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Patent US3787068A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3787068A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Articulated trailer hitch
Assignee: Bangor Punta Operations Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-25
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract The trailer hitch includes a pair of tongues pivotally connected at opposite ends to a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, respectively. The tongues are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of a line coincident with the centerlines of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle when the latter are longitudinally aligned. The tongues converge forwardly toward one another such that lines coincident with the long axes of the tongues intersect along the centerline of the towing vehicle at a location forwardly of its rear wheel axis and rearwardly of its center of gravity. The foregoing provides an effective hitch pivot point which sustantially reduces the tendency of the vehicles to sway relative to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 L Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/14; B60D1/173
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
An articulated trailer hitch for joining a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle comprising in combination: a pair of elongated tongues, means carried by said tongues adjacent the opposite ends thereof for pivotally mounting the tongues to the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle respectively, said tongues being substantially symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of a line coincident with the longitudinal centerlines of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle when such vehicles are in longitudinal alignment one with the other, said tongues converging toward one another in a direction toward the towing vehicle to provide an effective hitch pivot point substantially coincident with the centerline of the towing vehicle and forwardly of the pivotable connection between said tongues and the towing vehicle; a towing vehicle having a pair of rear wheels defining a rear wheel axis, said effective hitch pivot point being located forwardly of the axis of said rear wheels and being formed by the intersection of forward extensions of lines coincident with the long axes of said tongues, said intersection being located between the center of gravity of said towing vehicle and said rear wheel axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
An articulated trailer hitch for joining a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle comprising in combination: a pair of elongated tongues, means carried by said tongues adjacent the opposite ends thereof for pivotally mounting the tongues to the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle respectively, said tongues being substantially symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of a line coincident with the longitudinal centerlines of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle when such vehicles are in longitudinal alignment one with the other, said tongues converging toward one another in a direction toward the towing vehicle to provide an effective hitch pivot point substantially coincident with the centerline of the towing vehicle and forwardly of the pivotable connection between said tongues and the towing vehicle; a towing vehicle having a pair of rear wheels defining a rear wheel axis, said effective hitch pivot point being located forwardly of the axis of said rear wheels and being formed by the intersection of forward extensions of lines coincident with the long axes of said tongues, said intersection being located between the center of gravity of said towing vehicle and said rear wheel axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
246 words
An articulated trailer hitch for joining a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle comprising in combination: a pair of elongated tongues, means carried by said tongues adjacent the opposite ends thereof for pivotally mounting the tongues to the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle respectively, said tongues being substantially symmetricAlly arranged on opposite sides of a line coincident with the longitudinal centerlines of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle when such vehicles are in longitudinal alignment one with the other, said tongues converging toward one another in a direction toward the towing vehicle to provide an effective hitch pivot point substantially coincident with the centerline of the towing vehicle and forwardly of the pivotable connection between said tongues and the towing vehicle; a towing vehicle having a pair of rear wheels defining a rear wheel axis and a towed vehicle having a frame, a transversely extending support bar carried at the rear end of said towing vehicle, said pivotal mounting means for the forward ends of said tongues including ball hitches coupled to said support bar adjacent opposite ends thereof, the pivotal connection between said tongues and said towed vehicle being located at the forward end of the towed vehicle adjacent opposite sides thereof, said effective hitch pivot point being formed by the intersection of forward extensions of lines coincident with the long axes of said tongues, said intersection being located between the center of gravity of said towing vehicle and said rear wheel axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
246 words
An articulated trailer hitch for joining a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle comprising in combination: a pair of elongated tongues, means carried by said tongues adjacent the opposite ends thereof for pivotally mounting the tongues to the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle respectively, said tongues being substantially symmetricAlly arranged on opposite sides of a line coincident with the longitudinal centerlines of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle when such vehicles are in longitudinal alignment one with the other, said tongues converging toward one another in a direction toward the towing vehicle to provide an effective hitch pivot point substantially coincident with the centerline of the towing vehicle and forwardly of the pivotable connection between said tongues and the towing vehicle; a towing vehicle having a pair of rear wheels defining a rear wheel axis and a towed vehicle having a frame, a transversely extending support bar carried at the rear end of said towing vehicle, said pivotal mounting means for the forward ends of said tongues including ball hitches coupled to said support bar adjacent opposite ends thereof, the pivotal connection between said tongues and said towed vehicle being located at the forward end of the towed vehicle adjacent opposite sides thereof, said effective hitch pivot point being formed by the intersection of forward extensions of lines coincident with the long axes of said tongues, said intersection being located between the center of gravity of said towing vehicle and said rear wheel axis.
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) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |