Patent US3779582A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3779582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sway control unit
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-11-26
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1991-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A sway control unit to be linked between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle and arranged to provide a uniform rotary frictional resistance to lateral weaving or swaying of the towed vehicle with respect to the towing vehicle, without adversely affecting free vertical or necessary horizontal angular displacement of the vehicles relative to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 E Hedgepeth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:42
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/24; B60D1/30; B60D1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A sway control unit for connection between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle comprising a retarder unit adapted to be fixed to one of said vehicles and including a brake pad member, a pinion gear having means thereon providing a brake plate member engaging the brake pad member, means supporting said brake pad and brake plate members, a shaft means coupling the brake plate member and brake pad member together about a common vertical central axis; a rigid link; means for universally coupling one end of said link to the other vehicle; a rack on said link arranged to be in meshing engagement with teeth of said pinion gear; and means holding said rack in meshing engagement with and pivotable about said pinion gear teeth when said rigid link is moved in response to a changing horizontal angular displacement of one vehicle with the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A sway control unit for connection between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle comprising a retarder unit adapted to be fixed to one of said vehicles and including a brake pad member, a pinion gear having means thereon providing a brake plate member engaging the brake pad member, means supporting said brake pad and brake plate members, a shaft means coupling the brake plate member and brake pad member together about a common vertical central axis; a rigid link; means for universally coupling one end of said link to the other vehicle; a rack on said link arranged to be in meshing engagement with teeth of said pinion gear; and means holding said rack in meshing engagement with and pivotable about said pinion gear teeth when said rigid link is moved in response to a changing horizontal angular displacement of one vehicle with the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A sway control unit for connection between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the means supporting said brake pad and brake plate members comprises a support plate having an irregular surface thereon such that the compressing of the brake pad between the brake plate member and support plate tends to force the pad into said irregularities in said support member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A sway control unit for connection between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle as recited in claim 2, further including adjustable clamping means for clamping the brake pad between the brake plate and the support plate said adjustable clamping means comprising a threaded shaft extending through the support plate, pad and brake plate, a thrust bearing on the brake plate, and a nut threaded onto said shaft against said thrust bearing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sway control unit for connection bbtween a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the rack arrangement comprises a straight section of roller chain stretched and fixed to the rigid link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
A sway control unit for connection between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle comprising a retarder unit adapted to be fixed to one of said vehicles and including a brake pad member, a pinion gear having means thereon providing a brake plate member engaging the brake pad member, means supporting said brake pad and brake plate-members, a shaft means coupling the brake plate member and brake pad member together about a common central axis; a rigid link; means for universally coupling one end of said link to the other vehicle; a rack on said link arranged to be in meshing engagement with teeth of said pinion gear; and means holding said rack in meshing engagement with said pinion gear teeth when said rigid link is moved in response to a changing horizontal angular displacement of one vehicle with the other, said means including a roller mounted to engage and maintain the rigid link tangentially to the gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
A sway control unit for connection between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle comprising a retarder unit adapted to be fixed to one of said vehicles and including a brake pad member, a pinion gear having means thereon providing a brake plate member engaging the brake pad member, means supporting said brake pad and brake plate-members, a shaft means coupling the brake plate member and brake pad member together about a common central axis; a rigid link; means for universally coupling one end of said link to the other vehicle; a rack on said link arranged to be in meshing engagement with teeth of said pinion gear; and means holding said rack in meshing engagement with said pinion gear teeth when said rigid link is moved in response to a changing horizontal angular displacement of one vehicle with the other, said means including a roller mounted to engage and maintain the rigid link tangentially to the gear.
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) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |