Patent US3790189A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3790189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch for passenger motor vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-08-25
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-08-25
Abstract
Abstract Trailer hitch mechanism attachable to the trunk area of a passenger type motor vehicle to support and provide means to connect a fifth-wheel type trailer thereto and provide mobile living quarters for people. Auxiliary supporting wheel means of a variety of types and embodiments are connectable to the passenger vehicle to augment the supporting capacity of the conventional rear wheels of the vehicle and thereby enable such vehicle, as distinguished from a pick-up truck, to support the relatively heavy weight of the forward end of said fifth-wheel type trailer without undue strain on the passenger vehicle, while providing the more comodious travel facilities of such passenger vehicle to accommodate a full contingent of occupants for which the vehicle normally is designed. Quick detachment of the trailer and auxiliary supporting wheel means from the vehicle readily restores the vehicle to the normal appearance of the vehicle with a minimum of effort.
Inventors
- 👤 C Winter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:43
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0807; B62D53/0828; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A hitch mechanism for attaching a fifth wheel type trailer to the trunk compartment of a passenger type motor vehicle, said hitch mechanism comprising: a. frame means adapted to extend upwardly from the floor of the trunk compartment of such passenger type vehicle and including securing means depending from the lower portion thereof and adapted to extend through said floor for interconnection directly to the longitudinal chassis frame members of said passenger type vehicle beneath the floor of the trunk compartment thereof, said frame having a height slightly less than that of said trunk compartment, b. supporting means connected to the upper portion of said frame means and having latch means to receive and secure the fifth wheel pin of a fifth wheel type trailer to said supporting means for rotation of said pin about a substantially vertical axis substAntially at the height of the pin of a conventional fifth wheel trailer pin due to the height of said frame means, c. auxiliary wheel means adapted to supplement the conventional rear wheels of said passenger type vehicle, and d. means connectable directly to the longitudinal chassis frame members of the vehicle to interconnect said auxiliary wheel means to the chassis frame of said passenger type vehicle and thereby to said frame means to augment the ability of said conventional rear wheels of said vehicle to support the weight of the forward end of a fifth wheel type trailer without undue strain or imparting driving hazards to such trailer or vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A hitch mechanism for attaching a fifth wheel type trailer to the trunk compartment of a passenger type motor vehicle, said hitch mechanism comprising: a. frame means adapted to extend upwardly from the floor of the trunk compartment of such passenger type vehicle and including securing means depending from the lower portion thereof and adapted to extend through said floor for interconnection directly to the longitudinal chassis frame members of said passenger type vehicle beneath the floor of the trunk compartment thereof, said frame having a height slightly less than that of said trunk compartment, b. supporting means connected to the upper portion of said frame means and having latch means to receive and secure the fifth wheel pin of a fifth wheel type trailer to said supporting means for rotation of said pin about a substantially vertical axis substAntially at the height of the pin of a conventional fifth wheel trailer pin due to the height of said frame means, c. auxiliary wheel means adapted to supplement the conventional rear wheels of said passenger type vehicle, and d. means connectable directly to the longitudinal chassis frame members of the vehicle to interconnect said auxiliary wheel means to the chassis frame of said passenger type vehicle and thereby to said frame means to augment the ability of said conventional rear wheels of said vehicle to support the weight of the forward end of a fifth wheel type trailer without undue strain or imparting driving hazards to such trailer or vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The hitch according to claim 1 in which said means on the lower portion of said frame means comprises members extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to be directly connected to and supported by said chassis frame of said vehicle, thereby being adapted to transmit the weight from said trailer directly to said chassis frame of said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The hitch according to claim 2 in which said downwardly extending members comprise cleats having means to connect the same to the outer faces of the chassis frame members of said vehicle, and including bolts to connect said cleats to said frame means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The hitch according to claim 3 in which said cleats extend downwardly from the opposite ends of said frame means and are adapted to extend through openings when formed in the floor of the trunk area of said vehicle to permit said cleats to be attached directly to said chassis frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The hitch according to claim 1 in which said supporting means extends upward from the floor of the trunk compartment of said vehicle to a height no higher than the rear deck cover of said vehicle to which said hitch is adapted to be connected, whereby said supporting means can be enclosed within the trunk compartment of said vehicle when connected thereto and the trailer is not connected to said supporting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The hitch according to claim 1 further including a supplemental axle upon which said auxiliary wheel means are mounted rotatably, and spring means connected to said supplemental axle and having coupling means thereon adapted to be connected to said vehicle chassis frame, whereby said auxiliary wheel means and supplemental axle are connectable to said vehicle chassis frame in a manner to absorb shock imposed upon said wheels during movement thereof when said vehicle is towing said trailer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The hitch according to claim 6 in which the opposite ends of said supplemental axle when connected to said passenger type vehicle extend laterally outward beyond the rear fenders of said vehicle to support said auxiliary wheel means thereon outwardly beyond the conventional wheels of said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The hitch according to claim 6 in which the end portions of said supplemental axle are offset laterally from the axis of the central portion of said axle, said offset ends of said axle rotatably supporting said auxiliary wheel means, and said spring means comprising torsion springs connected between said brackets and supplemental axle and operable to urge said auxiliary wheel means downwardly when said hitch is connected to said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The hitch according to claim 8 in which the length of the supplemental axle is greater than the width of the vehicle to which the hitch is to be connected, whereby the offset ends of said supplemental axle extend beyond the exterior sides of the conventional rear fenders of said vehicle and said wheels are supported laterally outward from said fenders of said vehicle when said auxiliary wheel means are connected to said vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The hitch according to claim 9 further including supplemental fenders adapted to be attached to the exterior surfaces of the rear fenders of said vehicle and positioned to extend across the upper surfaces of said auxiliary wheel means when connected to said vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The hitch according to claim 6 further including a cross member connectable to and extendIng between brackets connected to said chassis frame of said vehicle, said cross member having axle brackets connected thereto and provided with bearings to support said supplemental axle, and spring means interconnected to said axle and operable to cushion said auxiliary wheel means when subjected to shock during operation thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The hitch according to claim 11 in which said supplemental axle is shorter than the width of the vehicle to which said hitch is to be connected, whereby said auxiliary wheel means are positioned upon said supplemental axle laterally inwardly from the conventional rear wheels of said vehicle when said hitch is connected thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
The hitch and vehicle combination according to claim 1 further including a fifth wheel trailer pivotally connected to said hitch supported by the rear trunk area of said vehicle, the forward end of said trailer over-hanging the trunk portion of said passenger vehicle in at least slightly vertically spaced relationship above the upper confines of said trunk of said vehicle, and means on said trailer operable to receive and support the rear deck cover of said vehicle when detached from said trunk portion thereof to permit access to said hitch frame means for connection of the fifth wheel pin of said trailer to said supporting means on said frame means within said trunk area of said vehicle.
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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) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |