Patent US3708183A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3708183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-11
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Granted: 1973-01-02
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Expires: 1990-12-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved hitch for connecting a trailer, such as a large mobile home, to a towing vehicle is provided which includes a connector joint attached to a resiliently mounted drawbar adapted to move only in a substantial vertical plane. The resiliently mounted drawbar is carried by a frame which is adapted for immovable attachment to the rear of a towing vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 M Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:34
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/48; B60D1/50; B60D1/24; B60D1/42; B60D1/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A hitch for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle comprising: a. a frame means adapted to be immovably attached to a towing vehicle which includes a pair of tubular side members vertically disposed in a spaced parallel relation, a pair of horizontal support members, each rigidly connected at their end portions to the upper and lower portions of said pair of tubular side members, said tubular side members having opposed, longitudinal slots therethrough; b. a drawbar member disposed in said frame between said tubular side members and having end sections extending through said slots of said tubular side members, thereby allowing said drawbar member to be slidably positioned in said slots between said horizontal support members; c. compression spring members engaging said end sections within said tubular side members to thereby resist vertical movement of said drawbar member in said frame; and d. a connector joint for joining a trailer to a towing vehicle, said connector joint operatively connected to said drawbar member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A hitch for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle comprising: a. a frame means adapted to be immovably attached to a towing vehicle which includes a pair of tubular side members vertically disposed in a spaced parallel relation, a pair of horizontal support members, each rigidly connected at their end portions to the upper and lower portions of said pair of tubular side members, said tubular side members having opposed, longitudinal slots therethrough; b. a drawbar member disposed in said frame between said tubular side members and having end sections extending through said slots of said tubular side members, thereby allowing said drawbar member to be slidably positioned in said slots between said horizontal support members; c. compression spring members engaging said end sections within said tubular side members to thereby resist vertical movement of said drawbar member in said frame; and d. a connector joint for joining a trailer to a towing vehicle, said connector joint operatively connected to said drawbar member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hitch of claim 1, wherein said connector joint is adjustably mounted on said drawbar member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The hitch of claim 2, wherein said drawbar member comprises a pair of horizontal elements held in fixed spaced relationship by a vertical support member and wherein said end sections are carried on the ends of each of said horizontal elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hitch of claim 3 wherein said connector joint is operatively connected to said vertical support member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hitch of claim 4, wherein said connector joint is movably connected to said vertical support member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The hitch of claim 5 wherein said connector joint is attached to a slide plate carrying a locking aperture therethrough, and said slide plate is slidably mounted within locking recesses on said vertical support member, and said vertical support member carries a series of vertically spaced apertures therethrough positioned to register with said locking aperture in said slide plate when positioned in alignment therewith, and locking pin means adapted to lock in said apertures to thereby hold said sliding plate in a fixed position on said vertical support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The hitch of claim 5, wherein a spring support plate is positioned in each of said tubular side members between the end sections of said pair of horizontal elements, and said compression springs positioned in said tubular side members rest against both the upper and lower sides of each of said end sections to resist vertical movement thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
The hitch of claim 7, wherein compression springs are positioned within each of said tubular side members between the lower end of a tubular side member and the lower portion of the end section of the lower horizontal element of said drawbar member, between the upper portion of the end section of the lower horizontal element of said drawbar member and a support plate, between the lower portion of the end section of the upper horizontal element of said drawbar member and a support plate, and between the top portion of the end section of the upper horizontal element of said drawbar member and the upper end of a tubular side member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hitch of claim 8, wherein each of said compression springs are coil springs and the open ends thereof rest over tubular seating sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
The combination of a towing vehicle and a hitch for connecting a trailer to said towing vehicle wherein said hitch comprises: a. a pair of tubular side members vertically disposed in a spaced parallel relation and immovably attached to the rear of said towing vehicle, said tubular side members having opposed, longitudinal slots therethrough; b. a drawbar member disposed in said frame between said tubular side members and having end sections extending through said slots of said tubular side members, thereby allowing said drawbar to be slidably positioned in said slots between said horizontal support member; c. compression spring members engaging said end sections within said tubular side members to thereby resist vertical movement of said drawbar members in said frame; and d. a connector joint for joining a trailer to a towing vehicle, said connector joint operatively connected to said drawbar member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
The combination of a towing vehicle and a hitch for connecting a trailer to said towing vehicle wherein said hitch comprises: a. a pair of tubular side members vertically disposed in a spaced parallel relation and immovably attached to the rear of said towing vehicle, said tubular side members having opposed, longitudinal slots therethrough; b. a drawbar member disposed in said frame between said tubular side members and having end sections extending through said slots of said tubular side members, thereby allowing said drawbar to be slidably positioned in said slots between said horizontal support member; c. compression spring members engaging said end sections within said tubular side members to thereby resist vertical movement of said drawbar members in said frame; and d. a connector joint for joining a trailer to a towing vehicle, said connector joint operatively connected to said drawbar member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said connector joint is adjustably mounted on said drawbar member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein said drawbar member comprises a pair of horizontal elements held in fixed spaced relationship by a vertical support member and wherein said end sections are carried on the ends of each of said horizontal elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said connector joint is operatively connected to said vertical support member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 13, wherein said connector joint is movably connected to said vertical support member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
The combination of claim 14, wherein said connector joint is attached to a slide plate carrying a locking aperture therethrough, and said slide plate is slidably mounted within locking recesses on said vertical support member, and said vertical support member carries a series of vertically spaced apertures therethrough positioned to register with said locking aperture in said slide plate when positioned in alignment therewith, and locking pin means adapted to lock in said apertures to thereby hold said sliding plate in a fixed position on said vertical support member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination of claim 14, wherein a spring support plate is positioned in each of said tubular side members between the end sections of said pair of horizontal elements, and said compression springs positioned in said tubular side members rest against both the upper and lower sides of each of said end sections to resist vertical movement thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
The combination of claim 16 wherein compression springs are positioned within each of said tubular side members between the lower end of a tubular side member and the lower portion of the end section of the lower horizontal element of said drawbar member, between the upper portion of the end section of the lower horizontal element of said drawbar member and a support plate, between the lower portion of the end section of the upper horizontal element of said drawbar member and a support plate, and between the top portion of the end section of the upper horizontal element of said drawbar member and the upper end of a tubular side member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 17, wherein each of said compression springs are coil springs and the open ends thereof rest over tubular seating sections.
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) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |