Abstract: A mechanical jack that is used with trailers that has a functional combination of several working gears as well as a drop leg feature is disclosed. The mechanical jack has a gearbox having gears that not only have the capacity to handle a relatively heavy load, but also have the ability to handle small and midsize loads while maintaining sufficient and commercially acceptable cranking speeds without excessive force required. The jack includes a crank or handle for use with the mechanical jack that assists in both effective raising and lowering of the jack, as well as efficient transition from one working gear to another. The crank provides an efficient way to change from one operating gear of the jack to another, and facilitates operator use of the mechanical jack to which it is connected, in order to provide improved cranking and improved changing of one operating gear to another.

Abstract: A device and method for coupling a trailer which has a trailer tongue mount attached to the trailer and a coupler attached to the trailer tongue mount. The coupler has an outer tube assembly, an inner tube assembly slidably received by the outer tube assembly, and a return spring having a first end attached to the outer tube assembly, and a second end attached to the inner tube assembly for drawing the inner tube assembly upwardly toward the first end of the return spring. The inner tube assembly may include an inner tubular member which has a plurality of height adjusting holes, a top end and a bottom end. The inner tube assembly may also include a female coupling member attached to the bottom end of the tubular member. A locking handle assembly may be attached to the inner tube assembly to prevent the coupler from disengaging from the towing vehicle.

Abstract: Interengageable male-female style coupling device with a pivotally movable lock plate having an entrance/egress aperture with a tapered entering surface. The tapered surface both facilitates engagement of coupling members and acts to securely fasten the coupled members in locked position. The device is particularly suited for "gooseneck" or "neckover" coupling devices commonly used in tractor-trailers hauling.

Abstract: A coupler for a trailer and the like, the coupler having a body and cap hinged together at a front portion and closable along parting faces and an internal cavity formed by the body and the cap for a ball which is conventionally secured to the towing vehicle or trailer. The body is rigidly secured to a tongue portion of the coupler. The collar is mounted around the tongue portion and axially slidable over the body and a portion of the cap to latch the cap in a closed position. The collar is biased to a latching position. The body and cap are tapered so that cap snugly engages the two when the cap is in the latching position. The collar is operably coupled to an actuating handle. The handle is pivotably mounted on the tongue portion to control the movement of the collar with respect to the body and cap by movement between two rotationally displaced positions.

Abstract: A coupler for a trailer and the like, the coupler having a body and cap hinged together at a front portion and closeable along parting faces and having an internal cavity formed by the body and the cap for the ball which is conventionally secured to either the trailer or the towing vehicle. The body forms a major portion of the ball cavity and includes a ball centering upper surface which extends substantially laterally across the upper surface of the cavity, forming a self-centering bearing surface for the ball. An automatic closing device is formed on a front portion of the cap and body wherein insertion of the ball into the ball cavity automatically closes the cap with respect to the body. The closing device includes a protrusion on the cap at an opposite side of the hinge where the cap encloses the ball cavity. The protrusion extends through an aperture in the body and projects into the ball cavity when the cap is in an open position.