S351000, C280S766100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176458
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to retractable wheels for trucks and more particularly pertains to a new truck stabilizer for preventing a truck from tipping while in motion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of retractable wheels for trucks is known in the prior art. More specifically, retractable wheels for trucks heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,764; U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,537; U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,671; U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,631; U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,390; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 349,801.
Prior art stabilizing structures in general focus on assemblies mounted on the frame forming the lower portion of a vehicle, and thus provide only limited stabilizing benefits for vehicles, such as trucks and trailer, with relatively tall cargo containers which are mounted above the frame of the vehicle. Any cargo placed in the cargo container only adds further weight that is located above the lower frame and any stabilizing assemblies mounted on the frame.
In these respects, the truck stabilizer according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing a truck from tipping while in motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of retractable wheels for trucks now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new truck stabilizer construction wherein the same can be utilized for preventing a truck from tipping while in motion.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new truck stabilizer apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the retractable wheels for trucks mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new truck stabilizer which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art retractable wheels for trucks, either alone or in any combination thereof.
The invention is ideally employed on a vehicle having a frame and an enclosed cargo container mounted on the frame. The cargo container has a front face a rear face, and a pair of vertical side faces. Corners are formed at the intersection of the front and rear faces with the side faces.
A plurality of arm assemblies are provided for stabilizing the cargo container in a direct manner, and thereby providing a measure of stability to the vehicle frame on which the cargo container is mounted. Each arm assembly is mounted on a side face of the cargo container, so that at least one arm assembly is mounted on each side face, and consequently each side of the cargo container has at least one arm assembly for providing lateral stability for the cargo container. Another preferred feature of the invention is that an arm assembly may be located at each end of the side face, and most preferably adjacent to a corner of the cargo container such that the cargo container is provided with longitudinal stability. The cargo container is thus provided with both lateral and longitudinal stability by the arm assemblies of the invention.
Each arm assembly preferably includes a rectangular plate having an aperture formed in each corner thereof for allowing the coupling of the plate of the arm assembly with the side faces of the cargo container. Preferably, a hydraulic cylinder is included with a first portion fixedly coupled to the plate. Ideally, the first portion of each hydraulic cylinder extends from the plate such that an axis about which the cylinder is formed defines an angle of about 30 degrees with a plane in which the plate resides. A second portion of the hydraulic cylinder is slidably situated in the first portion and the second portion is adapted to extend from the first portion upon the actuation of the hydraulic cylinder. The second portion of the hydraulic cylinder is retractable into the first portion upon the deactuation of the hydraulic cylinder.
A wheel is rotatably coupled to a free end of the second portion of the hydraulic cylinder and resides in a plane offset and parallel with that of the plate. It should be noted that the forgoing hydraulic arm assemblies include a first set of hydraulic arm assemblies having the plates thereof coupled to a first side face of the cargo container adjacent to the front face and rear face near corners of the container. Such arm assemblies further include a second set of hydraulic arm assemblies having the plates thereof coupled to a second side face of the cargo container adjacent to the front face and rear face thereof.
A tilt switch is situated in or on the cargo container. The tilt switch is adapted to detect tilt of the cargo container, and actuate only the hydraulic cylinders of the first set of hydraulic arm assemblies (mounted on a first side face of the cargo container) upon the detection of the tilting of the cargo container in a first lateral direction toward the first side. The tilt switch further serves to actuate only the hydraulic cylinders of the second set of hydraulic arm assemblies (mounted on a second side face of the cargo container) upon the detection of the tilting of the cargo container in a second lateral direction opposite the first direction. If the tilt switch does not detect a tilted orientation of the cargo container, the tilt switch deactuates the hydraulic cylinders of both sets of hydraulic arm assemblies.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new truck stabilizer apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the retractable wheels for trucks mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new truck stabilizer which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implie
Braun Leslie A.
Wood Kimberly
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