Patent US3837677A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3837677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stabilizing trailer hitch dolly
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-10-30
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1992-10-30
Abstract
Abstract This stabilizing trailer hitch dolly consists of a dolly frame having a pair of ground wheels on the opposite ends of a cross member carrying a trailer ball hitch. The frame has forwardlyextending laterally-spaced opposite side members perpendicular to the cross member terminating in wedge-shaped coupling members adapted to be pivotally connected to frame-mounted coupling adapters arranged to be secured permanently to the towing vehicle chassis near the rearward end thereof. The wedge-shaped coupling members provide limited rise and fall of the dolly relatively to the adapters on the towing vehicle, the vertical movement being cushioned by springs adjustably regulated by stop screws. Ground wheel axles carrying rotatable ground wheels are rigidly mounted on the down-turned opposite ends of the cross member.
Inventors
- 👤 R Haskins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:33
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/07; B60D1/075; B60D1/24; B60D1/30; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0857; B62D53/0864; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32541
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having means thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structures and restricting said draft structure to up-and-down relative swinging motion solely around a horizontal pivot axis therebetween while restraining said dolly frAme from swinging laterally relatively to the chassis frame of the towing vehicle, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, and means for also restraining said ground wheels from swinging laterally relatively to said dolly frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having means thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structures and restricting said draft structure to up-and-down relative swinging motion solely around a horizontal pivot axis therebetween while restraining said dolly frAme from swinging laterally relatively to the chassis frame of the towing vehicle, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, and means for also restraining said ground wheels from swinging laterally relatively to said dolly frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly, according to claim 1, wherein stop means on said coupling adapter structure are disposed in up-and-down swing-limiting relationship with said draft structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
222 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having means thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structures and restricting said draft structure to up-and-down relative swinging motion solely around a horizontal pivot axis therebetween while restraining said dolly frame from swinging laterally relatively to the chassis frame of the towing vehicle, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, and means for restraining said ground wheels from swinging relatively to said frame around a vertical pivot axis, one of said structures having a recess therein and the other structure having a projection extending into said recess, said horizontal pivot means comprising a horizontal pivot element extending horizontally through said projection and across said recess into said one structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
222 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having means thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structures and restricting said draft structure to up-and-down relative swinging motion solely around a horizontal pivot axis therebetween while restraining said dolly frame from swinging laterally relatively to the chassis frame of the towing vehicle, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, and means for restraining said ground wheels from swinging relatively to said frame around a vertical pivot axis, one of said structures having a recess therein and the other structure having a projection extending into said recess, said horizontal pivot means comprising a horizontal pivot element extending horizontally through said projection and across said recess into said one structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
206 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having means thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structures and restricting said draft structure to up-and-down relative swinging motion solely around a horizontal pivot axis therebetween while restraining said dolly frame from swinging laterally relatively to the chassis frame of the towing vehicle, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, and means for restraining said ground wheels from swinging relatively to said frame around a vertical pivot axis, one of said structures having a wedge-shaped projection thereon and the other structure having stop portions thereon disposed in up-and-down swing-limiting relationship with said projection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
206 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having means thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structures and restricting said draft structure to up-and-down relative swinging motion solely around a horizontal pivot axis therebetween while restraining said dolly frame from swinging laterally relatively to the chassis frame of the towing vehicle, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, and means for restraining said ground wheels from swinging relatively to said frame around a vertical pivot axis, one of said structures having a wedge-shaped projection thereon and the other structure having stop portions thereon disposed in up-and-down swing-limiting relationship with said projection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly, according to claim 4, wherein said draft structure has said wedge-shaped projection thereon and wherein said adapter structure has said stop portions thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
220 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having mEans thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structures and restricting said draft structure to up-and-down relative swinging motion solely around a horizontal pivot axis therebetween while restraining said dolly frame from swinging laterally relatively to the chassis frame of the towing vehicle, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, and means for restraining said ground wheels from swinging relatively to said frame around a vertical pivot axis, said structures being disposed in up-and-down swing-limiting relationship with the other structure, said stop means including an upper stop and a lower stop disposed in vertically-spaced relationship above and below the upper and lower sides of said other structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
220 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having mEans thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structures and restricting said draft structure to up-and-down relative swinging motion solely around a horizontal pivot axis therebetween while restraining said dolly frame from swinging laterally relatively to the chassis frame of the towing vehicle, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, and means for restraining said ground wheels from swinging relatively to said frame around a vertical pivot axis, said structures being disposed in up-and-down swing-limiting relationship with the other structure, said stop means including an upper stop and a lower stop disposed in vertically-spaced relationship above and below the upper and lower sides of said other structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
190 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having means thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structure for up-and-down relative swinging motion therebetween, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, stop means on one of said structures disposed in swing-limiting relationship with the other structure, said stop means including an upper stop and a lower stop disposed in vertically-spaced relationship above and below the upper and lower sides of said other structure, and resilient cushioning means disposed adjacent one of said stops in shock-cushioning relationship therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
190 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly for connecting the chassis of a towing vehicle to a trailer with a first trailer hitch component thereon, said dolly comprising a coupling adapter structure having means thereon for securing said adapter structure to the chassis of the towing vehicle rearwardly thereof, a dolly frame having a second trailer hitch component thereon adapted to cooperably engage the first trailer hitch component in separable hitching relationship, said dolly frame having a cross member thereon and a draft structure extending longitudinally forward from said cross member into coupling engagement with said adapter structure, pivot means pivotally interconnecting said structure for up-and-down relative swinging motion therebetween, axle means mounted on said frame adjacent said cross member, ground wheels mounted on said axle means in laterally-spaced relationship for rotation relatively to said frame, stop means on one of said structures disposed in swing-limiting relationship with the other structure, said stop means including an upper stop and a lower stop disposed in vertically-spaced relationship above and below the upper and lower sides of said other structure, and resilient cushioning means disposed adjacent one of said stops in shock-cushioning relationship therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly, according to claim 7, wherein said cushioning means comprises a spring disposed adjacent said lower stop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly, according to claim 7, wherein said cushioning means has a resilient-means adjusting element adjustably connected thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A stabilizing trailer hitch dolly, according to claim 9, wherein said one stop has a movable member with a threaded portion thereon, wherein a cushioning spring is disposed between said movable member and said adapter structure, and wherein said adjusting element comprises an adjusting nut threadedly engaging said threaded portion.
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) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |