AU2021204066B2

AU2021204066B2 - Bracket assembly for a jack

Info

Publication number: AU2021204066B2
Application number: AU2021204066A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gavin BARNES; Ashley Gill; Andrew Smith; Daniel Weston
Original assignee: Titan Stability Solutions Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Titan Stability Solutions Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-19
Filing date: 2021-06-18
Publication date: 2023-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2041-06-18
Also published as: AU2021204066A1; AU2023285778A1

Abstract

(Figure 1) A jack 12 and bracket assembly 27 shown fitted to a rail 11. The jack is an electric jack 12 having a drive section 13 with controls 14. The jack has an outer tube 15 and a retractable inner tube 16 telescopically fitted within the outer tube 15. The outer tube has part way along it, an annular mounting flange 17 with mounting holes 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. Multiple bolts 23, nuts 24 and washers 25 pass through the holes to secure the annular flange 23 to an upper plate 26 of bracket assembly 27. The bracket assembly 27 has a lower plate 28 vertically spaced from the upper plate 26. The outer tube 15 passes through both of these plates. It is secured by the mounting flange to the top plate so there is no need for any securement to the bottom plate 28. The top plates and bottom plates 27 and 28 project out from a first clamp plate 29. This is held in position by being clamped using second clamp plate 30 by reason of fasteners 31, four of which are employed between the respective clamp plates. 1/5 13 12 14 23 32 15 X 17 22,1 30 19 27, 31 20 21 26--- 2 5 29 -10 33 31 28 16 V11 FIG.1

Description

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Bracket assembly for a jack

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to a bracket assembly for a jack and in particular but not limited to a combination jack and bracket assembly fitted to a trailer and used to lift a trailer hitch away from a prime mover.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Trailers usually employ a jockey wheel, sometimes close to a tow hitch. The jockey wheel usually has a screw jack used to lift the tow hitch off a tow ball. It would be desirable in a preferred application of the present invention to employ an auxiliary jack that operates at a spaced location away from the jockey wheel and at a safe distance from the hitch.

[0003] Examples of jacks and their mountings are illustrated in the following patent specifications. These are non-limiting examples of a very large number of documents making up the prior art. The art is clearly an old, mature and crowded one. USD324,286S (Nudd), US2015/0197220A1 (Lusty et al), US2015/0115128A1 (Madison), US2014/0367625 (Ark Corporation Pty Ltd); US2012/261903A1 (Arakelian); US2010/0213427A1 (Trowbridge et al), US2009/0057633(Beck et al), US2004/0262882A1 (Huddleston), US7,216,851B1 (Green), US4,176,824 (Linton et al), US 2013/0341579 Al (CEQUENT TRAILER PRODUCTS INC), US 8348241 B2 (CEQUENT TRAILER PRODUCTS INC et al.), https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/trucks-trailers-transportation/350204-electric-trailer-jack.ht ml, https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f56/mounting-the-uItimate-trailer-jack-to-a-pole-tongue-hym er-91310.html, https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f56/mounting-the-uItimate-trailer-jack-to-a-pole-tongue-hym er- 91310.html further blog post.

[0004] The Applicant's invention should be viewed through the lens of a crowded art in order to demonstrate that in all the circumstances the notional skilled person would be presented with many similar solutions to the present invention. Since the present invention arises in a crowded art it would be prima face wrong to suggest that there was, or is, apart from the very general problem of fitting a jack, a particular problem or motivation extant at the filing date of the present application that would give rise to the non-inventive notional person coming up with the present invention either in idea, concept or practical form. Thus the recognition and the present conception may be considered as whole or part of Applicant's inventive step.

[0005] With this and the other background factors, including as set out above, in mind, it should be clearly appreciated to the reader, that it is elementary that exercise of the inventive faculty in all the circumstances, in such a crowded art, is likely to be present in small variations. This is a background observation in hindsight only and is not to say that any of Applicant's new features whether individually or in combination are in any way slight or small. All that is required is a "scintilla" of invention.

OUTLINE

[0006] In one aspect there is provided a bracket assembly for a jack, the bracket assembly having a jack holding section supporting the jack along a section of the jack to stabilise the jack. Typically, the holding section spans a vertical length of the jack. Typically, the holding section permits rotation of the jack. More particularly the jack typically comprises an electric jack having a drive at or adjacent to a top of the jack, the holding section permitting rotation so that the drive position and orientation may be changed. Typically, this means that the jack rotates so the orientation of jack motor controls may be varied and presented at various convenient positions depending on user preference.

[0007] The jack holding section preferably comprises vertically spaced plates, the plates projecting from a first clamp plate. Further, there is preferably a second clamp plate. The clamp plates are typically employed to clamp the bracket assembly to a rail. The clamp plates each preferably have spaced holes for bolts, the holes selected being to accommodate different rail sizes.

