Foundation-based trailer alignment system and method

Abstract

An alignment system, a trailer frame alignment system and a method of aligning a trailer frame upon a foundation, the system including a foundation having at least three contiguous vertical walls, a trailer frame guide system including a pair of opposing guides on corresponding opposing walls of the at least three contiguous vertical walls, and a stop guide on the other of the at least three vertical walls between the corresponding opposing walls. The pair of opposing guides on the corresponding opposing walls include a tapered portion having a first distance defined between the pair of opposing guides at distal ends of the pair of opposing guides from the stop guide, the first distance being greater than a second distance defined between the pair of opposing guides between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides and the stop guide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alignment system comprising:
 a foundation having at least three contiguous vertical walls; and   a trailer frame guide system including a pair of opposing guides on corresponding opposing walls of the at least three contiguous vertical walls, and a stop guide on the other of the at least three vertical walls between the corresponding opposing walls,   wherein the pair of opposing guides on the corresponding opposing walls include a tapered portion having a first distance defined between the pair of opposing guides at distal ends of the pair of opposing guides from the stop guide, the first distance being greater than a second distance defined between the pair of opposing guides between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides and the stop guide.   
     
     
         2 . The alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposing guides comprises one of
 an aggregate-based cement form, and   a rigid plate or bar form.   
     
     
         3 . The alignment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one indentation proximate the stop guide configured to receive a bearing surface, the at least one indentation one of   disposed in the stop guide, and   disposed in the stop guide and the other of the at least three vertical walls between the corresponding opposing walls.   
     
     
         4 . The alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposing guides being disposed substantially along a length of each corresponding opposing wall. 
     
     
         5 . The alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the foundation further comprises:
 an excavated portion defined by the at least three contiguous vertical walls; and   an inclined ramp section disposed substantially outside of the excavated portion, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning a frame of a wheeled trailer between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.   
     
     
         6 . The alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the foundation further comprises
 an excavated portion defined by the at least three contiguous vertical walls; and   an inclined ramp section substantially disposed both outside of and inside of the excavated portion, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning a frame of a wheeled trailer between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.   
     
     
         7 . The alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the foundation further comprises
 an excavated portion defined by the at least three contiguous vertical walls; and   an inclined ramp section disposed substantially inside of the excavated portion, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning a frame of a wheeled trailer between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.   
     
     
         8 . A trailer frame alignment system comprising:
 a foundation having at least three contiguous vertical walls;   a trailer frame guide system including
 a pair of opposing guides on corresponding opposing walls of the at least three contiguous vertical walls, and 
 a stop guide on the other of the at least three vertical walls between the corresponding opposing walls, 
 wherein the pair of opposing guides on the corresponding opposing walls include a tapered portion having
 a first distance defined between the pair of opposing guides at distal ends of the pair of opposing guides from the stop guide, the first distance being greater than 
 a second distance defined between the pair of opposing guides between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides and the stop guide; and 
 
   a trailer frame including
 a set of attached wheels having an overall wheel width in a transverse direction with respect to the trailer frame less than an overall trailer frame width in the transverse direction, and 
 at least one bearing surface on the trailer frame configured to contact the trailer frame guide system as the trailer frame is aligned and positioned on top of the foundation. 
   
     
     
         9 . The trailer frame alignment system according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one bearing surface includes a roller bearing configured to roll along a portion of a longitudinal length of the trailer frame guide system. 
     
     
         10 . The trailer frame trailer frame alignment system according to  claim 8 , wherein the trailer frame guide system further includes a horizontal bearing surface configured to receive thereupon at least a portion of the trailer frame. 
     
     
         11 . The trailer frame alignment system according to  claim 8 , wherein the trailer frame being configured to support a one of a mobile home or a tiny home. 
     
     
         12 . The trailer frame alignment system according to  claim 8 , wherein the foundation further comprises:
 an excavated portion defined by the at least three contiguous vertical walls; and   an inclined ramp section disposed substantially outside of the excavated portion, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning the trailer frame between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.   
     
     
         13 . The trailer frame alignment system according to  claim 8 , wherein the foundation further comprises
 an excavated portion defined by the at least three contiguous vertical walls; and   an inclined ramp section disposed both outside of and inside of the excavated portion, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning the trailer frame between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.   
     
     
         14 . The trailer frame alignment system according to  claim 8 , wherein the foundation further comprises
 an excavated portion defined by the at least three contiguous vertical walls; and   an inclined ramp section disposed substantially inside of the excavated portion, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning the trailer frame between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.   
     
     
         15 . A method of aligning a trailer frame upon a foundation comprising:
 providing a trailer frame including a set of attached wheels;   providing a foundation having at least three contiguous vertical walls, the foundation configured to receive the trailer frame;   providing a trailer frame guide system including a pair of opposing guides on corresponding opposing walls of the at least three contiguous vertical walls, and a stop guide on the other of the at least three vertical walls between the corresponding opposing walls;   aligning a longitudinal axis of the trailer frame to be substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the foundation;   lowering a leading edge of the trailer frame to contact the pair of opposing guides on the corresponding opposing walls of the at least three contiguous vertical walls;   translating the leading edge of the trailer frame between the pair of opposing guides until the set of attached wheels becomes at least partially unloaded upon the foundation; and   positioning the leading edge of the trailer frame proximate the stop guide on the other of the at least three vertical walls between the corresponding opposing walls.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 positioning the trailer frame substantially upon the foundation having the at least three contiguous vertical walls, and within the trailer frame guide system.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 adjusting a position of the trailer frame within the trailer frame guide system in at least one direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foundation,   wherein adjusting the position of the trailer frame is provided by a tapered portion on each of the pair of opposing guides, the tapered portion having a first distance defined between the pair of opposing guides at distal ends of the pair of opposing guides from the stop guide, the first distance being greater than a second distance defined between the pair of opposing guides between the distal ends of the pair of opposing guides and the stop guide.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing an inclined ramp section disposed substantially outside of an excavated portion of the foundation, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning the trailer frame between distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing an inclined ramp section disposed both outside of and inside of an excavated portion of the foundation, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning the trailer frame between distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing an inclined ramp section disposed substantially inside of an excavated portion of the foundation, the inclined ramp section configured to provide a path for aligning the trailer frame between distal ends of the pair of opposing guides.