Patent ID: 7832745
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: B60B,B60G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A trailer wheel assembly for supporting the rear of a trailer of the type whose front is attached to the chassis of a towing vehicle, comprising: a) a suspension arm having first and second ends; b) a wheel axle fixed to the suspension arm near the first end thereof, said wheel axle having a wheel axis; c) first and second hubs mounted on the wheel axle at opposite ends thereof for rotation about the wheel axis, each hub for mounting a wheel; d) a support shaft journal having an axis parallel to the wheel axis; e) a support shaft mounted for rotation within the support shaft journal, and fixed to a second end of the suspension arm, said support shaft having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the wheel axis; f) a caster shaft mounted at an end thereof to the exterior of the support shaft journal, said caster shaft having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the support shaft axis of rotation; g) a caster shaft journal for mounting on the trailer, for holding said caster shaft for rotation; and h) a resilient element connected between the caster shaft and at least one of the support shaft and the suspension arm, to resiliently support the suspension arm at an obtuse angle with respect to the caster shaft; i) wherein the suspension arm's first end is attached to the wheel axle between the wheel axle ends; j) wherein the suspension arm is attached to the support shaft between the ends thereof, and wherein the support shaft journal comprises first and second support tubes attached to the caster shaft in spaced, coaxial relation, with opposing ends of the support shaft projecting into the first and second support tubes, with the suspension arm between the two support tubes; k) the trailer wheel assembly including: