Abstract:
A trailer mover for moving a trailer by hand includes an assembly for engaging the wheel assembly of a trailer tongue stand, and a detachable handle. The handle provides leverage to pivot and roll the tongue stand wheel assembly, thereby enabling easy hand maneuvering of the trailer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/944,165, filed Feb. 25, 2014, said application being hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to vehicle trailers, and more specifically to devices and methods for moving vehicle trailers by hand. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Trailers for towing various types of vehicles, such as boats, and for transporting cargo on the road are very common. Typically, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , such trailers  20  will have a frame  22  or enclosure  24  for supporting or containing the load, one or more wheel pairs  26  proximate the rear or mid-region of the trailer, and a tongue portion  28  for coupling to a towing vehicle. Especially for heavier trailers, tongue portion  28  may have a stand  30  attached thereto, which can be lowered to engage the ground and support the tongue when the tongue is uncoupled from the towing vehicle. Often, the stand  30  may have an attached wheel assembly  32 , and is pivotable to aid in maneuvering the trailer when uncoupled. 
         [0004]    A problem with trailers, however, is that they can be difficult to maneuver manually when uncoupled from the towing vehicle. Heaver trailers with large loads may have significant tongue weight, making even those with an attached wheeled stand difficult to roll. Also, it can be difficult to effectively steer the trailer by hand simply by pushing on the tongue. As a result, maneuvering, especially in tight quarters, can be awkward and strenuous. What is needed is an apparatus for maneuvering a trailer by hand that addresses these problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention address the problems with maneuvering trailers by hand. According to embodiments of the invention, a trailer mover includes a wheel receiver for engaging the wheel assembly of a trailer tongue stand, and a handle that may be of adjustable length or have bends to enable optimal leverage. The handle provides leverage to pivot and roll the wheel assembly, thereby enabling easy hand maneuvering of the trailer. 
         [0006]    An embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for moving a wheeled trailer by hand, wherein the wheeled trailer includes a tongue stand with a wheel assembly operably coupled thereto. The apparatus includes a wheel receiver portion adapted to engage the wheel assembly, and a handle assembly operably coupled to the wheel receiver portion. 
         [0007]    A further embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for moving a wheeled trailer by hand, wherein the wheeled trailer includes a tongue stand with a wheel assembly operably coupled thereto, the wheel assembly including a shaft. The apparatus includes a clamp assembly adapted to engage the shaft and a handle assembly operably coupled to the clamp assembly. In embodiments, the shaft may be generally cylindrical, and the clamp assembly can include a first portion and a second portion mated together and defining a generally cylindrical bore adapted to receive the generally cylindrical shaft of the wheel assembly there through. 
         [0008]    In embodiments of the invention, the handle assembly has a hook portion a distal end thereof, and the first portion or the second portion of the clamp assembly presents a pair of opposing pivot pins, the hook portion of the handle assembly being pivotally engaged with the pair of pivot pins. The hook portion may have a generally cylindrical portion defining a bore therethrough. The generally cylindrical portion of the hook portion may have a pair of notches at opposing ends for enabling engagement with the pivot pins. The bore defined by the mated halves of the clamp assembly has a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter. The bore may have a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the walls of the third portion being tapered. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment a trailer includes a frame presenting a tongue, the tongue having a wheel assembly with a shaft, at least one pair of wheels operably coupled to the frame, and a trailer mover operably coupled to the shaft, the trailer mover including a clamp assembly adapted to engage the shaft, a handle assembly operably coupled to the clamp assembly. 
         [0010]    In embodiments of the trailer, the shaft is generally cylindrical and the clamp assembly includes a first portion and a second portion mated together and defining a generally cylindrical bore adapted to receive the generally cylindrical shaft of the wheel assembly therethrough. 
         [0011]    In embodiments of the trailer, the handle assembly has a hook portion at a distal end thereof, and the first portion or the second portion of the clamp assembly presents a pair of opposing pivot pins, the hook portion of the handle assembly being pivotally engaged with the pair of pivot pins. The hook portion may have a generally cylindrical portion defining a bore therethrough. The generally cylindrical portion of the hook portion can have a pair of notches at opposing ends for enabling engagement with the pivot pins. 
         [0012]    In embodiments of the trailer, the bore can have a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter. A third portion may be disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the walls of the third portion being tapered. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention can be understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art boat trailer; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a prior art enclosed trailer; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front isometric view of a trailer mover according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a rear isometric view of the trailer mover of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the trailer mover of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  depicts a trailer mover according to an embodiment of the invention engaged with a wheeled stand on the tongue of a trailer; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the trailer mover of  FIG. 6  engaged with the wheeled stand of a trailer; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a depiction of the trailer mover and wheeled stand of  FIG. 7  from another perspective; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a front top view depiction of the trailer mover and wheeled stand of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a trailer mover and wheeled stand according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of a clamp assembly of the trailer mover of  FIG. 10  with fasteners shown in phantom view; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a cross-section of the clamp assembly of  FIG. 11  taken at section  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of the clamp assembly of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of a hook portion of the handle assembly of the trailer mover of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  cross-sectional view of the coupling of the handle assembly with the clamp assembly of the trailer mover of  FIG. 10  taken at section  15 - 15  of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a bottom perspective view of the coupling of the handle assembly with the clamp assembly of the trailer mover of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a top plan view of the hook portion of the handle assembly of the trailer mover of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is an elevation view of the distal end of the hook portion of the handle assembly of the trailer mover of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a front elevation view of the rear clamp portion of the clamp assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
       [0033]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    There is depicted in  FIGS. 3-9  a trailer mover  40  according to an embodiment of the invention. Trailer mover  40  generally includes wheel receiver  42  and handle assembly  44 . 
         [0035]    Wheel receiver  42  generally includes u-shaped frame  46 , handle interface  48 , wheel retaining tabs  50 ,  52 , and retaining pin  54 . Frame  46  generally includes front rail  56  and forwardly projecting parallel side rails  58 , and can be formed from steel channel material by cutting upper and lower flanges  60 ,  62 , at each of comers  64  and bending web portion  66  to form the u-shape. Filler tabs  68  can be welded at each of comers  64  as depicted in  FIG. 3  so as to lend strength to the frame. 
         [0036]    Handle interface  48  generally includes receiving post  70  and handle retaining pin  72 . Receiving post  70  is permanently affixed to frame  46  and extends upwardly as depicted in  FIG. 4 . Cap  74  can be provided to lend a finished appearance to receiving post  70 . Wheel retaining tabs  50 ,  52 , are affixed to front rail  56  of frame  46  and extend into u-shaped opening  76  defined by frame  46 . Upper tab  52  is vertically spaced apart from lower tab  50  so as to define a gap for receiving the horizontal flange of a wheel assembly of a trailer tongue stand as will be further described hereinbelow. Retaining pin  54  is removably received through apertures  78  defined in pin carrier tabs  80  that extend upwardly from side rails  58 . 
         [0037]    Handle assembly  44  generally includes handle shaft  82 , T-handle  84 , and pin  86 . Handle shaft  82  may be formed from square steel tube material, and may include offset portion  88 . Cap  90  may be welded in end  92  to close the open bottom of the tube. T-handle  84  generally includes shaft portion  94  and handle  96 . Shaft portion  94  can be formed from square steel tube material and is sized so as to be slidably receivable in top opening  98  of handle shaft  82 . Shaft portion  94  defines a plurality of apertures  100 , that are registerable with apertures  102  in handle shaft  82 . Pin  86  is receivable through apertures  100 ,  102 , to secure T-handle  84  to handle shaft  82  and provide length adjustment for handle assembly  44 . Handle assembly  44  is secured to wheel receiver  42  with handle retaining pin  72  extending through apertures  104  in receiving post  70  and apertures  106  in handle shaft  82 . 
         [0038]    In use, trailer mover  40  is engaged with a wheel assembly  32  of a trailer tongue stand  30  as depicted in  FIGS. 6-9 . Wheel carrier  108  is received in u-shaped opening  76  defined by frame  46 . Retaining pin  54  may be moved to enable frame  46  to be fitted around wheel carrier  108  and reinserted to retain wheel carrier  108  in place. Horizontal flange  110  of wheel carrier  108  is received in the gap between lower tab  50  and upper tab  52  so as to vertically locate wheel carrier  108  relative to frame  46 . It will be appreciated that with trailer mover  40  so attached to wheel assembly the trailer can be easily pushed, steered, and maneuvered using handle assembly  44 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 10-19  depict another embodiment of a trailer mover  120 . Trailer mover  120  generally includes clamp assembly  122  and handle assembly  124 . 
         [0040]    Clamp assembly  122  generally includes front clamp portion  126  and rear clamp portion  128 . Front clamp portion  126  defines semi-circular recess  130  in rear side  132 , and threaded apertures  134  extending from rear side  132 . Handle receiving recess  136  is defined in front side  138 . Opposing pivot pins  140  extend into recess  136  from each of opposing recess sides  142 ,  144 , and retaining lip  146  extends into recess  136  from front recess wall  148 . Semi-circular recess  130  extends from top side  150  to bottom side  152 , and includes first portion  154 , second portion  156 , and a tapered or chamfered portion  158  extending between first portion  154  and second portion  156 . 
         [0041]    Rear clamp portion  128  defines semi-circular recess  159  in front side  160 . Semi-circular recess  159  extends from top side  162  to bottom side  164 , and includes first portion  166 , second portion  168 , and a tapered or chamfered portion  170  extending between first portion  166  and second portion  168 . Rear clamp portion  128  also defines apertures  172  for receiving fasteners  174  to fasten rear clamp portion  12 . 8  to front clamp portion  126 . Fasteners  174  are depicted as bolts, but could also be studs with suitable retaining nuts or any other fasteners as are known in art. Front side  160  has projecting lip  178  at top edge  180 . 
         [0042]    Handle assembly  124  generally includes hook portion  182 , lower handle  184 , and upper handle  186 . Hook portion  182 , as depicted in  FIGS. 14 through 18 , generally includes shaft interface portion  188 , and clamp interface portion  190 . Clamp interface portion  190  is generally cylindrical and defines bore  192  extending laterally therethrough. Notches  194 ,  196 , are defined. in opposing lateral sides  198 ,  200 , of clamp interface portion  190 . Upper handle  186  can include T-shaped portion  202  at proximal end  204 . Upper handle  186  and lower handle  184  may have bends  230  and  232  respectively in order to provide better leverage to a user in pushing a trailer by hand, or to clear obstacles presented by the trailer itself or items loaded on the trailer. Upper handle  186  is coupled to lower handle  184  at connection  206 , and hook portion  182  is coupled to lower handle  184  at distal end  208  of lower handle  184 . 
         [0043]    In use, clamp assembly  122  is secured to the tubular shaft  210  of trailer tongue stand  30  by mating rear side  132  of front clamp portion  126  with front side  160  of rear clamp portion  128 , such that tubular shaft  210  extends through the circular bore  219  formed by semi-circular recesses  130 ,  159 . Circular bore  219  has a diameter D as defined by first portions  154 ,  166 , at top side  221  of clamp assembly  122 , and larger diameter D1, as defined by second portions  156 ,  168 , at bottom side  223 . Projecting lip  178  of rear clamp portion  128  slightly overlaps top side  207  of front clamp portion  126 . Second portion  156  and chamfered portion  158  of semi-circular recess  130  of front clamp portion  126 , and second portion  168  and chamfered portion  170  of semi-circular recess  159  of rear clamp portion  170  together provide space to receive any weldments or fasteners securing tubular shaft  210  to horizontal flange  110  of wheel carrier  108 . Fasteners  174  can then be tightened to secure clamp assembly  122  around tubular shaft  210 . Handle assembly  124  can then be attached to clamp assembly  122  by inserting hook portion  182  into recess  136  of front clamp portion  124  such that pivot pins  140  pass through notches  194 ,  196 . With pivot pins  140  registered with bore  192 , handle assembly  124  can be rotated upward in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 10 . In this position, pivot pins  140  are disposed between front wall  212  and back wall  214  of hook portion  182 , and the locations of retaining lip  146  and upper corner  211  of front edge of recess  136  unintended disengagement of handle assembly  122  from clamp assembly  124 . It will be appreciated that with trailer mover  120  so attached to trailer tongue stand  30 , the trailer can be easily pushed, steered, and maneuvered. Handle assembly  122  can be easily detached from clamp assembly  124  by rotating handle assembly  122  downward, and lifting so that pivot pins  140  pass back through notches  194 ,  196 . 
         [0044]    It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that, as an alternative to coupling front clamp portion  126  and rear clamp portion  128 , clamp assembly  122  could be formed in one piece. 
         [0045]    The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are within the scope of the claims. In addition, although aspects of the present invention have been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the claims. 
         [0046]    Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the invention may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the invention may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the invention may comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0047]    For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of Section 112(f) of 35 U.S.C. are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.