Patent US4162798A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3717364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-10-26
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1991-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A trailer hitch for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle. The hitch has a U-shaped frame with arms which straddle and are attached by rotary couplings to the rear vehicle wheels, a stabilizer bracket attached to the trailer hitch tongue, and a stabilizer bar hinged to the rear cross member of the frame in line with a coupling ball on the frame and extending rearwardly through a guide opening in the stabilizer bracket. The stabilizer bar and bracket transfer the trailer tongue load through the hitch frame to the rear vehicle wheels and are movable fore and aft relative to one another in a manner which reduces substantially the loading on the coupling ball and socket when traveling over dips and humps and permits use of the hitch with a trailer having a surge brake. Other advantages of the hitch are its adaptability to trailers and vehicles of a wide range of types and sizes, reduced bounce and sway of the towing vehicle, and reduced pitching of the trailer when passing over dips and humps.
Inventors
- 👤 W Mcclive
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:48
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/48; B60D1/486; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/14; B60D1/167; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A trailer hitch for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a generally U-shaped hitch frame including a pair of arms having front ends for straddling the rear vehicle wheels and a cross member extending between and joining the rear ends of said arms; wheel coupling members rotatably mounted on the front ends of said arms for attachment to said rear wheels; a coupling part at the center of said cross member for attachment to a mating coupling part on the trailer hitch tongue; a stabilizer bar extending rearwardly from the center of and pivotally connected to said cross member to swing laterally of said frame; and a stabilizer bracket including guide mEans providing a guide opening to receive the rear end of said stabilizer bar for longitudinal movement of the bar through said opening, and mounting means for attaching said bracket to said trailer hitch tongue with the axis of the opening extending longitudinally of the trailer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A trailer hitch for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a generally U-shaped hitch frame including a pair of arms having front ends for straddling the rear vehicle wheels and a cross member extending between and joining the rear ends of said arms; wheel coupling members rotatably mounted on the front ends of said arms for attachment to said rear wheels; a coupling part at the center of said cross member for attachment to a mating coupling part on the trailer hitch tongue; a stabilizer bar extending rearwardly from the center of and pivotally connected to said cross member to swing laterally of said frame; and a stabilizer bracket including guide mEans providing a guide opening to receive the rear end of said stabilizer bar for longitudinal movement of the bar through said opening, and mounting means for attaching said bracket to said trailer hitch tongue with the axis of the opening extending longitudinally of the trailer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
A trailer hitch for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a generally U-shaped hitch frame including a pair of arms having front ends for straddling the rear vehicle wheels and a cross member extending between and joining the rear ends of said arms; wheel coupling members rotatably mounted on the front ends of said arms for attachment to said rear wheels; a coupling part at the center of said cross member for attachment to a mating coupling part on the trailer hitch tongue; a stabilizer bar extending rearwardly from the center of and pivotally connected to said cross member to swing laterally of said frame; and a stabilizer bracket including guide mEans providing a guide opening to receive the rear end of said stabilizer bar for longitudinal movement of the bar through said opening, and mounting means for attaching said bracket to said trailer hitch tongue with the axis of the opening extending longitudinally of the trailer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
A trailer hitch for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a generally U-shaped hitch frame including a pair of arms having front ends for straddling the rear vehicle wheels and a cross member extending between and joining the rear ends of said arms; wheel coupling members rotatably mounted on the front ends of said arms for attachment to said rear wheels; a coupling part at the center of said cross member for attachment to a mating coupling part on the trailer hitch tongue; a stabilizer bar extending rearwardly from the center of and pivotally connected to said cross member to swing laterally of said frame; and a stabilizer bracket including guide mEans providing a guide opening to receive the rear end of said stabilizer bar for longitudinal movement of the bar through said opening, and mounting means for attaching said bracket to said trailer hitch tongue with the axis of the opening extending longitudinally of the trailer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 wherein: said frame includes means whereby the spacing between said wheel coupling members may be adjusted to accommodate said hitch to different vehicles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 wherein: said frame is resilient to permit deflection of said arms toward and away from one another to adjust the spacing between said wheel coupling members for accommodating said hitch to different vehicles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 wherein: said cross member includes a hinged joint between its ends, whereby said arms may swing toward and away from one another to adjust the spacing between said wheel coupling members for adapting said hitch to different vehicles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 wherein: said bracket mounting means comprises means for removably attaching said bracket to the trailer hitch tongue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 wherein: said bracket comprises a pair of clamp members for straddling the hitch tongue frame members, and said bracket mounting means comprises means for urging said clamp members together into clamping engagement with said hitch tongue frame members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 wherein: said bracket guide means comprise a pair of vertically spaced rollers for straddling said stabilizer bar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 wherein: said frame includes means whereby the spacing between said wheel coupling members may be adjusted to accommodate said hitch to different vehicles; said bracket guide means comprise a pair of vertically spaced rollers for straddling said stabilizer bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 8 wherein: said bracket comprises a pair of clamp members for straddling the hitch tongue frame members, and said bracket mounting means comprises means for urging said clamp members together into clamping engagement with said hitch tongue frame members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
A vehicle mounted hitch structure for a trailer hitch of the character described comprising: a generally U-shaped hitch frame including a pair of arms having front ends for straddling the rear vehicle wheels and a cross member extending between and joining the rear ends of said arms; wheel coupling members rotatably mounted on the front ends of said arms for attachment to said rear wheels; a coupling part at the center of said cross member for attachment to a mating coupling part on the trailer hitch tongue; a stabilizer bar extending rearwardly from the center of and pivotally connected to said cross member to swing laterally of said frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
A vehicle mounted hitch structure for a trailer hitch of the character described comprising: a generally U-shaped hitch frame including a pair of arms having front ends for straddling the rear vehicle wheels and a cross member extending between and joining the rear ends of said arms; wheel coupling members rotatably mounted on the front ends of said arms for attachment to said rear wheels; a coupling part at the center of said cross member for attachment to a mating coupling part on the trailer hitch tongue; a stabilizer bar extending rearwardly from the center of and pivotally connected to said cross member to swing laterally of said frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hitch structure according to claim 10 wherein: said frame includes means whereby the spacing between said wheel coupling members may be adjusted to accommodate said hitch to different vehicles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A hitch structure according to claim 10 wherein: said frame is resilient to permit deflection of said arms toward and away from one another to adjust the spacing between said wheel coupling members for accommodating said hitch to different vehicles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A hitch structure according to claim 10 wherein: said cross member includes a hinged joint between its ends, whereby said arms may swing toward and away from one another to adjust the spacing between said wheel coupling members for adapting said hitch to different vehicles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A trailer mounted stabilizer bracket structure for a trailer hitch of the character described, comprising: an elongate bracket to span the frame members of a trailer hitch tongue; mounting means for attaching said bracket to said frame members; and guide means providing a guide opening extending transversely Of said bracket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A trailer mounted stabilizer bracket structure for a trailer hitch of the character described, comprising: an elongate bracket to span the frame members of a trailer hitch tongue; mounting means for attaching said bracket to said frame members; and guide means providing a guide opening extending transversely Of said bracket.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A stabilizer bracket according to claim 14 wherein: said bracket mounting means comprises means for removably attaching said bracket to the trailer hitch tongue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A stabilizer bracket according to claim 14 wherein: said bracket comprises a pair of clamp members for straddling the hitch tongue frame members, and said bracket mounting means comprises means for urging said clamp members together into clamping engagement with said hitch tongue frame members.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |