US3885813A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for leveling a trailer
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-25
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for leveling a trailer which has a floor supported by at least a pair of transversely spaced apart wheels which define an axis for vertical pivotal movement of the trailer. The method includes three sequential steps of pivoting the front of the trailer downward until a line parallel to the floor and passing through the center of the uphill side wheel at an angle to the axis is level, supporting the trailer for vertical pivotal movement about this line, and pivoting the front of the trailer upwardly about this line until a line parallel to the floor and intersecting the first-mentioned line is level.
Inventors
- 👤 Calvin V Kern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S9/00; B60S9/02; B60S9/04; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/06; B62D53/061; B62D53/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for leveling a trailer or similar vehicle having a longitudinally extending floor supported by first and second transversely spaced apart ground engaging means which establish a transverse axis for vertical pivotal movement of said trailer comprising the steps of: vertically pivoting the trailer about the axis until a line parallel to the trailer floor and passing through substantially the center of the ground engaging means on the uphill side of the trailer at an angle greater than 0* and less than 90* to the axis is level, partially supporting the trailer at a point along said line toward the downhill side of the trailer from the uphill side ground engaging means and vertically pivoting the trailer about said line until a line parallel to the trailer floor and non-parallel to said firstmentioned line is level.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for leveling a trailer or similar vehicle having a longitudinally extending floor supported by first and second transversely spaced apart ground engaging means which establish a transverse axis for vertical pivotal movement of said trailer comprising the steps of: vertically pivoting the trailer about the axis until a line parallel to the trailer floor and passing through substantially the center of the ground engaging means on the uphill side of the trailer at an angle greater than 0* and less than 90* to the axis is level, partially supporting the trailer at a point along said line toward the downhill side of the trailer from the uphill side ground engaging means and vertically pivoting the trailer about said line until a line parallel to the trailer floor and non-parallel to said firstmentioned line is level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned line passes through substantially the center of the ground engaging means on the downhill side of the trailer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trailer is pivoted in one direction in the first step and in the opposite direction in the last step.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for leveling a trailer or similar vehicle having a longitudinally extending floor supported by a pair of transversely spaced apart wheels which establish an axis for vertical pivotal movement of said trailer comprising the steps of: piVoting the front end of said trailer downwardly about said axis until a line parallel to said floor and passing through a point on the downhill side of said trailer rearwardly of said axis and substantially the center of the wheel on the uphill side of said trailer is level, partially supporting said trailer at a point along said line between said uphill side wheel and said downhill side of said trailer and pivoting said trailer front end upwardly until a line parallel to said floor and passing through a point on the uphill side of said trailer rearwardly of said axis and substantially the center of the wheel on the downhill side of said trailer is level.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for leveling a trailer or similar vehicle having a longitudinally extending floor supported by a pair of transversely spaced apart wheels which establish an axis for vertical pivotal movement of said trailer comprising the steps of: piVoting the front end of said trailer downwardly about said axis until a line parallel to said floor and passing through a point on the downhill side of said trailer rearwardly of said axis and substantially the center of the wheel on the uphill side of said trailer is level, partially supporting said trailer at a point along said line between said uphill side wheel and said downhill side of said trailer and pivoting said trailer front end upwardly until a line parallel to said floor and passing through a point on the uphill side of said trailer rearwardly of said axis and substantially the center of the wheel on the downhill side of said trailer is level.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for leveling a trailer or similar vehicle having a longitudinally extending floor supported by at least two pairs of transversely and longitudinally spaced apart wheels which establish a transverse axis for vertical pivotal movement of said trailer comprising the steps of: vertically pivoting said trailer about said axis until a line parallel to the plane of the floor and passing through a point on the downhill side of said trailer and the point defined by the intersection of said axis with a line connecting substantially the centers of the wheels on the uphill side of said trailer is level, partially supporting said trailer at a point along said line toward the downhill side of said trailer from said uphill side wheels and vertically pivoting said trailer until a line parallel to the plane of said floor and intersecting said first-mentioned line is level.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for leveling a trailer or similar vehicle having a longitudinally extending floor supported by at least two pairs of transversely and longitudinally spaced apart wheels which establish a transverse axis for vertical pivotal movement of said trailer comprising the steps of: vertically pivoting said trailer about said axis until a line parallel to the plane of the floor and passing through a point on the downhill side of said trailer and the point defined by the intersection of said axis with a line connecting substantially the centers of the wheels on the uphill side of said trailer is level, partially supporting said trailer at a point along said line toward the downhill side of said trailer from said uphill side wheels and vertically pivoting said trailer until a line parallel to the plane of said floor and intersecting said first-mentioned line is level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a trailer having a longitudinally extending generally rectangular floor supported by a pair of transversely spaced apart ground engaging means which establish a transverse axis for vertical pivotal movement of said trailer, the improvement comprising jack means mounted on the trailer for raising and lowering the front end of the trailer, a first adjustable support mounted on the trailer and located adjacent one rear corner of the trailer, a second adjustable support mounted on the trailer and located adjacent the other rear corner of the trailer, a first level mounted on the trailer and disposed to indicate the attitude of a line parallel to the floor of the trailer and passing through substantially the center of one of the ground engaging means and the location of the support adjacent the rear corner diagonally opposite from the one ground engaging means and a second level mounted on the trailer and disposed to indicate the attitude of a line parallel to the floor of the trailer and passing through substantially the center of the other ground engaging means and the location of the support adjacent the rear corner diagonally opposite from the other ground engaging means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a trailer having a longitudinally extending generally rectangular floor supported by a pair of transversely spaced apart ground engaging means which establish a transverse axis for vertical pivotal movement of said trailer, the improvement comprising jack means mounted on the trailer for raising and lowering the front end of the trailer, a first adjustable support mounted on the trailer and located adjacent one rear corner of the trailer, a second adjustable support mounted on the trailer and located adjacent the other rear corner of the trailer, a first level mounted on the trailer and disposed to indicate the attitude of a line parallel to the floor of the trailer and passing through substantially the center of one of the ground engaging means and the location of the support adjacent the rear corner diagonally opposite from the one ground engaging means and a second level mounted on the trailer and disposed to indicate the attitude of a line parallel to the floor of the trailer and passing through substantially the center of the other ground engaging means and the location of the support adjacent the rear corner diagonally opposite from the other ground engaging means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said jack means is power operated and said supports are manually adjusted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said jack means includes first and second power-operated jacks located adjacent the front corners of the trailer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A trailer comprising a longitudinally extending generally rectangular floor, first and second transversely spaced apart ground engaging means which support said floor and establish a transverse axis for vertical pivotal movement of said floor, first and second jacks mounted on the trailer adjacent the front corners thereof, first and second adjustable supports mounted on the trailer adjacent the rear corners thereof, a first level mounted on the trailer to indicate the attitude of a line parallel to said floor and passing through said first support and substantially the center of the ground engaging means diagonally opposite therefrom and a second level mounted on the trailer to indicate the attitude of a line parallel to said floor and passing through said second support and substantially the center of the ground engaging means diagonally opposite therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
A trailer comprising a longitudinally extending generally rectangular floor, first and second transversely spaced apart ground engaging means which support said floor and establish a transverse axis for vertical pivotal movement of said floor, first and second jacks mounted on the trailer adjacent the front corners thereof, first and second adjustable supports mounted on the trailer adjacent the rear corners thereof, a first level mounted on the trailer to indicate the attitude of a line parallel to said floor and passing through said first support and substantially the center of the ground engaging means diagonally opposite therefrom and a second level mounted on the trailer to indicate the attitude of a line parallel to said floor and passing through said second support and substantially the center of the ground engaging means diagonally opposite therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |