WO2003101799A1

WO2003101799A1 - Support block and chock kit

Info

Publication number: WO2003101799A1
Application number: PCT/CA2003/000759
Authority: WO
Inventors: David R.W. Turnbull
Original assignee: Turnbull David R W
Priority date: 2002-05-30
Filing date: 2003-05-28
Publication date: 2003-12-11
Also published as: AU2003229464A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a trailer kit comprising at least one support block (90), at least two wheel chocks (80) and a storage box (15). The storage box provides a location in which the support block and the wheel chocks can be stored when not in use. The storage box (15) can be releaseably connected to a trailer (115) thereby providing ease of access to the support block (90) and the wheel chocks (80) when required. The support block can be placed under the tongue or jack associated with a trailer providing a means for elevating the tongue enabling ease of reconnection of the trailer to a transportation vehicle. The wheel chocks are placed in contact with one or more of the wheels associated with the trailer in order to limit the movement of the trailer once it is positioned in a desired location.

Description

SUPPORT BLOCK AND CHOCK KIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a support block and wheel chock kit for use with a trailer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When not in use, trailer owners often employ a support block to raise the tongue of a trailer above the ground allowing for ease of connecting the trailer to a towing vehicle. Further, when a trailer is in a desired location, it is often necessary to wedge chocks against the wheels of the trailer to prevent the trailer from rolling. To date, there is no combination that allows storage and easy access to wheel chocks and a support block mounted onto the frame of a trailer and therefore there is a need for a new trailer kit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a support block and chock kit. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trailer kit comprising a storage box, a support block and at least two wheel chocks, wherein the storage box is adapted to receive the support block and the wheel chocks.

One object of the invention is to provide a trailer kit having a storage box adapted to be mounted onto the frame of a trailer, wherein this storage box can carry wheel chocks and a support block.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trailer kit having a storage box with a mounting means on its bottom to reversibly mount the storage box to a trailer. The storage box is adapted to receive a support block and at least two wheel chocks.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a reading of the following specification when taken in light of the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front view of a storage box in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the storage box in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a trailer kit attached to a trailer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the trailer kit comprises a storage box, a support block and wheel chocks.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of trailer kit attached to a trailer and illustrating the contents of the trailer kit that includes a storage box, a support block and wheel chocks, in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a trailer kit comprising at least one support block, at least two wheel chocks and a storage box. The storage box provides a location in which the support block and the wheel chocks can be stored when not in use. The storage box can be releaseably connected to a trailer thereby providing ease of access to the support block and the wheel chocks when required. The support block can be placed under the tongue or jack associated with a trailer providing a means for elevating the tongue enabling ease of reconnection of the trailer to a transportation vehicle. The wheel chocks are placed in contact with one or more of the wheels associated with the trailer in order to limit the movement of the trailer once it is positioned in a desired location.

The storage box, support block and wheel chocks of the trailer kit can be fabricated from a number of different materials for example, plastic, fiberglass, metal, aluminum, various alloys, wood or any other appropriate material as would be known to a worker skilled in the art. In addition, the various components of the trailer kit can be fabricated from different materials or a combination thereof. The selection of an appropriate material can be made on the basis of strength, ease of fabrication, availability, weight, resistance to deterioration, or cost for example. In one embodiment, the trailer kit may be fabricated from a resilient plastic or fiberglass. In one embodiment of the invention, the storage box, support block and wheel chocks are fabricated using injection molding.

The support block is constructed in a manner, and of a material, to allow it to bear the load of a tongue or jack of a trailer. The support block can be constructed solidly, hollowly or having open portions. Furthermore, the support block may be formed from a single piece or a plurality of pieces used in combination. If the support block is formed form a plurality of pieces, this may allow for height adjustment, compact storage and the like, of the support block. The support block may also include some form of reflective material attached thereto in order to allow it to be identified during poor lighting conditions, for example.

The wheel chocks can be constructed solidly, hollowly or have open portions. If the wheel chocks are constructed hollowly or having open portions, they may vary slightly in size to allow one wheel chock to fit over or within another in a stacking manner, for example. The wheel chocks may also include some form of reflective material attached thereto in order to allow them to be identified during poor lighting conditions, for example. Furthermore, the wheel chocks may be constructed of, or have applied to them, a slip resistant material which may prevent the chocks from sliding when in use, for example.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the storage box includes a means for removably securing the storage box to the frame of a trailer. The means for removably securing the storage box can be in the form of one or more flanges rigidly connected to the storage box. For example, a single flange can be rigidly connected to the bottom of the storage box and project perpendicular to the bottom thereof, wherein bores are provided within this flange to receive fastening means in the form of screws for example, in order to fasten the storage box to the frame of a trailer. In this case, the fasteners would penetrate the frame of the trailer in order to enable the securement of the storage box. When two flanges are provided they can extend peφendicular to the bottom of the box and be separated by a distance compatible with the frame members of a trailer, such that the flanges can be oriented on either side of a frame member. Again these flanges can have bores therein for receiving fastening means, however these fastening means may not penetrate into the frame of the trailer. For example, upon the placement of the storage box on top of a frame member of the trailer, the bores within the flanges can be positioned below this frame member and bolts can be positioned in these bores and subsequently tighted in order to releasably secured the storage box to the trailer. In this way the fastening means would not be required to penetrate the frame of the trailer, wherein this action may result in the rusting of the trailer prematurely. Additionally, if the distance between the two flanges is larger than the frame of the trailer, shim plates can be used to fill this space, thereby aiding in the reduction of the bending of these flanges upon the securement of the storage box to the trailer. Optionally, the distance between the flanges can be provided such that it is slightly less that the size of the frame of the trailer thereby enabling a compression fit or securement of the storage box to the trailer. Alternately, there can be a first flange extending peφendicular to the bottom of the storage box which is interconnect to another flange extending parallel to the bottom of the box thereby forming a "C" shape. Other configurations of the flanges associated with the storage box can be envisioned which provide the desired functionality, as would be readily understood by a worker skilled in the art.

In another embodiment, brackets, clamps or straps may also be utilized as a means of removable securement of the storage box to the trailer, as would be known to a worker skilled in the art.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the storage box includes a means of retaining at least one support block and at least two wheel chocks within the storage box. A support block and the at least two wheel chocks may be retained within a storage box in a stacking fashion, in an integrated fashion wherein a plurality of wheel chocks may be stored within the interior of a support block, or simply by placing at least one support block and a plurality of wheel chocks within the interior of a storage box. The means of retaining may include a strap, elastic or otherwise length adjustable device, or a lid. If the means of retaining is in the form of a lid, the lid may completely cover or partially cover the top of the storage box and further include clips or such elements to ensure connection of the lid to the storage box during movement of the trailer for example, as would be readiliy understood by a worker skilled in the art. Referring to Figure 1, a front view of one embodiment of a storage box 15 is illustrated having matching ends 20, a bottom 120 with a pair of securing flanges 40. The ends 20 are frame-like and include openings 30 therein. In another embodiment, the ends 20 are complete wherein the openings 30 are absent.

The securing flanges 40 have bores 50 therein, through which a fastener may be inserted. The securing flanges 40 allow a storage box 15 to be removably secured to a trailer. The securing flanges 40 may be of a variety of shapes, wherein each shape may be adapted to secure a storage box 15 to a particular type of trailer or a particular location on a trailer. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of pairs of securing flanges 40 on a storage box 15. As would be known to a worker skilled in the art, shim plates may be inserted between the securing flanges and the trailer frame. For example, the shim plates may provide a means for producing a tight fit between the securing flanges and the trailer portion to which the storage box is connected. In addition, the shim plates may aid in the reduction of the bending of the securing flanges upon attachment of the storage box to the trailer, for example.

Referring to Figure 2, a side view of a storage box 15 is illustrated, the storage box having matching sides 60. Similar to the ends 20, the sides 60 are frame-like having openings 70 therein. Again, the bottom 120 is shown with securing flanges 40 having bores 50. In another embodiment, the sides 60 are complete wherein the openings 70 are absent.

Referring to Figure 3, a perspective view of a trailer kit 10 is illustrated, including a storage box 15 with a support block 90, wheel chocks 80 and a retaining strap 100, wherein this trailer kit is illustrated secured to a trailer 110. One skilled in the art would recognize that a storage box 15 may be secured to a variety of locations on a trailer 110 provided that the storage box 15 does not interfere with the operation or towing of the trailer 110. In one embodiment of the invention, the support block 90 includes a cavity 130 adapted to receive the foot, wheel, or ground contacting portion of a trailer jack. The support block 90 may also be used as a rest for the tongue of a trailer in the event that the trailer does not have a jack. Referring to Figure 4, a perspective view of a storage box 15 with a support block 90 and wheel chocks 80 therein, wherein the storage box is secured to a trailer 110. Wheel chocks 80 comprise a generally wedge shape design having a generally triangular cross section. Support block 90 comprises a profile having a rectangular base with a rhomboid top portion. The rhomboid portion of the support block 90 allows the insertion of a support block 90 and wheel chocks 80 to form a complete block or rectangular shape as illustrated in Figure 3.

In one embodiment, the ends 20 and the sides 60 have a height greater than the height of the support block 90. In this way, the support block 90 may be supported above the bottom 120, but at a height where the top of the support block 90 does not extend beyond the top of the ends 20 and sides 60. This allows for the storage of items in the storage box 15, between the support block 90 and the bottom 120 of the storage box.

In one embodiment, the trailer kit 10 having a storage box 15 containing a support block 90 and wheel chocks 80 is utilized when a trailer 110 is stationary. The wheel chocks 80 are placed either in front of and/or behind one or more wheels of the trailer to prevent the trailer from rolling. If the trailer is to be placed in a non-towing/non-use position the tongue of the trailer would be placed on the support block 90 to elevate it above the ground in order to allow for ease of connecting the trailer to a towing vehicle or such.

While the invention has been described with regard to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that numerous changes may be made to enhance the usefulness of the invention without departing from the support and scope thereof.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A trailer kit comprising: (a) a storage box; (b) a support block; and

(c) at least two wheel chocks; wherein said storage box is adapted to receive said support block and said wheel chocks.

2. The trailer kit according to claim 1, wherein said storage box is removably securable to a trailer by a securing means.

3. The trailer kit according to claim 2, wherein said securing means includes a plurality of flanges mounted to a bottom surface of said storage box.

4. The trailer kit according to claim 1, wherein each of the wheel chocks has a triangular cross section.

5. The trailer kit according to claim 1, wherein said support block includes a cavity adapted to receive a ground-contacting portion of a trailer jack.

6. The trailer kit according to claim 1, wherein said support block has a rectangular base and a rhomboid top portion.

7. The trailer kit according to claim 1, wherein said storage box has sides and ends, wherein openings are provided in the sides and ends.

8. The trailer kit according to claim 1, wherein said trailer kit further includes a retaining means to secure said support block and said at least two wheel chocks within said storage box.