Abstract: A safety cable cartridge 20 is connected between a towing vehicle 12 having a hitch ball and a trailer 10 including a tubular coupler housing 16 mounted to a trailer draw bar. The cartridge is self contained and includes a cartridge housing 28 for positioning in the elongated opening of the coupler housing, at least one safety cable assembly 30 positioned in said cartridge housing, and spring 20 surrounds the cable 31 and biases the distal end 30 of the cable toward the cartridge housing.

Abstract: A pivotal hitch assembly (14) connection to the draw bar (18) of a trailer includes a hitch housing (22) formed of a hollow tube having a greater breadth than the draw bar. The hitch housing receives the draw bar and is pivotally coupled to the draw bar by aligning two corresponding sets of openings in the hitch housing and the draw bar and inserting a pivot pin (55) through one set of the corresponding aligned openings. The pivotal hitch assembly is placed into the aligned operational or towing position by inserting a removable locking pin (58) into the other set of the corresponding aligned openings. A cuff (64) is positioned between the draw bar and the hitch housing to reduce the frictional contact between the hitch housing and the draw bar. The pivotal hitch assembly is placed in the storage position by removing the locking pin (58) and pivoting the hitch housing (22) around the pivot pin.

Abstract: A frame of a boat trailer includes longitudinal support beams that extend from a tongue. The support beams are C-shaped in cross section and have a generally hollow interior. Each one of the support beams includes a front wall with a slot formed therethrough; the slot runs the length of the support beam and provides access to the hollow interior. Electrical wiring and hydraulic brake fluid lines are disposed in the interior of the support beams for protection from the elements, road debris, and other hazards. Each of the support beams is removably coupled to side panel such that the side panel covers the slot formed in the support beam.

Abstract: A frame of a boat trailer includes longitudinal support beams that extend from a tongue. The support beams are C-shaped in cross section and have a generally hollow interior. Each one of the support beams includes a front wall with a slot formed therethrough; the slot runs the length of the support beam and provides access to the hollow interior. Electrical wiring and hydraulic brake fluid lines are disposed in the interior of the support beams for protection from the elements, road debris, and other hazards. Each of the support beams is removably coupled to side panel such that the side panel covers the slot formed in the support beam.

Abstract: A bi-metal light weight self penetrating boat anchor includes flukes 18A and 18B and a crown 16 formed of light weight material, such as aluminum, and includes a shank 12 and stock 14 formed of heavier material such as stainless steel. The heavier shank assures that the shank will lie flat on the lake bottom when being dragged by the boat, and the stronger heavier stock resists bending or other deterioration when engaging obstacles at the lake bottom. The reduced weight of the crown and flukes permits the anchor to be of reasonable weight that is more conveniently handled by the boat operator.

Abstract: The boat trailer (3) includes pivotal support beams (5) that are pivoted intermediate their ends. Pairs of boat hull support rollers (13) are mounted on the ends of the roller mounting arms (7) and are slidably supported by the mounting blocks (9). The overhanging shoulders (30 and 31) of the opposed halves of the mounting block rest on the parallel support edges (47) of the notches (40) at the ends of each pivotal support beam (5). The shallow U-shaped arch (15) of the pivotal roller mounting arm (7) slides along its length through the compatibly shaped channel (20) of the mounting block (9) so that the rollers (13) at the opposite ends of the roller mounting arm can move with respect to each other upwardly or downwardly so as to maintain constant contact with the changing shape of the boat hull of a boat trailer as the boat is rolled onto or off of the trailer.

Abstract: A pivotal hitch assembly (14) includes a housing (22) that is pivotally coupled to mounting plates (57) and (58) that are rigidly attached to a draw bar (60) of a trailer. The housing includes a pair of connector tubes (56) that receive pins (63), (64) that couple the housing (22) to the mounting plates (57), (58). The housing (22) is manufactured from a single blank of material. The connector tubes (56) are formed by bending or rolling a portion of the blank into a generally tubular shape. Bending or folding of the blank forms the housing such that the housing is generally U-shaped.

Abstract: A pivotal hitch assembly (14) includes a housing (22) that is pivotally coupled to mounting plates (57) and (58) that are rigidly attached to a draw bar (60) of a trailer. The housing includes a pair of connector tubes (56) that receive pins (63), (64) that couple the housing (22) to the mounting plates (57), (58). The housing (22) is manufactured from a single blank of material. The connector tubes (56) are formed by bending or rolling a portion of the blank into a generally tubular shape. Bending or folding of the blank forms the housing such that the housing is generally U-shaped.

Abstract: The trailer hitch has a pair of tubular housings 22 and 23, a coil compression spring 29 in each housing, and a cable 30 or 31. Each cable is telescopically slidable with respect to its housing, through its spring 29, and its proximal end 45 is connected to the inner end of the spring by the cable/spring connector 32. When the hooks 49 at the distal ends of the cables 30 or 31 are disconnected from the towing vehicle, the springs urge the cables into the housings.

Abstract: An adjustable axle-frame connector 10 for mounting an axle 40 to the frame 30 of a vehicle. The adjustable axle-frame connector 10 includes an axle mounting plate 12, an axle hold down bracket 20, and a U-bolt 24a. The axle mounting plate 12 with a first end for positioning on one side of the vehicle frame 30 and a second end having a mounting slot 17 formed therein. The first end is configured to engage the frame 30 when the axle mounting plate 12 is positioned between the frame 30 and the axle 40, the axle 40 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the frame 30. The second end has positioning tabs 18 that are configured to straddle the axle 40 when the axle mounting plate 12 is positioned between the frame 30 and the axle 40. The axle hold down bracket 20 has a proximal end 21 and a distal end, the distal end including a locator flange 22 configured to engage the mounting slot 17 of the axle mounting plate 12 when the proximal end 21 is placed in abutment with the frame 30 of the vehicle.

Abstract: The stabilization system includes a foundation platform (16) that supports a pier (18), with the pier in turn supporting the joists (12) of a premanufactured building structure (10). Cleat walls (25-28) at the edges of the central body portion of the foundation platform extend into the ground. Struts (46, 47) are sloped upwardly from the foundation platform for connection to an adjacent joist. The weight of the building structure and the cleat walls prevent the foundation platform from horizontal movement. Thus, horizontal movement of the building structure is resisted without the application of horizontal forces to the pier.

Abstract: A trailer hitch apparatus (10) for dampening shocks and surges between a towing vehicle (2) and a trailer (1) is disclosed. The hitch apparatus (10) includes a draw bar (20) for removably coupling to a towing vehicle (2), a hitch ball assembly (16) for coupling to a tongue of a trailer, and a torsional spring apparatus (30) pivotally coupling the draw bar to the hitch ball assembly. The torsional spring apparatus is adapted to resist the pivoting motion of the hitch ball assembly with respect to the draw bar thereby dampening shocks and surges transmitted between the towing vehicle and the trailer. The torsional spring further includes an incremental scale (13) and indicator (12) working in conjunction with the torsional spring apparatus for weighing the tongue weight of a trailer.

Abstract: The stabilization system includes a foundation platform (16) that supports a pier (18), with the pier in turn supporting the joists (12) of a premanufactured building structure (10). Cleat walls (25-28) at the edges of the central body portion of the foundation platform extend into the ground. Struts (46, 47) are sloped upwardly from the foundation platform for connection to an adjacent joist. The weight of the building structure and the cleat walls prevent the foundation platform from horizontal movement. Thus, horizontal movement of the building structure is resisted without the application of horizontal forces to the pier.

Abstract: An adjustable axle-frame connector 10 for mounting an axle 40 to the frame 30 of a vehicle. The adjustable axle-frame connector 10 includes an axle mounting plate 12, an axle hold down bracket 20, and a securing means 24a. The axle mounting plate 12 with a first end for positioning on one side of the vehicle frame 30 and a second end having a mounting slot 17 formed therein. The first end is configured to engage the frame 30 when the axle mounting plate 12 is positioned between the frame 30 and the axle 40, the axle 40 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the frame 30. The second end has positioning tabs 18 that are configured to straddle the axle 40 when the axle mounting plate 12 is positioned between the frame 30 and the axle 40. The axle hold down bracket 20 has a proximal end 21 and a distal end, the distal end including a locator flange 22 configured to engage the mounting slot 17 of the axle mounting plate 12 when the proximal end 21 is placed in abutment with the frame 30 of the vehicle.

Abstract: The support system for a premanufactured building includes a foundation platform (12) having cleat walls (50-53) that penetrate the ground. A support stand (14) and its vertical support shaft (30) function as a pier to support the joist (18) of the building. A diagonal stabilizing strut (16) is connected at its upper end to the same or to an adjacent joist, and at its lower end to the support stand, so that compression forces applied by the joist to the strut (16) move from one side of the vertical load axis (28) to the other side of the axis and engage the foundation platform, so that the ground adjacent the cleats (50-53) resists movement of the joist.

Abstract: Protector shoe (10) is positioned between the loop (49) formed in a tie down strap (46) and the adjacent support plate (36, 38). The mounting flange (24) extends about a first edge (40) of the support plate (36) and the middle strip (28) of the tail (22) is folded about the second edge (41) either by the installer or by the application of the loop of the tie down strap urging it toward engagement with and about the second edge (41) of the support plate. This protects the tie down strap from abrasion against the edges (40 and 41) of the support plate (36) of the support beam (12).

Abstract: An adjustable support system is provided for a premanufactured building structure. Struts (65, 66) are mounted at their lower or platform ends in support clevises (45, 46), and are mounted to the joists (12, 13) of the building structure. The lower or platform end (78) of the struts can be moved horizontally with respect to the support platform (36) by rotating the adjustment nut (80) on the travel screw (55) of the support clevis. This effectively reorients the strut to a greater or smaller angle with respect to the horizontal, so that the strut bears more or less of the load of the joist and the building structure. Preferably, the rotation of the adjustment nut (80) is accomplished with a torque wrench which provides the installer with an indication of the load being assumed by the strut.

Abstract: A trailer is equipped with a surge braking system having a braking/dampening unit 70 that is integrated with a common reservoir 71 that supplies brake fluid to both the master brake cylinder 72 and the dampener cylinder 75, so that if the master cylinder is starved of brake fluid, the dampener also is starved of fluid and the jarring between the forward hitch and the rear housing in response to acceleration and deceleration of the towing vehicle will alert the operator of the towing vehicle to replenish the reservoir with brake fluid. Safety cable 111 connects at one end to the towing vehicle and actuates the master cylinder in response to tension being applied thereto, and latch 98 moves in behind the master cylinder and locks the master cylinder in it operative position so as to hold the brakes in their locked position.

Abstract: A tension strap connector assembly for use in a stabilizing foundation system for a manufactured home supported by at least one flanged beam. The tension strap connector assembly is adapted at a first end so as to hook around and latch about a flange of the manufactured home support beam. At a second end, the tension strap connector has a strap slot adapted to receive a tension strap of the stabilizing foundation system, wherein the tension strap is attached at one end to a ground anchor. The tension strap connector provides a means for altering the orientation of the tension strap relative to the hook portion so that the tension strap can be arranged in non-perpendicular orientations with respect to the manufactured home without creating a torsional stress concentration within the tension strap.

Abstract: A longitudinal stabilizing system for a premanufactured building having support joists extending along the length of the underside of the building and being supported above the ground by upright piers. The system comprises at least one foundation plate, a joist connector, a plate connector, and a rectilinear strut. The foundation plate is placed between the pier and the ground. The joist connector attaches to the joist of the building. Plate clamps may be used in conjunction with the joist connector to grasp the joist. The plate connector attaches to the foundation plate. The strut is attached to the joist connector at one end and the plate connector at the other end such that the strut slopes downward from the joist towards the ground.