US3677564A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety trailer hitch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-27
•
Granted: 1972-07-18
•
Expires: 1990-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A safety trailer hitch in which a yoke is secured to the tow bar of the trailer and to the hitch of the towing vehicle to prevent the trailer from becoming disconnected should the socket portion on the trailer become detached from the ball. The yoke may be easily disconnected from the trailer hitch when disconnecting the trailer from the towing vehicle. In a modified form of the invention a finger on the trailer hitch is arranged to be swung into a position overlying the socket to prevent the socket from detaching from the ball. When disconnecting the trailer the finger is swung out of the way to permit the socket to be lifted off of the ball.
Inventors
- 👤 Gilbert C Kothmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/58; B60D1/583; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/065; B60D1/24; B60D1/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A trailer safety coupler of the type which includes a ball rigidly secured to a hitch to a towing vehicle and a socket rigidly secured to a tongue on the trailing vehicle and adapted for releasable pivotal connection to the ball comprising a yoke having a pair of spaced apart arms secured to said tongue for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis, a connector housing secured to said hitch for pivotal movement about the vertical axis of said ball, means on the ends of said yoke arms cooperating with means on said connector housing for releasably securing said yoke to said housing for pivotal movement about a transverse axis extending through the center of said ball.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A trailer safety coupler of the type which includes a ball rigidly secured to a hitch to a towing vehicle and a socket rigidly secured to a tongue on the trailing vehicle and adapted for releasable pivotal connection to the ball comprising a yoke having a pair of spaced apart arms secured to said tongue for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis, a connector housing secured to said hitch for pivotal movement about the vertical axis of said ball, means on the ends of said yoke arms cooperating with means on said connector housing for releasably securing said yoke to said housing for pivotal movement about a transverse axis extending through the center of said ball.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means on said connector for releasably securing said yoke to said hitch includes a pair of slots formed in opposite sides of said housing with the means on said yoke arms extending into said slots for securing said yoke to said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yoke is releasably secured to said tongue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yoke is secured to said tongue for pivotal movement about a longitudinal and about a transverse axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided on said yoke retaining means for releasably locking said yoke therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2139970A
Cited
US2650101A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |