Abstract:
A trailer door stop comprising a base plate configured for mounting the door stop to a trailer door, a housing coupled to the base plate wherein the housing includes a vertically orientated slot, a spherical ball received into the housing and the ball is free to rotate within the housing, and a rod coupled to the ball and passing through the vertically orientated slot of housing. The rod is moveable in a substantially vertical direction within the vertically orientated slot of the housing. One embodiment includes the rod having a bend proximate its second end and wherein the bend is in close proximity to the location where the rod engages a ground surface. One embodiment includes the rod being pointed or beveled at the end where the rod engages the ground surface. The point may be defined by a single or multiple bevel of the surface of the rod.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/380,016 having a filing date of Sep. 3, 2010 which is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Trailers are used to haul merchandize, animals, livestock, personal property and any other items so desired. Many trailers have a single rear door that hinges on one side of the trailer and swings outwardly and away from the other side of the trailer. Other trailers may include two doors, each door hinged on the outer edge of the trailer that swings outwardly. Such trailer doors are well known in the art. Often, as the trailers or the doors get larger, the large doors may pose a hazard to users in that they are capable of swinging closed due to a gust of wind, gravity, or a spring assisted hinge mechanism. Larger trailers, in particular, have wide and often heavy doors and the angular velocity of the outer edge of the door as it swings shut can result in a forceful blow being applied to a user loading or unloading the trailer, merchandize or personal property, or even animals such as horses, cows, pigs, or other livestock. The momentum of the door may also provide a significant pinching force on a body located between the hinge and the outer edge of the trailer door. In such cases, if a user is unaware, the trailer door may begin to swing closed due to any number of causes and hit the user, animals, or the contents of the trailer, often causing injury or damage. 
         [0003]    Further, trailers are pulled to various places and parked upon many different ground surfaces having varying physical properties. For example, trailers are often loaded or unloaded on a concrete parking lot or street, a pasture on a farm or a ranch, a gravel parking lot at the trailhead in a park, campgrounds, and many other locations having varying ground surfaces. Thus, having one door stop that is effective from keeping a door open that is equally effective on grass or dirt as it is on concrete has posed a significant obstacle in the art. 
         [0004]    Thus, there is a need in the art for a door stop for a trailer door that is configured to be effective on virtually any ground surface to prevent a trailer door from unwantingly closing on a user, object, or animal. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to a trailer door stop comprising a base plate having a front surface wherein the base plate is configured for mounting the door stop to the door of any type of trailer, such as utility, recreational, toy-haulers, livestock, or over-the-road. The trailer door stop of the present invention further includes a housing including a spacer having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface defining a first diameter. First end of the spacer is coupled to the front surface of the base plate. The housing further includes an end cap having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface defining the same first diameter as the spacer. The first end of the end cap is coupled to the second end of the spacer and the second end of the end cap is configured in a substantially semi-spherical shape configured to receive and house a ball. The second end of the end cap of the housing further includes a vertically orientated slot therethrough. 
         [0006]    The trailer door stop of the present invention further includes a substantially spherical ball having an outer surface defining a second diameter wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter defined by the housing. The ball is received into the housing such that a portion of the outer surface of the ball bears on a portion of the inner surface of the spacer and the inner surface of the end cap. The ball is free to rotate within the housing. The ball may include an aperture through the outer surface of the ball that extends radially a distance into the ball. The trailer door stop of the present invention further includes a rod coupled to the ball. The rod has a first end and a second end wherein the first end is configured to be received into the aperture defined in the ball and the second end is configured to engage a ground surface. The rod may further include a bend close to its second end that slightly alters the direction and magnitude of the frictional force applied to the ground surface. The second end of the rod may also include a point wherein the point may result from a single bevel or a bevel of multiple faces. 
         [0007]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like or similar parts in the various views, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a trailer door stop in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a base plate of an embodiment of a trailer door stop in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded side view of one embodiment of a trailer door stop in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partial side view of one embodiment of a trailer door stop in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial side view of one embodiment of a trailer door stop in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a trailer door stop in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a trailer door stop in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawing figures that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a trailer door stop  10  of the present invention as assembled. As seen in  FIG. 1 , trailer door stop  10  includes a base plate  12 , a housing  14 , a ball  16  within housing  14 , and a rod  18  extending outward from ball  16 .  FIG. 2  illustrates base plate  12  having a top  20 , a bottom  22 , a first side  24 , a second side  26 , a front surface  28  and a back surface  30 . The thickness of base plate  12  is defined between front surface  28  and back surface  30 . As shown, top  20 , bottom  22 , first side  24 , and second side  26  generally define a rectangular or square shape. However, base plate  12  can be any shape now known or hereafter developed, including circular, triangular, or polygonal. Base plate  12  further includes a plurality of apertures  32  that are configured to facilitate fastening base plate  12  to a trailer door  80  (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). Base plate  12  may be any material now known or hereafter developed in the art having the desired strength characteristics including: metal, steel, stainless steel, brass, nickel, aluminum, titanium, thermoplastic, wood, carbon fiber, composites, fiberglass, or UHMW polyethylene, or any combination thereof. 
