Rear drag wheel mount

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,237,803
App. No.: 10/823,018
Granted: Jul 3, 2007
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A drag wheel and mount attachable to the angular skid bracket engaged on the rear of a motor vehicle such as a trailer or motorhome without removing or otherwise altering the angular skid bracket. The device features a roller rotationally engaged on the distal end of a mount. The mount is adapted to attach to the angular skid bracket in a compressible engagement without altering or drilling the skid bracket or detaching it from the vehicle. The roller projects past the lower surface of the angular skid bracket on two sidewalls and contacts the road surface in the event the vehicle tilts sufficiently to cause the skid bracket to strike the road.

Claims (73)

1. A drag wheel apparatus adapted for cooperative engagement with an angular skid bracket engaged upon the rear of a vehicle used for travel over a road surface, comprising:

at least one roller having a circumferential surface;

a mount, said mount having a first sidewall, said first sidewall having an attachment end, a mid portion, and a distal end opposite said attachment end;

said mount having a second sidewall, said second sidewall having an attachment end, a mid portion, and a distal end opposite said attachment end;

a topwall engaged to said first sidewall and second side wall at their respective attachment ends;

said mount having a mounted position wherein lower portions of said distal ends of said first sidewall and said second sidewall extend below a bottom surface of said angular skid bracket;

an axle, said axle cooperatively engageable through said roller between said lower portions of said first and second sidewall with said circumferential surface projecting beyond said distal ends of said sidewalls;

a support pin in a removable engagement with said first and second sidewall of said mount in said mounted position, said removable engagement positioning said support pin between said axle and said bottom surface of said angular skid plate; and

means to force said topwall away from said angular skid bracket thereby subjecting a compressive force of said support pin against said bottom surface of said angular skid bracket, to maintain said mount in said mounted position.

2. The drag wheel apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to force said topwall away from said angular skid bracket comprises:

an elongated member translatably engaged through said topwall, said elongated member having an adjustment end and a distal end opposite said adjustment end; and

said distal end of said elongated member translatable toward said distal ends of said sidewalls, to an extended position communicating a compressive force against a top surface of said angular skid bracket opposite said bottom surface.

3. The drag wheel apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising:

means to lock said distal end of said elongated member in said extended position.

4. The drag wheel apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elongated member translatably engaged through said topwall comprises:

said elongated member being a bolt, said bolt threadably engaged through said topwall; and

rotation of said bolt in a first direction causing said distal end of said bolt to translate toward said extended position.

5. The drag wheel apparatus of claim 3 wherein elongated member translatably engaged through said topwall comprises:

said elongated member being a bolt, said bolt threadably engaged through said topwall; and

rotation of said bolt in a first direction causing said distal end of said bolt to translate toward said extended position.

6. The drag, wheel apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means to lock said distal end of said elongated member in said extended position comprises:

a nut rotationally engaged upon said bolt; and

said nut rotatable to cause a force reaction between threads of said bolt, said topwall and said nut, thereby discouraging relative rotational movement between said bolt and said topwall.

7. The drag wheel apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: