Vehicle leveler system

Claim 2

A leveler system for an over-the-road vehicle having a spring-suspended frame comprising in combination with said vehicle: a plurality of jack devices each having an individually adjustable length, a lower ground-engaging portion on each said device, and means for pivotally securing the upper portion of each said jack device to the spring-suspended frame of the vehicle adjacent a different corner thereof, so that said vehicle can be partially elevated for leveling various individual amounts at each corner by driving the vehicle to move the jack devices in the direction of movement of said vehicle for rotation of the lengths thereof to a vertical condition supporting said vehicle frame and with a partial extension of the spring frame of said vehicle and the vehicle wheels resting on the ground, and so that said vehicle can be restored to normal over-the-road condition by driving the vehicle to rotate said jack devices for the lengths thereof to be inclined to the vertical with said vehicle frame fully spring suspended.

Claim 3

A leveler system for over-the-road vehicles as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said jack devices includes a plurality of telescoping members.

Claim 4

A leveler system for over-the-road vehicles as recited in claim 2 wherein said ground-engaging portion on the lower of each of said jack members has an edge for frictionally engaging the ground during rotation of the jack device to the vertical condition.

Claim 5

A leveler system in combination with an over-the-road vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is of the motor-home type.

Claim 6

A leveler system for over-the-road vehicles as recited in claim 1 wherein said pivotal securing means for each of said jack devices includes means attachable to the bumper of the vehicle for suspending the associated jack device to rotate around a horizontal axis.

Claim 7

A leveler system for over-the-road vehicles as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said jack devices includes a plurality of members relatively movable for adjusting the overall length thereof, and means for releasably attaching said members together to have certain overall incremental lengths, said pivotal securing means being connected to one of said members, said releasable attaching means suspending another of said members from said one member.

Claim 8

The process of operating an over-the-road vehicle of the motor-home type having a spring-suspended frame and wheels at the four corners of the frame to level said vehicle in stationary condition and to restore said vehicle to normal over-the-road condition by means of the driving force of the vehicle and by the use on said vehicle of a plurality of jack devices respectively mounted adjacent the four corners of the vehicle frame; each of said jack devices having an adjustable length, a lower ground-engaging portion, and means for pivotally securing the upper portion thereof adjacent a corner of the spring-suspended frame of the vehicle; said process comprising the steps of: individually adjusting the lengths of said jack devices to be a length greater than the normal height of the associated frame corner above ground but less than the height to elevate the associated wheel off the ground so as to produce a level condition of said vehicle frame when supported on said jack devices; positioning said jack devices adjacent said frame corners with the ground-engaging portions resting on the ground and projecting out from the associated portions of said vehicle frame in the same direction of planned drive of said vehicle; driving said vehicle in said direction to rotate said jack devices to project under and support said vehicle frame with partial extension of the spring-suspension of the frame; and driving said vehicle to rotate said jack devices to project out from the associated portion of said vehicle frame and to restore said vehicle to normal over-the-road condition with said frame fully supported by the spring suspension thereof.

Claim 9

The process of operating an over-the-road vehicle of the motor-home type having a spring-suspended frame and wheels at the four corners of the frame to level said vehicle in stationary condition and to restore said vehicle to normal over-the-road condition by means of the driving force of the vehicle and by the use on said vehicle of a plurality of jack devices respectively mounted adjacent the four corners of the vehicle frame; each of said jack devices having an adjustable length, a lower ground-engaging portion, and means for pivotally securing the upper portion thereof adjacent a corner of the spring-suspended frame of the vehicle; said process comprising the steps of: individually adjusting the lengths of said jack devices to be a length greater than the normal height of the associated frame corner above ground but less than the height to elevate the associated wheel off the ground so as to produce a level condition of said vehicle frame when supported on said jack devices; positioning said jack devices adjacent said frame corners with the ground-engaging portions resting on the ground and projecting out from the associated portions of said vehicle frame in the same direction of planned drive of said vehicle; driving said vehicle in said direction to rotate said jack devices to project under and support said vehicle frame with partial extension of the spring-suspension of the frame; and driving said vehicle to rotate said jack devices to project out from the associated portion of said vehicle frame and to restore said vehicle to normal over-the-road condition with said frame fully supported by the spring suspension thereof.