US 12,409,689 B2
Trailer jack and transport systems employing a spherical load-bearing transport ball, and sport, recreational and utility trailer systems and methods employing the same
Mark Christopher Schmidt, Windermere, FL (US); and Edward Joel Rodriguez, Kissimmee, FL (US)
Assigned to ORBITJACK LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by ORBIT JACK LLC, Windermere, FL (US)
Filed on Nov. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/535,561.
Prior Publication US 2023/0158847 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. B60D 1/66 (2006.01); B62D 63/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60D 1/665 (2013.01) [B62D 63/08 (2013.01)] 43 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A trailer transport system for mounting to a trailer that can be coupled to a motor-driven vehicle, said trailer transport system comprising:
a semispherical framework having an interior volume contained by the boundaries of the semispherical framework;
a set of bearing surfaces provided within the interior volume of said semispherical framework;
a load-bearing transport ball installed within the interior volume of said semispherical framework, and supported by the bearing surfaces provided therein, and allowing said load-bearing transport ball to rotate freely within said semispherical framework, as defined by the bearing surfaces; and
a support mechanism for supporting said semispherical framework in a transport configuration during transport operations, and also in a storage configuration during storage operations;
wherein said load-bearing transport ball is able to roll freely in all directions within said semispherical framework when said load-bearing transport ball contacts the ground surface and enables rollable transport of the trailer;
wherein the bearing surfaces comprise a set of ball-bearing pads mounted within the interior volume of said semispherical framework; and
wherein each said ball-bearing pad comprises a plurality of spring-biased ball bearings that are mounted on a mounting plate having a surface curvature that approximates a portion of a spherical object.