Patent ID: 8511702

Claim:
An anti-jackknife system for a trailer, comprising: a) a trailer hitch insert attachable to a tow vehicle, and a tongue on a front end of the trailer, wherein said tongue has a locking slide plate and wherein said tongue is reversibly and rotatably attached to said trailer hitch insert; b) rotatable caster wheels attached to an opposite rear end of the trailer, said caster wheels having a locking wheel plate attached thereto; c) a slide plate locking mechanism attached to said tongue, wherein said slide plate locking mechanism inserts said locking slide plate into said trailer hitch insert when said slide plate locking mechanism is energized, and wherein said slide plate locking mechanism withdraws said locking slide plate from said trailer hitch insert when said slide plate locking mechanism is not energized; and d) wheel locking mechanisms attached to the trailer, each of said wheel locking mechanisms having a locking pin which is inserted into a hole in said locking wheel plate when said wheel locking mechanism is not energized, and is removed from said hole in said locking wheel plate when said wheel locking mechanism is energized; wherein said tongue does not rotate on said trailer hitch insert only when said slide plate locking mechanism is energized, and said caster wheels are rotatable about a vertical axis only when said wheel locking mechanisms are energized; and wherein said slide plate locking mechanism is a solenoid having a connecting pin fixed to said locking slide plate to insert said locking slide plate into said trailer hitch insert when said solenoid is energized to prevent said tongue from rotating on said trailer hitch insert, and to withdraw said locking slide plate from said trailer hitch insert by means of a spring in said solenoid when said solenoid is not energized to allow said tongue to rotate on said trailer hitch insert.