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US4988115A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Undercarriages

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-07-31
•
Granted: 1991-01-29
•
Expires: 2009-07-31
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Abstract

Abstract An undercarriage for pivotable supporting the front end of a trailer with the undercarriage including a set of bolsters that provide a pivoting and rockable connection between a box on the trailer and the front undercarriage to reduce stress on the box with the undercarriage including detachable lift members to permit the user to raise the rear wheels of the undercarriage to permit one to back the trailer like a conventional trailer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles W. Steinke

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 09:52
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D63/00; B62D63/06; B62D63/068; B62D13/00; B62D13/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 198 words
A trailer for towing by a vehicle comprising: a rear wheeled undercarriage for supporting a rear of the trailer; a front wheeled undercarriage for pivotably and rockably supporting a box on the trailer, said front undercarriage including a platform bolster, said platform bolster pivotally connected to the box on the trailer, a set of front wheels on said front undercarriage, a set of rear wheels on said front undercarriage, said front wheels having a front bolster extending therebetween to vertically support said platform bolster, said rear wheels having a rear bolster extending therebetween to vertically support said platform bolster, and tie rods connected to said front wheels to permit a user to turn the front wheels of said front undercarriage independent of the rear wheels of said front undercarriage so that the front undercarriage provides steerable pivotal support to the box on the trailer to thereby minimize the stress on the box induced by the undercarriage passing over uneven terrain; and said platform bolster includes a recess and said rear bolster includes a member attached to said rear bolster and positioned in said recess to prevent lateral displacement of said platform bolster with respect to said rear bolster.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 198 words
A trailer for towing by a vehicle comprising: a rear wheeled undercarriage for supporting a rear of the trailer; a front wheeled undercarriage for pivotably and rockably supporting a box on the trailer, said front undercarriage including a platform bolster, said platform bolster pivotally connected to the box on the trailer, a set of front wheels on said front undercarriage, a set of rear wheels on said front undercarriage, said front wheels having a front bolster extending therebetween to vertically support said platform bolster, said rear wheels having a rear bolster extending therebetween to vertically support said platform bolster, and tie rods connected to said front wheels to permit a user to turn the front wheels of said front undercarriage independent of the rear wheels of said front undercarriage so that the front undercarriage provides steerable pivotal support to the box on the trailer to thereby minimize the stress on the box induced by the undercarriage passing over uneven terrain; and said platform bolster includes a recess and said rear bolster includes a member attached to said rear bolster and positioned in said recess to prevent lateral displacement of said platform bolster with respect to said rear bolster.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The trailer of claim 1 including flexible connectors connected to said platform bolster and to the front bolster to permit the platform bolster to flex with respect to said front bolster.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The trailer of claim 1 including lift members to suspend the rear wheels of said front undercarriage off the ground to permit easier backing of the trailer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The trailer of claim 1 wherein said platform bolster includes a collared opening for forming a pivotable connection with the box on the trailer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The trailer of claim 1 wherein said trailer includes a tongue and tie rods to permit steering of the front wheels of the front undercarriage independent of the rear wheels of the front undercarriage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
The trailer of claim 1 wherein said platform bolster comprises sandwiched layers of wood having a top support plate and a bottom support plate attached thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
The trailer of claim 1 including a tongue connected to said front undercarriage, said tongue connected to said front undercarriage with a piano like hinge to thereby provide a pivotable connecting link between said trailer and a towing vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 70 words
The trailer of claim 1 wherein said platform bolster includes a pivot pin to attach said undercarriage to said trailer with at least two openings for a pivot pin to permit the user to position the front end of said trailer box with respect to said front undercarriage with at least one of said openings permitting approximately 45% of the weight on the undercarriage to be on said front bolsters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The trailer of claim 1 wherein said platform bolster includes bottom stops to prevent rearward or forward motion of said platform bolster with respect to said front undercarriage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 199 words
A trailer for towing by a vehicle comprising: a rear wheeled undercarriage for supporting the rear of the trailer; a front wheeled undercarriage for pivotable and rockable supporting a box on the trailer, said front undercarriage including a platform bolster, said platform bolster pivotally connected to the box on the trailer, a set of front wheels on said front undercarriage, a set of rear wheels on said front undercarriage, said front wheels having a front bolster extending therebetween to vertically support said platform bolster, said rear wheels having a rear bolster extending therebetween to vertically support said platform bolster, and tie rods connected to said front wheels to permit a user to turn the front wheels of said front undercarriage independent of the rear wheels of said front undercarriage so that said front undercarriage provides steerable pivotal support to the box on the trailer to thereby minimize the stress on the box induced by the undercarriage passing over uneven terrain; and a single loose fitting pivot pin connecting said box to said platform bolster to provide a pivotable rockable connection between the box and said platform bolster wherein said pivot pin can be repositioned as said pivot pin wears.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 199 words
A trailer for towing by a vehicle comprising: a rear wheeled undercarriage for supporting the rear of the trailer; a front wheeled undercarriage for pivotable and rockable supporting a box on the trailer, said front undercarriage including a platform bolster, said platform bolster pivotally connected to the box on the trailer, a set of front wheels on said front undercarriage, a set of rear wheels on said front undercarriage, said front wheels having a front bolster extending therebetween to vertically support said platform bolster, said rear wheels having a rear bolster extending therebetween to vertically support said platform bolster, and tie rods connected to said front wheels to permit a user to turn the front wheels of said front undercarriage independent of the rear wheels of said front undercarriage so that said front undercarriage provides steerable pivotal support to the box on the trailer to thereby minimize the stress on the box induced by the undercarriage passing over uneven terrain; and a single loose fitting pivot pin connecting said box to said platform bolster to provide a pivotable rockable connection between the box and said platform bolster wherein said pivot pin can be repositioned as said pivot pin wears.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 47 words
The trailer of claim 10 wherein said front wheels of said front undercarriage are vertically displaceable with respect to said rear wheels of said front undercarriage to permit said front undercarriage to go over uneven terrain without directly transferring stress to the box located on the trailer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-01-28 1994-07-30 1995-01-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-01-28 1998-07-30 1999-01-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-01-28 2002-07-30 2003-01-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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