Removable trailer hitch

Claim 2

A detachable hitch apparatus for towing a trailer comprising: a. a transverse, horizontally disposed elongate beam having, in operating position, a vertical portion connected to a rearward extending horizontal portion, the horizontal portion including an up-bent, hook-shaped portion extending lengthwise along a substantial length of the elongate beam; b. means for securing the elongate beam in horizontal position to a rearward-opening channel beam of a trailer disposed with the central web of the channel beam in a vertical plane; and c. means for securing the elongate beam to a towing vehicle.

Claim 3

A detachable hitch apparatus for towing a trailer comprising: a. a transverse, horizontally disposed elongate beam having, in operating position, a vertical portion connected to a rearward extending horizontal portion, the horizontal portion including an up-bent, hook-shaped portion extending lengthwise along a substantial length of the elongate beam; b. means for securing the elongate beam in horizontal position to a rearward-opening channel beam of a trailer disposed with the central web of the channel beam in a vertical plane; and c. means for securing the elongate beam to a towing vehicle.

Claim 4

A detachable hitch apparatus for towing a trailer comprising: a. a transverse, horizontally disposed elongate beam having, in operating position, a vertical portion connected to a rearward extending horizontal portion, the horizontal portion including an up-bent, hook-shaped portion extending lengthwise along a substantial length of the elongate beam; b. means for securing the elongate beam in horizontal position to a rearward-opening channel beam of a trailer disposed with the central web of the channel beam in a vertical plane; and c. means for securing the elongate beam to a towing vehicle.

Claim 5

The detachable trailer hitch apparatus of claim 1, in which the towing vehicle securing means comprises: a. two generally forward pointing, horizontal, rigid members attached to the elongate beam near the ends thereof, the ends of which meet to form a vertex and are secured rigidly to each other at the vertex; and b. a coach hitch affixed to the two forward pointing members near the vertex thereof.

Claim 6

The detachable trailer hitch apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a rearward-opening trailer channel beam which trailer channel beam comprises a central vertical web and upper and lower horizontal side webs, in which the trailer hitch is secured to the trailer channel beam in such a manner that the hook-shaped portion of the trailer hitch is in hooking relationship with the lower side web of the trailer channel, beam, and the vertical portion of the elongate beam of the trailer hitch abuts the vertical central web of the trailer channel beam, so that a stabilizing couple, which counteracts a rotational moment due to the trailer weight, is exerted on the elongate beam of the trailer hitch at the following locations: a. a rearwardly directed force against the inside of the hook-shaped portion, distributed uniformly over the entire transverse horizontal line of contact between the inner hook surface and the rear vertical surface of the lower side web of the trailer channel beam; and b. a forwardly directed force against the rear of the top edge of the elongate beam, distributed uniformly along the entire transverse line of contact between the top edge of the elongate beam and the front surface of the trailer channel beam.

Claim 7

A detachable hitch apparatus for towing a trailer comprising a transverse channel beam which further comprises a central vertical web and upper and lower horizontal side webs opening rearward, which detachable hitch apparatus comprises: a. a first portion which abuts the central web over a substantial portion thereof so as to transmit compression forces thereto in a uniformly distributed manner; and b. a second portion which interlocks with the lower side web of the trailer channel beam over a substantial portion thereof so as to transmit tension forces thereto in a uniformly distributed manner.

Claim 8

A detachable hitch apparatus for towing a trailer comprising a transverse channel beam which further comprises a central vertical web and upper and lower horizontal side webs opening rearward, which detachable hitch apparatus comprises: a. a first portion which abuts the central web over a substantial portion thereof so as to transmit compression forces thereto in a uniformly distributed manner; and b. a second portion which interlocks with the lower side web of the trailer channel beam over a substantial portion thereof so as to transmit tension forces thereto in a uniformly distributed manner.

Claim 9

The detachable trailer hitch apparatus of claim 4, in which the first portion comprises a transverse, horizontally disposed, elongate beam.

Claim 10

The detachable trailer hitch apparatus of claim 5, in which the second portion comprises a transverse, lengthwise extending hooked element.

Claim 11

A detachable hitch for towing a trailer comprising a transverse channel beam which further comprises a central vertical web and upper and lower horizontal side webs opening rearward, and which hitch comprises a first portion which abuts the central web of the trailer channel beam over a substantial portion thereof and a second portion which interlocks with the lower side web of the trailer channel beam over a substantial portion thereof, so as to distribute over a substantial portion of the length of the trailer Channel beam all forces of a stabilizing couple, the stabilizing couple being that couple which counteracts the rotational moment exerted on the trailer hitch apparatus due to the weight of the trailer, which forces of the stabilizing couple are present during normal operating conditions.

Claim 12

A detachable hitch for towing a trailer comprising a transverse channel beam which further comprises a central vertical web and upper and lower horizontal side webs opening rearward, and which hitch comprises a first portion which abuts the central web of the trailer channel beam over a substantial portion thereof and a second portion which interlocks with the lower side web of the trailer channel beam over a substantial portion thereof, so as to distribute over a substantial portion of the length of the trailer Channel beam all forces of a stabilizing couple, the stabilizing couple being that couple which counteracts the rotational moment exerted on the trailer hitch apparatus due to the weight of the trailer, which forces of the stabilizing couple are present during normal operating conditions.

Claim 13

A detachable hitch for towing a trailer comprising a transverse channel beam which further comprises a central vertical web and upper and lower horizontal side webs opening rearward, and which hitch comprises: a. am elongate beam, a vertical portion of which abuts the transverse channel beam; b. an up-bent hook-shaped portion, the concave section of which opens in a forward direction relative to the direction of travel, and which extends lengthwise over a substantial portion of the elongate beams and is attached thereto; c. a bolt which extends through corresponding holes in the transverse channel beam and the vertical portion of the elongate beam; and d. a nut for securing the elongate beam into abutting relationship with the transverse channel beam.

Claim 14

A detachable hitch for towing a trailer comprising a transverse channel beam which further comprises a central vertical web and upper and lower horizontal side webs opening rearward, and which hitch comprises: a. am elongate beam, a vertical portion of which abuts the transverse channel beam; b. an up-bent hook-shaped portion, the concave section of which opens in a forward direction relative to the direction of travel, and which extends lengthwise over a substantial portion of the elongate beams and is attached thereto; c. a bolt which extends through corresponding holes in the transverse channel beam and the vertical portion of the elongate beam; and d. a nut for securing the elongate beam into abutting relationship with the transverse channel beam.

Claim 15

A detachable hitch for towing a trailer comprised of a rearward-opening transverse channel beam, said channel beam further comprising a vertically disposed central web and upper and lower horizontal side webs, and said trailer hitch comprising an elongate beam, a vertical portion of which abuts the transverse channel beam, and an up-bent hook-shaped portion, the concave section of which opens in a forward direction relative to the direction of travel, and which extends lengthwise over a substantial portion of the elongate beam and is attached thereto, in which trailer hitch all tension forces required to counterbalance the rotational moment exerted on the trailer hitch apparatus due to the trailer weight are distributed over a substantial length of the transverse channel beam.

Claim 16

A detachable hitch for towing a trailer comprised of a rearward-opening transverse channel beam, said channel beam further comprising a vertically disposed central web and upper and lower horizontal side webs, and said trailer hitch comprising an elongate beam, a vertical portion of which abuts the transverse channel beam, and an up-bent hook-shaped portion, the concave section of which opens in a forward direction relative to the direction of travel, and which extends lengthwise over a substantial portion of the elongate beam and is attached thereto, in which trailer hitch all tension forces required to counterbalance the rotational moment exerted on the trailer hitch apparatus due to the trailer weight are distributed over a substantial length of the transverse channel beam.