초록 ▼

Towing adjustment and coupling techniques may include a retentive lateral trailer adjustment device of a trailer (1) configured to provide lateral adjustment of the trailer (1). In some embodiments, a trailer (1) may include a coupler element (3) and at least one retentive lateral adjustment device

Towing adjustment and coupling techniques may include a retentive lateral trailer adjustment device of a trailer (1) configured to provide lateral adjustment of the trailer (1). In some embodiments, a trailer (1) may include a coupler element (3) and at least one retentive lateral adjustment device configured to provide adjustment in a lateral direction (8) of the coupler element (3). Embodiments may have configurations directed to couplers such as a gooseneck hitch, a fifthwheel hitch, and a pull-type or tongue hitch. Embodiments may also provide a fore-aft position indicator (44) with or without a fore-aft position sensor (50) through which proper positioning of a source of tow power (54) relative to a trailer (1) may be facilitated in a fore-aft direction (7). Corresponding methods are included as embodiments of the invention.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An adjustable trailer coupling system comprising: a. a trailer; b. a coupler element rigidly mounted to said trailer and laterally immovable relative thereto; c. a pedestal to which said trailer is responsive, said pedestal comprising a vertically extensible pedestal part tha

What is claimed is: 1. An adjustable trailer coupling system comprising: a. a trailer; b. a coupler element rigidly mounted to said trailer and laterally immovable relative thereto; c. a pedestal to which said trailer is responsive, said pedestal comprising a vertically extensible pedestal part that extends downwards from a trailer portion to an underlying surface, wherein said vertically extensible pedestal part is laterally immobile relative to said underlying surface during lateral adjustment of said coupler element, and wherein said coupler element is laterally movable relative to said vertically extensible pedestal part, d. a continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer and established above said vertically extensible pedestal part; e. a pedestal mount connecting said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element and said pedestal; and f. an actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive. 2. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 and further comprising a frame mount to which said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer is responsive. 3. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises a screw element. 4. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 3 wherein said screw element comprises a screw element selected from a group consisting of a worm gear mechanism and a miter gear mechanism. 5. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises an adjustment element selected from a group consisting of a rack and pinion element and a gear element. 6. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises a shaft element. 7. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises a motor drive. 8. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 3 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises a motor drive. 9. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises a pneumatic drive element. 10. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises a hydraulic drive element. 11. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises a remote actuator element. 12. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 11 wherein said remote actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises a manual actuator element. 13. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 12 wherein said manual actuator element comprises a hand crank. 14. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said actuation mechanism to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises a manual actuator element. 15. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 14 wherein said manual actuator element comprises a hand crank. 16. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 15 wherein said actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises an actuator element selected from a group consisting of a detachable actuator element and a folding actuator element. 17. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 15 wherein said actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises an adjustable actuator element. 18. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 17 wherein said adjustable actuator element comprises a telescoping shaft. 19. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 and further comprising: a. a trailer body; and b. a plurality of trailer wheels to which said trailer body is responsive. 20. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 19 wherein said trailer body comprises a trailer body selected from a group consisting of a boat trailer body, a recreational vehicle body, a camper body, a horse trailer body, a utility trailer body, a vehicle towing trailer body, an agricultural use trailer body, a flat bed trailer body, and a heavy duty trailer body. 21. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 19 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises an independent trailer vertical support. 22. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 19 and further comprising a second retentive lateral trailer adjustment element. 23. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 22 and further comprising a lateral trailer adjustment connection element to which both said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element and said second retentive lateral trailer adjustment element are equally responsive. 24. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 23 wherein said actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises a shared actuator element to which both said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element and said second retentive lateral trailer adjustment element are equally responsive. 25. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 19 wherein said actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises a detachable actuator element. 26. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 19 wherein said actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises an adjustable actuator element. 27. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said pedestal comprises a gooseneck pedestal, and wherein said actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises: a. a gooseneck pedestal lateral movement guide; and b. a gooseneck pedestal movement slide element. 28. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 27 wherein said gooseneck pedestal lateral movement guide comprises a pair of gooseneck pedestal movement guides, and wherein said gooseneck pedestal movement slide element comprises a dual pairing of gooseneck pedestal rollers. 29. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 27 and further comprising: a. a pedestal movement housing to which said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer is responsive; and b. an elements shield situated adjacent said pedestal movement housing. 30. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said pedestal comprises a tongue pedestal, and wherein said actuator element to which said retentive lateral trailer adjustment element is responsive comprises: a. a tongue pedestal lateral movement guide; and b. a tongue pedestal movement slide element. 31. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 30 wherein said tongue pedestal lateral movement guide comprises a pair of tongue pedestal movement guides, and wherein said tongue pedestal movement slide element comprises a dual pairing of tongue pedestal rollers. 32. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 30 and further comprising: a. a pedestal movement housing to which said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer is responsive; and b. an elements shield situated adjacent said pedestal movement housing. 33. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 30 wherein said coupler element comprises an A-frame hitch element. 34. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said coupler element comprises a pintle hitch element. 35. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said coupler element comprises a trailer coupler element selected from the group consisting of: a 5th wheel element, a pin hitch element, a ball hitch element, a receiver hitch element, an insert hitch element, a tube hitch element, a bumper hitch element, and a plate hitch element. 36. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises an independent trailer vertical support. 37. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 and further comprising a second retentive lateral trailer adjustment element. 38. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 and further comprising a trailer vertical adjustment element. 39. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said pedestal is at least part of a trailer vertical adjustment element. 40. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 39 wherein said trailer vertical adjustment element comprises a vertical jack. 41. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 39 wherein said trailer vertical adjustment element comprises at least two vertical adjustment elements. 42. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 41 wherein said at least two vertical adjustment elements comprise at least two vertical jacks. 43. An adjustable trailer coupling system as described in claim 1 wherein said continuous movement, retentive lateral trailer adjustment element fixedly mounted to said trailer comprises an independent lateral adjustment element.