US3801135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch for passenger motor vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-20
•
Granted: 1974-04-02
•
Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract Trailer hitch mechanism mounted within the trunk area of a passenger type motor vehicle and connected directly to the chassis frame members of the vehicle to support and provide means to connect a large capacity fifth-wheel type trailer to the hitch mechanism and provide mobile living quarters for a greater number of people than can be accommodated in the cab of a pick-up truck. Auxiliary supporting wheel means of a variety of types and embodiments are connectable directly to the chassis frame members of a 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, and thus provide 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 23:40
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: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 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 means on the lower portion thereof adapted to extend through said floor for interconnection to the chassis frame of said passenger type vehicle beneath the floor of the trunk compartment thereof, supporting means connected to the upper portion of said frame means and having latch means to receive and secure the fifthwheel pin of a fifth-wheel type trailer to said supporting means for rotation of said pin about a vertical axis substantially at the height of the pin of a conventional fifthwheel trailer pin, c. auxiliary wheel means adapted to supplement the conventional rear wheels of said passenger type vehicle. d. means to interconnect said auxiliary wheel means directly to the chassis frame members of said passenger type vehicle to augment the ability of said conventional rear wheels of said vehicle to support the weight of the forward end of a fifthwheel type trailer, said interconnecting means also including downwardly and rearwardly extending means supporting a supplemental axle upon which said auxiliary wheel means are mounted and at least one transversely extending horizontal hitch frame member having means adapted to connect it directly to the chassis frame members of said passenger type vehicle, and e. swivel means connecting said axle supporting means to said horizontal frame member for movement about a substantially vertical axis to permit said wheel means to track relative to the conventional wheels of said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 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 means on the lower portion thereof adapted to extend through said floor for interconnection to the chassis frame of said passenger type vehicle beneath the floor of the trunk compartment thereof, supporting means connected to the upper portion of said frame means and having latch means to receive and secure the fifthwheel pin of a fifth-wheel type trailer to said supporting means for rotation of said pin about a vertical axis substantially at the height of the pin of a conventional fifthwheel trailer pin, c. auxiliary wheel means adapted to supplement the conventional rear wheels of said passenger type vehicle. d. means to interconnect said auxiliary wheel means directly to the chassis frame members of said passenger type vehicle to augment the ability of said conventional rear wheels of said vehicle to support the weight of the forward end of a fifthwheel type trailer, said interconnecting means also including downwardly and rearwardly extending means supporting a supplemental axle upon which said auxiliary wheel means are mounted and at least one transversely extending horizontal hitch frame member having means adapted to connect it directly to the chassis frame members of said passenger type vehicle, and e. swivel means connecting said axle supporting means to said horizontal frame member for movement about a substantially vertical axis to permit said wheel means to track relative to the conventional wheels of said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hitch mechanism according to claim 1 further including spring means connected to said supplemental axle and operable to absorb shock imposed upon said auxiliary wheel means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The hitch mechanism according to claim 1 in which said auxiliary wheel means comprise a pair of auxiliary wheels respectively mounted on the end portions of said supplemental axle, said wheels respectively being disposed at opposite sides of the axis of said swivel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The hitch mechanism according to claim 3 further including spring means between said rearwardly extending means and said swivel unit and operable to urge said auxiliary wheel means downwardly, whereby said wheel means are adapted to absorb shock imposed upon same incident to operation of said hitch when connected to a moving vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The hitch according to claim 1 in which said auxiliary wheel means comprises a single wheel and said supporting means for said supplemental axle comprises a yoke, said yoke being connected to said swivel and movable about the axis thereof during operation of said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hitch according to claim 5 in which the legs of said yoke are similar and extend rearwardly and downwardly from said swivel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The hitch mechanism according to claim 1 in which a pair of said horizontal hitch frame members are included with means adapted to connect the same transversely across the chassis frame members of a passenger type vehicle, and another frame member being connected between and transverse to said pair of members intermediately of the ends thereof to support said swivel means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The hitch mechanism according to claim 7 in which said another frame member is tubular, and a second frame member complementary to said tubular member and projects from the rearward end thereof and said swivel being connected to the projecting end of said second frame member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hitch mechanism according to claim 8 further including pin means extending transversely through said another frame member and second frame member for quick removal therefrOm to permit ready disconnection of said auxiliary wheel means from said vehicle when desired.
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) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |