US3815936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch adapter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-25
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A trailer hitch adapter for housetrailers and the like, to couple the trailer to a towing vehicle at a point immediately above the rear axle of the towing vehicle, having a boom in an inverted U-shape connectable at its forward end to a removable hitch ball mounted over the rear axle, and rigidly and removeably connected at its rearward end to the standard hitch of the trailer and to two other points on the tongue of the trailer. The connection to the standard hitch of the trailer is through a hitch ball carried on a bracket depending from the boom. In one modification shown, the length of that bracket is adjustable. The connection of the forward end of the boom to the hitch ball over the rear axle is made through a forward-opening hitch carried on the lower end of the forward portion of the boom. An alternate embodiment is shown having a lockable second pivot point on the boom approximately above the standard hitch of the trailer, and a restrainer to stop motion about the rear axle pivot when desired.
Inventors
- 👤 G Oaks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:32
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/06; B62D53/061; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer having a tongue and a fiRst ball-receiving hitch on the tongue, to a motor vehicle, with the tongue portion in the shape of a generally horizontal triangle with one apex pointing forward, two legs of the triangle being formed by brace members extending laterally outwardly and rearwardly from the vicinity of the first ball-receiving hitch to the trailer in a substantially horizontal plane comprising a first hitch ball mountable to the motor vehicle, a second ball-receiving hitch engageable with said first hitch ball, a boom structure having a forward portion bearing at one end thereof said second ball-receiving hitch and formed to extend upwardly from said second ball-receiving hitch and from thence rearwardly toward the trailer, and a rearward portion consisting of a unitary elongated member and connected to the rearward extension of said forward portion and extending downwardly therefrom toward the tongue of the trailer, a first transverse bracket member extending vertically downwardly and laterally from said unitary elongated member, said transverse bracket member being attachable to each of the brace members adjacent the front edge of the trailer body, and a second bracket structure attached to said rearward portion and carrying a second hitch ball engageable with the first ballreceiving hitch on the tongue of the trailer to form a releaseable attachment between said boom structure and the tongue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer having a tongue and a fiRst ball-receiving hitch on the tongue, to a motor vehicle, with the tongue portion in the shape of a generally horizontal triangle with one apex pointing forward, two legs of the triangle being formed by brace members extending laterally outwardly and rearwardly from the vicinity of the first ball-receiving hitch to the trailer in a substantially horizontal plane comprising a first hitch ball mountable to the motor vehicle, a second ball-receiving hitch engageable with said first hitch ball, a boom structure having a forward portion bearing at one end thereof said second ball-receiving hitch and formed to extend upwardly from said second ball-receiving hitch and from thence rearwardly toward the trailer, and a rearward portion consisting of a unitary elongated member and connected to the rearward extension of said forward portion and extending downwardly therefrom toward the tongue of the trailer, a first transverse bracket member extending vertically downwardly and laterally from said unitary elongated member, said transverse bracket member being attachable to each of the brace members adjacent the front edge of the trailer body, and a second bracket structure attached to said rearward portion and carrying a second hitch ball engageable with the first ballreceiving hitch on the tongue of the trailer to form a releaseable attachment between said boom structure and the tongue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 1 and wherein the motor vehicle has a rear axle and said first hitch ball is mounted to the motor vehicle at a location substantially above the rear axle of the motor vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 2 and wherein said first hitch ball is releaseably mounted to the motor vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 1 and wherein said second bracket structure is attached to said boom structure at a point on said boom structure substantially vertically above the first ball-receiving hitch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 4 and wherein said second bracket structure extends downward from its point of attachment to said boom structure, said second hitch ball being carried adjacent the lower end of said bracket structure, whereby said boom structure may be attached to the trailer by placing the rearward portion of said boom structure adjacent said two points and lowering the forward portion of said boom structure to lower said second hitch ball below the first hitch, aligning said second hitch ball on a vertical axis with the first ball-receiving hitch, and then raising the forward end of said boom structure to move said second hitch ball vertically into engagement with the first ball-receiving hitch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer having a tongue and a first ball-receiving hitch on the tongue, to a motor vehicle, comprising a first hitch ball mountable to the motor vehicle, a second ball-receiving hitch engageable with said first hitch ball, a boom structure having a forward portion bearing at one end thereof said second ball-receiving hitch and formed to extend upwardly from said second ball-receiving hitch and from thence rearwardly toward the trailer, and a rearward portion connected to the rearward extension of said forward portion and extending downwardly therefrom toward the tongue of the trailer and a pivot structure between the forward and rearward portions of said boom structure adapted to permit pivotal motion of said portions with respect to each other about a generally vertical axis, and a bracket structure attached to said rearward portion and carrying a second hitch ball engageable with the first ball-receiving hitch on the tongue of the trailer to form a releaseable attachment between said boom structure and the tongue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer having a tongue and a first ball-receiving hitch on the tongue, to a motor vehicle, comprising a first hitch ball mountable to the motor vehicle, a second ball-receiving hitch engageable with said first hitch ball, a boom structure having a forward portion bearing at one end thereof said second ball-receiving hitch and formed to extend upwardly from said second ball-receiving hitch and from thence rearwardly toward the trailer, and a rearward portion connected to the rearward extension of said forward portion and extending downwardly therefrom toward the tongue of the trailer and a pivot structure between the forward and rearward portions of said boom structure adapted to permit pivotal motion of said portions with respect to each other about a generally vertical axis, and a bracket structure attached to said rearward portion and carrying a second hitch ball engageable with the first ball-receiving hitch on the tongue of the trailer to form a releaseable attachment between said boom structure and the tongue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 6 and wherein said pivot structure is located in the vicinity of a line projected vertically from the first ball-receiving hitch On the tongue of the trailer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 6 and wherein said pivot structure includes a locking device adapted to selectively restrain said pivotal motion in said pivot structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 8 and wherein said pivot structure comprises a pair of generally horizontal plate members, one member attached to each of said forward and rearward portions of said boom structure and positioned such that at least a portion of one of said plate members overlaps the other when said forward and rearward portions are aligned straight with each other, said overlapping portions having apertures therethrough at a point off-axis to the axis of said pivotal motion which align co-linear with each other upon straight line alignment of said forward and rearward portions of said boom structure, said locking device comprising a tapered wedge member insertable through said apertures and retainable therein to selectively lock said pivot structure against said pivotal motion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 9 and wherein said boom structure includes a pivot structure located between and attached to said forward and rearward portions of said boom structure and adapted to permit pivotal motion of said forward and rearward portions with respect to each other about a generally vertical axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 10 and wherein said pivot structure is located adjacent a line projected vertically from the first ball-receiving hitch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 10 and wherein said pivot structure includes a locking device adapted to selectively restrain said pivotal motion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 10, further comprising a restrainer structure mountable on the motor vehicle and adapted to selectively restrain said boom structure against pivotal motion about a generally vertical axis passing through said first hitch ball.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 13 and wherein said restrainer structure comprises a member contacting said boom structure rearwardly of said first hitch ball and forwardly of said pivot structure to restrain the forward portion of said boom structure against side-to-side motion with respect to said motor vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus for coupling a trailer as described in claim 14 and wherein said restrainer structure comprises a pair of vertically extendable structural members carried by the motor vehicle, spaced laterally apart and located to each contact one side of the forward portion of said boom structure when said forward portion of said boom structure is aligned longitudinally straight back from the motor vehicle.
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) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |