US3827722A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety chain attachment for roof-mounted trailer hitch
Assignee: HARMON IND INC US
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Filing: 1973-01-08
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1993-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A hitch assembly which connects the tongue of a trailer and one or more safety cables or chains to a towing vehicle, wherein relative rotation of the vehicle and trailer about the hitch axis is permitted without interference. The assembly includes a safety coupling device for the safety chains, such device having a fixed hub coaxial with the hitch axis and a rotatable element supported on the hub for rotation thereon. The element includes a pair of opposed, radially outwardly extending, horizontal arms to which two safety chains are connected that extend from the trailer body. The hub is secured by fasteners directly to the supporting structure of the hitch assembly independently of the hitch ball or other hitch component, so that failure of the primary hitch does not affect the safety coupling. The arrangement is particularly advantageous in roof-mounted hitches where the vehicle and trailer are capable of unlimited relative rotation, in that the arms rotate with the trailer as the latter and the vehicle undergo relative rotation to prevent the safety chains from interfering with the free movement of either the vehicle or the trailer about the hitch axis.
Inventors
- 👤 D Miller
- 👤 J Karr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/58; B60D1/24; B60D1/28; B60D1/36; B60D1/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
In combination: a towing vehicle having a roof; a trailer having a forwardly projecting portion extending above the roof of said vehicle; support structure on said roof; hitch means having a hitch component mounted on said structure, and a mating hitch part connected with said component and carried by said portion of the trailer, said hitch component establishing an upright axis about which said vehicle and said trailer are capable of unlimited relative rotation; a safety cOupling member extending from said portion of the trailer; a safety coupling device on said structure adjacent said hitch component; means securing said device to said structure independently of said hitch component, said device including a rotatable element provided with means spaced from said axis for connecting the element with said safety coupling member, and a hub rigid with said structure and mounting said element for rotation on the hub about said axis with the trailer as the latter and said vehicle undergo relative rotation, said hub having an opening therethrough coaxial with said axis and said hitch means comprising a ball and socket hitch, said hitch component being disposed above said hub and provided with a shank received within said opening and extending axially downwardly through said hub; and means on said shank securing the same to said structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
In combination: a towing vehicle having a roof; a trailer having a forwardly projecting portion extending above the roof of said vehicle; support structure on said roof; hitch means having a hitch component mounted on said structure, and a mating hitch part connected with said component and carried by said portion of the trailer, said hitch component establishing an upright axis about which said vehicle and said trailer are capable of unlimited relative rotation; a safety cOupling member extending from said portion of the trailer; a safety coupling device on said structure adjacent said hitch component; means securing said device to said structure independently of said hitch component, said device including a rotatable element provided with means spaced from said axis for connecting the element with said safety coupling member, and a hub rigid with said structure and mounting said element for rotation on the hub about said axis with the trailer as the latter and said vehicle undergo relative rotation, said hub having an opening therethrough coaxial with said axis and said hitch means comprising a ball and socket hitch, said hitch component being disposed above said hub and provided with a shank received within said opening and extending axially downwardly through said hub; and means on said shank securing the same to said structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
270 words
In combination: a towing vehicle having a roof; a trailer having a forwardly projecting portion extending above the roof of said vehicle; support structure on said roof; hitch means having a hitch component mounted on said structure, and mating hitch part connected with said component and carried by said portion of the trailer, said hitch component establishing an upright axis about which said vehicle and said trailer are capable of unlimited relative rotation; a safety coupling member extending from said portion of the trailer; a safety coupling device on said structure adjacent said hitch component; means securing said device to said structure independently of said hitch component, said device including a rotatable element provided with means spaced from said axis for connecting the element with said safety coupling member, and a hub rigid with said structure and mounting said element for rotation on the hub about said axis with the trailer as the latter and said vehicle undergo relative rotation, said hitch component being disposed above said hub; a pair of upper and lower, relatively rotatable, vertically spaced plate members on said hub, said plate members being provided with sets of terminals for connection with a pair of multi-conductor electrical cables extending to said vehicle and said trailer respectively; and electrical contact means maintaining electrical continuity between corresponding terminals of the respective plate members irrespective of their relative angular positions, one of said plate members being fixed on said hub and the other plate member being rotatable thereon, said element having means engaging said other plate member to cause the latter and the element to rotate together about said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
270 words
In combination: a towing vehicle having a roof; a trailer having a forwardly projecting portion extending above the roof of said vehicle; support structure on said roof; hitch means having a hitch component mounted on said structure, and mating hitch part connected with said component and carried by said portion of the trailer, said hitch component establishing an upright axis about which said vehicle and said trailer are capable of unlimited relative rotation; a safety coupling member extending from said portion of the trailer; a safety coupling device on said structure adjacent said hitch component; means securing said device to said structure independently of said hitch component, said device including a rotatable element provided with means spaced from said axis for connecting the element with said safety coupling member, and a hub rigid with said structure and mounting said element for rotation on the hub about said axis with the trailer as the latter and said vehicle undergo relative rotation, said hitch component being disposed above said hub; a pair of upper and lower, relatively rotatable, vertically spaced plate members on said hub, said plate members being provided with sets of terminals for connection with a pair of multi-conductor electrical cables extending to said vehicle and said trailer respectively; and electrical contact means maintaining electrical continuity between corresponding terminals of the respective plate members irrespective of their relative angular positions, one of said plate members being fixed on said hub and the other plate member being rotatable thereon, said element having means engaging said other plate member to cause the latter and the element to rotate together about said axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
203 words
In combination: a towing vehicle having a roof; a trailer having a forwardly projecting portion extending above the roof of said vehicle; support structure on said roof; hitch means having a hitch component mounted on said structure, and a mating hitch part connected with said component and carried by said portion of the trailer, said hitch component establishing an upright axis about which said vehicle and said trailer are capable of unlimited relative rotation; a safety coupling member extending from said portion of the trailer; a safety coupling device on said structure adjacent said hitch component; means securing said device to said structure independently of said hitch component, said device including a rotatable element provided with means spaced from said axis for connecting the element with said safety coupling member, and a hub rigid with said structure and mounting said element for rotation on the hub about said axis with the trailer as the latter and said vehicle undergo relative rotation, said hub having an opening therethrough coaxial with said axis, said hitch component being disposed above said hub and provided with a shank received within said opening and extending axially downwardly through said hub; and means securing said sHank to said structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
203 words
In combination: a towing vehicle having a roof; a trailer having a forwardly projecting portion extending above the roof of said vehicle; support structure on said roof; hitch means having a hitch component mounted on said structure, and a mating hitch part connected with said component and carried by said portion of the trailer, said hitch component establishing an upright axis about which said vehicle and said trailer are capable of unlimited relative rotation; a safety coupling member extending from said portion of the trailer; a safety coupling device on said structure adjacent said hitch component; means securing said device to said structure independently of said hitch component, said device including a rotatable element provided with means spaced from said axis for connecting the element with said safety coupling member, and a hub rigid with said structure and mounting said element for rotation on the hub about said axis with the trailer as the latter and said vehicle undergo relative rotation, said hub having an opening therethrough coaxial with said axis, said hitch component being disposed above said hub and provided with a shank received within said opening and extending axially downwardly through said hub; and means securing said sHank to said structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
218 words
A hitch assembly for connecting a trailer and at least one safety coupling member extending from the trailer, such as a safety chain or the like, to a towing vehicle, said assembly comprising: support structure adapted to be attached to said vehicle; a hitch component mounted on said structure and adapted to be connected with a mating hitch part carried by said trailer, said hitch component establishing an upright axis about which said vehicle and said trailer are capable of relative rotation through at least 180* when said hitch part is connected with said hitch component; a safety coupling device on said structure adjacent said hitch component; means securing said device to said structure independently of said hitch component, said device including a rotatable element provided with means spaced from said axis for connecting the element with said safety coupling member, and a hub rigid with said structure and mounting said element for rotation on the hub about said axis with the trailer as the latter and said vehicle undergo relative rotation, said hub having an opening therethrough coaxial with said axis, said hitch component being vertically spaced from said hub and provided with a shank projecting from the component, received within said opening, and extending axially through said hub; and means securing said shank to said structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
218 words
A hitch assembly for connecting a trailer and at least one safety coupling member extending from the trailer, such as a safety chain or the like, to a towing vehicle, said assembly comprising: support structure adapted to be attached to said vehicle; a hitch component mounted on said structure and adapted to be connected with a mating hitch part carried by said trailer, said hitch component establishing an upright axis about which said vehicle and said trailer are capable of relative rotation through at least 180* when said hitch part is connected with said hitch component; a safety coupling device on said structure adjacent said hitch component; means securing said device to said structure independently of said hitch component, said device including a rotatable element provided with means spaced from said axis for connecting the element with said safety coupling member, and a hub rigid with said structure and mounting said element for rotation on the hub about said axis with the trailer as the latter and said vehicle undergo relative rotation, said hub having an opening therethrough coaxial with said axis, said hitch component being vertically spaced from said hub and provided with a shank projecting from the component, received within said opening, and extending axially through said hub; and means securing said shank to said structure.
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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) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |