US3814464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer coupling means
Assignee: PIGGY BACK TAILER RENTAL Ltd
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Filing: 1972-10-30
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1992-10-30
Abstract
Abstract Arrangement for coupling a trailer drawgear to a towing road vehicle, in which a frame, arranged for pivotal connection with rear parts of the towing vehicle, carries at a rear part thereof a ball connector for receiving a socket connector secured on the trailer drawgear and below that ball connector a pair of steerable wheels, in which arrangement the wheels are steered by a lever pivoted on the frame and engaging in a steering device fixed on the trailer drawgear.
Inventors
- 👤 A Cornell
- 👤 G Wardill
- 👤 D Taube
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:53
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/07; B60D1/075; B60D1/14; B60D1/167; B60D1/48; B60D1/486; B62; B62D; B62D13/00; B62D13/005; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0857; B62D53/0864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
Coupling means for enabling a trailer to be coupled to a towing vehicle including a coupling member for receiving and supporting a corresponding coupling member secured to a drawgear of a trailer, a supporting means for supporting said coupling member at a predetermined distance behind a towing vehicle and having pivotal connecting means for enabling the supporting means to be pivotally connected with a rearward part of the towing vehicle, a road-running wheeled support carried by the supporting means beneath the coupling member end thereof and including at least one road surface-engaging wheel for providing support from the road surface for said coupling member and the leading end of a trailer drawgear when said cooperating coupling member is engaged with said coupling member, and a steering member pivotally carried on the supporting means and pivotally connected with the wheeled support whereby on engagement of the steering member with a steering device carried by said drawgear of a trailer the wheeled support is steered by the trailer in dependence upon its position relative to a vehicle towing the trailer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
Coupling means for enabling a trailer to be coupled to a towing vehicle including a coupling member for receiving and supporting a corresponding coupling member secured to a drawgear of a trailer, a supporting means for supporting said coupling member at a predetermined distance behind a towing vehicle and having pivotal connecting means for enabling the supporting means to be pivotally connected with a rearward part of the towing vehicle, a road-running wheeled support carried by the supporting means beneath the coupling member end thereof and including at least one road surface-engaging wheel for providing support from the road surface for said coupling member and the leading end of a trailer drawgear when said cooperating coupling member is engaged with said coupling member, and a steering member pivotally carried on the supporting means and pivotally connected with the wheeled support whereby on engagement of the steering member with a steering device carried by said drawgear of a trailer the wheeled support is steered by the trailer in dependence upon its position relative to a vehicle towing the trailer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 1, wherein said pivotal connecting means comprises a single connection device for providing pivotal connection with a rearward part of a towing vehicle at one position thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 1, wherein said pivotal connecting means comprises two connection devices for providing pivotal connection with a rearward part of a towing vehicle at two transversely-spaced positions thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 3, wherein the supporting means comprises a frame having two arms joined together at said end carrying said coupling member, the arms diverging from that end and carrying at their respective free ends the respective connection devices for providing pivotal connection with a rearward part of a towing vehicle at said two transversely spaced positions respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 4, wherein said free ends of the diverging arms have parallel terminal portions on which are rotatably mounted wheel-coupling plates arranged for securing adjacent the respective rear wheels of a towing vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 5, wherein the wheeled support includes a pair of road surface-engaging wheels journalled at the respective ends of an axle which is itself carried on the supporting means at the coupling member end thereof so as to have freedom to pivot in effect in a plane transverse to the longitudinal towing axis of the trailer coupling means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 6, wherein the respective road wheels are rotatably carried on stub-shafts which are pivotally carried at the respective ends of the axle, and including wheel steering means coupled with the respective stub-shafts and with the steering member whereby on engagement of the steering member with a steering device carried by said drawgear of a trailer the wheels are steered by the trailer in dependence upon its position relative to a vehicle towing the trailer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 7, wherein the axle comprises a leaf spring centrally mounted in a pivotal manner on the supporting means at a position beneath the coupling member end thereof, and carrying at its respective ends the respective road surface-engaging wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 8, wherein the supporting means carries damping means arranged to engage the axle in a frictional manner whereby to damp pivotal movement of the axle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 9, wherein said coupling member forms together with said corresponding coupling member on the drawgear of a trailer a ball and socket coupling.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
Trailer coupling means according to claim 7, wherein the steering member comprises a lever pivotally mounted at a position below the position of said coupling member and extending in a trailing direction whereby to engage in a slot formed in said steering device and having an open lower end, so that uncoupling of the trailer drawgear from the trailer coupling means may be effected by lifting the leading end of the trailer drawgear in an upward direction, said steering means comprising at least one link member pivotally connecting the stub-shafts with said lever at a position adjacent its pivotal mounting position.
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) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |