BACKGROUND

[0001] This disclosure relates to pads used to support a wheeled jack at the front end of a utility trailer, or trailers for recreational products such as boats, campers, and motorcycles.

[0002] Trailers are used by homeowners, small businesses, and sportsmen to transport material and equipment. The trailers have a tongue at the front equipped with a coupling for connection to a vehicle trailer hitch and one or more sets of wheels at the rear. The wheels at the rear of the trailer support most of the weight carried by the trailer, with only a fraction of the total weight supported at the tongue of the trailer where it connects to the trailer hitch. Trailers are typically equipped with a jack (which may be referred to as "landing gear") near the tongue to support the front end of the trailer when the trailer is disconnected from the vehicle. The jack is typically configured to pivot between a position parallel with the tongue (for when the trailer is connected to a vehicle) and an upright position perpendicular to the tongue (for when the trailer is not connected to a vehicle). The jack extends from the trailer tongue to the ground and includes a mechanism to extend the length of the jack so that the trailer can be disconnected from or connected to the trailer hitch. The lower end of the jack may be equipped with a wheel to allow the user to maneuver the trailer when it is disconnected from a vehicle.

[0003] Trailers equipped with a pivoting wheel on the jack may present a rolling hazard when disconnected from a vehicle, so it is common to use wheel chocks or blocks of wood beneath the tires of the trailer. It is typically necessary to block both rear wheels to fully prevent movement of the trailer. Random blocks of wood can detract from the appearance of the trailer and its contents in situations where the trailer is used for business or to display items such as custom motorcycles.

[0004] There is a need for an attractive and effective product to control movement of a trailer when the trailer is disconnected from a vehicle. An added benefit of such a product is to protect the surface on which the trailer is parked for storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A trailer support pad includes a block having a bottom surface, front and rear end surfaces, side surfaces and a top surface. The block defines a cavity having an upper opening open through the top surface and at least one side opening through a side or end surface. The cavity has an axis extending through the side opening having a maximum lateral span perpendicular to the axis that is greater than the span of the upper opening at the top surface of the block. The cavity may be cylindrical and include an inside surface extending around more than 180°, or a majority of the circumference of a cylinder. The trailer support pad may include a door configured to span the side opening. The door is movable between a first position spanning said side opening and second position where the side opening is not covered by the door. The door and the trailer support pad may include separable attachments to retain the door to the trailer support pad in a position covering the side opening. The separable attachments are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnets, and snap fit connectors.

[0006] The support pad may include one of a tongue or groove adjacent said side opening and the door may include the other of a groove or tongue, the door removably attachable to the trailer support pad by engagement of the tongue or groove on the trailer support pad with the complementary groove or tongue on the door. The door maybe secured to the support pad by a flexible tether permitting movement of said door relative to the support pad to permit attachment and removal of the door while the door remains connected to the support pad by the tether, which may be referred to as a "flexible attachment."

[0007] The bottom surface of the support pad may be rectangular and have a first surface area, the top surface of the support pad may be rectangular and have a second surface area smaller than the first surface area of the bottom surface. The trailer support pad bottom surface may be larger than the top surface and the side and/or end surfaces of the support pad may be inclined to connect the top and bottom surfaces of the support pad. The side or end surfaces of the support pad may be non-planar surfaces such as convex or concave arcuate surfaces. The bottom surface of the support pad may be grooved and be substantially planar where the surface is not grooved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a trailer support pad according to aspects of the disclosure in functional conjunction with the wheel of a trailer jack;

[0009] Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the trailer support pad and wheel of a trailer jack of Figure 1 ;

[0010] Figure 3 is a side perspective view of a trailer support pad and door according to aspects of the disclosure, with the door shown partially removed;

[0011] Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the trailer support pad and door of Figure 3, with the door in an installed position;

[0012] Figure 5 is a side perspective view of the trailer support pad of Figures 1 -4 with the wheel of the jack and door omitted;

[0013] Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a trailer support pad with a door installed according to aspects of the disclosure;

[0014] Figure 7 is a top view of the trailer support pad of Figure 6;

[0015] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the trailer support pad of Figure 6, with the door separated from the support pad;

[0016] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the trailer support pad of Figure 6 according to aspects of the disclosure, with the door in place and secured to the support pad by a flexible attachment; and

[0017] Figure 10 is a bottom perspective view of the trailer of the trailer support pad of Figure 9, showing a grooved bottom surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Trailer support pads according to the disclosure will now be described with reference to Figures 1 -9. Figures 1 -5 illustrate a first embodiment of a trailer support pad 10 according to the disclosure, while Figures 6-9 illustrate a second embodiment of a trailer support pad 50 according to the disclosure.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 -5, a first embodiment of a trailer support pad 10 includes a block 12 of material defining a cavity 14 configured to receive the pivoting wheel 16 at the bottom of a trailer jack (not shown). Figures 1 and 2 show the support pad 10 in functional conjunction with such a pivoting wheel 16. The block 12 is constructed from layers of particle board, but any suitably durable material may be used. The block 12 may be molded from plastic, rubber, or urethane and may include open areas to reduce the amount of material necessary and the weight of the finished product. The cavity 14 defined by the block 12 takes the form of a partial horizontal cylinder, though the shape of the cavity 14 is not limited to this configuration. The cylindrical cavity 14 is closed at one side and open through the opposite side of the block 14, where the user can place the block 14 over the wheel 16. The cylindrical cavity 14 is positioned in the block 12 to project through the top surface 18 of the block 12, forming an opening 20 in the top of the block 12 through which the pivot and structure of the jack (not shown) will extend. This embodiment of the support pad 10 is generally shaped like a trapezoid, with arcuate end surfaces 22. The top surface 20 and bottom surface 24 are rectangular, with the bottom surface 24 having a larger surface area than the top surface 18.

[0020] The inside surface 26 of the cavity 14 extends around more than one half of the cylinder, so that when the wheel 16 is inserted through the side opening 28, the wheel 16 cannot pass through the opening 20 in the top surface 18 of the support pad 10. As shown in Figure 2, the inside surface 26 of the cavity 14 is configured to closely receive the wheel 16, so that the wheel 16 cannot rotate (pivot) around the shaft of the jack (not shown) while in the cavity 14. The cylindrical inside surface 26 of the cavity 14 is centered on a horizontal axis A passing through the side surfaces 34 of the support pad 10, shown in Figure 5. The maximum diameter (span) 30 (shown in Figure 5) of the cavity 14 is below the top surface 18 of the support pad 10, which retains the wheel 16 against removal from the cavity in a vertical direction through the opening 20 in the top surface 18. The trailer support pad 10 of Figures 1 -5 includes notches 32 in the front and rear edges of the opening 20 in the top surface 18. These notches 32 accommodate the downward projecting flanges of the wheel support connected to the pivot mechanism, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. These notches 32 are not required, but may aid in preventing damage to the edge of the opening 20 under certain circumstances.

[0021] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the trailer support pad 10 in conjunction with a door 36 configured to span the opening 28 in the side surface 34 of the support pad 10. The door 36 may be used to enhance the appearance of the trailer support pad 10 during use and may be decorated or emblazoned with a company name, personal name or other indicia. The door 36 is intended to be removable and may be secured to the block 12 by any suitable, reversible attachment 40. Suitable attachments 40 include, but are not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, snap fit connectors, and magnets. In the embodiment of Figures 1 -5, the door 36 covers the entire side surface 34 of the support pad 10, but may be configured to cover less than the entire side surface 34.

[0022] The large bottom surface 24 of the support pad 10 helps support the wheel 16 of the trailer jack on soft material such as dirt or grass. The large bottom support surface 24 also helps protect surfaces such as asphalt paving from damage when the trailer is stored for long periods of time. When a trailer is stationary for extended periods, the wheel's relatively small contact with the pavement can result in damage, particularly when the pavement is softened by heat during the summer months. The bottom surface 24 may be textured or grooved to enhance frictional engagement with the ground. The cavity 14 and support pad 10 are configured to prevent rolling of the wheel 16 on the support surface, thereby preventing movement of the entire trailer. The wheel 16 cannot pivot within the cavity 14, so the support pad 10 will remain attached to the jack until the door 36 is opened and the wheel 16 is moved laterally out the opening 28 in the side surface 34. This configuration allows the support pad 10 to be placed over the wheel 16 before the jack is extended to raise the tongue off the vehicle hitch. The person disconnecting the trailer from the vehicle can place the support pad 10 over the wheel 16, where the support pad 10 will hang with the bottom surface 24 directed toward the ground. As the jack is extended, the support pad bottom surface 24 will contact the ground and the support pad 10 will provide a base for the jack to raise the tongue of the trailer off the hitch. In the absence of the support pad 10, both the rear wheels of the trailer would need to be blocked with wood or chocks to prevent the trailer from rolling away from or toward the vehicle as soon as the tongue is free of the hitch. The disclosed trailer support pad prevents movement toward or away from the vehicle, and also prevents rotation of the trailer left or right by securing the wheel in the cavity.

[0023] Figures 6-10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a support pad 50 according to aspects of the disclosure. The support pad 50 of Figures 6-10 is constructed of a block 12, a tread 52, and a door 56. The block 12 is trapezoidal in general configuration, with concave, arcuate front and rear end surfaces 22. The block 12 defines a cavity 14, an upper opening 20 open through the top surface 18 and a side opening 28 through at least one side surface 34 of the block 12. In an alternative embodiment, the cavity 14 may be open through both side surfaces 34 of the block 12 and the support pad 50 may include two doors 56, each configured to span one of the side openings 28. As shown in Figures 6, 8, and 9, the cavity 14 is cylindrical, but may take other forms. The cylindrical inside surface 26 of the cavity 14 includes an axis A extending through the side surfaces 34 of the block. The inside surface 26 of the cavity 14 extends around more than 180° of the cylinder, resulting in a cavity 14 having a maximum span 30 below the top surface 18 of the block 12. The cavity 14 is dimensioned to closely receive the wheel of a recreational trailer jack (not shown) to prevent rotation of the wheel within the cavity 14 and also prevent the wheel from passing through the upper opening 20 in the top surface 18 of the block 12. When the block 12 is placed over the wheel by inserting the wheel through the side opening 28, the wheel cannot be removed until that movement is reversed and the wheel is moved laterally outward through the side opening 28.

[0024] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the support pad 50 with the door 56 in place, covering the side opening 28. The door 56 is shaped to fill the side opening 28, having a semi-circular shape with a straight upper edge 57 aligned with the top surface 18 of the block. The embodiment of a trailer support pad 50 shown in Figures 6-10 includes a door 56 having a tongue and groove relationship with the block 12, though other methods of forming a reversible connection between the door 56 and block 12 are possible. A flange 59 projects radially from the door 56 and is received in a complementary groove 60 defined by the block 12. As shown in Figure 8, the door 56 is installed by inserting the flange 59 of the door 56 into the groove 60 of the block 12 from above until the top edge 57 of the door 56 is aligned with the top surface 18 of the block. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the block 12 may include drainage openings 62 in the bottom of the cavity 14. When the trailer support pad 50 is exposed to the weather, it will be important to allow water to drain out the bottom of the cavity 14, rather than accumulate and fill the cavity 14.

[0025] Figure 8 illustrates a grooved tread 52 that may be applied to the bottom surface 24 of the block 12 to enhance frictional engagement of the support pad 50 with a support surface (not shown). The tread 52 may be constructed of durable rubber or other high friction, durable, resilient material. Although the block 12 and tread 52 are shown as separate components in Figure 8, it is possible to mold the entire block 12 and tread 52 from the same material, such as plastic or urethane. The block 12 may include open areas to reduce the quantity of material and also reduce the weight of the finished product. The door 56 may also be molded from plastic or urethane, though a substantially rigid material for the door 56 is likely to perform better than a material that is more flexible. The trailer support pad 50 may be coated by protective materials such as paint, or molded from colored, weather resistant material.

[0026] Figures 9 and 10 show a finished example of the trailer support pad 50 of Figures 6-8. The trailer support pad 50 is painted yellow and provided with a black, grooved tread 52 covering the bottom surface 24. Figure 9 illustrates a flexible tether 64 used to secure the door 56 to the block 12. The tether 64 has sufficient length and flexibility to allow installation and removal of the door 56 while the tether 64 remains connected to the block 12 at both ends, one to the door 56 and the other to the block 12. This arrangement prevents loss of the door 56 when the door 56 is not in place over the side opening 28.

[0027] The exterior surfaces 22, 34 of the block 12 and door 36, 56 present opportunities for users to customize the appearance of the trailer support pad 10, 50. These surfaces 22, 34 can be used to display the brand name of the products on the trailer, such as the brand of a boat or motorcycle. Alternatively, these surfaces 22, 34 can be used to display the name of the owner or some other message or art to enhance the appearance of the trailer support pad 10, 50. Trailer support pads 10, 50 could be provided with the sale of a boat and trailer, for example and present another opportunity for manufacturers to promote their products.

[0028] A trailer support pad 10, 50 according to aspects of the disclosure may be molded from flexible material such as rubber or urethane. Flexible, resilient material may allow the block 12 to flex during insertion of the wheel into the cavity 14, and then grip the wheel to ensure the support pad 10, 50 remains secured to the wheel during the process of lowering the jack and disconnecting the trailer from a vehicle.