US3889972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Landing gear for semi-trailer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-16
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A landing gear for semi-trailers comprising a generally pieshaped landing pad, including an upper bearing of suitable size to readily pivotally affix to the existing landing gear axle. The landing pad includes a forward rise portion which terminates in a curved cam surface which acts as a cam when the trailer is either moved forwardly or rearwardly by a tractor. The arcuate portion terminates rearwardly in a flat, weight sustaining, support section of sufficient length to provide a stable surface to carry the weight of the semi-trailer. A spring biases between portions of the semi-trailer and the landing pad in a manner to continuously urge the landing pad rotatively about the axle to a position clear of the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Elmer S Bredt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:20
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S9/00; B60S9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In a landing gear construction for supporting the forward end of semi-trailers above the ground surface, wherein the semitrailer construction carries an axle at an initial height, the combination of A. a landing pad rotatively connected to the axle and having clockwise and counter-clockwise movement about the axle, 1 said landing pad including a front face, a rear face and a curved cam surface extending from the front face, 2. said landing pad further including a flat support pad in spaced relation from the axle, said flat support pad being interconnected between the rear face and the curved cam surface; B. spring means biasing between a portion of the semi-trailer construction and a portion of the landing pad, 1. said spring means biasing the landing pad about the axle to an upper position wherein the landing pad is carried above the said ground surface and the flat support pad is positioned in angular relation to the ground surface; and C. means to vary the height of the axle relative to the semitrailer construction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a landing gear construction for supporting the forward end of semi-trailers above the ground surface, wherein the semitrailer construction carries an axle at an initial height, the combination of A. a landing pad rotatively connected to the axle and having clockwise and counter-clockwise movement about the axle, 1 said landing pad including a front face, a rear face and a curved cam surface extending from the front face, 2. said landing pad further including a flat support pad in spaced relation from the axle, said flat support pad being interconnected between the rear face and the curved cam surface; B. spring means biasing between a portion of the semi-trailer construction and a portion of the landing pad, 1. said spring means biasing the landing pad about the axle to an upper position wherein the landing pad is carried above the said ground surface and the flat support pad is positioned in angular relation to the ground surface; and C. means to vary the height of the axle relative to the semitrailer construction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
said landing pad further including a flat support pad in spaced relation from the axle, said flat support pad being interconnected between the rear face and the curved cam surface; B. spring means biasing between a portion of the semi-trailer construction and a portion of the landing pad,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
said landing pad further including a flat support pad in spaced relation from the axle, said flat support pad being interconnected between the rear face and the curved cam surface; B. spring means biasing between a portion of the semi-trailer construction and a portion of the landing pad,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the spring means comprise a coil spring having two ends, one end being connected to the semi-trailer construction and the other end being connected to the landing pad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The landing gear construction of claim 2 wherein the other said end of the coil spring is provided with disconnect means to easily disconnect the spring from the connecting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the disconnect means include an eyelet affixed to the landing pad, the said spring end being easily engaged in and disengaged from eyelet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The landing gear construction of claim 3 wherein the curve of the curved cam surface is defined by radii between the curved cam surface and the axle which increase in length from the point of connection to the front face to the connection to the flat support pad.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a method of supporting the front end of a Semi-trailer construction which is equipped with a landing gear axle and a jack to raise and lower the axle, the steps of A. connecting a motor vehicle to the semi-trailer to support the front end of the semi-trailer; B. affixing a landing pad having a cam surface and a flat support surface to the axle; C. lowering the jack until the cam surface contacts the ground; D. moving the semi-trailer in the direction of the flat support surface until the flat surface rests upon the groun to support the weight of the semi-trailer; E. removing the motor vehicle from association with the semitrailer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a method of supporting the front end of a Semi-trailer construction which is equipped with a landing gear axle and a jack to raise and lower the axle, the steps of A. connecting a motor vehicle to the semi-trailer to support the front end of the semi-trailer; B. affixing a landing pad having a cam surface and a flat support surface to the axle; C. lowering the jack until the cam surface contacts the ground; D. moving the semi-trailer in the direction of the flat support surface until the flat surface rests upon the groun to support the weight of the semi-trailer; E. removing the motor vehicle from association with the semitrailer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 6 and the additional steps of again connecting a motor vehicle to the semi-trailer, connecting a spring between the landing pad and the semi-trailer construction in biased condition, and moving the semi-trailer in the direction of the cam surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 and the additional step of utilizing the spring bias to rotate the landing pad relative to the axle to a raised position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 and the additional step of raising the axle by employing the jack after the landing pad has been rotated to the raised position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3083987A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |