Patent US3765703A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3765703A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch guiding device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-14
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of coupling a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle utilizing a hitch having a hitch ball that is secured to the rear of the towing vehicle and a tongue having a socket that is secured to the front of the towed vehicle. The tongue is movable in a path transverse to its longitudinal center line. The backing up of the towing vehicle causes a guide member on the hitch to engage the tongue and move the tongue in the transverse path until the socket is above the hitch ball, after which the tongue is lowered to lower the socket onto the hitch ball. A hitch assembly, usable in the method, includes the guide member located upwardly of the hitch ball and mounted to the hitch having a bight located forwardly of the hitch ball and legs that diverge rearwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the hitch ball. Sight rods having indicator balls mounted to their tops are mounted to the rear ends of the guide member legs, and the guide member is mounted to the hitch for heightwise adjustment.
Inventors
- 👤 M Voelkerding
- 👤 J Voelkerding
- 👤 F Voelkerding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:25
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A hitch assembly, adapted to be secured to the rear of a towing vehicle and to be coupled to a socket of a tongue that is secured to the front of a towed vehicle to thereby couple the towing and towed vehicles, comprising: a hitch; a hitch ball on the hitch; a guide member located upwardly of the hitch ball having a bight located forwardly of the hitch ball and legs that diverge rearwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the hitch ball; and means mounting the guide member to the hitch for heightwise adjustment with respect to the hitch ball to thereby enable the guide member to be placed at an elevation that is in intersecting relationship with the tongue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A hitch assembly, adapted to be secured to the rear of a towing vehicle and to be coupled to a socket of a tongue that is secured to the front of a towed vehicle to thereby couple the towing and towed vehicles, comprising: a hitch; a hitch ball on the hitch; a guide member located upwardly of the hitch ball having a bight located forwardly of the hitch ball and legs that diverge rearwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the hitch ball; and means mounting the guide member to the hitch for heightwise adjustment with respect to the hitch ball to thereby enable the guide member to be placed at an elevation that is in intersecting relationship with the tongue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The hitch assembly of claim 1 wherein said means mounting the guide member to the hitch comprises: at least one heightwise extending sleeve secured to the hitch; a shaft secured to the guide member that is received in the sleeve; and a collar adjustably mounted to the shaft and bearing against the top of the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The hitch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a guide member indicator secured to and extending upwardly from the rear end of each of said legs and a guide member indicator secured to and extending upwardly from said socket on said tongue to assist a driver in aligning said socket with said tongue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The hitch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a follower member secured to and depending from said tongue and a track member on which said follower member rests, said track member being disposed transversely of said tongue to permit said tongue to move in a transverse path during coupling movement of said socket and said ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
222 words
A hitch assembly, adapted to be secured to the rear of a towing vehicle and to be coupled to a socket of a tongue that is secured to the front of a towed vehicle to thereby couple the towing and towed vehicle comprising: a hitch; a hitch ball on the hitch; a guide member located upwardly of the hitch ball having a bight located forwardly of the hitch ball and legs that diverge rearwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the hitch ball; and means mounting the guide member to the hitch for heightwise adjustment with respect to the hitch ball; whereby the towing vehicle may be placed in such a position that the hitch and the tongue face each other with the hitch ball and the tongue in approximate registry and with the guide member and the tongue in intersecting relationship, the towing vehicle may then be backed up so that the tongue is initially engaged by the guide member between the rearwardmost extremities of said legs and then seats itself against said bight in a position wherein the socket is above the hitch ball with the tongue moving in a path transverse to its longitudinal center line between said initial engagement and said seating, and the tongue may then be lowered to lower the socket onto the hitch ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
222 words
A hitch assembly, adapted to be secured to the rear of a towing vehicle and to be coupled to a socket of a tongue that is secured to the front of a towed vehicle to thereby couple the towing and towed vehicle comprising: a hitch; a hitch ball on the hitch; a guide member located upwardly of the hitch ball having a bight located forwardly of the hitch ball and legs that diverge rearwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the hitch ball; and means mounting the guide member to the hitch for heightwise adjustment with respect to the hitch ball; whereby the towing vehicle may be placed in such a position that the hitch and the tongue face each other with the hitch ball and the tongue in approximate registry and with the guide member and the tongue in intersecting relationship, the towing vehicle may then be backed up so that the tongue is initially engaged by the guide member between the rearwardmost extremities of said legs and then seats itself against said bight in a position wherein the socket is above the hitch ball with the tongue moving in a path transverse to its longitudinal center line between said initial engagement and said seating, and the tongue may then be lowered to lower the socket onto the hitch ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The hitch assembly of claim 5 wherein said means mounting the guide member to the hitch comprises: at least one heightwise extending sleeve secured to the hitch; a shaft secured to the guide member that is received in the sleeve; and a collar adjustably mounted to the shaft and bearing against the top of the sleeve.
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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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |