초록 ▼

A trailer stand includes a wheel assembly and a carriage. The wheel assembly includes a bearing, a wheel rotatable in connection with the bearing to be rotatable in a first direction, but not rotatable in a second transverse direction, a pivot connectable to the object, and a frame connected to the

A trailer stand includes a wheel assembly and a carriage. The wheel assembly includes a bearing, a wheel rotatable in connection with the bearing to be rotatable in a first direction, but not rotatable in a second transverse direction, a pivot connectable to the object, and a frame connected to the pivot to be pivotable with respect to the object, the frame sized and dimensioned to support the bearing at an offset with respect to the pivot axis of the pivot to thereby form caster trail, the frame having a mass distributed unequally upon left and right sides of the wheel assembly, thereby causing the frame to pivot with respect to the Earth, to a predetermined orientation, when the frame is tilted with respect to a normal orientation with respect to the Earth. The carriage supports the wheel assembly, and is pivotable with respect to the trailer.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheel assembly for movingly supporting a vehicle having a longitudinal axis defining a forward and reverse direction of travel along a surface, the assembly comprising: a bearing;a wheel rotatable in connection with the bearing to be rotatable about a single axis of rotation; a pivot connectabl

1. A wheel assembly for movingly supporting a vehicle having a longitudinal axis defining a forward and reverse direction of travel along a surface, the assembly comprising: a bearing;a wheel rotatable in connection with the bearing to be rotatable about a single axis of rotation; a pivot connectable to the vehicle; anda frame connected to the pivot sized and dimensioned to support the bearing at an offset with respect to the pivot axis of the pivot to thereby form caster trail, the frame having a mass distributed non-symmetrically with respect to a plane radially bisecting a circumference of the wheel, to thereby cause the frame to pivot about the pivot axis due to gravity to an orientation with the single axis of rotation of the wheel parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle when the wheel assembly is tilted to lift the wheel from contact with the surface, whereby when the wheel assembly is tilted to place the wheel into contact with the surface, the wheel is oriented sideways with respect to the forward and reverse direction of travel of the vehicle, thereby configured to brake movement of the vehicle along the forward and reverse direction of travel of the vehicle. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is cast to distribute the mass. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mass of the frame includes a weight connected to the frame. 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the weight is releasably connectable to the frame. 5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein a position of the weight is adjustable with respect to the frame. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a fork having a plurality of legs, and wherein a weight of a fork leg is different relative to another fork leg. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the bearing is an axle. 8. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further including a carriage connectable to the vehicle, the pivot connected to the carriage, whereby when the wheel assembly is raised and lowered, the carriage causes tilting of the wheel assembly. 9. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further including a flip jack foot, the wheel assembly connectable to the flip jack foot to cause the wheel assembly to be tilted when the wheel assembly is raised and lowered. 10. A method for movingly supporting a vehicle having a longitudinal axis defining a forward and reverse direction of travel along a surface, the method comprising: connecting a wheel assembly to the vehicle to be moved, the wheel assembly including— a bearing;a wheel rotatable in connection with the bearing to be rotatable about a single axis of rotation;a pivot connectable to the vehicle; anda frame connected to the pivot sized and dimensioned to support the bearing at an offset with respect to the pivot axis of the pivot to thereby form caster trail, the frame having a mass distributed unequally upon left and right sides of the wheel assembly, thereby causing the frame to pivot about the pivot axis due to gravity to an orientation with the single axis of rotation of the wheel parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle when the wheel assembly is tilted to lift the wheel from contact with the surface, whereby when the wheel assembly is tilted to place the wheel into contact with the surface, the wheel is oriented sideways with respect to the forward and reverse direction of travel of the vehicle, thereby configured to brake movement of the vehicle along the forward and reverse direction of travel. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the frame is cast to distribute the mass. 12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the mass of the frame includes a weight connected to the frame. 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the weight of the portion of the wheel assembly forward of a pivot axis of the pivot is equal to a weight of the portion of the wheel assembly aft of the pivot axis, thereby balancing the wheel assembly fore and aft. 14. The assembly of claim 12, further including adjusting a position of the weight with respect to the frame to attain the desired orientation when the frame is tilted. 15. A trailer stand for supporting a trailer having a longitudinal axis defining a forward and reverse direction of travel along a surface, comprising: a carriage tiltably connectable to the trailer;a wheel assembly including— an axle;a wheel rotatable in connection with the axle to be rotatable about a single axis of rotation;a pivot connected to the carriage; anda frame connected to the pivot sized and dimensioned to support the bearing at an offset with respect to the pivot axis of the pivot to thereby form caster trail, the frame having a mass distributed unequally upon left and right sides of the wheel assembly, to thereby cause the frame to pivot about the pivot axis due to gravity to an orientation with the single axis of rotation of the wheel parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle when the wheel assembly is tilted to lift the wheel from contact with the surface, whereby when the wheel assembly is tilted to place the wheel into contact with the surface, the wheel is in a non-rotating orientation with respect to the forward and reverse direction of travel of the vehicle, thereby configured to brake movement of the vehicle along the forward and reverse direction of travel of the vehicle. 16. The stand of claim 15, further including a piston assembly affixed to the trailer and the carriage, the carriage configured to cause the wheel assembly to tilt with respect to the trailer as the piston is moved with respect to the trailer. 17. The stand of claim 15, further including a jack assembly connected to the trailer and having a driving assembly and a piston, the carriage pivotally connected to the piston. 18. The stand of claim 17, the pivotal connection between the carriage and the piston including a pivot pin, the carriage including a non-linear slot in which the pivot pin moves to thereby cause a change in angular orientation of the carriage as the piston is driven. 19. The stand of claim 15, the wheel assembly connected to the distal end of the carriage by at least one of a bolted connection and welded connection. 20. The stand of claim 17, further including a brace affixed to and projecting from a lower end of the carriage, the brace sized and dimensioned to mate with the piston to brace the piston. 21. The method of claim 15, further including connecting the wheel assembly to a carriage which is configured to tilt in connection with a piston, when the piston is raised and lowered with respect to the vehicle. 22. The wheel assembly of claim 20, the brace defining a central post sized to be inserted into an interior of the piston, and an outer channel sized to receive an outer diameter of the piston. 23. The wheel assembly of claim 18, wherein the pivot pin has a threaded end having an aperture, and a head at and end opposite the threaded end, the wheel assembly further including: a cotter pin sized to be insertable into the aperture in the threaded end;a lanyard connected at one end to the pivot pin head and at an opposite end to the cotter pin;a wing nut threadable onto the threaded end of the pivot pin;wherein the cotter pin is insertable into the aperture after the wing nut has been threaded onto the threaded end. 24. The wheel assembly of claim 15, the carriage forming a U-shaped channel having a closed side and an open side, the wheel assembly further including a brace extending across the open side of the channel.