US 6,141,997 A · Semitrailer antitheft system

Abstract

A semitrailer antitheft system is described for use with a semitrailer landing gear of the type having a housing-enclosed gear train coupled to a telescoping lower strut. The antitheft system includes a non-rotatable shaft-mounted gear segment for engaging the gear on the stationary shaft of the existing gear train, thereby preventing unauthorized raising or lowering of the telescoping lower strut. A lock is provided on one end of the non-rotatable shaft to prevent unauthorized disengagement of the gear segment from the gear train. The antitheft system may be incorporated into an existing housing, if room permits, or the housing may be modified so as to provide for incorporation. Alternatively, the antitheft system may be provided as an add-on kit to be attached to the existing housing.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims62

Dependent claims

A semitrailer antitheft system for use with a trailer landing gear, comprising, in combination:

(a) an upper strut member;
(b) a moveable lower strut structured and arranged for slidable attachment to said upper strut member;
(c) a housing attached adjacent to said upper strut member, said housing having a front surface and a rear surface;
(d) a raising means, substantially enclosed within, and rotatable attached to, said housing and fixed in a translationally static relationship with said housing, for raising and lowering said moveable lower strut;
and
(e) an engagement means for engaging, substantially within said housing, said raising means;
(f) wherein said engagement means comprises a movement prevention means for substantially preventing rotational movement of said raising means:
(g) wherein said engagement means is structured and arranged for essentially preventing said lower moveable strut from movement with respect to said upper strut member when said raising means is engaged by said engagement means;
and
(h) wherein said engagement means comprises:
(i) a first bar member having a first end and a second end, said first bar member being structured and arranged for translational movement substantially within said housing;
(ii) a jamming means, attached to said first bar member, for essentially preventing movement of said raising means;
(iii) a blocking means, attached to said housing, for essentially blocking rotational movement of said first bar member;
and
(iv) a locking means, attached to said first bar member, for essentially preventing said translational movement of said first bar member when said locking means' is attached to said first bar member.

12 more elements

A semitrailer antitheft system for use with a trailer landing gear, comprising, in combination:

(a) an upper strut member;
(b) a moveable lower strut structured and arranged for slidable attachment to said upper strut member;
(c) a housing attached to said upper strut member, said housing having a front surface and a rear surface;
(d) a first bar member having a first end and a second end, said first bar member structured and arranged for translational movement substantially within said housing;
(e) a front guide having a cylindrical front inner surface and having a beveled portion, said front guide defining a front hole in said front surface of said housing, said front hole being structured and arranged to allow for translational movement of said first end of said first bar member outside of said housing;
(f) a second bar member rotatably attached to said housing and having a driven gear attached thereon, said driven gear having at least two driven gear teeth thereon defining a gap therebetween;
(g) mounted on said first bar member, a jamming gear having at least one jamming gear tooth thereon, said jamming gear tooth structured and arranged to engage said gap whereby said driven gear is essentially prevented from rotational movement;
and
(h) a lock having a width and an outer circumference, said lock being structured and arranged for attachment to said first end of said first bar member adjacent to said front surface of said housing;
(i) wherein said first end of said first bar member comprises a beveled first end portion structured and arranged for slidable engagement with said beveled portion of said front guide;
(j) wherein said first bar member is essentially prevented from translational movement with respect to said housing when said lock is attached to said first end of said first bar member.

8 more elements

A semitrailer antitheft system for use with a trailer landing gear, comprising, in combination:

(a) an upper strut member;
(b) a moveable lower strut structured and arranged for slidable attachment to said upper strut member;
(c) a housing attached adjacent to said upper strut member, said housing having a side surface having a side surface opening;
(d) a second bar portion rotatably attached to said housing and fixed in a translationally static relation with said housing, said second bar portion having a driven gear attached thereon having at least two driven gear teeth thereon defining a gap therebetween;
(e) a protective cover, said protective cover comprising:
(i) a front cover plate;
(ii) a rear cover plate said rear cover plate separated from said first cover plate by a distance;
(iii) attached to said front cover plate and said rear cover plate, a top portion structured and arranged to span said distance;
and
(iv) a substantially open bottom portion structured and arranged to lie atop said side surface opening;
(f) a first bar member having a first end and a second end, said first bar member structured and arranged for translational movement substantially within said protective cover;
(g) a front guide having a cylindrical front inner surface and having a beveled portion, said front guide defining a front hole in said front cover plate of said protective cover, said front hole being structured and arranged to allow for translational movement of said first end of said first bar member outside of said protective cover;
(h) a jamming gear, mounted on said first bar member and having at least one jamming gear tooth thereon, said jamming gear tooth being structured and arranged to engage said gap whereby said driven gear is essentially prevented from rotational movement;
and
(i) a lock having a width and an outer circumference, said lock being structured and arranged for attachment to said first bar end adjacent to said front cover plate;
(j) wherein said first end of said first bar member comprises a beveled first end portion structured and arranged for slidable engagement with said beveled portion of said front guide;
(k) wherein said first bar member is essentially prevented from translational movement with respect to said protective cover when said lock is attached to said first end of said first bar member.

14 more elements

A semitrailer antitheft system for use in preventing theft of a semitrailer, said semitrailer having attached thereon a landing gear comprising a lower strut slidably attached to an upper strut, a housing attached to said upper strut, said housing having a side surface and having a side surface opening, and substantially enclosed within said housing, a second bar member having a driven tear attached thereon comprising at least two driven gear teeth defining a gap therebetween, said semitrailer antitheft system comprising, in combination:

(a) an engagement means for engaging said second bar portion;
and
(b) a cover means for substantially enclosing said engagement means, said cover means being structured and arranged for attachment to said housing;
(c) whereby said moveable lower strut is essentially prevented from movement when said driven gear is engaged by said engagement means;
and
(d) wherein said engagement means comprises:
(i) a first bar member having a first end and a second end;
(ii) a jamming means, attached to said first bar member, for essentially preventing movement of said raising means;
(iii) a blocking means, slidably attached to said first bar member, for essentially blocking rotational movement of said first bar member within said cover means;
and
(iv) a locking means for essentially preventing translational movement with respect to said cover means of said first bar member.

8 more elements

A semitrailer antitheft system for use in preventing theft of a semitrailer, said semitrailer having attached thereon a landing gear comprising a lower strut slidably attached to an upper strut, a housing attached to said upper strut, said housing having a side surface and having a side surface opening, and substantially enclosed within said housing, an essentially cylindrical second bar member having a driven gear attached thereon comprising at least two driven gear teeth defining a gap therebetween, said semitrailer antitheft system comprising, in combination:

(a) a protective cover, said protective cover comprising:
(i) a front cover plate;
(ii) a rear cover plate, said rear cover plate separated from said first cover plate by a distance;
(iii) attached to said front cover plate and said rear cover plate, a top portion structured and arranged to span said distance;
and
(iv) a substantially open bottom portion structured and arranged to lie atop said side surface opening;
(b) a first bar member having a first end and a second end, said first bar member structured and arranged for translational movement substantially within said protective cover;
(c) a front guide having a cylindrical front inner surface having a beveled portion thereon, said front guide defining a front hole in said front cover plate of said protective cover, said front hole being structured and arranged to allow for translational movement of said first end of said first bar member outside of said protective cover;
(d) a jamming gear, mounted on said first bar member and having at least one jamming gear tooth thereon, said jamming gear tooth being structured and arranged to penetrate said side surface opening and engage said gap whereby said driven gear is essentially prevented from rotational movement;
and
(e) a lock having a width and an outer circumference, said lock being structured and arranged for attachment to said first bar end adjacent to said front cover plate;
(f) wherein said first end of said first bar member comprises a beveled first end portion structured and arranged for slidable engagement with said beveled portion of said front guide;
(g) wherein said first bar member is essentially prevented from translational movement with respect to said cover means when said lock is attached to said first end of said first bar member.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description9,370 words

Summary5,484 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to providing a semitrailer antitheft system. More particularly, this invention concerns a semitrailer antitheft system for mechanically locking the gear train of a semitrailer landing gear system, thereby preventing unauthorized movement of the semitrailer.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings18 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a semitrailer with attached landing gear incorporating the preferred embodiment of the of the semitrailer antitheft system.

#FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the semitrailer antitheft system attached to the landing gear.

#FIG. 3 is a side elevation view illustrating the interrelationship between the semitrailer antitheft system and the gear train.

Detailed description3,523 words

#Referring now to the Figures, shown in perspective in FIG. 1 and in side elevation in FIG. 2 is a semitrailer 20 with an attached landing gear system 21. A typical landing gear system 21 consists of two units 22 and 23 which are structured and arranged for attachment to each side of the semitrailer 20. Each of units 22 and 23, in turn, consists of a stationary upper strut member 26 which is structured and arranged to house a telescoping lower strut 27. Attached to unit 22 is a gear box 28 comprising a gear train assembly 32 (shown best in FIG. 3) substantially enclosed by a gear train housing 33 which is typically attached to the upper strut member 26. Preferably attached to the gear train housing side surface 34 is a preferred embodiment of the semitrailer antitheft system 37 (herein referred to as antitheft system), the details of which will be more fully disclosed herein. The antitheft system 37 of the present invention is structured to substantially block movement of gear train assembly 32, thereby preventing unauthorized raising or lowering of each telescoping lower strut 27. In addition, the antitheft system 37 is structured and arranged to provide for convenient and easy access by the user, while making difficult unauthorized tampering and circumvention of the system.

#Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 2, the gear train assembly 32 typically comprises a moveable drive shaft 38 on which is mounted at least one drive gear 39 (shown best in FIG. 3). Each drive gear 39 is arranged to alternatively engage not more than one corresponding driven gear 43 (shown best in FIG. 3) mounted on a stationary shaft 44. Raising and lowering of the telescoping lower strut 27 is accomplished by means of turning a lever arm or handle 45 which is pivotally attached to the moveable drive shaft 38. The moveable drive shaft 38 is structured and arranged for translational movement whereby the user may select a desired gear ratio by matching a drive gear 39 with a driven gear 43, thereby providing for a user choice of drive torques and crank speeds. The rotational movement of moveable drive shaft 38 caused by rotation of handle 45 is translated to stationary shaft 44. The stationary shaft 44 is mechanically coupled, typically by means of a bevel gear (not shown), to the telescoping lower strut 27. The combination of driven gear 43 and stationary shaft 44 embodies herein a raising means, substantially enclosed within, and rotatably attached to, such housing and fixed in a translationally static relationship with such housing, for raising and lowering such moveable lower strut. To permit the telescoping lower strut 27 of unit 23 to raise or lower in unison with unit 22, a transfer shaft 46 is mechanically coupled, typically with a beveled gear arrangement (not shown), to both units 22 and 23. Shown in FIG. 3 is the gear train assembly 32 as illustrated and described previously with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. Also shown is the antitheft system 37 which is attached, preferably by welding, to the gear train housing 33. The antitheft system 37 comprises a shaft mounted jamming gear 49 having at least one jamming tooth 50 thereon. As will be more fully disclosed herein in conjunction with FIG. 4, when the antitheft system 37 is in a blocked position, at least one jamming tooth 50 of jamming gear 49 engages the gap 51 (shown best in FIG. 17) between two successive driven gear teeth 52, thereby effectively preventing the rotation of stationary shaft 44. Jamming gear 49 embodies herein a jamming means, attached to such first bar member, for essentially preventing movement of such raising means.

#FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the various components comprising the antitheft system 37. Shown is a locking shaft 56 having a beveled first end portion 57, a beveled second end portion 58, and a substantially circular central portion 59 having a fastener recess 63 provided therein. Disposed upon the substantially circular central portion 59 of locking shaft 56 is jamming gear 49, which may be attached by engaging set-screw or drive pin 64 with the fastener recess 63. Substantially enclosing the locking shaft 56 and jamming gear 49 is a protective cover or jamming gear housing 65 comprising a front portion 68 having a front portion hole 69 therein, and a rear portion 70 having a rear portion hole 71 therein. The jamming gear housing 65 further comprises a cover portion 72 and a base portion 73 having a base opening 74 therein. The jamming gear housing 65 embodies herein a cover means, structured and arranged for attachment to such side surface of such housing, for substantially enclosing such engagement means.

Facts

Application

09/168,212Filed 7 Oct 1998

Granted

7 Nov 2000

Term ended

7 Oct 2018

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification11 codes

E05B 67/36
Padlocks ; Details thereof: padlocks with closing means other than shackles ; Removable locks, the lock body itself being the locking element;…
B60R 25/001
Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles: anti-theft devices acting on jacking means or props, e.g.…
B60S 9/08
Of screw-and-nut type: the screw axis being substantially vertical
Y10T 70/498
Protectors: shields or canopies

Description9,370 words

Summary5,484 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings18 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a semitrailer with attached landing gear incorporating the preferred embodiment of the of the semitrailer antitheft system.

#FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the semitrailer antitheft system attached to the landing gear.

#FIG. 3 is a side elevation view illustrating the interrelationship between the semitrailer antitheft system and the gear train.

Detailed description3,523 words

Semitrailer antitheft system

Life of this patent

Semitrailer antitheft system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims62

Description9,370 words

Drawings

Classification11 codes

Life of this patent

Description9,370 words