Abstract:
The Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller of the present invention is designed to minimize the impact forces felt by a user when using the tool to release the locking mechanism from a fifth wheel by pulling on the fifth wheel release handle. The Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller minimizes the forces felt by the user by dissipating the amount of reflected energy to the user as a result of delivering a large amount of energy to the tool. This is accomplished by utilizing an energy absorbing device such as a spring between the contact point of the delivered force and the user delivering the force. The Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller of the present invention includes a fifth wheel handle puller, a housing, an energy absorbing device, and a grip handle; the energy absorbing device of the present invention being the spring system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/958,768, entitled “Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller” filed on Aug. 6, 2013, and currently co-pending. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a commercial vehicle tool, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a fifth wheel release puller. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Semi-tractor trailer trucks are an essential part of any economy as they provide a means of transporting large quantities of raw materials and finished goods over land. Semi-tractor trailer trucks are used by a multitude of different industries such as the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing industries. In the United States of America alone, there are over 11 million semi-tractor trailer trucks operating. 
         [0000]    Further, approximately 70 percent of all goods are delivered over land are by semi-tractor trailer trucks. Semi-tractor trailer trucks in America are responsible for the majority of freight movement over land and are vital tools. 
         [0004]    As an essential and vital tool of the economy, the minimization of time goods are spent in transit increases productivity. Increased productivity in the industry comes from two sources; fewer empty miles and less time waiting between loads. As a result, modern technology has significantly improved the semi-tractor trailer truck to enable the trucks to spend more time on the road transporting goods and not sitting idle. Increases in fuel economy have allowed semi-tractor trailer trucks to stay on the road longer thereby minimizing the time spent idle at refueling stations. Advancements in satellite communications allow drives to take the shortest, quickest, or most efficient routes. With the advancements in technology keeping semi-tractor trailer trucks on the road longer, there still exists a low-tech problem inhibiting the semi-trailer trucks from quickly getting back on the road once stopped. 
         [0005]    A common problem preventing semi-tractor trailer trucks from getting back on the road once the goods are delivered is a rusted, stuck, or seized fifth wheel locking mechanism, sometimes referred to as “fifth wheel locking jaws,” preventing a tractor trailer from disengaging with a fifth wheel of the semi-tractor trailer truck. Semi-tractor trailer trucks often travel great distances to pick up and deliver goods with routes up to thousands of miles. As the semi-tractor trailer trucks travel across land they are exposed to a multitude of harsh, punishing natural and unnatural environments. As a result, the fifth wheel and fifth wheel pin are exposed to those harsh and punishing conditions, resulting in the rusted, stuck, or seized fifth wheel locking mechanism which requires additional time and effort to release. Releasing the rusted, stuck, or seized fifth wheel locking mechanism requires a truck driver to physically exert a large force on the release handle of the locking mechanism. Often times, the truck driver has to repeatedly hammer or pull the fifth wheel locking handle and mechanism to create a cyclical force sufficient to loosen the fifth wheel locking mechanism. Consequently, the large amounts of force and the cyclical application of those large forces cause serious muscle, tendon, ligament, and joint strains. Also, because the fifth wheel locking mechanism is located in the center of the tractor trailer, the truck driver must crawl between the trailer and the semi-truck to release the trailer. 
         [0006]    In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a tool capable of delivering a large force to release the rusted, stuck or seized locking mechanism of a fifth wheel. It would further be advantageous to provide a tool capable of minimizing the impact of delivered forces on the user&#39;s body. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller of the present invention is designed to minimize the impact forces felt by a user when using the tool to release a locking mechanism of a fifth wheel to release the trailer king pin. The Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller minimizes the forces felt by the user by absorbing and dissipating the amount of energy reflected to the user as a result of delivering a large amount of energy to the tool. This is accomplished by utilizing an energy absorbing device such as a spring, shock absorber, or dampener between the contact point of the delivered force and the user delivering the force. As the user transfers and delivers the force to the handle of the tool, the tool comes into contact with the fifth wheel locking mechanism release handle which may not absorb all of the forces delivered, thereby reflecting the energy back into the tool and to the user. With the energy absorbing device placed between the user&#39;s handle and the point of contact of the tool with the fifth wheel locking mechanism release handle, the energy reflected is absorbed by the energy absorbing device. 
         [0008]    In a preferred embodiment of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller of the present invention, the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller includes a fifth wheel handle puller, a housing coupled to the fifth wheel handle puller and having a shock-absorbing spring, and a grip handle extending from the housing; the energy absorbing device of the present invention in a preferred embodiment, being a spring. The fifth wheel handle puller is an elongated metal rod having a first end and a second end; the first end is formed with a “J” loop and the second end is formed with a retaining plate. The grip handle is a metal rod formed into the shape of a triangle and is affixed to the housing, which is a cylindrical tube having a first enclosed end formed with a center bore and a second enclosed end. The springs placed within the housing and the fifth wheel handle puller is threaded through the springs and the bore of the spring retainer until the retaining plate contacts the springs. The bore is sized to allow the fifth wheel handle puller to traverse in and out of the bore without interference, The housing length is sized similar to the resting length of the springs which results in the springs forming a tight clearance with the housing. This pushes the fifth wheel handle puller against the second end of the housing. 
         [0009]    In use, a user grips the grip handle of the present invention and loops the “J” loop of the first end of the fifth wheel handle puller around the fifth wheel locking mechanism fifth wheel handle. The user pulls on the grip handle, thereby transferring the users pulling force to the fifth wheel handle puller which applies the force to the fifth wheel locking mechanism fifth wheel handle in the expectation of releasing the fifth wheel locking jaws. In circumstances where the fifth wheel locking mechanism fifth wheel handle is unable to absorb all of the forces delivered, the force reflected back to the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller is subsequently absorbed by the energy absorbing device, such as the springs. The springs compress in response to the force and absorb and dissipate the energy, thereby minimizing the force reflected to the user. Indeed, when the fifth wheel handle is jammed or corroded, the user can repeatedly pull on the handle imparting significant forces to disengage the fifth wheel, while minimizing any impact or shock felt by the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller of the present invention, showing the fifth wheel release puller, the spring retainer, and the grip handle; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller showing a cutaway view of the spring retainer; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller showing a cutaway view of the spring retainer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller of the present invention is shown and generally designated  10 . Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10 , described in conjunction with  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , includes a fifth wheel handle puller  100 , a housing  110 , spring system  120  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), and grip handle  130 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the fifth wheel handle puller  100  is an elongated metal rod  104  with a “J” loop, or hook,  102  formed at a first end of the elongated metal rod  104  and a retaining plate  106  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) formed at a second end of the elongated metal rod  104 . The elongated metal rod  104  is located at the center of retaining plate  106 . The “J” loop  102  is formed as a 45 degree bend at the first end of the elongated metal rod  104 . The 45 degree angle of the “J” loop  102  allows the “J” loop  102  to hook onto a handle of a fifth wheel. This allows the “J” loop  102  to securely grip onto the handle as a force is applied to the handle by the “J” loop  102 , thereby preventing the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10  from dislodging from the handle as it is being pulled. It is contemplated that the “J” loop  102  may be formed with a variety of different shapes such as a 180 degree circular loop or a square without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0018]    The housing  110  is a cylindrical tube  112  having an enclosed first end  114  formed with a center bore  115  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) and an enclosed second end  116 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the retaining plate  106  of the fifth wheel handle puller  100  is housed within the cylindrical tube  112  between the first end  114  and the second end  116 . The elongated metal rod  104  extends from the center of the retaining plate  106  through the center bore  115  located at the center of the first end  114  of the cylindrical tube  112 , ensuring the elongated metal rod  104  is aligned axially with the center of the housing  110 . The axial alignment of the elongated metal rod  104  and the housing  110  allows the elongated metal rod  104  to protrude straight out of the housing  110 , thereby minimizing any side forces which may result by the elongated metal rod  104  disposed at an angle. The interior diameter of the cylindrical tube  112  is larger than the diameter of the retaining plate  106  and the diameter of the center bore  115  is larger than the diameter of the elongated metal rod  104  to provide adequate clearance for a running fit between the parts. The running fit between the fifth wheel handle puller  100  and the housing  110  allows the fifth wheel handle puller  100  to traverse in and out of the housing  110  without significant interference while ensuring the fifth wheel handle puller  100  is axially aligned with the housing  110 . 
         [0019]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1-3 , the grip handle  130  is a metal rod  132  having a first end  136  and a second end  138  attached to the exterior of the housing  110  and formed into the shape of a triangle. The triangular metal rod  132  is formed with three sides and three vertices. The attachment point of the first end  136  and the second end  138  to the housing  110  form one of the vertices of the triangle where opposite of the attachment points is one of the sides forming the base of the triangle in which the handle cover  134  is attached. It is contemplated that the metal rod  132  may be formed into a variety of different shapes such as a T-shape, a circle, a square, or an L-shape without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0020]    The orientation of the triangular metal rod  132  positions the handle cover  134  along the axial center of the housing  110  and the fifth wheel handle puller  100 . As a result, the fifth wheel handle puller  100 , the housing  110 , the spring system  120 , and the grip handle  130  are all axially aligned. This allows the triangular metal rod  132  to provide a point where a user can grip and deliver the maximum amount of force against the fifth wheel handle, as the force is concentrated as a force vector having a single component. The force applied on the handle cover  134  of the handle grip  130  is applied and directly transferred to the fifth wheel handle puller  100 , allowing the maximum amount of forced to be applied on the handle. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a side view of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10  is shown with a cutaway section of the housing  110  showing the spring system  120  placed within the cylindrical tube  112  of the housing  110  between the retaining plate  106  of the fifth wheel handle puller  100  and the first end  114  of the cylindrical tube  112 . The spring system  120 , in a preferred embodiment, includes two springs stacked on top of each other in a series orientation. However, it is contemplated that spring system  120  may include a single spring or multiple springs and the orientation of the springs may be in a series setup as shown, or alternatively a co-axial configuration wherein a smaller diameter spring is placed within a larger diameter spring. In the preferred embodiment, the two springs of the spring system  120  have the same spring constants. However, it is further contemplated that each of the springs in the spring system  120  may have different spring constants which may result in a more dynamic spring response when absorbing energy. The use of coil springs for the spring system  120  is not meant to be limiting and it is further contemplated that other types of springs may be used such as torsion springs, volute springs, or various other spring-like devices such as an elastic body having a spring constant. As an alternative to the spring, any energy-absorbing device known in the industry can be used, included but not limited to, viscous dampeners, shock absorbers having hydraulic or pneumatic resistance, or gas filled pistons. The functional benefit of a shock absorbing device within housing  110  is accomplished using any dampening method known in the art. 
         [0022]    The spring system  120  is placed over the elongated metal rod  104 . The diameter of the springs in the spring system  120  is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the cylindrical tube  112 . The tight clearance between the exterior diameter of the spring system  120  and the interior diameter of the cylindrical tube  112  centers the spring system  120  within the cylindrical tube  112  and prevent the spring system  120  from shifting which may cause uneven force distribution when the spring system  120  is compressed. Alternatively, the spring system  120  may have smaller diameter springs held in place within the housing  110  by physical indents or detents formed within the housing  110 . 
         [0023]    The resting length of the springs of the spring system  120  is equal to the distance between the retaining plate  106  and the first end  114  of the cylindrical tube  112 . The length of the springs in the spring system  120  ensures the spring system  120  presses the retaining plate  106  of the pin puller  100  against the second end  116  of the housing  110 , keeping a portion of the elongated metal rod  104  within the housing  110  providing a travel distance for the fifth wheel handle puller  100 . Further, the slight friction pressing the retaining plate  106  against the second end  116  of the housing  110  allows the fifth wheel handle puller  100  to be freely rotated to position the “J” loop  102  around the handle of a fifth wheel from multiple positions. 
         [0024]    In the preferred embodiment of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10  of the present invention, the fifth wheel handle puller  100 , housing  110 , springs  120 , and grip handle  130  are made from steel. The use of steel is not meant to be limiting and it is contemplated that different materials may be used having similar physical properties and characteristics as steel. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment, the elongated metal rod  104  of fifth wheel handle puller  100  is made of steel rod with a diameter  150  of 0.375 inch, and having an overall length  152  of between 28 and 30 inches, with the first end formed with the “J” loop  102  having a length between 1 and 1.5 inches and the second end formed with a retaining plate  106  having a diameter  156  of between 1 and 1.5 inches. The housing  110  has a length  158  of 4.875 inch with an exterior diameter  160  of 1.5 inches. The center bore  115  formed at the first end  114  of the cylindrical tube  112  has a diameter  162  marginally larger than 0.375 inch to provide clearance for the elongated metal rod  104 . The grip handle  130  is formed of 0.375 steel rod. The length of the side between the first attachment point  136  and the vertex intersecting the base of the triangle is 7 inches and the length of the side between the second attachment point  138  and the vertex intersecting the base of the triangle is 7 inches with the base having a length of 6.5 inches. In a preferred embodiment, handle cover  134  has an interior diameter of 0.625 inches and an outer diameter of 0.875 inches, and is made of a resilient material, such as foam or rubber, and intended to further absorb shock and prevent the user from being subjected to the impact of the hook  102  forcibly striking the fifth wheel release handle. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a side view of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10  is shown with a cutaway section of the housing  110  showing the spring system  120  placed within the cylindrical tube  112  of the housing  110  between the retaining plate  106  of the fifth wheel handle puller  100  and the first end  114  of the cylindrical tube  112 . In a rest position, designated by the dashed lines shown in  FIG. 5  and as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  above, the spring system  120  has a rest length  140 . The rest length  140  of the spring system  120  presses the fifth wheel handle puller  100  against the housing  110  and keeps a length of the fifth wheel handle puller  100 , equal to the resting length  140  of the springs, within the housing  110  as a travel length  147  for the fifth wheel handle puller  100 . The fifth wheel handle puller  100  has an exposed resting length  144 . 
         [0027]    The spring system  120  of the present invention is configured to have a spring constant and a spring stroke. The spring constant of the springs in the spring system  120  dictates the amount of compression the spring system  120  experiences for a force applied. For a higher spring constant, more force is required to compress the spring a unit length whereas for a lower spring constant, less force is required to compress the spring the same unit length. The spring stroke is the length a spring may travel. Due to the mechanical limitations of a spring, the spring stroke of a spring has a maximum length in which it may compress. A spring reaches its maximum spring stroke when all of the individual coils of the spring are in contact with each adjacent coil, thus preventing further compression. In the preferred embodiment, the spring constant and spring stroke of the spring system  120  are balanced to provide the desired amount of compression for a force applied. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10  is subject to a first force  150  and a second force  152 . The first force  150  represents the force delivered by a user when the user is using the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10  to release the coupling in a fifth wheel. The fifth wheel handle puller  100  is looped around the fifth wheel handle and the user grips the grip handle  130  and pulls back on the grip handle  130  in the direction of the first force  150 . The first force  150  is delivered along the axial center of the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10  and delivered to the fifth wheel handle puller  100  which is in contact with the fifth wheel handle. In response to the first force  150 , the fifth wheel handle puller  100  experiences a second force  152  substantially equal to and opposite to the first force  150 . 
         [0029]    In instances where the first force  150  is not fully absorbed by the fifth wheel handle puller  100 , such as when the fifth wheel jaws are rusted, seized, or frozen, the force is reflected back through the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller  10 . The spring system  120 , an energy absorbing device, absorbs the reflected energy and converts it into mechanical kinetic energy by compressing the springs of the spring system  120  a compression length  143 . The energy absorbed compresses the spring system  120  from resting length  140  to compressed length  142  and temporarily stores the energy when compressed. The stored energy in the spring system  120  is released once the spring system  120  is uncompressed and returns to its original resting length  140 . As a result of the spring system  120  compressing, the fifth wheel handle puller  100  extends out of the housing  110  a distance  147 . The fifth wheel handle puller  100  extends from the rest length  144  to the extended length  146 . 
         [0030]    While the Spring Loaded Fifth Wheel Release Puller of the present invention as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.