STABLIZER FOR TRAILERS AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

Abstract

Methods and systems of and for improving the lateral stabilization trailers and recreational vehicles. Methods and systems of and for preventing lateral movement or side-to-side rocking of a trailer or recreational vehicle includes laterally extending diagonal legs or struts connected and/or braced with a single chain or cable.

Claims

1. A system of and for stabilizing a recreational vehicle (RV), the system comprising: at least two laterally opposing diagonally extending legs or struts proximally affixed to the recreational vehicle frame; and a single chain or cable connecting the legs or struts; wherein when the legs or struts distally impact a surface and/or the ground the legs or struts transfer vector mechanical forces from the surface and/or the ground to the recreational vehicle frame to mitigate or prevent lateral rocking movement of the recreational vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the recreational vehicle is selected from a group consisting of a stationary trailer, trailer home, house trailer, static caravan, residential caravan, modular home, vehicle capable of being towed or on a trailer, and prefabricated structure.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two legs or struts includes a distally mounted foot pad.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the single chain or cable exerts equilateral tension on the legs or struts.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two legs or struts are affixed to the recreational vehicle frame by mechanical systems from the group consisting of eye bolts, bushings, traversing openings with bolt and nut, ball and socket joints, and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the single chain or cable length is adjustable and fixable.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the single chain or cable length is adjustable and fixable under tension.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the single chain or cable ends are connected at a distally mounted foot pad of at least one of the at least two legs or struts.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the single chain or cable ends are connected at the at least two leg or strut distal ends.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two legs or struts are of differing lengths.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two legs or struts are adjustable and fixable in length via mechanical systems from the group consisting of telescoping nested tubes secured by perpendicular traversing openings and pins, releasable threaded, tension, or friction collars, and combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the single chain or cable length is adjusted and fixed via mechanical systems from the group consisting of turnbuckles, come-alongs, manual-winches, electric-winches, and combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of chain or cable tension adjustment after the legs or struts are deployed on an uneven surface or uneven ground.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes at least four legs or struts.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of being removed and/or stowed to allow for road worthy recreational vehicle movement and/or towing.

16. A system of and for stabilizing a recreational vehicle, the system comprising: at least two laterally opposing diagonally extending legs or struts proximally affixed to the recreational vehicle chassis or frame, the legs or struts connected with a single chain or cable to exert tension between the legs or struts; wherein when the legs or struts distally impact a surface and/or the ground transfers to mitigate or prevent lateral rocking movement of the recreational vehicle.

17. A method of and for stabilizing a stationary recreational vehicle, the method comprising: providing at least two laterally opposing diagonally extending legs or struts; affixing the proximal end of the at least two legs or struts to the recreational vehicle frame; providing a single chain or cable; and connecting the single chain or cable to the at least two legs or struts to exert equilateral tension between the at least two legs or struts; wherein when the legs or struts distally impact a surface and/or the ground the legs or struts transfer vector mechanical forces from the surface and/or the ground to the recreational vehicle frame to mitigate or prevent lateral rocking movement of the recreational vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1 is a PRIOR ART diagram of a trailer stabilizing system.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the inventive system and method depicting deployment on a level surface or ground.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the inventive system and method depicting deployment on a pronounced uneven surface or ground.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the system of an embodiment of the inventive system.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the system of an embodiment of the inventive system employed upon a recreational vehicle.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the system of an embodiment of the inventive system employed upon a recreational vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] In the following description, numerous details are set forth for the purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without the use of these specific details. For instance, the techniques described below are described in a specified order, but other embodiments may change the order of the operations while still embodying the current invention.

[0048] In certain embodiments, the inventive method and system comprises affixing two laterally opposing diagonally extending legs or struts to the trailer or vehicle.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the inventive method and system comprises affixing four laterally opposing diagonally extending legs or struts to the trailer or vehicle.

[0050] In certain embodiments, the inventive method and system comprises a single fixed or adjustable length chain or cable connected at or near the proximal ends of one pair of opposing legs or struts to exert equilateral tension between the legs or struts, and thereby consequently exert and maintain a downward force at the leg or strut ends when impacting a surface or the ground.

[0051] In certain embodiments, the inventive method and system is capable of inherent adjustment of the chain or cable tension after a trailer or vehicle is leveled and the legs or struts are deployed on an uneven surface or uneven ground.

[0052] As depicted in FIG. 2, in an exemplary embodiment of the inventive trailer or recreational vehicle stabilizer (20), at least two laterally opposing diagonally extending legs or struts (200, 200) are affixed to a trailer or vehicle (205), preferably to a or the ridged frame (210) of the trailer or vehicle, and most preferably affixed to a portion of the frame (215, 215) in proximity to any existing or integrated support or leveling system.

[0053] It is contemplated that the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) may be adjustable in length and capable of being stowed and secured for or during trailer or vehicle travel, and deployable as required once the trailer or vehicle is stationary and/or leveled.

[0054] It is contemplated that the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) are adjustable and fixable in length by known mechanical systems such as but not limited to, telescoping nested tubes secured by perpendicular openings and traversing locking pin, or by a threaded collar releasably capable of fixing the length of leg or strut by tension and/or frictional force.

[0055] It is contemplated that the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) include foot pads (220, 220) proximal to the leg or strut frame fixation points (215, 215) to provide more contact area on a surface or the ground. It is also contemplated that the foot pads (220, 220) may swivel in a single or multiple axis to establish and maintain full contact on an angled or uneven surface or ground.

[0056] It is contemplated that the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) may be affixed to the ridged frame (210) of the trailer or vehicle by known mechanical systems such as but not limited to: eye bolt, bushing, and traversing opening, or by a ball and socket joint.

[0057] It is contemplated that the at least two legs or struts (200, 200), regardless of the fixation system utilized, allows for the deployment and/or adjustment of the at least two legs or struts (200, 200), and once deployed and/or adjusted rigidly transfers static vector mechanical forces from a surface or the ground to the trailer or vehicle frame (210) to mitigate or prevent lateral rocking of the trailer or vehicle (205).

[0058] It is contemplated that the single chain or cable (225) once affixed or connected to the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) is capable of having its length to be shortened to exert equilateral tension between the at two legs or struts (200, 200), and thereby exert and maintain a downward force at the leg or strut ends when impacting a surface or the ground.

[0059] It is contemplated that the single chain or cable (225) may be adjusted in length via a come along winch, threaded turnbuckle, or by other similar or by known mechanical system capable of shorting the length of the single chain or cable (225) to exert equilateral tension between the at two legs or struts (200, 200).

[0060] One dynamic theory of operation of the present embodiment may be as follows: Once a trailer or vehicle is stationary and if desired leveled via a support and/or leveling system, the at least two legs and struts (200, 200) are deployed to rest upon a surface or the ground. Next the single chain or cable (225) is affixed or connected to the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) and shorted by mechanical system (not shown) to exert equilateral tension between the at two legs or struts (200, 200) which scissors the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) which exerts a downward force to the proximal foot pads (220, 220) thus improving the lateral stability of the trailer or vehicle (205).

[0061] Referencing FIG. 3, another dynamic theory of operation of the present embodiment, when utilized on a pronounced uneven surface or ground (300), may be as follows: Once a trailer or vehicle is stationary and leveled via a support and/or leveling system, the at least two legs and struts (200, 200) are deployed to rest upon the uneven surface or the ground. Depending on the unevenness on the location of stabilizer deployment, the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) may be adjusted to a desired or required length to come to rest on the uneven surface or ground. Next the single chain or cable (225) is affixed or connected to the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) and shorted by mechanical system (not shown) to exert equilateral tension between the at two legs or struts (200, 200) which scissors the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) which exerts a downward force to the proximal foot pads (220, 220) thus improving the lateral stability of the trailer or vehicle (205).

[0062] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, perspective views of an embodiment of the inventive system are shown.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows the inventive system having the single chain or cable (225) is affixed or connected to the at least two legs or struts (200, 200). The two legs or struts (200, 200) are shown having lengths that are extendable and being made of top portion 415, middle portion 420 and bottom portion 425. The legs are connected to foot pads (220, 220) and also to connection elements (410, 410) which are connected to a recreational vehicle. The foot pads improve the lateral stability of the trailer. The connection elements or stabilizers are screwed into the chassis of a trailer via a simple tightening method. When the connection elements are screwed, the chain has great force and downward pressure so as to prevent rocking of the trailer when users are moving about the trailer.

[0064] FIGS. 5-6 are perspective views of the system employed upon a recreational vehicle. FIG. 5 shows the system employed in a manner whereby the single chain or cable (225) is affixed or connected to the at least two legs or struts (200, 200) and the chain has great force and downward pressure so as to prevent rocking of the trailer when users are moving about the trailer

[0065] FIG. 6 shows the system having the single chain or cable (225) is affixed or connected to the at least two legs or struts (200, 200). The upper portion of the system 600 is shown connected to the chassis of a recreational vehicle and has the ability to be tightened to secure the system to the recreational vehicle.

[0066] The invention is designed to mount onto any trailer and is handy, easy to operate and has very few moving parts. The design works together as one unit and creates force or pressure by having an outward force on the chain, downward force on the pads and upward and inward force onto the frame or chassis of the trailer. The device can be screwed so as to be enough to lift the trailer and creates tremendous force up and inward onto the frame (which is the most solid thing on the trailer). The amount of force prevents the trailer from rocking and keeps it stable.

[0067] In a certain preferred embodiment, the device is made from the following components:

[0068] 4 1 diameter tube14 long with threaded caps;

[0069] 4 -10 LH threaded rod8 long

[0070] 4 -10 RH threaded rod8 long

[0071] 4 45 plates

[0072] 4 1 3 with a hole for pin mounted to plate

[0073] 4 2 3 with a hole for pin mounted to angle iron

[0074] 4 3 5 angle iron

[0075] 2 10 ft. chain.

[0076] In certain embodiments, the legs are each screwed to the 4 corners of the trailer and each of the legs provides an upward and inwards pressure to stabilize the trailer.

[0077] In certain embodiments, the method involves using hand tightening to engage the legs and connections to the recreational vehicle.

[0078] In certain embodiments, a simple hand tightening will be sufficient.

[0079] Having thus described several embodiments for practicing the inventive method, its advantages and objectives can be easily understood. Variations from the description above may and can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0080] Accordingly, this invention is not to be limited by the embodiments as described, which are given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.