Trailer stabilizer

Abstract

A trailer stabilizer and signaling system comprising: (a) a repositionable freight trailer stabilizer comprising a frame having mounted thereto a wheel, the repositionable freight trailer stabilizer including a repositionable jack; and, (b) a stabilizer signaler operatively coupled to the trailer stabilizer, the stabilizer signaler including a deployable signal configured to confirm the trailer stabilizer is secured under a parked freight trailer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto a kingpin receiver configured to engage the kingpin of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device including a repositionable jack operatively coupled to the kingpin receiver, wherein the repositionable jack is repositionable between a deployed position in contact with the ground and a storage position not in contact with the ground. 
     
     
         23 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 22 , wherein the repositionable jack includes a first repositionable jack and a second repositionable jack. 
     
     
         24 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the first repositionable jack comprises a first screw jack;   the second repositionable jack comprises a second screw jack; and,   at least one of the first screw jack and the second screw jack is operatively coupled to a drive shaft, a transmission, and a motor.   
     
     
         25 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 22 , further comprising a tailhook repositionable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, where the engaged position has the tailhook concurrently operatively coupled to the ground and to the frame, whereas the disengaged position does not have the tailhook concurrently operatively coupled to the ground and to the frame. 
     
     
         26 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 25 , wherein the hook is at least one of pneumatically, hydraulically, manually, and electrically repositioned between the engaged position and the disengaged position. 
     
     
         27 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 25 , further comprising a cleat adapted to be mounted to the ground to releasably engage the tailhook, wherein the cleat comprises part of the ground. 
     
     
         28 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 25 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the tailhook occupying at least one of the engaged position and the disengage position. 
     
     
         29 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the sensor is communicatively coupled to a controller; and,   the controller is communicatively coupled to a transmitter operative to transmit information indicative of at least one of the tailhook occupying the engaged position and the tailhook occupying the disengaged position.   
     
     
         30 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 29 , wherein the transmitter is communicatively coupled to a visual indicator configured to provide visual indication of the tailhook position. 
     
     
         31 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 25 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the repositionable jack occupying at least one of the storage position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         32 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the sensor is communicatively coupled to a controller; and,   the controller is communicatively coupled to a transmitter operative to transmit information indicative of at least one of the repositionable jack occupying the storage position and the repositionable jack occupying the deployed position.   
     
     
         33 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 32 , wherein the transmitter is communicatively coupled to a visual indicator providing a visual indication of a position of the repositionable jack. 
     
     
         34 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 22 , wherein the repositionable jack is at least one of pneumatically, hydraulically, manually, and electrically repositioned between the storage position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         35 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the repositionable jack is at least one of pneumatically, hydraulically, and electrically repositioned among the storage position and the deployed position; and,   the trailer stabilizing device further includes a controller for automatically controlling movement of the repositionable jack among the storage position and the deployed position.   
     
     
         36 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the repositionable jack includes a first repositionable jack and a second repositionable jack;   the stabilizing device further includes a first sensor configured to detect the first repositionable jack occupying at least one of the storage position and the deployed position; and,   the stabilizing device further includes a second sensor configured to detect the second repositionable jack occupying at least one of the storage position and the deployed position.   
     
     
         37 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the first sensor and the second sensor are communicatively coupled to a controller;   the controller is communicatively coupled to a transmitter operative to transmit information indicative of the first repositionable jack occupying at least one of the storage position and the deployed position; and,   the controller is communicatively coupled to the transmitter operative to transmit information indicative of the second repositionable jack occupying at least one of the storage position and the deployed position.   
     
     
         38 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 37 , wherein the transmitter is communicatively coupled to a visual indicator providing a visual indication of a position of at least the first repositionable jack and the second repositionable jack. 
     
     
         39 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a tailhook repositionable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, where the engaged position has the tailhook concurrently operatively coupled to the ground and to the frame, whereas the disengaged position does not have the tailhook concurrently operatively coupled to the ground and to the frame; and,   a controller for automatically controlling movement of the repositionable jack and the tailhook.   
     
     
         40 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 22 , wherein the kingpin receiver includes a fifth wheel. 
     
     
         41 . The trailer stabilizing device of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 wheels operatively coupled to the frame; and,   a hitch operatively coupled to the frame, the hitch configured to allow repositioning of the trailer stabilizer device.