US3692332A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle drawn trailer system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-22
•
Granted: 1972-09-19
•
Expires: 1990-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle/trailer system wherein the shape of a trailer and the position at which the trailer is connected to a powered vehicle cooperate to allow unrestricted horizontal pivotal movement of the vehicle relative to the trailer when the two are connected together. A rigid hitch means, including a spherical member cooperable with a socket member, connectable to the roof portion of the vehicle along each side thereof is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Angel Betancourt Pappatheodoru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/48; B60D1/488; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
Apparatus comprising: a. a powered vehicle; b. a trailer; c. hitch means connected to said vehicle for providing a substantially vertical pivot axis on said vehicle approximately midway between the forwardmost extending and the rearwardmost extending portions of said vehicle, said hitch means including: 1. two substantially coextensive elongated members; 2. transverse members connected at both ends of said elongated members between the adjacent ends thereof; 3. said transverse members each having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the axes of the apertures being substantially perpendicular to a plane tangent to both of said elongated members; 4. a substantially flat plate extending between said elongated members and connected thereto approximately midway between said transverse members; and 5. a generally spherical member connected to said plate and extending outwardly therefrom approximately perpendicular to said plane; d. connecting means carried by said trailer for engaging said hitch means, said connecting means cooperating with said hitch means to permit pivotAl movement between said vehicle and said trailer about said pivot axis in a horizontal plane; and e. said trailer including vehicle receiving means shaped to allow unrestricted pivotal movement between said vehicle and said trailer in the horizontal plane while said hitch means is engaged by said connecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus comprising: a. a powered vehicle; b. a trailer; c. hitch means connected to said vehicle for providing a substantially vertical pivot axis on said vehicle approximately midway between the forwardmost extending and the rearwardmost extending portions of said vehicle, said hitch means including: 1. two substantially coextensive elongated members; 2. transverse members connected at both ends of said elongated members between the adjacent ends thereof; 3. said transverse members each having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the axes of the apertures being substantially perpendicular to a plane tangent to both of said elongated members; 4. a substantially flat plate extending between said elongated members and connected thereto approximately midway between said transverse members; and 5. a generally spherical member connected to said plate and extending outwardly therefrom approximately perpendicular to said plane; d. connecting means carried by said trailer for engaging said hitch means, said connecting means cooperating with said hitch means to permit pivotAl movement between said vehicle and said trailer about said pivot axis in a horizontal plane; and e. said trailer including vehicle receiving means shaped to allow unrestricted pivotal movement between said vehicle and said trailer in the horizontal plane while said hitch means is engaged by said connecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
transverse members connected at both ends of said elongated members between the adjacent ends thereof;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
transverse members connected at both ends of said elongated members between the adjacent ends thereof;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle receiving means comprises a generally curved, forwardly and upwardly extending trailer portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
a substantially flat, spherical member support plate portion rigidly carried by said support frame portion generally centrally thereof and in a generally horizontal attitude, said spherical member being connected to the upper surface of said support plate portion generally centrally thereof and extending outwardly from said support plate portion generally perpendicularly thereto; and,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
a substantially flat, spherical member support plate portion rigidly carried by said support frame portion generally centrally thereof and in a generally horizontal attitude, said spherical member being connected to the upper surface of said support plate portion generally centrally thereof and extending outwardly from said support plate portion generally perpendicularly thereto; and,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
the contoured portion of said trailer being shaped to allow at least a portion of said vehicle to pass under the enclosed space as said vehicle is pivoted relative to said trailer in a horizontal plane, said vehicle thereby being pivoted through 360* in a horizontal place relative to said trailer while connected thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
the contoured portion of said trailer being shaped to allow at least a portion of said vehicle to pass under the enclosed space as said vehicle is pivoted relative to said trailer in a horizontal plane, said vehicle thereby being pivoted through 360* in a horizontal place relative to said trailer while connected thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
a rigid support frame portion extending transversely of the roof portion of said vehicle said support frame portion defining a lower surface generally conforming to the curvature of the roof portion of said vehicle;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
a rigid support frame portion extending transversely of the roof portion of said vehicle said support frame portion defining a lower surface generally conforming to the curvature of the roof portion of said vehicle;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
the contoured portion of said trailer being shaped to allow at least a portion of said vehicle to pass under the enclosed space as said vehicle is pivoted relative to said trailer in a horizontal plane, said vehicle being pivoted through 360* in a horizontal place relative to said trailer while connected thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
the contoured portion of said trailer being shaped to allow at least a portion of said vehicle to pass under the enclosed space as said vehicle is pivoted relative to said trailer in a horizontal plane, said vehicle being pivoted through 360* in a horizontal place relative to said trailer while connected thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
a substantially flat support plate portion rigidly carried by said support frame portion generally centrally thereof and in a generally horizontal attitude, said spherical member being connected to the upper surface of said support plate portion generally centrally thereof and extending upwardly therefrom;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
a substantially flat support plate portion rigidly carried by said support frame portion generally centrally thereof and in a generally horizontal attitude, said spherical member being connected to the upper surface of said support plate portion generally centrally thereof and extending upwardly therefrom;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
connecting means disposed adjacent the corners of said support frame portion for securely connecting said support frame portion to both sides of the roof portion of said vehicle at two positions spaced along each side of the roof portion; and, d. a socket member carried by said trailer adjacent the outwardmost extension of the contoured portion thereof,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
connecting means disposed adjacent the corners of said support frame portion for securely connecting said support frame portion to both sides of the roof portion of said vehicle at two positions spaced along each side of the roof portion; and, d. a socket member carried by said trailer adjacent the outwardmost extension of the contoured portion thereof,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hitch means comprises a generally spherical member carried by a support frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
said transverse members each having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the axes of the apertures being substantially perpendicular to a plane tangent to both of said elongated members;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
said transverse members each having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the axes of the apertures being substantially perpendicular to a plane tangent to both of said elongated members;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
a substantially flat plate extending between said elongated members and connected thereto approximately midway between said transverse members; and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
a substantially flat plate extending between said elongated members and connected thereto approximately midway between said transverse members; and
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a socket adapted to engage said spherical member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
elongated connecting portions extending along each side of the roof portion of said vehicle generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said connecting portions having apertures therethrough at at least positions spaced therealong;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
elongated connecting portions extending along each side of the roof portion of said vehicle generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said connecting portions having apertures therethrough at at least positions spaced therealong;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
threaded fastener means cooperable with said apertures for securelY fastening said hitch means to the roof portion of said vehicle at at least two spaced positions along each side of the roof portion; and, d. a socket member carried by said trailer adjacent the outwardmost extension of the contoured portion thereof,
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
threaded fastener means cooperable with said apertures for securelY fastening said hitch means to the roof portion of said vehicle at at least two spaced positions along each side of the roof portion; and, d. a socket member carried by said trailer adjacent the outwardmost extension of the contoured portion thereof,
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus comprising: a. a powered vehicle having a roof portion; b. a trailer having a generally horizontal bottom surface and a contoured portion defining an enclosed space extending outwardly and upwardly from said bottom surface, said enclosed space overlying at least a portion of the roof portion of said vehicle; c. a generally spherical member carried by hitch means extending transversely of the roof portion of said vehicle, said hitch means including:
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus comprising: a. a powered vehicle having a roof portion; b. a trailer having a generally horizontal bottom surface and a contoured portion defining an enclosed space extending outwardly and upwardly from said bottom surface, said enclosed space overlying at least a portion of the roof portion of said vehicle; c. a generally spherical member carried by hitch means extending transversely of the roof portion of said vehicle, said hitch means including:
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
89 words
a generally spherical member connected to said plate and extending outwardly therefrom approximately perpendicular to said plane; d. connecting means carried by said trailer for engaging said hitch means, said connecting means cooperating with said hitch means to permit pivotAl movement between said vehicle and said trailer about said pivot axis in a horizontal plane; and e. said trailer including vehicle receiving means shaped to allow unrestricted pivotal movement between said vehicle and said trailer in the horizontal plane while said hitch means is engaged by said connecting means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
89 words
a generally spherical member connected to said plate and extending outwardly therefrom approximately perpendicular to said plane; d. connecting means carried by said trailer for engaging said hitch means, said connecting means cooperating with said hitch means to permit pivotAl movement between said vehicle and said trailer about said pivot axis in a horizontal plane; and e. said trailer including vehicle receiving means shaped to allow unrestricted pivotal movement between said vehicle and said trailer in the horizontal plane while said hitch means is engaged by said connecting means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus comprising: a. a powered vehicle having a roof portion; b. a trailer having a generally horizontal bottom surface and a contoured portion defining an enclosed space extending outwardly and upwardly from said bottom surface, said enclosed space overlying at least a portion of the roof portion of said vehicle; c. hitch means including:
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus comprising: a. a powered vehicle having a roof portion; b. a trailer having a generally horizontal bottom surface and a contoured portion defining an enclosed space extending outwardly and upwardly from said bottom surface, said enclosed space overlying at least a portion of the roof portion of said vehicle; c. hitch means including:
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) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |