Abstract: The recreational vehicle jack remote control is for use with a recreational vehicle having a pair of support jacks which are raised and lowered by an electric motor connected to the jacks. The electric motor is controlled by a normally open, double-pole, triple throw switch in the recreational vehicle. The recreational vehicle jack remote control is a modification of the circuit which includes a portable radio frequency transmitter, at least one radio frequency receiver mounted in the recreational vehicle, and a plurality of relays. The transmitter has an "up" button for raising the support legs, and a "down" button for lowering the support legs. When the "up" button is pressed, the relay coil of at least one relay is energized, closing the relay switch contacts to apply current to the electric motor with the proper polarity for raising the legs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting stabilizing jacks mounted on a travel trailer from contaminations which may be incident on the leading edge of a stabilizer jack when the travel is being pulled.

Abstract: Landing gear for supporting a vehicle including a body for attachment to the vehicle, and a tubular leg carried by the body and having a sliding fit with the body for up and down movement relative to the body. The landing gear further includes a mechanism for slidably moving the leg up and down relative to the body. The mechanism includes a nut inside the tubular leg having a threaded bore, an upper bulkhead extending across the inside of the leg adjacent the upper end of the leg, and a lower bulkhead extending across the inside of the leg below the upper bulkhead for supporting the nut in a generally fixed position relative to the leg between the upper and lower bulkheads. Both the upper and lower bulkheads include openings aligned with the threaded bore of the nut. The mechanism also includes a screw shaft in threaded interconnection with the threaded bore of the nut and extending axially in the tubular leg, and a bearing in the body above the leg journalling the screw shaft for rotation on its axis.

Abstract: A trailer landing gear lifting apparatus (100) for raising and lowering landing gear (10) of a trailer (30) has a wrench (102) connected by an air hose (102, 222) to an air supply line ((212) and, optionally, to an air tank (210). An attachment bracket (104), a keeper arm (106) and a wrench bracket (110) optionally secure the wrench (102) to a pair of I beams (112) of the trailer (30) such that the wrench (102) is affixed to the trailer (30).

Abstract: Trailer apparatus or drive unit is disclosed for rotating a drive shaft of a trailer landing gear, lifting gear, dolly, or the like, thereby facilitating the raising and lowering of the legs or supports of the landing gear. The drive unit includes a shaft and gear assembly or gear box having a first shaft with one end adapted to be releasably connected to the drive shaft of the landing gear and with a second end adapted to receive a hand crank handle, a second shaft parallel to the first shaft with one end serving as a rotary support and the other end adapted to receive an output shaft of a rotary motor. A first gear is attached to the first shaft proximate its ends with a plurality of drive teeth meshing with corresponding drive teeth of a second smaller gear attached to the second shaft proximate its ends. A housing surrounds the gears, supports the shafts and includes openings for receiving therethrough the first and second shafts.

Abstract: A landing gear crank handle for raising and lowering vehicle landing gear is provided that includes a first hand hold that is horizontal when the handle is in a full extended position, a second hand hold connected to the first hand hold by a central portion, and an arm connected to the first hand hold; and a jaw connector attached to the arm and adapted to connect the crank handle to a landing gear crank mechanism and adapted to allow the crank handle to lock into a collapsed position, a partially extended position, and a full extended position.

Abstract: A landing gear for semitrailers includes a two-speed single reduction gear assembly having fewer, smaller, and simpler parts, resulting in a compact single reduction gear assembly and cost efficient landing gear unit with a unique clutch-shifting mechanism to provide for shifting from one ratio to another. The single reduction gear assembly is disposed on and about vertically offset input and output shafts further resulting in an easy to crank and shift landing gear unit capable of achieving standard crank handle turn to vertical leg travel distance ratios. The low gear or low speed ratio of the landing gear unit can be varied within a broad range during manufacture, if desired, generally without increasing the overall size or complexity of the two-speed single reduction gear assembly. The landing gear can further include a universal mounting feature and is durable and simple to use.

Abstract: An adjustable length leg and foot assembly is incorporated in a lifting/leveling leg for a fifth-wheel trailer. The foot is connected to the lower end of a threaded shaft, which in turn is received at its upper end by a nut welded to a U-shaped bracket on the leg. This enables the foot to be raised and lowered in infinite increments and avoids any need for insertion of boards or shims in making final leveling adjustments.

Abstract: An improved landing gear assembly made up of a pair of supports having extensible legs, each support having a generally rectangular air lift bladder encased in a box enclosure, which forces a leg downwardly when the bag is inflated, there being an internal compression spring urging the leg upwardly against the air bladder, the leg and spring being located within a generally tubular housing. Each support includes a safety latch and lock mechanism for fixing the leg with respect to the leg housing. The safety latch and lock includes an array of notches formed on the lower end of the extensible leg, a pivoting latch for engaging a selected notch, a torsion spring urging the latch into engagement with a notch, a rotatable rod linked to the pivoting latch of each support, and a handle for rotating the rod.

Abstract: Landing gear for a vehicle comprising a tubular body for attachment to the vehicle, an adjustable-length leg slidable and finely adjustable in the body comprising an inner member slidable and coarsely adjustable in an outer member, two locking pins for locking the inner member in coarse adjusted position relative to the outer member, and a combination handle and spring biasing the pins to their locking position and movable to move them to retracted position.

Abstract: A trailer with wheels located near its rearward end and a connecting arm extending from a mid-region of the forward end of the trailer. The connecting arm includes a gooseneck with a ball receptacle to connect with a ball protruding upwardly from the truck bed. A shroud is connected to the forward end of the trailer beneath the connecting arm and a powered hydraulic cylinder is carried inside the shroud and includes a rod extending downwardly to raise and lower the front of the trailer. A stabilizer arm terminating in a foot portion is carried by the shroud to extend downwardly and co-extensively with the rod to protect the hydraulic cylinder and rod from loading other than by the weight of the trailer and its load.

Abstract: A pneumatic system for automatically extending or retracting a semi-trailer's landing gear to support, raise or lower the trailer, such system utilizing a pneumatic gear motor attached to the gear reduction box assembly's inboard shaft through a coupling, allowing axial movement of the inboard shaft, such pneumatic gear motor interconnected to dual air lines selectively activated by a landing gear control valve receiving air from a valve disposed on the semi-trailer's air brake line.

Abstract: Improvements in the static trailer support system for a trailer normally pulled by a truck or cab/trailer assembly; retractable support legs for the front end of a trailer section of a truck/trailer or cab/trailer assembly enabling the ready separation of the truck or cab from the trailer assembly and, thereafter, the indefinite support of the trailer assembly in the stopped position; hydraulic cylinders and inter connections thereof that operate to provide an entirely new, horizontally retractable support system for the front end of the trailer, as well as an entirely downwardly extendable support system when the trailer and its drag are in stopped position; a construction and process or procedure for using same which either extends an entirely retractable pair of hydraulic cylinder support legs to carry the weight of the front end of the trailer when the latter is in stopped position or, once the front end of the trailer is coupled with a drag truck or drag cab, substantially entirely retracts the entire su

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of using the apparatus for supporting and immobilizing a trailer, especially a detachable trailer towed by a motor vehicle. The apparatus is attached to the trailer frame, one unit attached either in front, or behind each of the rear wheels. The apparatus is comprised of an elongated support or "jack" pivotally attached to the trailer frame and having a ground engaging foot. For travel, the support pivots to a horizontal position and is locked to the trailer frame. When the trailer is to be immobilized, the support pivots downward until it contacts the ground. The trailer is then rotated against the support by using the towing motor vehicle to tow the trailer forward against the support causing the support to pivot to its fully deployed vertical position perpendicular to the trailer frame. The trailer is now fully supported by the invention and the wheels of the trailer have been raised off the ground. The support can be locked in this vertical position.

Abstract: A cushioned landing gear foot is attached to the landing gear leg by a tubular suspension axle within a housing abutment member on the lower end of the leg, and which abutment engages a resilient pad in a pocket on the foot when under compression load. The abutment member has a rectangular cross section including a flat bottom surface for abutting the pad. The clearance between this flat surface (in elevated condition) and the resilient pad is less than the potential vertical movement of the hollow suspension axle in a pair of slots into which it extends. The pad retaining pocket includes a pair of fore-and-aft inverted L-shaped retaining walls allowing approximately 20 degree fore-and-aft articulation of the foot on the leg, and approximately five degree side-to-side articulation. When the leg and foot are put under load, the pad will be deformed until a predetermined maximum force is applied to it, and then the axle will bear all load exceeding this predetermined amount.

Abstract: A pneumatic system for raising and lowering the landing gear of a trailer, wherein the pneumatic system includes a pneumatic motor totally supported by the landing gear. In this way, mounting of the pneumatic system is independent of trailer type or configuration. A gear shift spline assembly is provided between the speed reducer, that is coupled to the pneumatic motor, and the crank shaft that drives the landing gear's high-low gear reduction assembly. This spline assembly permits the crank shaft to axially translate and shift gear arrangements in the gear reduction assembly without separating the crank shaft from the pneumatic drive.

Abstract: An improved attachment between a supporting jack on a trailer and the frame of the trailer. The device is based on a matching boss and socket. The device is spring loaded so as to be normally engaged but is releasable against a spring loading. It is entirely enclosed to avoid interference with its action, by any dirt, dust, grease or the like, and includes a special friction producing surface engageable between the boss and the interior of the socket to prevent vibration-caused disengagement.

Abstract: A gear box trailer support having axially fixed gears in the gear box, including axially fixed larger and smaller input means on an input shaft, and axially fixed smaller and larger output gear elements of a gear cluster on the output cross shaft to the bevel gear drive for the elevating screw in the telescopic leg subassembly. The input gears are in constant engagement with their mating respective output gears. Shifting between high speed low torque output and low speed high torque output is achieved by axial movement of the input shaft within and relative to the hubs of the input gears. This input shaft has a male transverse drive pin which selectively engages cooperative transverse female sloped wall drive slots in the facing inner axial ends of the axially fixed input gears.

Abstract: Landing gear for a vehicle such as a trailer, comprising a leg, a foot at the lower end of the leg adapted for engagement with the ground, a pair of generally channel-shaped members forming a tube which extends up from the foot and telescopically receives the lower end of the leg, an elastomeric member disposed in the tube between the lower end of the leg and the foot, and a bearing plate in the tube interposed between the elastomeric member and the lower end of the leg. The tube is attached to the lower end of the leg to permit limited telescopic movement of the leg and the foot whereby the foot is adapted to move upwardly relative to the leg as the landing gear accepts the weight of the vehicle thereby resiliently to compress the elastomeric member between the foot and the bearing plate. A method of making the foot and tube of the landing gear is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tractor-trailer landing gear mechanism for helping support a trailer end, includes a pair of elongated extendable and retractable telescoping legs. A reversible electrical motor interconnects the legs, for causing them to be retracted or extended to a desired predetermined latching position. The upright tubular member includes a plurality of outwardly extending bores, for receiving a plurality of corresponding latching pins. A plurality of similar normally deactivated solenoids are disposed on the outer sleeve to drive a safety pin into latching engagement with a corresponding bore, when the leg is extended to a desired length. A plurality of normally deactivated detectors are mounted on corresponding solenoids, for sensing the presence of a predetermined latching position. A control board includes a plurality of manually activated switches, for causing the motor to rotate in predetermined directions, and for causing the landing gear mechanism to either retract or extend.

Abstract: Landing gear for a vehicle such as a trailer, comprising a leg, a foot at the lower end of the leg adapted for engagement with the ground, a pair of generally channel-shaped members forming a tube which extends up from the foot and telescopically receives the lower end of the leg, the members being generally symmetric about a central vertical plane of the tube, an elastomeric member disposed in the tube between the lower end of the leg and the foot, and a bearing plate in the tube interposed between the elastomeric member and the lower end of the leg. The tube is attached to the lower end of the leg to permit limited telescopic movement of the leg and the foot whereby the foot is adapted to move upwardly relative to the leg as the landing gear accepts the weight of the vehicle thereby resiliently to compress the elastomeric member between the foot and the bearing plate. A method of making the foot and tube of the landing gear is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a landing gear assembly having legs extending downward from the underframe of a trailer and having a sand shoe at the ground engaging end thereof. The shoe is articulately joined to the ground engaging end of the leg by a collar circumscribing the ground engaging end of the leg. Compressed between the base of the leg and the bottom of the shoe is a wedge-shaped resilient member biasing the shoe into a tilted position relative to the plate.

Abstract: A drive motor is arranged to be secured to the frame of a manually operated trailer landing gear assembly, and a releasable coupling is provided for connection between the output shaft of the drive motor and an input shaft of a gear reduction assembly of the landing gear assembly whereby the manual drive is converted to power drive. The releasable coupling allows the drive motor to be disconnected from the gear reduction assembly in the event that it is desired to provide manual operation. The releasable coupling has a structure which maintains a drive connection through axial shifting movements of the gear reduction assembly input shaft.