Elevated cradle for supporting conduits extending between a vehicle tractor and trailer

Abstract

A cradle for supporting conduit extending between a truck and articulating trailer. The cradle includes a radially curved and open ended body which is resiliently supported upon an adjustable vertical support member for permitting lay-in receipt of the harness. A mounting assembly for the vertical support member positions the same atop a platform extending between the tractor and trailer and, in one non-limiting variant, is constructed of two parallel plate members with three or more compression/extension spring combinations.

1 . A cradle for supporting an extending length of a harness extending between a truck and an articulating trailer, the cradle comprising:
 a body with first and second ends defining at open interior, said body being separable along a linearly extending location between said;   a vertically extending member;   a resilient biasing structure attaching the body to the vertically extending member; and   a base mounting assembly having an elevated platform for supporting and engaging the vertically extending member above a base plate.   
     
     
         2 . The cradle of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient biasing structure further comprises:
 a first coil spring, said first coil spring being supported within an open upper end of said vertical member so that a widthwise inserting mechanical fastener is installed through said vertical member to engage said first coil spring; and   a second coil spring supported within said open upper end of said vertical member in concentric fashion about said first coil spring, a bottom end of said second spring biasing against said widthwise inserting mechanical fastener.   
     
     
         3 . The cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the vertically extending member further comprises:
 a first coil spring having a main body terminating at a curled lower end and a likewise curled upper end, said spring being supported within an open upper end of said vertical member so that a widthwise inserting bolt fastener is installed through said member to capture said lower curled end, a bolt installing in downward fashion through a base located aperture in said body, an aperture in an endmost portion of a stem of said bolt capturing said upper curled end,   a second coil spring supported within said open upper end of said vertical member in concentric fashion about said first coil spring, a bottom end of said second spring biasing against said widthwise inserting bolt fastener, a top end of said second spring biasing said downward installed bolt, and   a first washer inserting below an uppermost coil winding of said second coil spring and, in combination with at least one additional washer abutting against said top end of said second spring, is forced into contact by a nut supported upon said stem downwardly extending bolt.   
     
     
         4 . The cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is aligned substantially parallel to the elevated platform. 
     
     
         5 . The cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the base mounting assembly further comprises: a plurality of springs engaged to a top surface of the lower plate and an underside surface of the elevated platform, wherein the plurality of springs are engaged proximate to edges of the lower plate and the elevated platform. 
     
     
         6 . The cradle of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of springs are arranged at substantially equal intervals. 
     
     
         7 . The cradle of  claim 6 , wherein the base mounting assembly further comprises: a corresponding plurality of extension springs, wherein each of the extension springs are positioned within one of the plurality of springs. 
     
     
         8 . The cradle of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of springs have a lower compression than the extension springs. 
     
     
         9 . The cradle of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of extension springs comprises a first end attached to the lower plate, and a second end extending upwardly through the associated spring member, and wherein the base mounting assembly further comprises:
 said elevated platform further defining a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of springs and contained extension springs;   a plurality of upper spring member corresponding to and centered above the plurality of defined apertures of the elevated platform;   each upper spring member containing a threaded clevis-type bolt member, extending downwardly therethrough and through the corresponding aperture;   each bolt having is lower end and an upper end; and   each bolt connected at its lower end to the corresponding extension spring at its upper end; and each threaded clevis-type bolt being held at its upper end by a conformingly threaded nut.   
     
     
         10 . A cradle for supporting an extending length of a harness extending between a truck and an articulating trailer, the cradle comprising:
 a body with first and second ends defining at open interior, said body being separable along a linearly extending location between said ends;   a vertically extending telescoping member;   a base mounting assembly having an elevated platform for supporting and engaging the vertically extending member and a lower plate for engaging a rear platform of the truck, wherein the elevated platform and the lower plate are substantially parallel and connected via a plurality of compression springs attached, equidistant, about the perimeter of the lower plate; and   a resilient biasing structure for supporting said body atop said vertically extending member and which is responsive to forces exerted upon the harness in order to permit said body a degree of force absorbing and multi-directional motion relative to said vertically extending member.   
     
     
         11 . The cradle of  claim 10 , further comprising: a second plurality of compression springs, wherein each compression spring member of the second plurality of compression springs are centered above one of the plurality of the first compression springs. 
     
     
         12 . The cradle of  claim 11 , further comprising: a plurality of extension springs, wherein each of the plurality of extension springs are contained within a compression spring of the first plurality of compression springs, wherein the extension springs are each attached to the base plate. 
     
     
         13 . The cradle of  claim 12 , wherein the elevated platform further defining a plurality of apertures corresponding to the first plurality of compression springs and contained extension springs. 
     
     
         14 . The cradle of  claim 13 , wherein the elevated platform further comprises a plurality of defined apertures and wherein the second plurality of compression springs are centered above the plurality of defined apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The cradle of  claim 14 , wherein the base mounting assembly further comprises:
 a threaded clevis-type bolt member associated with each of the second plurality of compression springs, extending downwardly therethrough and through the associated aperture, wherein each threaded clevis-type bolt comprises a lower end and an upper end; and   wherein each of the threaded clevis-type bolts are connected at the lower end to the corresponding extension spring, and each of the bolts are held at the upper end by a conformingly threaded nut.   
     
     
         16 . A cradle for supporting an extending length of a harness extending between a truck and an articulating trailer, the cradle comprising:
 a body with first and second ends defining at open interior, said body being separable along a linearly extending location between said ends;   a vertically extending telescoping member;   a base mounting assembly having an elevated platform for supporting and engaging the vertically extending member and a lower plate for engaging a rear platform of the truck, wherein the elevated platform and the lower plate are substantially parallel and connected via a plurality of compression springs attached, equidistant, about the perimeter of the lower plate; and   a resilient biasing structure for supporting said body atop said vertically extending member and which is responsive to forces exerted upon the harness in order to permit said body a degree of force absorbing and multi-directional motion relative to said vertically extending member.   
     
     
         17 . The cradle of  claim 16 , said resilient biasing structure farther comprising: a pair of extension springs secured to first and second sides of said body and extending to opposite sides of an upper end of said vertically extending member for facilitating at least one of pivotal and movable displacement of said cradle member relative to said vertically extending member. 
     
     
         18 . The cradle of  claim 17 , further comprising: two extension springs attached to said first side of said body, an additional two springs are attached to said second side of said body. 
     
     
         19 . The cradle of  claim 18 , wherein each of said two springs affixed to said first side of said body being affixed at lower ends to a common location of said vertically extending member, one of said two springs being affixed at its upper end at a defined distance toward said first end of said body from the point where it pivotally contacts the vertically extending member, the upper end of said other spring member being attached to said body at it point equidistant toward said second end of said body, said springs attached to said second side of said body being affixed at corresponding points on said second side of said body and on said vertically extending member. 
     
     
         20 . The cradle of  claim 16 , wherein the base mounting assembly further comprises:
 a corresponding plurality of extension springs, wherein each of the extension springs are positioned within one of the plurality of compression springs, wherein each of the plurality of extension springs comprises a first end attached to the lower plate, and a second end extending upwardly through the associated compression spring member;   said elevated platform further defining a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of springs and contained extension springs;   a plurality of upper spring member corresponding to and centered above the plurality of defined apertures of the elevated platform;   each upper spring member containing a threaded clevis-type bolt member, extending downwardly therethrough and through the corresponding aperture;   each bolt having is lower end and an upper end; and   each bolt connected at its lower end to the corresponding extension spring at its upper end; and each threaded clevis-type bolt being held at its upper end by a conformingly threaded nut.