[0008] The bracket assembly typically has guides that cooperate with guideways for rotation of the jack about a vertical axis in the guideways. The guideways may be slots in the holding section. Typically, an upper portion of the holding section has the guideways. In one embodiment the guideways are curved slots in an upper plate. In this example the jack has a mounting flange, typically annular, or the like on an outer tube and bolts are employed, passing through the guideways as guides that may move in the slots to a selected position. Once the bolts are in the selected position they are usually tightened to secure the jack in that position. The jack is typically a telescopic jack having an outer fixed tube and an inner retractable tube. A section of the outer tube is supported along the holding section. Preferably, the section of the outer tube is supported at vertically spaced locations by upper and lower plates.

[0009] In an especially preferred form there is provided in combination, a jack and bracket assembly fitted to a rail on a trailer, the combination comprises an electric jack having a drive section with controls, the jack having an outer tube and a retractable inner tube telescopically fitted within the outer tube, the outer tube having a mounting flange, the bracket assembly having a lower plate vertically spaced from an upper plate, the outer tube passes through both plates, the mounting flange being adjustable secured to the top plate, the top and bottom plates projecting from a first clamp plate located on one side of the rail, a second clamp plate located on the other side of the rail, the clamp plates clamping the bracket assembly to the rail. Preferably each plate has a hole through which the outer passes. Preferably, the mounting flange slides on the top plate about a vertical axis and may be secured to the top plate at a selected rotated position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In order that the present improvements maybe more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combination of an electric jack and bracket assembly operatively mounted to a rail, typically of a trailer or caravan;

Figure 2 is a drawing illustrating the bracket assembly with fasteners not shown for clarity, the assembly being operatively aligned with a rail shown in phantom; Figure 3 is a top down schematic showing rotation about a vertical axis of the electric jack relative to the bracket assembly; Figures 4A and 4B are schematic drawings showing three typical positions that the jack and bracket assembly could use as well as rotation shown in phantom; Figures 5A and 5B are drawings similar to Figures 4A and 4B with further possible positions illustrated as well as rotation shown in phantom.

METHODOFPERFORMANCE

[0011] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated in combination a jack and bracket assembly 10 shown fitted to a rail 11. The combination 10 in this case has an electric jack 12 having a drive section 13 with controls 14. The jack has an outer tube 15 and a retractable inner tube 16 telescopically fitted within the outer tube 15. The outer tube has part way along it, an annular mounting flange 17 with mounting holes as shown at 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. In the exploded view there is an exemplary one of multiple bolts 23, nuts 24 and washers which pass through the holes to secure the annular flange 23 to an upper plate 26 of bracket assembly 27. The bracket assembly 27 has a lower plate 28 vertically spaced from the upper plate 26. The outer tube 15 passes through both of these plates. It is secured by the mounting flange to the top plate so there is no need for any securement to the bottom plate 28. The top plates and bottom plates 27 and 28 project out from a first clamp plate 29. This is held in position by being clamped using second clamp plate 30 by reason of fasteners 31, four of which are employed between the respective clamp plates. As can be seen in Figure 1 the fasteners 31 are a close fit against the top 32 and bottom 33 of the rail 11. The details of the bracket are more clearly shown in Figure 2 where like numerals illustrate like features.

[0012] Referring to Figure 2 the clamp plate 30 has fastener holes 34, 35, 36 and 37 on each side and the holes 34, 35 and 36 enable different size rails up to the size of rail 11 to be accommodated.

[0013] In the illustrated embodiment the top plate 26 has a main through hole 38 which is aligned with a similar through hole 39 in the bottom plate 28. These are sized to match the outer tube 15. The top plate 26 has sections of arc to comprise guideways 40, 41 and 42 so that these guide rotation of the jack tube and in concert with it, the electric motor and its controls 14 relative to the rail 11. This means there can be some adjustment to project the controls 14 backward, sideward, or forward or even inward through the length of the available arc in the slots 40, 41 and 42.

[0014] This is illustrated schematically in Figure 3 with some positions of the motor housing shown in solid and phantom. The bracket assembly may be employed so that the outer tube of the jack may be on the inside or outside of a rail. Depending on the rail configuration there may be multiple possibilities and permutations for the position of the jack

[0015] Thus it will be appreciated in terms of position and fitting, the bracket assembly may be utilised on a selected rail according to preference, some of these are illustrated in Figures 4A through 5B. It will be clearly appreciated that the position of the jack may be selected anywhere along a rail, on either side of a rail and at any selected location may be faced in a selected direction and then rotated. There are practically a larger number of variations subject of course to available space.

[0016] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set out in the appended claims. For example the jack could be equipped with a jockey wheel. Where it is not equipped with a jockey wheel it would ordinarily be used with a jockey wheel as shown in Figures 4A through 5B and a user will use the jack to lift the hitch off a tow bar and then retract the jack and use the jockey wheel in the usual way. It will be further appreciated that the present invention involves three components that work together but may be provided separately namely the clamp, the mounting flange and the jack and that the separate supply of any of these for the purpose of the present invention will continue to that infringement, this the present claims are drafted with this in mind.

Claims

1. A bracket assembly for a jack, the bracket assembly having a jack holding section supporting the jack along a section of the jack in order to stabilise the jack and further wherein the bracket assembly has guides that cooperate with guideways for rotation of the jack about a vertical axis as the guides move in the guideways, the guideways being slots in the holding section.

2. A bracket assembly for a jack according to claim 1 wherein the holding section permits rotation of the jack while being supported by the holding section.

3. A bracket assembly for a jack according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the holding section comprises vertically spaced plates.

4. A bracket assembly for a jack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a clamp behind the holding section is used to clamp the bracket assembly to a support.

5. A bracket assembly for a jack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holding section comprises vertically spaced plates projecting from a first clamp plate, there being a second clamp plate operatively aligned with the first clamp plate, the clamp plates being used to clamp the assembly to a support located between the clamp plates.

6. A bracket assembly for a jack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein spaced clamp plates clamp a rail between them to secure the bracelet assembly to the rail, the clamp plates each have spaced holes for bolts, the holes selected for the bolts being to accommodate different rail sizes.

7. A bracket assembly for a jack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracket assembly has curved guides that cooperate with guideways for rotation of the jack about a vertical axis as the guides move in the guideways.

8. A bracket assembly for a jack according to any one of the preceding claims, the guideways being circumferentially spaced curved slots in the holding section.

9. A bracket assembly for a jack according to any one of the preceding claims, the guideways being slots in an upper portion of the holding section.

10. A bracket assembly for a jack according to any one of the preceding claims, the guideways being curved slots in an upper plate.

11. A jack bracket assembly according to any one of claims 1-10.

12. A jack mounting flange in a bracket assembly of any one of claims 1-10 for rotation of a jack about a vertical axis, the flange having selectable fixing positions so that the angular position of the jack may be selected and the jack secured in the selected position, using the flange.

13. A jack mounting flange according to claim 12, the selectable fixing positions comprising holes or slots in the flange adapted for the passage of fasteners to secure the jack in that position.

14. A jack mounting flange according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the jack is a telescopic jack having an outer fixed tube and an inner retractable tube, the flange being secured to the outer tube.

15. A jack mounting flange according to claim 12 or 13 or 14 when used with a jack on a jack bracket assembly according to claim 11.

16. A trailer draw bar jack, jack mounting flange and bracket assembly, mountable on the draw bar at one of a number of selectable positions, the jack mounting flange being according to any one of claims 12 to 14 and a bracket assembly being according to any one of claims 1-10.

17. A trailer draw bar jack, jack mounting flange and bracket assembly according to claim 16 wherein the jack comprises an electric jack having a drive at or adjacent to a top of the jack, the holding section permitting rotation so that the drive position and orientation may be changed.

18. A trailer draw bar jack, jack mounting flange and bracket assembly according to claim 16 or claim 17 having jack motor controls so that as the jack rotates so the orientation of the jack motor controls may be varied and presented at various convenient positions depending on user preference.

19. A trailer draw bar jack, jack mounting flange and bracket assembly according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the jack is a telescopic jack having an outer fixed tube and an inner retractable tube, a section of the outer tube being supported along the tube by the holding section.

20. A trailer draw bar jack, jack mounting flange and bracket assembly according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the jack has an outer tube supported at vertically spaced locations by upper and lower plates.

21. In combination, a jack and bracket assembly being a bracket assembly of any one of claims 1-10 fitted to a rail on a trailer, the combination comprises an electric jack having a drive section with controls, the jack having an outer tube and a retractable inner tube telescopically fitted within the outer tube, the outer tube having a mounting flange, the bracket assembly holding section having a lower plate vertically spaced from an upper plate, the outer tube of the jack passes through both plates, the mounting flange being adjustably secured to the top plate, the top and bottom plates of the holding section projecting from a first clamp plate located on one side of the rail, a second clamp plate located on the other side of the rail, the clamp plates clamping the bracket assembly to the rail and further wherein each plate of the holding section has a hole through which the outer tube passes and the mounting flange of the outer tube is rotatable about a vertical axis and adapted to be secured to the top plate at a selected rotated position using the said slots which are in the upper plate of the holding section.

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