US3834736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable kingpin assembly for trailers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-27
•
Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1993-07-27
Abstract
Abstract An assembly is described herein for enabling the load distribution and overall length of a tractor trailer combination to be selectively varied. The assembly includes a king pin mounted to an elongated support bar. The support bar is slidably carried within a channel fixed to the trailer. The support bar includes longitudinally spaced apertures through which a pair of locking pins are received to enable the king pin to be selectively locked at any of several longitudinal positions. By thus adjusting the king pin, the user is able to adjust the weight distribution of the load between the trailer rear wheels and the tractor drive wheels. Additionally, such adjustments enable one to vary the overall length of the semi-truck.
Inventors
- 👤 G Dodgson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:31
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/06; B62D53/068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An adjustable king pin assembly for a trailer comprising: an elongated channel mountable to the trailer; an elongated king pin support bar slidably mounted within the elongated channel for longitudinal movement therein; a king pin fixed to the king pin support bar; a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the king pin support bar, the apertures being equally spaced longitudinally along the king pin support bar; locking means for selectively locking the king pin against longitudinaL movement relative to the channel, including: two locking pins mounted for transverse movement relative to the king pin support bar; and biasing means for urging the locking pins toward a locked position wherein the pins extend through two successive apertures in the support bar apertures; and actuating means for operating the locking pins to retract to an unlocked position adjacent one side of the king pin support bar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
An adjustable king pin assembly for a trailer comprising: an elongated channel mountable to the trailer; an elongated king pin support bar slidably mounted within the elongated channel for longitudinal movement therein; a king pin fixed to the king pin support bar; a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the king pin support bar, the apertures being equally spaced longitudinally along the king pin support bar; locking means for selectively locking the king pin against longitudinaL movement relative to the channel, including: two locking pins mounted for transverse movement relative to the king pin support bar; and biasing means for urging the locking pins toward a locked position wherein the pins extend through two successive apertures in the support bar apertures; and actuating means for operating the locking pins to retract to an unlocked position adjacent one side of the king pin support bar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
The invention set out in claim 1 wherein the locking means further comprises: a U-shaped bracket included along one end of the channel and having one upright wall located adjacent the king pin support bar; apertures extending through the one wall and longitudinally spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between successive apertures in the king pin support bar, for slidably receiving the locking pins; a plate mounting the locking pins on one side thereof; the biasing means being located between the plate and the remaining upright wall of the U-shaped bracket for biasing the locking pins toward the unlocked position; and the actuating means being operatively connected between the U-shaped bracket and the locking pins for enabling the locking pin to be moved to and from the locked and unlocked position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
The invention set out in claim 2 wherein the actuating means comprises: a connecting rod having one end thereof fixed to the plate and extending from the other side of the plate through a complementary aperture in the remaining upright wall of the U-shaped bracket; a cam plate pivotably mounted to the remaining end of the connecting rod for pivotal movement about a pivot axis; a lever arm fixed to the cam plate for pivoting the cam plate about the pivot axis; cam surfaces on the cam plate for engaging the remaining upright wall and moving the plate and locking pins between the locked and unlocked positions in response to the directional force applied to the lever.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2900194A
Cited
US3254904A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |