Rotatable Foot Pads for Trailer Jack Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trailer jacks either wheeled or foot pad-based face issues with stability on soft ground and mobility, with complex and costly designs that require lifting the trailer tongue or hitch for mode switching.
Innovation Solution
A dual mode trailer jack with rotatable foot pads that can convert from a wheeled to a flat pad configuration without removing components or lifting the trailer, using two interlocking pads that act as both foot pads and wheel chocks to prevent rolling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional wheeled trailer jack is used, then the trailer can be moved on flat ground, but the wheel becomes embedded in soft ground and the trailer cannot be stabilized
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer jack system dynamically switches between wheeled mode and foot pad mode based on ground conditions. The foot pads can be rotated into position to contact the ground directly, providing stability on soft ground, while the wheel remains available for mobility on hard surfaces. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between mobility and stability.
2Reliability
If a conventional foot pad trailer jack is used, then the trailer location is fixed and stable on soft ground, but the trailer cannot be readily moved without lifting the foot pad
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic switching between foot pad contact mode (for stability) and wheel contact mode (for mobility). The foot pads can be rotated away from the ground to enable movement, and then rotated back into position for stabilization. This resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to different operational requirements.
3Reliability
If wheel chocks are added to a wheeled trailer jack, then the trailer can be prevented from rolling, but the chocks become misplaced or forgotten and the design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The foot pads are merged with the wheel chock function. The same foot pads that provide stable ground contact also serve as wheel chocks when positioned against the wheel. This integration eliminates the need for separate chock components and reduces system complexity while maintaining both stability and anti-rolling functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot pads serve multiple functions: they provide stable ground contact when the trailer is stationary, and they act as wheel chocks to prevent rolling. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated chock components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a dual mode trailer jack with wheel and foot pad is designed, then both mobility and stability are achieved, but the design becomes complicated and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The foot pads are integrated directly into the wheel assembly structure, merging two previously separate components (wheel and foot pad) into a unified system. The foot pads are positioned to serve both as ground contact surfaces and as wheel chocks, eliminating the need for separate mounting mechanisms and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot pads are designed to perform multiple functions within a single component structure: providing stable ground contact, acting as wheel chocks, and enabling mode switching. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed and simplifies the overall design while maintaining dual mode adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheeled trailer jack including a first foot pad and a second foot pad. The first foot pad including a first base and the second foot pad including a second base. The first and second foot pads rotatable between an engaged position and an unengaged position. When in the engaged position, the first base of the first foot pad and the second base of the second foot lie in substantially the same plane to act as a flat foot pad to stabilize the wheeled trailer jack and wheel chock to prevent a wheel of the wheeled trailer jack from moving. When in the unengaged position, the wheel of the wheeled trailer jack is free to move.