Detachable suspension mounting

A detachable suspension mounting includes a pair of plates each having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface of a first of the plates is fixedly coupled to a bottom side of the trailer. A plurality of securing members selectively secures a second plate of the pair of plates to the first plate such that the upper surface of the second plate is adjacent to the lower surface of the first plate. A suspension is fixedly coupled to the lower surface of the second plate and wheels are rotatably coupled to the suspension.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to suspension mounting systems and more particularly pertains to a new suspension mounting system for allowing the quick replacement of a suspension system from a trailer.

The use of suspension systems are well known and there are even examples in the prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,595 to IIoss et al. which describe suspensions for trailers. However, the prior art is devoid of quick release couplers and mountings for trailer suspensions. For this reason, there is a need to provide such a mounting for removing a damaged suspension from a trailer and replacing it with another suspension in an efficient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a mounting having a suspension attached thereto which can be easily removed from a trailer and quickly replaced with a functioning suspension.

To this end, the present invention generally comprises a pair of plates each having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface of a first of the plates is fixedly coupled to a bottom side of the trailer. A plurality of securing members selectively secures a second plate of the pair of plates to the first plate such that the upper surface of the second plate is adjacent to the lower surface of the first plate. A suspension is fixedly coupled to the lower surface of the second plate and wheels are rotatably coupled to the suspension.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, a new suspension mounting system10embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the detachable suspension mounting10generally comprises a pair of plates12,14. Each of the plates12,14has an upper surface16and a lower surface18. The plates12,14have a length greater than about two feet, a width greater than about three feet and a height greater than about ½ inch. Ideally, the plates12,14have a length equal to about three feet, a width equal to about four feet and a height equal to about ¾ inches. Each of the plates12,14comprises a metallic material and is preferably an iron or steel material. The plates12,14each have a plurality of openings20therein extending through the upper16and lower18surfaces. The openings20in a first plate12of the pair of plates are aligned with the openings20in a second plate14of the pair of plates when peripheral edges22of the first12and second14plates are aligned. The plurality of openings20preferably includes four openings20extending through each one of the plates12,14. The upper surface16of the first plate12is fixedly coupled to a bottom side52of a trailer50, preferably by a welding process.

A plurality of securing members24selectively secures the second plate14to the first plate12such that the upper surface16of the second plate14is adjacent to the lower surface18of the first plate12. Each of the securing members24extends through a pair of aligned openings20in the first12and second14plates. Though the securing members24may be any type of conventional mechanical fastener, it is preferred that each of the securing members comprises a bolt26and nut28combination.

A conventional trailer suspension30is fixedly coupled to the lower surface18of the second plate14. Wheels32are rotatably coupled to the suspension30.

In use, when the suspension fails in dump belly-type trailer, the trailer becomes inoperable until the suspension is serviced. The invention declared herein allows for the replacement of the suspension by removing any hydraulic hoses from the suspension and releasing the first plate from the second plate. A new suspension, which is already attached to another second plate, is then attached to the trailer. The hoses are re-attached to the new suspension and the trailer is ready to be used again.