Retractable jack foot

Abstract

A trailer hitch jack for rapidly raising and lowering the tongue of a trailer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for lifting and leveling a trailer comprising:
 a height adjustment means in mechanical communication with a post having a foot;   wherein said foot is rotatable relative to said post;   an elongate handle extending from said foot;   a locking engagement surface disposed on said foot;   a pivot bolt rotatably attaching said foot to said post and in mechanical communication with said slot; and   a securing bolt configured to communicate with the locking engagement surface when the foot is under load, such that said foot is secured to said post by the pivot bolt and by the securing bolt.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said slot is substantially parallel to said post when said foot is parallel with said post. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the foot's own weight causes the system to unlock. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is locked when the trailer's weight is resting on the foot. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said handle comprises a retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said retainer is a cotter pin. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an electric motor for actuating said height adjustment means. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said electric motor further comprises a control panel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the foot is larger at a bottom portion than at a top portion. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the locking structure is configured to receive substantially the cross section of said securing bolt. 
     
     
         11 . A jack foot for attaching to a jack stand for mounting to a trailer tongue comprising
 a bracket configured to receive a jack post;   wherein said bracket is configured to receive a slot therein that may rotate thereabout relative to said jack post;   an elongate handle extending from said jack foot;   a protrusion on the jack foot at a distance from an area around which the jack foot rotates,   a recess on said bracket corresponding to said protrusion such that when the jack foot is in a loaded position said protrusion mechanically interacts with said recess.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said slot is substantially parallel to said jack post when said jack foot is parallel with said jack post. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the jack foot's own weight causes the apparatus to unlock. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the apparatus is locked when the trailer's weight is resting the jack foot. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said handle comprises a retainer. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said retainer is a cotter pin. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the jack foot is larger at a bottom portion than at a top portion. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the locking structure is configured to receive substantially the cross section of said protrusion. 
     
     
         19 . A jack foot for a jack stand for mounting to a trailer tongue comprising;
 a pivot bolt configured to attach to said jack post;   a securing bolt attached to said jack post a distance from said pivot bolt;   a foot portion configured to for engaging the ground at a lower portion and rotationally attached to said pivot bolt at an upper portion of said foot portion;   a slot therein for rotatably interfacing with a said pivot bolt;   a locking structure for mechanically communicating with said securing bolt such that when said foot portion is vertically loaded the securing bolt and said locking structure interface to prevent rotation of said foot portion relative to jack post.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said slot is substantially parallel to said jack post when said foot portion is parallel with said jack post. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the foot portion's own weight causes the apparatus to unlock. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the apparatus is locked when the trailer's weight is resting on the jack foot. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said handle comprises a retainer. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said retainer is a cotter pin. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the foot portion is larger at a bottom portion than at a top portion. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the recess is configured to receive substantially the protrusion. 
     
     
         27 . A method of using an improved jack foot comprising:
 lowering an elongate handle thereby extending said jack foot connected to a jack post into a load receiving position;   actuating a crank of a jack such that said jack post extends downward until said jack foot contacts the ground such that a slot and a locking structure disposed on said jack foot interface with a first bolt rotatably attaching said jack foot to said jack post is in mechanical communication with said slot and a protrusion configured to communicate with said locking structure interact.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising unlocking said handle at the beginning of the process and locking said handle at the end of the process. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising reversing the crank of the jack until said jack foot rises from the ground such that said slot and said locking structure disposed on said jack foot de-interface from said first bolt rotatably attaching said jack foot to said jack post is not in mechanical communication with said slot and said protrusion configured to communicate with said locking structure separate. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising locking said handle into position at the end of the process. 
     
     
         31 . Method of making a trailer jack system comprising:
 providing a jack having a jack post:   attaching a jack foot to said jack post wherein said jack foot comprises:
 a mount configured to receive a jack post; 
 wherein said mount is configured to receive a slot thereon that may rotate thereabout relative to said jack post; 
 an elongate handle extending from said jack foot; 
 a protrusion for attaching to the jack post at a distance from said mount, 
   a recess corresponding to said protrusion such that when the jack foot is in a down position said protrusion mechanically interacts with said recess.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising making said slot substantially parallel to said jack post when said jack foot is parallel with said jack post. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the jack foot's own weight causes the apparatus to unlock. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the jack foot is locked when a trailer's weight is resting thereon. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing a retainer for said handle. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said retainer is a cotter pin. 
     
     
         37 . A system for lifting and leveling a trailer comprising:
 a jack in mechanical communication with a jack post having a jack foot;   said jack foot rotates relative to said jack post;   an elongate handle extending from said jack foot ;   a slot and a locking structure disposed on said jack foot;   a first bolt rotatably attaching said jack foot to said jack post and in mechanical communication with said slot; and   a second bolt configured to communicate with said locking structure when the jack foot is under load;   wherein said slot is substantially parallel to said jack post when said jack foot is parallel with said jack post;   wherein the jack foot's own weight causes the system to unlock;   wherein the system is locked when the trailer's weight is resting on the jack foot;   wherein said handle comprises a retainer;   wherein said retainer is a cotter pin;   further comprising an electric motor for actuating said jack;   wherein said electric motor further comprises a control panel;   wherein the jack foot is larger at a bottom portion than at a top portion.   wherein the locking structure is configured to receive substantially the cross section of said second bolt.   
     
     
         38 . An apparatus for lifting a trailer tongue comprising;
 a height adjustment means for raising and lowering the trailer tongue, said height adjustment means including a housing and a first movable member movably attached relative to the housing such that said first movable member is movable toward or away from the housing;   a second movable member movably attached relative to the first movable member such that said second movable member is movable toward or away from the first movable member;   a foot portion attached to said second movable member and configured for engaging the ground;   a locking mechanism for retaining said second movable member relative to said first movable member; and   an elongate handle attached to said foot portion and being operable for moving the second movable member and the foot attached thereto relative to the first movable member without the aid from and independently of the height adjustment means.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein said locking mechanism comprises a pin and clip. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38  further comprising a biased pin. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the biased pin may be moved remotely. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein a trigger is used to move the biased pin remotely. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein said trigger is disposed on said elongate handle. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 38  further comprising a guide interfacing with said elongate handle for guiding motion of the handle. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44  further comprising a cable configured to be guided by the guide. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first movable member is a first telescoping member that telescopically moves within the housing of the height adjustment means and wherein second movable member is a second telescoping member that telescopically moves within the first telescoping member.