Trailer docking repositionable support

Abstract

A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer comprising a frame having mounted thereto at least a right side wheel and a left side wheel, the frame also including a hitch, a fifth wheel, and at least one of a repositionable wheel chock and a repositionable hook, the trailer stabilizing device further including a repositioning device in order to reposition at least one of the repositionable wheel chock and the repositionable hook. The present disclosure also includes a method of stabilizing a parked trailer at a loading dock, the method comprising: (a) positioning a wheeled trailer stabilizer underneath a parked freight trailer at a loading dock while landing gear of the parked freight trailer are deployed and a kingpin of the parked trailer is accessible; (b) securing the kingpin of the parked freight trailer to a fifth wheel of the wheeled trailer stabilizer; and, (c) deploying a repositionable hook operatively coupled to the frame of the wheeled trailer stabilizer so the repositionable hook couples to a cleat mounted to the ground, where deployment of the hook is operative to exert a pulling force on the kingpin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A trailer support comprising:
 a first frame rail;   a second frame rail spaced apart from the first frame rail;   a pair of spaced apart cross members that operatively couple the first frame rail to the second frame rail;   a neck operatively coupled to at least one of the pair of spaced apart cross members, the neck extending proximally away from the pair of spaced apart cross members and including a proximal coupler configured to engage a tow vehicle; and,   a trailer support surface extending above the first frame rail and the second frame rail, the trailer support surface configured to support an undersurface of a parked freight trailer when in contact therewith.   
     
     
         41 . The trailer support of  claim 40 , further comprising a stop including a vertical surface configured to contact a vertical surface of the parked freight trailer to retard rearward repositioning of the trailer support with respect to the parked freight trailer. 
     
     
         42 . The trailer support of  claim 40 , further comprising an axle operatively coupled to the first frame rail and the second frame rail, wherein a wheel is mounted proximate each end of the axle. 
     
     
         43 . The trailer support of  claim 40 , further comprising a visual display remote from the trailer support providing a visual indication that the trailer support is at least one of positioned underneath the parked freight trailer and not positioned underneath the parked freight trailer. 
     
     
         44 . The trailer support of  claim 40 , wherein the trailer support includes a wireless communicator for wirelessly communicating with the visual display. 
     
     
         45 . The trailer support of  claim 40 , wherein the trailer support wirelessly communicates with the visual display. 
     
     
         46 . A trailer support comprising:
 a first frame rail;   a second frame rail spaced apart from the first frame rail;   a cross member that operatively couples the first frame rail to the second frame rail;   a neck operatively coupled to at least one of the pair of spaced apart cross members, the neck extending proximally away from the pair of spaced apart cross members and including a proximal coupler configured to engage a tow vehicle; and,   a wheel operatively coupled to the first and second frame rails;   
       a ground pad interposing, from proximal to distal, the coupler and the wheel. 
     
     
         47 . The trailer support of  claim 46 , further comprising a trailer support surface extending above the first frame rail and the second frame rail, the trailer support surface configured to support an undersurface of a parked freight trailer when in contact therewith. 
     
     
         48 . The trailer support of  claim 46 , further comprising a stop including a vertical surface configured to contact a vertical surface of the parked freight trailer to retard rearward repositioning of the trailer support with respect to the parked freight trailer. 
     
     
         49 . A method of using a portable trailer support comprising:
 coupling a portable trailer support to a yard truck that includes a hydraulic fifth wheel operative to raise and lower a height of the fifth wheel with respect to the yard truck, the portable trailer stabilizer comprising a first frame rail, a second frame rail spaced apart from the first frame rail, a pair of spaced apart cross members that interconnect the first frame rail to the second frame rail, a neck operatively coupled to at least one of the pair of spaced apart cross members, the neck extending proximally away from the pair of spaced apart cross members and including a proximal coupler configured to engage a tow vehicle, and a trailer support surface extending above the first frame rail and the second frame rail, the trailer contact surface configured to support an undersurface of a parked freight trailer when in contact therewith;   using the yard truck, backing the portable trailer support underneath a forward end of a parked freight trailer and in front of landing gear of the parked freight trailer while the parked freight trailer is freestanding;   disconnecting the portable trailer support from the yard truck, to retain the portable trailer support underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer, prior to items being at least one of loaded onto the parked freight trailer and unloaded from the parked freight trailer;   after items are at least one of loaded onto the parked freight trailer and unloaded from the parked freight trailer, coupling the portable trailer support to the yard truck; and,   using the yard truck, pulling the portable trailer support from underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein:
 the portable trailer support includes at least one wheel; and,   backing the portable trailer support underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer includes rolling portable trailer support over the ground using the at least one wheel;   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein pulling the portable trailer support from underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer includes rolling portable trailer support over the ground using the at least one wheel. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the landing gear of the parked freight trailer support a forward portion of the parked freight trailer when the portable trailer support is not wedged between the ground and the parked freight trailer. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the landing gear of the parked freight trailer support a forward portion of the parked freight trailer when the portable trailer support is pulled from underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein:
 backing the portable trailer support underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer includes rolling the portable trailer support on wheels mounted to an axle operatively coupled to a frame of the portable trailer support; and,   pulling the portable trailer support from underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer includes rolling the portable trailer support on the wheels.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein:
 backing the portable trailer support underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer includes rolling the portable trailer support on a wheel operatively coupled thereto; and,   pulling the portable trailer support from underneath the forward end of the parked freight trailer includes rolling the portable trailer support on the wheel.   
     
     
         56 . A method of using multiple portable trailer supports comprising:
 coupling a first portable trailer support to a yard truck that includes a hydraulic fifth wheel, the first portable trailer stabilizer comprising a first frame rail, a second frame rail spaced apart from the first frame rail, a pair of spaced apart cross members that interconnect the first frame rail to the second frame rail, a neck operatively coupled to at least one of the pair of spaced apart cross members, the neck extending proximally away from the pair of spaced apart cross members and including a proximal coupler configured to engage a tow vehicle, and a trailer support surface extending above the first frame rail and the second frame rail, the trailer contact surface configured to support an undersurface of a parked freight trailer when in contact therewith;   reversing the yard truck to back the first portable trailer support underneath a forward end of a first parked freight trailer and in front of landing gear of the first parked freight trailer while the first parked freight trailer is disconnected from a tractor;   disconnecting the first portable trailer support from the yard truck to retain the first portable trailer support underneath the forward end of the first parked freight trailer;   coupling a second portable trailer support to the yard truck;   reversing the yard truck to back the second portable trailer support underneath a forward end of a second parked freight trailer and in front of landing gear of the second parked freight trailer while the second parked freight trailer is disconnected from the tractor; and,   disconnecting the second portable trailer support from the yard truck to retain the second portable trailer support underneath the forward end of the second parked freight trailer.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising:
 after items are at least one of loaded onto the first parked freight trailer and unloaded from the first parked freight trailer, coupling the first portable trailer support to the yard truck; and,   using the yard truck, pulling the first portable trailer support from underneath the forward end of the first parked freight trailer.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 after items are at least one of loaded onto the second parked freight trailer and unloaded from the second parked freight trailer, coupling the second portable trailer support to the yard truck; and,   using the yard truck, pulling the second portable trailer support from underneath the forward end of the second parked freight trailer.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein:
 reversing the yard truck to back the first portable trailer support underneath a forward end of a first parked freight trailer includes rolling the first portable trailer support on wheels mounted to an axle operatively coupled to a frame of the first portable trailer support; and,   reversing the yard truck to back the second portable trailer support underneath a forward end of a second parked freight trailer includes rolling the second portable trailer support on wheels mounted to an axle operatively coupled to a frame of the second portable trailer support.