         [0018]    Now turning to  FIG. 3 , housing  14  is shown including a spacer  34  and an end cap  36 . A portion of end cap  36  includes a substantially semi-spherical shape configured to receive a spherical or ball-shaped object. Spacer  34  includes a first end  38  and a second end  40 . End cap  36  includes a first end  48  and a second end  50 . First end  48  of end cap  36  is configured to be coupled to second end  40  of spacer  34  to form housing  14  that receives ball  16  substantially closed at second end  50 . First end  48  of end cap  36  may be coupled to second end  40  of spacer  34  through a spot or continuous weld, a threaded assembly or any other method now known or hereafter developed. Alternatively, an embodiment of the present invention not shown includes housing  14  having a one-piece construction and formed from one piece.  FIG. 3  further illustrates housing  14  being configured to receive and cover ball  16 , wherein ball  16  has an outer surface  60  that defines a diameter D 2 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein spacer  34  includes a substantially hollow, circular cross-section having an outer surface  42  and an inner surface  44 . Outer surface  42  and inner surface  44  defines a thickness therebetween. Inner surface  44  defines diameter D 1 . Similarly, end cap  36  of housing  14  includes an inner surface  52  and an outer surface  54  defining a thickness therebetween. Inner surface  52  also defines diameter D 1  proximate first end  48  of end cap  36 . Further, spacer  34  may include a flange  46  proximate first end  38  that facilitates coupling housing  14  to base plate  12 . Flange  46  may be any shape, including circular, and include a plurality of apertures (not shown) that receive fasteners therethrough to couple housing  14  to base plate  12 . Further, flange  46  may be welded to base plate  12  to form a more permanent coupling. Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , an embodiment of spacer  34  of housing  14  does not include flange  46  and, as such, outer surface  42  of first end  38  is welded or otherwise coupled directly to front surface  28  of base plate  12 . In another embodiment (not shown), base plate  12  may include a threaded collar connected to its front surface  28  and spacer  34  may include a portion (not shown) of first end  38  being complimentary threaded. As such, housing  14  may be threadably coupled to base plate  12 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , second end  50  of end cap  36  includes a slot  56  therethrough. Slot  56  has a substantially vertical orientation as shown in  FIG. 5  and may extend along a significant portion of the circumference of second end  50  of end cap  36 . One embodiment includes a slot along a length substantially corresponding to a semi-circle. Another embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  includes slot  56  being bell shaped having a larger opening proximate bottom  22  of base plate  12  than the opening proximate top  20  of base plate  12 . A bell shaped slot  56  proves for some lateral movement of rod  18  when engaged with a ground surface thereby creating an internal mechanism to dampen the effect of a wind gust or other force applied to the trailer door that further assists door stop  10  in preventing unwanted movement of the trailer door. Housing  14  and spacer  34  and end cap  36  thereof may be fabricated by being extruded, rolled, pressed, machined, cast, punched, any other fabrication method now known or hereafter developed, or combination there of. Housing  14  may be any material now known or hereafter developed in the art having the desired strength characteristics including: metal, steel, stainless steel, brass, nickel, aluminum, titanium, thermoplastic, wood, carbon fiber, composites, fiberglass, UHMW polyethylene, or any other material now known or hereafter developed. 
         [0021]    As best seen in  FIG. 3 , ball  16  has a substantially spherical shape having a diameter D 2 . Diameter D 2  is less than diameter D 1 . Ball  16  may be substantially solid having an aperture  58  through an outer surface  60  of ball  16  and aperture  58  extends a distance into ball  16  radially toward the center of ball  16 . In another embodiment, ball  16  may also be hollow wherein outer surface  60  includes a material thickness. Aperture  58  may be threaded and configured to receive a threaded member. Another embodiment not shown may include ball  16  having a collar (not shown) coupled to outer surface  60  and extending radially outward therefrom wherein the collar is configured to receive rod  18 . Ball  16  may be any material now known or hereafter developed including: metal, steel, stainless steel, brass, nickel, aluminum, titanium, thermoplastic, wood, carbon fiber, composites, fiberglass, nylon, UHMW polyethylene, or any combination thereof. 
         [0022]    Rod  18  is an elongated piece of material of any cross-section known in the art. As shown in  FIG. 2 , rod  18  has a circular cross-section having a first end  62  and a second end  64 . Rod  18  may be a solid bar or have a hollow cross-section and rod  18  may be any shape known in the art, with common shapes being circular, square, or rectangular.  FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention including first end  62  of rod  18  being threaded and having threads  66  as shown. First end  62  of rod  18  may be inserted into and threadably engaged with aperture  58  of ball  16 . Alternatively, first end  62  of rod  18  may be received into aperture  58  having a smooth bore and, as such, rod  18  may be coupled to ball  16  through an adhesive, weld, any other known coupling method, or any combination thereof. Further, the embodiment (not shown) wherein ball  16  includes a collar coupled thereto and rod  18  is received into the collar is within the scope of the present invention. The collar on ball  16  may or may not be threaded thereby facilitating coupling of rod  18  to ball  16  similar to the threaded assembly or other coupling methods described hereinabove. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , second end  64  of rod  18  may include point  68  defined by beveling one or more sides of second end  64  of rod  18 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of rod  18  includes a bend  70  defining a transition between a point portion  72  of rod  18  and a body portion  74  of rod  18  wherein point portion  72  and body portion  74  intersect at an angle α. Angle α may be any angle known in the art, with one embodiment including angle α in a range between about one hundred (100) degrees and about one-hundred seventy nine (179) degrees. Angle α may be any angle known in the art, with one embodiment including angle α in a range between about one hundred fifty (150) degrees and about one-hundred seventy (170) degrees. A preferred embodiment includes an angle α of about one-hundred sixty (160) degrees. As shown in  FIG. 7 , rod  18  may include a step plate  76  coupled to body portion  74  proximate bend  70 . Rod  18  may be any material including: metal, steel, stainless steel, brass, nickel, aluminum, thermoplastic, nylon, wood, carbon fiber, composites, fiberglass, UHMW polyethylene, or any other material now known or hereafter developed. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , door stop  10  is assembled by ball  16  being received into housing  14 . Inner surfaces  44  and  52  of housing  14  are configured at a diameter D 1 , which is configured to be slightly larger than diameter D 2  of ball  16  thereby allowing ball  16  to rotate within housing  14 . Outer surface  60  of ball  16  engages and bears against at least a portion of inner surfaces  44  and  52  of housing  14 . Lubricant, such a grease or oil, may be used to reduce friction and wear between ball  16  and housing  14 . Ball  16  may be constructed of, or have a outer layer of a material, like Teflon, nylon or UHMW polyethylene that have reduced friction characteristics. Housing  14  is coupled to base plate  12  enclosing ball  16  within housing  14 . Rod  18  is then coupled to ball  16  such that rod  18  passes through slot  56 . Alternatively, rod  18  may be previously coupled to ball  16  prior to ball  16  being inserted into housing  14  and, similarly, rod  18  will pass through slot  56  of housing  14 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show trailer door stop  10  in use. Trailer door stop  10  is coupled to a trailer door  80  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  such that slot  56  is in a substantially vertical direction. Fastener  78  is placed through apertures  32  and secured to trailer door  80  at a desired height above the ground. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , rod  18  passes through slot  56  and ball  16  is rotatably mounted within housing  14  such that rod  18  may be rotated in a substantially vertical direction within slot  56 . When in transport, rod  18  may be secured in a substantially upward orientation by a rod holder  82 . When the trailer door  80  is opened, rod  18  may be removed from rod holder  82  and rotated downward such that pointed portion  72  of rod  18  engages the ground surface  84 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , pointed portion  72  of rod  18  may be positioned in a more horizontal orientation. This configuration provides for improved holding ability on harder surfaces as the combination of the point  68  and the angular orientation of pointed portion  72  at angle α provides a concentrated frictional force having both downward and horizontal components sufficient to secure door  80  at a desire position and more effectively resist door  80  from unwantingly closing. A bend angle α (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of about one-hundred sixty (160) degrees has been found to provide optimal results. However, door stop  10  of the present invention has also been found to be effective with a substantially straight rod  18  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0026]    As seen in  FIG. 7 , door stop  10  may also be orientated such that point portion  72  of rod  18  is in a more vertical orientation to contact ground surface  84 . This orientation is particularly effective on soft surfaces like bare ground or warm asphalt. Rod  18  is rotated downward such that point  68  will penetrate ground surface  84 . A user will push point  68  into ground surface  84  to secure door  80  and stop it from unwantingly closing. An embodiment of rod  18  may also include step plate  76  that assists the user in driving point  68  into ground surface  84 . The configuration of rod  18  on door stop  10  of the present invention allows door stop  10  to be equally effective on both soft and hard ground surfaces. 
         [0027]    From the foregoing, it may be seen that the component storage system of the present invention is particularly well suited for the proposed usages thereof. Furthermore, since certain changes may be made in the above invention without departing from the scope hereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover certain generic and specific features described herein.