Trailer stabilizer

1. A method of stabilizing a parked semi-trailer, the method comprising:

positioning a frame, separate from a support frame of the parked semi-trailer, underneath a forward portion of the parked semi-trailer, where the frame includes a semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack, and the frame has mounted thereto a wheel;

floating the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the wheel using a spring concurrently operatively coupled to the wheel and to the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack, where a first spring load is applied to the spring when the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack is floating; and,

decreasing the first spring load on the spring by deploying the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack in a second position to wedge at least one of the frame and the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack between a ground surface and an underside of the parked semi-trailer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

positioning the frame underneath the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer includes repositioning a first semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack and a second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack comprising the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack;

floating the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack includes floating the first semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack and a second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the wheel using a spring concurrently operatively coupled to the wheel and to the first and second repositionable jacks, where a first spring load is applied to the spring when the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks are floating; and,

decreasing the first spring load on the spring occurs by deploying the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks in a second position to wedge at least one of the frame and at least one of the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks between the ground surface and the underside of the parked semi-trailer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the first semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack comprises a first screw jack;

the second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack comprises a second screw jack;

the first screw jack and the second screw jack are operatively coupled to at least one of a common drive shaft, a common transmission, and a common motor; and,

deploying the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks includes actuating at least one of the common drive shaft, the common transmission, and the common motor.

4. The method of claim 2 , comprising:

actuating the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks using a motor;

wherein actuating the motor includes operatively engaging a first clutch operatively coupled to the first semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack; and,

wherein actuating the motor includes operatively engaging a second clutch operatively coupled to the second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

rendering portable the frame by providing a plurality of wheels configured to engage the ground surface;

and,

the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks are within a lateral footprint established by the plurality of wheels.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a braking function to the wheel by including a braking device operatively coupled to the wheel.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repositioning a hook, operatively coupled to the frame, between a raised position to a lowered position, where the lowered position corresponds to an engaged position having the hook operatively coupled to the ground surface, and where the raised position corresponds to a disengaged position having the hook disengaged from the ground surface.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein repositioning of the hook is accomplished at least in part using at least one of pneumatic, hydraulic, manual, and electrical operation.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein repositioning the hook to the lowered position includes the hook engaging a cleat mounted to the ground surface, wherein engagement between the cleat and the hook operatively couples the frame to the ground surface.

10. The method of claim 7 , further including providing information via a visual display located remotely from the parked semi-trailer, the visual display providing information concerning at least one of a position of the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the ground surface, and a position of the hook with respect to the ground surface.

11. The method of claim 1 , further including providing information via a visual display located remotely from the parked semi-trailer, the visual display providing information concerning at least one of a position of the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the ground surface.

12. A method of stabilizing a parked semi-trailer, the method comprising:

floating a semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to a wheel operatively coupled to a frame of a trailer stabilizing device using a passive suspension, where the trailer stabilizing device is separate from a support frame of the parked semi-trailer;

wedging the trailer stabilizing device between a ground surface and the parked semi-trailer so that a load on the passive suspension decreases as a load borne by the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack increases.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including providing information via a visual display located remotely from the parked semi-trailer, the visual display providing information concerning a position of the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the ground surface.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein floating the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack includes floating a first semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack and a second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the wheel.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

actuating the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks using a motor;

wherein actuating the motor includes operatively engaging a first clutch operatively coupled to the first semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack; and,

wherein actuating the motor includes operatively engaging a second clutch operatively coupled to the second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

rendering portable the frame by providing a plurality of wheels configured to engage the ground surface; and,

the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks are within a lateral footprint established by the plurality of wheels.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein wedging the trailer stabilizing device between the ground surface and the parked semi-trailer includes the trailer stabilizing device engaging an underside of the parked semi-trailer.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising repositioning a hook, operatively coupled to the frame, between a raised position to a lowered position, where the lowered position corresponds to an engaged position having the hook operatively coupled to the ground surface, and where the raised position corresponds to a disengaged position having the hook disengaged from the ground surface.

19. A method of stabilizing a parked semi-trailer, the method comprising:

deploying a first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks in a first direction to contact a ground surface, the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks comprising a portion of a semi-trailer stabilizing device that also includes a semi-trailer plate and a frame separate from a support frame of the parked semi-trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto an axle and at least two wheels mounted to the axle;

deploying the semi-trailer plate in a second direction opposite the first direction to engage the parked semi-semi-trailer;

wherein the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks are operatively coupled to a spring that is operatively coupled to the axle and the at least two wheels, the spring is configured to allow the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks to float with respect to the axle and the at least two wheels, wherein the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks include a drive shaft extending therebetween, where at least a portion of the drive shaft extends on opposing sides of at least one of the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks, and where the frame includes a frame rail extending parallel to the drive shaft and the axle, and where the frame rail extends perpendicular to the first and second semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jacks.

20. The method of claim 19 , further including providing information via a visual display located remotely from the parked semi-trailer, the visual display providing information concerning a position of the semi-trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the ground surface.