US3659876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-11
•
Granted: 1972-05-02
•
Expires: 1990-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A trailer socket assembly for coupling to an upstanding shank mounted ball of a towing vehicle includes an upstanding cylindrical socket body having a downward opening cylindrical recess for receiving the ball and shank. The body is provided with slots in a transverse plane adjacent to the lower end which open to the socket recess from opposite sides of the body. A pair of elongated locking arms pivotally mounted on the body are swingable into the slots to define a restriction of the socket opening to retain the ball therein. A spring biased locking bar movable transverse to the plane of the locking arms includes recesses for confining the arms against lateral outward movement to release the ball. The socket body is adapted to define a downward extension of a vertical tubular member of a gooseneck drawbar.
Inventors
- 👤 Johnnie D Melton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:08
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/58; B60D1/583; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/065; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A trailer hitch socket assembly for coupling to an upstanding hitch ball having a reduced diameter supporting neck, comprising an upstanding body having a cylindrical recess opening to the bottom thereof; said body having slots on opposite sides thereof disposed in a transverse plane and opening to said cylindrical recess; a pair of locking arms pivotally supported on said body to swing in the plane of said slots into and out of said slots; and locking means mounted on said body for confining said locking arms within said slots, whereby said locking arms define a restriction of the recess opening for retaining the hitch ball therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A trailer hitch socket assembly for coupling to an upstanding hitch ball having a reduced diameter supporting neck, comprising an upstanding body having a cylindrical recess opening to the bottom thereof; said body having slots on opposite sides thereof disposed in a transverse plane and opening to said cylindrical recess; a pair of locking arms pivotally supported on said body to swing in the plane of said slots into and out of said slots; and locking means mounted on said body for confining said locking arms within said slots, whereby said locking arms define a restriction of the recess opening for retaining the hitch ball therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a locking bar moveable in a plane transverse to the plane of said slots; said locking bar having recess means enclosing the free ends of said locking arms to restrain said arms against movement out of said slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A socket assembly as set forth in claim 2 including spring means normally urging said locking bar to a pOsition to enclose said locking arms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking arms are elongated members each pivotally supported at one end on said body to swing into a respective slot in generally parallel relation with each other; said arms, in said parallel relation, being disposed partially within said cylindrical recess to define the restriction thereof; and said locking arms being swingable out of said parallel relation and out of said slots to permit ingress and egress of a coacting trailer hitch ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical recess of said body includes an upper semi-spherical end surface for coacting engagement with a trailer hitch ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A socket assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said locking means comprises a locking bar guided on said body for rectilinear movement in a plane transverse to the plane of said slots; said locking bar including recess means for enclosing said locking arms in said parallel relation thereof to restrain said arms from swinging movement out of said slots; and spring means normally urging said locking bar to a position to enclose said locking arms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
A socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slots are disposed in a plane adjacent to the lower end of said upstanding body; a hinge bar secured to said body defining spaced parallel hinge axes extending transverse to the plane of said slots and disposed at the ends of respective slots; said locking arms comprising elongated members having respective ends hinged at said hinge axes to swing in the plane of said slots to a locking position wherein said arms are disposed in parallel relation within said slots to define the recess opening restriction; said locking means comprising a locking bar mounted on the side of said upstanding body opposite from said hinge bar for rectilinear sliding movement in a plane transverse to the plane of said slots; and said locking bar including recess means for confining the free ends of said locking arms against movement out of said locking position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upstanding body includes means at its upper end for rigidly coupling said body to the drawbar assembly of a trailer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upstanding body is formed from an elongated cylindrical member having a reduced diameter cylindrical boss at the upper end thereof adapted to be received in a tubular upright member of a trailer drawbar assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A trailer hitch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upstanding body is a cylindrical body having an upwardly extending reduced diameter boss; a gooseneck drawbar including an upstanding tubular member and a transverse member attached to the upper end thereof; said socket body boss being received in said tubular member and said body being welded to said tubular member to define a downward extension thereof.
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) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |