Trailer stabilizer

A trailer stabilizer for use on a self-contained amusement ride to stabilize and reduce movement between the trailer body and a movable point of attachment referred to as the goose neck which directly engages the fifth wheel of a truck cab.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
This invention relates to self-contained amusement rides fabricated into a 
trailer and transported by attaching to a truck cab. These rides contain a 
movable goose neck to provide a point of attachment to the fifth wheel of 
a truck cab. The goose neck is also utilized as the ride's entrance, which 
is unique in its field. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Prior art devices of this type have used a fixed trailer goose neck that 
had to be positioned at the rear of the ride. Applicant knows of no prior 
art devices that relate to a movable trailer goose neck utilizing a spring 
resistant stabilizer to minimize relative movement between the main 
trailer body and the attached movable trailer goose neck such as applicant 
proposes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A trailer stabilizer used on a self-contained amusement ride having a 
movable trailer goose neck. The stabilizer restricts the movement of the 
main trailer body during transportation and stabilizes the same to insure 
trailer control and overall trailer height integrity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A trailer frame can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings having a pair 
of spaced parallel beams 11 and 12 to which is secured a plurality of 
cross support rail members 13 defining a generally rectangular main 
trailer frame 14. Pairs of oppositely disposed horizontally spaced support 
posts 15 and 16 are secured at the respective four corners of said main 
trailer frame 14. 
The post pairs 15 and 16 support a truss assembly 17 as seen in FIG. 2 of 
the drawings. A rear wheel support frame 18 is secured to one end of said 
main trailer frame 14 and has vertically adjustable wheels 19 thereon. A 
trailer goose neck frame 20 is movably secured to the other end of said 
main trailer frame 14 and comprises a secondary pair of spaced parallel 
beams 21 with secondary cross support rails 22 and side rails 22A on the 
ends thereof. The goose neck frame 20 is movably secured to said main 
trailer frame 14 by a pair of oppositely disposed arms 23 that extend from 
a bar 24. The bar 24 is secured to the main trailer frame 14 by pairs of 
lugs 25 mounted on spaced vertical members 26, best seen in FIG. 3 of the 
drawings. 
Each of said arms 23 has an apertured lug 27 inwardly from one end to which 
is attached a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 28 that is pivotally 
secured to a horizontally disposed mounting bracket 29 extending between 
said spaced parallel vertical members 26 and the post 15, and 16 as best 
seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The arms 23 are pivotally attached to the 
secondary beams 21 inwardly from their ends the goose neck frame 20 facing 
said main trailer frame 14. 
In use, activation of the piston and cylinder assembly 28 moves the arms 23 
and the attached goose neck trailer frame 20 from a transportation and 
storage position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings to an in-use 
position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings. 
Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a stabilizer 30 can be seen having 
a tubular body member 31 and an apertured end cap 32 on one end thereof. A 
rod 33 has a bifurcated bracket 34 on one end with the rod 33 extending 
partially into said tubular body member through said apertured cap 32. A 
spring 35 is mounted on the rod 33 within said tubular body member 31 and 
held thereon by a spring retainer disc 36 on the free end of said rod 33. 
A secondary end cap 37 on the other end of said tubular member has a 
threaded fitting 38 extending therefrom with a secondary rod 39 and 
bifurcated bracket 40 thereon. A lock nut 41 on said secondary rod 
adjustably secures the secondary rod 39 and the bifurcated bracket 40 to 
the length required. 
It will be seen that the rod 33 is spring urged so that progressive 
restraint is imparted thereto as it is pulled outwardly from said tubular 
body member 31. 
Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the stabilizer 30 in use is 
exerting a maximum force between said goose neck trailer frame 20 and said 
main trailer frame 14 when in the transportation and storage position 
thereby limiting relative movement therebetween and effectively 
stabilizing said main trailer frame 14. 
Conversely, it will be apparent that when the goose neck is in the use 
position, the stabilizer 30 is exerting minimum force therebetween as is 
required. A locking bar 41 extends between and through a pair of outwardly 
extending aperture tab members 42 from the goose neck trailer frame 20 and 
it will be apparent from FIG. 5 of the drawings that the bar 41 acts as a 
lock to maintain the goose neck trailer frame 20 in the transportation and 
storage position.