Trailer Parking Brake Lockout for Safe Coupler Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current safety measures for detached campers, boats, and utility trailers rely solely on human memory to secure tire chock blocks, leading to potential costly errors and risks of trailers rolling away due to improper or lost chock blocks, especially in uneven terrain and environmental changes.

Innovation Solution

A safety parking brake lever with a lock out bar is mounted to the trailer tongue frame, engaging emergency brake wheel assemblies and preventing accidental disconnection by requiring the lever to be pulled up before releasing the trailer coupler, ensuring the trailer is secured before detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If tire chock blocks are used to secure the trailer, then the trailer can be detached from the vehicle, but the trailer may roll away due to human error or environmental changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrailer detachment capabilityVSAvoidtrailer security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The safety parking brake lever is engaged in advance before detaching the trailer coupler. The lockout bar physically prevents the coupler release latch from being lifted unless the brake lever is first pulled up, ensuring the trailer is secured before detachment occurs. This preliminary action eliminates the risk of forgetting to place tire chock blocks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The safety parking brake lever acts as an intermediary mechanism between the trailer coupling system and the ground. It provides an additional layer of security through mechanical braking engagement, supplementing the tire chock blocks and creating a redundant safety system that addresses human error and environmental changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a safety parking brake lever with lockout bar is added, then the trailer security is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrailer securityVSAvoidbraking system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The safety parking brake lever is integrated with the existing trailer tongue jack mounting structure. The mounting plate utilizes the same space and attachment points as the tongue jack, merging the braking system with the existing support structure. This reduces overall device complexity by combining functions rather than adding separate independent components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The safety parking brake lever serves multiple functions: it engages the emergency brake wheel assemblies to secure the trailer, and simultaneously controls the lockout bar that prevents premature coupler release. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12194976B1Safety parking brake system for campers and all tow trailers

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 TREPANIER ROBERT F

AI summary

With the safety parking braking system, the security of a parking brake is required to be engaged before detaching the trailer. When the safety parking brake lever is lifted, the brakes are applied, the Index plunger pin locks the lever in place and the lock out bar rises thus allowing the trailer to safely be detached from the vehicle without having to remember the tire chock blocks. With little modifications, the safety parking braking system can be retrofitted to any trailer, new or old.