Patent US3770298A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3770298A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch anti-breakway device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-06-23
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1991-06-23
Abstract
Abstract An anti-breakaway device for preventing the inadvertent vertical separation of a ball and socket type trailer hitch, having a downwardly opening ball receiving socket, and a draft ball attached to a draft vehicle and received in the socket, the device including interconnected locking plates which overlie portions of the hitch and underlie portions of the draft ball to restrict relative vertical movement of the ball and the socket.
Inventors
- 👤 F Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/28; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An anti-breakaway device for preventing the inadvertent separation of a trailer hitch, having an open bottom, ball receiving socket and a flange extending laterally of said socket and a ball attached to an upstanding, reduced diameter stem portion on the tow bar of a draft vehicle and received in said socket, said device comprising: plate means including an elongated, rearwardly opening notch, for receiving said stem portion, said notch being of a width less than the diameter of said ball to permit said plate means to move between a removed position and an operative position in which a portion of said plate means underlies a portion of said ball; a marginal track, connected to said plate means, having a portion over-lying said flange, when said plate means is in said operative position, to restrict, with said plate means, relative ver-tical movement of said ball and said socket; and means for selectively preventing forward movement of said plate means from said operative position to said removed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An anti-breakaway device for preventing the inadvertent separation of a trailer hitch, having an open bottom, ball receiving socket and a flange extending laterally of said socket and a ball attached to an upstanding, reduced diameter stem portion on the tow bar of a draft vehicle and received in said socket, said device comprising: plate means including an elongated, rearwardly opening notch, for receiving said stem portion, said notch being of a width less than the diameter of said ball to permit said plate means to move between a removed position and an operative position in which a portion of said plate means underlies a portion of said ball; a marginal track, connected to said plate means, having a portion over-lying said flange, when said plate means is in said operative position, to restrict, with said plate means, relative ver-tical movement of said ball and said socket; and means for selectively preventing forward movement of said plate means from said operative position to said removed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The anti-breakaway device of claim 1 wherein said overlying portion comprises an upper plate vertically spaced above said plate means and including a rearwardly opening notch of a width substantially greater than said first mentioned notch for receiving portions of said trailer hitch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The anti-breakaway device of claim 1 wherein said means for preventing forward movement of said plate means includes a bar fixed to said anti-breakaway device and means for releasably locking said bar to said trailer hitch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
An anti-breakaway device for preventing the inadvertent separation of a trailer hitch, having an open bottom, ball receiving socket and a flange extending laterally of said socket, and a ball attached to the tow bar of a draft vehicle and received in said socket, said device comprising: a plate, including a rearwardly opening, openended slot to permit said plate to be rearwardly moved between a removed position and an operative position in which a portion of said plate adjoining said slot will underlie a portion of said ball; lock means connected to said plate and having a portion for overlying said flange, when said plate is in said operative position, to restrict, with said plate, relative vertical movement of said ball and said socket; and means for removably securing said plate in said operative position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
An anti-breakaway device for preventing the inadvertent separation of a trailer hitch, having an open bottom, ball receiving socket and a flange extending laterally of said socket, and a ball attached to the tow bar of a draft vehicle and received in said socket, said device comprising: a plate, including a rearwardly opening, openended slot to permit said plate to be rearwardly moved between a removed position and an operative position in which a portion of said plate adjoining said slot will underlie a portion of said ball; lock means connected to said plate and having a portion for overlying said flange, when said plate is in said operative position, to restrict, with said plate, relative vertical movement of said ball and said socket; and means for removably securing said plate in said operative position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
An anti-breakaway device for preventing the inadvertent separation of a trailer hitch, having an open bottom, ball receiving socket and a laterally extending flange adjacent said socket, and an upstanding ball attached to the tow bar of a draft vehicle and received in said socket, said device comprising: marginal lock means, generally U-shaped in plan, having a portion movable between a remote position anD a locking position overlying said flange; means connected to said lock means having a laterally inwardly extending portion vertically spaced from said marginal lock means, underlying a portion of said ball when said lock means is in said operative position for restricting, with said lock means relative vertical movement of said ball and said socket; and means for preventing forward movement of said marginal lock means from a position underlying said ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
An anti-breakaway device for preventing the inadvertent separation of a trailer hitch, having an open bottom, ball receiving socket and a laterally extending flange adjacent said socket, and an upstanding ball attached to the tow bar of a draft vehicle and received in said socket, said device comprising: marginal lock means, generally U-shaped in plan, having a portion movable between a remote position anD a locking position overlying said flange; means connected to said lock means having a laterally inwardly extending portion vertically spaced from said marginal lock means, underlying a portion of said ball when said lock means is in said operative position for restricting, with said lock means relative vertical movement of said ball and said socket; and means for preventing forward movement of said marginal lock means from a position underlying said ball.
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) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |