US3647243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Theftproof lockable coupling device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-01-23
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Granted: 1972-03-07
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Expires: 1990-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A lockable coupling device for a truck trailer has a pin which can be moved axially out of baseplate for engagement with a coupling plate of a tractor. A shaft is operatively arranged to advance and retract the pin. The shaft is joined to a barrel rotatable by a crank. The barrel can be locked against rotation by a lock in the barrel. The crank carries a key for locking and unlocking the barrel. A motor may be provided to drive the shaft for extending the pin. The pin may be arranged to obstruct a hole in a coupling plate attached to a truck trailer. The pin can be provided with a spring for automatic retraction when the shaft is retracted. The rotatable barrel may have switch contacts connected in circuit with the motor. The motor may be driven electrically or hydraulically.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E Nagy
- 👤 John F Nagy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:52
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0842; B62D53/085; E; E05; E05B; E05B1/00; E05B1/0053; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5611; Y10T70/5646; Y10T70/565; Y10T70/5668; Y10T70/5889; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/778; Y10T70/7791
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A device for preventing unauthorized coupling of a tractor to a trailer, comprising a baseplate mountable upon the trailer, said baseplate having a hole therein, an axially movable hitch pin adapted for coupling a trailer to a trailer tractor, drive means for moving said hitch pin between retracted and extended positions, said hitch pin being shouldered for engagement with the baseplate about the top of the hole and adapted to be extended so that its head extends below the baseplate in the extended position, said hitch pin upon being retracted inside the trailer will have its head withdrawn into the hole in the baseplate and inaccessible, motor means connected to the drive means for moving the pin to either of retracted or extended positions, a lock operated by a key and means interconnecting said drive means and lock so that the hitch pin can be selectively extended or retracted either by the keylock or by the motor upon opening the lock whereby the hitch pin can be so positioned in the said plate hole as to prevent coupling of the trailer to the tractor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
A device for preventing unauthorized coupling of a tractor to a trailer, comprising a baseplate mountable upon the trailer, said baseplate having a hole therein, an axially movable hitch pin adapted for coupling a trailer to a trailer tractor, drive means for moving said hitch pin between retracted and extended positions, said hitch pin being shouldered for engagement with the baseplate about the top of the hole and adapted to be extended so that its head extends below the baseplate in the extended position, said hitch pin upon being retracted inside the trailer will have its head withdrawn into the hole in the baseplate and inaccessible, motor means connected to the drive means for moving the pin to either of retracted or extended positions, a lock operated by a key and means interconnecting said drive means and lock so that the hitch pin can be selectively extended or retracted either by the keylock or by the motor upon opening the lock whereby the hitch pin can be so positioned in the said plate hole as to prevent coupling of the trailer to the tractor.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
260 words
A device for preventing unauthorized coupling of a tractor to a trailer, comprising a baseplate mountable underneath the trailer, said plate having a hole therein; a pin adapted for coupling a trailer and tractor; means movably supporting said pin in either of two positions, said pin extending through said hole in the baseplate and below the baseplate in one of said positions, said pin being retracted inside the trailer in the other one of said positions; motor means for moving the pin to either of said positions respectively, a lock operated by a key; and means interconnecting the said motor means and lock so that the pin can be selectively extended and retracted; an axially vertical, cylindrical hollow guide member extending upwardly from said plate, said hole in the baseplate communicating with said guide member, said pin being disposed axially vertical in said guide member for axial movement in said hole in the plate; a stationary, axially horizontal cylindrical housing; a shaft rotatable in said housing; a rotatable barrel joined to said shaft for turning with the shaft; said lock being disposed in said barrel and operable by said key for preventing rotation of the barrel and shaft; said motor means comprising mechanical means arranged to operatively interconnect said pin and shaft so that said pin moves axially when said shaft is rotated, whereby the pin can be so positioned in said hole as to prevent coupling of the tractor to the trailer, said barrel having an exposed end arranged for engagement by a crank for manually turning the barrel.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
260 words
A device for preventing unauthorized coupling of a tractor to a trailer, comprising a baseplate mountable underneath the trailer, said plate having a hole therein; a pin adapted for coupling a trailer and tractor; means movably supporting said pin in either of two positions, said pin extending through said hole in the baseplate and below the baseplate in one of said positions, said pin being retracted inside the trailer in the other one of said positions; motor means for moving the pin to either of said positions respectively, a lock operated by a key; and means interconnecting the said motor means and lock so that the pin can be selectively extended and retracted; an axially vertical, cylindrical hollow guide member extending upwardly from said plate, said hole in the baseplate communicating with said guide member, said pin being disposed axially vertical in said guide member for axial movement in said hole in the plate; a stationary, axially horizontal cylindrical housing; a shaft rotatable in said housing; a rotatable barrel joined to said shaft for turning with the shaft; said lock being disposed in said barrel and operable by said key for preventing rotation of the barrel and shaft; said motor means comprising mechanical means arranged to operatively interconnect said pin and shaft so that said pin moves axially when said shaft is rotated, whereby the pin can be so positioned in said hole as to prevent coupling of the tractor to the trailer, said barrel having an exposed end arranged for engagement by a crank for manually turning the barrel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A device as defined in claim 2, wherein further comprising spring means engaging said pin and normally retracting the same, so that the pin is extended in said hole only by rotational operation of said shaft; said mechanical coupling means comprising another shaft movable axially by the first-named shaft while rotating, said other shaft having a wedge-shaped tip and a conical top on said pin engageable by said wedge-shaped tip for advancing said pin in said hole in the plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said lock comprises rotatable cylinder, and a bar coupled to said cylinder and movable radially in said barrel to engage said housing for preventing rotation of the barrel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said barrel has an exposed end with a diametral ridge thereon, and further comprising a crank having a cylindrical body formeD with a groove for engaging said ridge to turn the barrel, and a key slidably mounted in said body of the crank and spring biased to extend axially outward of said body, said cylinder having a keyhole at the exposed end of the barrel for receiving said key, whereby the crank can be turned to unlock the lock when the key is engaged therein while the ridge and groove are out of engagement with each other, and whereby the crank can be advanced to engage said ridge and groove for turning the barrel while the key remains in said lock and turns with the barrel and crank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said mechanical means comprises a worm carried by said shaft, and a worm wheel connected to said pin and engaged with said worm, whereby rotation of the worm causes axial movement of said pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a motor connected to said shaft for turning the same to cause axial movement of said pin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising spring means engaging said pin and normally retracting the same, so that the pin is extended in said hole in the plate only by rotational operation of said shaft.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for preventing the unauthorized coupling of a tractor to a trailer comprising a baseplate mountable underneath the trailer, said plate having a hole therein; a pin adapted for coupling a trailer and tractor; means movably supporting said pin in either of two positions, said pin extending through said hole in the baseplate and below the baseplate in one of said positions, said pin being retracted inside the trailer in the other one of said positions; motor means for moving the pin to either of said positions respectively, a lock operated by a key; and means interconnecting the said motor means and lock so that the pin can be selectively extended and retracted; said means movably supporting the pin comprises a pin body; a shaft rotatably supporting said pin body above said plate so that the pin is rotatable between said two positions; said lock including switch means; said means interconnecting the motor means and lock, comprising an electric circuit and power supply, whereby the pin can be selectively moved to either position when said circuit is closed by operation of the lock by said key.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for preventing the unauthorized coupling of a tractor to a trailer comprising a baseplate mountable underneath the trailer, said plate having a hole therein; a pin adapted for coupling a trailer and tractor; means movably supporting said pin in either of two positions, said pin extending through said hole in the baseplate and below the baseplate in one of said positions, said pin being retracted inside the trailer in the other one of said positions; motor means for moving the pin to either of said positions respectively, a lock operated by a key; and means interconnecting the said motor means and lock so that the pin can be selectively extended and retracted; said means movably supporting the pin comprises a pin body; a shaft rotatably supporting said pin body above said plate so that the pin is rotatable between said two positions; said lock including switch means; said means interconnecting the motor means and lock, comprising an electric circuit and power supply, whereby the pin can be selectively moved to either position when said circuit is closed by operation of the lock by said key.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said motor means is connected to the pin body by a piston shaft which assumes an overcenter position with respect to the pin body when the pin is rotated to vertical position extending below said plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-07 | 1975-09-06 | 1976-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-07 | 1979-09-06 | 1980-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-07 | 1983-09-06 | 1984-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |