# US 9,434,223 B1 · Trailer tow ski system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,223 B1 - Document ID: US9434223B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/131,666 - Filed: 2016-04-18 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-09 - Assignees: Innovative Fabricators, Inc. - Applicants: Innovative Fabricators, Inc. - Inventors: Eric W. Beutler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434223B1 ## CPC - B60D 1/145: consisting of an elongated single bar or tube - B60D 1/06: Ball-and-socket hitches - B60D 1/247: {for improving weight distribution} - B60D 1/52: removably mounted - B60D 1/58: Auxiliary devices - B60D 1/66: Props - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS ## Abstract A trailer tow ski system for assisting in supporting the tongue weight of a trailer hitch during pulling of the trailer. The trailer tow ski system generally includes a ski member having a front lip extending upwardly, a support member extending upwardly from the ski member, a tongue member extending forwardly from the support member, a main coupler attached to the tongue member for removably connected to a ball of a vehicle hitch, a front support structure attached to a front portion of the ski member and to an upper portion of the support member, a rear support structure attached to a rear portion of the ski member and to the upper portion of the support member, and a hitch ball attached to the upper end of the support member. The hitch ball is removably coupled to a coupler of the trailer hitch to support the weight thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A trailer tow ski for supporting the tongue weight of a trailer hitch for a trailer unit, comprising: a ski member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a rear end, a front end, a main body and a front lip, wherein the front lip extends upwardly at an angle from the main body; a cutout extending into the rear end of the ski member to prevent engagement of the ski member with a jack of the trailer hitch of the trailer unit; a support member extending upwardly from the main body of the ski member; and a hitch ball attached to an upper end of the support member, wherein the hitch ball is adapted to be removably coupled to a coupler of the trailer hitch of the trailer unit to support the tongue weight of the trailer hitch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The trailer tow ski of claim 1, wherein the main body is an elongated planar structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The trailer tow ski of claim 1, wherein the cutout is large enough to allow the jack of the trailer hitch to remain in a supporting position for the trailer hitch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The trailer tow ski of claim 1, wherein the ski member includes a first extended portion and a second extended portion that extend rearwardly to define the cutout. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The trailer tow ski of claim 4, wherein the first extended portion has a first inner edge and the second extended portion has a second inner edge, wherein the first inner edge and the second inner edge diverge rearwardly from one another. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The trailer tow ski of claim 5, wherein the ski member includes a central edge positioned between the first inner edge and the second inner edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The trailer tow ski of claim 6, wherein the central edge extends transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ski member. ### Claim 8 A trailer tow ski for supporting the tongue weight of a trailer hitch for a trailer unit, comprising: a ski member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a rear end, a front end, a main body and a front lip, wherein the front lip extends upwardly at an angle from the main body; a cutout extending into the rear end of the ski member to prevent engagement of the ski member with a jack of the trailer hitch of the trailer unit; a support member extending upwardly from the main body of the ski member; a tongue member extending forwardly from the support member, wherein the tongue member is adapted for removably connecting to a vehicle hitch for a motorized vehicle; and a hitch ball attached to the upper end of the support member, wherein the hitch ball is adapted to be removably coupled to a coupler of the trailer hitch of the trailer unit to support the tongue weight of the trailer hitch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The trailer tow ski of claim 8, wherein the main body is an elongated planar structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The trailer tow ski of claim 8, wherein the cutout is large enough to allow the jack of the trailer hitch to remain in a supporting position for the trailer hitch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The trailer tow ski of claim 8, wherein the ski member includes a first extended portion and a second extended portion that extend rearwardly to define the cutout. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The trailer tow ski of claim 11, wherein the first extended portion has a first inner edge and the second extended portion has a second inner edge, wherein the first inner edge and the second inner edge diverge rearwardly from one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The trailer tow ski of claim 12, wherein the ski member includes a central edge positioned between the first inner edge and the second inner edge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The trailer tow ski of claim 13, wherein the central edge extends transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ski member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The trailer tow ski of claim 8, wherein the tongue member is pivotally connected to the support member. ### Claim 16 A trailer tow ski for supporting the tongue weight of a trailer hitch for a trailer unit, comprising: a ski member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a rear end, a front end, a main body, a front lip, a first side, a second side and a longitudinal axis extending from the rear end to the front end, wherein the front lip extends upwardly at an angle from the main body; wherein the ski member is comprised of a metal material; a first runner attached to the lower surface near the first side of the ski member, wherein the first runner is comprised of a plastic material and is substantially parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski member; a second runner attached to the lower surface near the second side of the ski member, wherein the second runner is comprised of a plastic material and is substantially parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski member; a support member extending upwardly from the main body of the ski member; a tongue member extending forwardly from the support member, wherein the tongue member is adapted for removably connecting to a vehicle hitch for a motorized vehicle; and a hitch ball attached to the upper end of the support member, wherein the hitch ball is adapted to be removably coupled to a coupler of the trailer hitch of the trailer unit to support the tongue weight of the trailer hitch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The trailer tow ski of claim 16, wherein the metal material is comprised of aluminum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The trailer tow ski of claim 16, wherein the plastic material is comprised of UHMW polyethylene. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The trailer tow ski of claim 16, including a cutout extending into the rear end of the ski member to prevent engagement of the ski member with a jack of the trailer hitch of the trailer unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The trailer tow ski of claim 16, including a middle runner attached to the lower surface of the ski member between the first runner and the second runner, wherein the middle runner is comprised of a plastic material and is substantially parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski member.