US3837679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hitching assembly for hitching a trailer to a towing vehicle
Assignee: PEKA FAHRZEUGBAU EBERHARDT KG
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Filing: 1972-11-29
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1992-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A hitching assembly for hitching a trailer to a towing vehicle, especially a passenger car, which comprises a rod provided with a ball at one end and a transverse bore at the other end portion of the rod. The assembly furthermore comprises mounting means attachable to the towing vehicle and comprising a sleeve slidable relative to the said other end of the rod, the sleeve and the rod being respectively provided with mutually complementary abutment means for abutting engagement with each other while an eccentric bolt journaled in cylindrical axially aligned bores of the sleeve has a portion eccentric with regard to said cylindrical bores located in said transverse bore which is eccentric to said cylindrical bores, said eccentric portion being operable when received in said eccentric bores to cause relative displacement of the rod and the sleeve as to lock the same together.
Inventors
- 👤 T Dickmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:11
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/48; B60D1/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
A hitch assembly for hitching a trailer to a towing land vehicle, especially to a passenger car, which includes: a rod having a bore through one end portion thereof and comprising a ball forming the other end portion of said rod, mounting means attachable to a towing vehicle and comprising a sleeve open at least at one end for receiving the other end of said rod, said sleeve being axially movable relative to said rod and being provided with axially aligned cylindrical bores extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod and eccentrically offset with regard to said bore in said one end portion of said rod while communicating therewith, said sleeve and said rod being respectively provided with mutually complementary abutment means for engagement with each other, said complementary abutment means comprising abutment surfaces on said sleeve surrounding complementary abutment surfaces on said rod, said suRfaces being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rod so as to converge along said axis, and fastening means for retaining said mutually complementary abutment means in engagement with each other, said fastening means including an eccentric bolt journaled in said cylindrical bores of said sleeve and having a cylindrical portion eccentric with regard to the bolt portions journaled in said cylindrical portions of said sleeve and journaled in said eccentric bore of said rod, said bolt being rotatable to cause relative displacement of said rod and said sleeve along said longitudinal axis for selectively clamping the same against each other along said abutment means one of said abutment means being formed of a ring of resilient material to engage the complementary abutment means, said eccentric bolt clamping said rod in said sleeve and said abutment surfaces together against said resilient ring to support the rod in said sleeve against both vertical and horizontal forces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
A hitch assembly for hitching a trailer to a towing land vehicle, especially to a passenger car, which includes: a rod having a bore through one end portion thereof and comprising a ball forming the other end portion of said rod, mounting means attachable to a towing vehicle and comprising a sleeve open at least at one end for receiving the other end of said rod, said sleeve being axially movable relative to said rod and being provided with axially aligned cylindrical bores extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod and eccentrically offset with regard to said bore in said one end portion of said rod while communicating therewith, said sleeve and said rod being respectively provided with mutually complementary abutment means for engagement with each other, said complementary abutment means comprising abutment surfaces on said sleeve surrounding complementary abutment surfaces on said rod, said suRfaces being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rod so as to converge along said axis, and fastening means for retaining said mutually complementary abutment means in engagement with each other, said fastening means including an eccentric bolt journaled in said cylindrical bores of said sleeve and having a cylindrical portion eccentric with regard to the bolt portions journaled in said cylindrical portions of said sleeve and journaled in said eccentric bore of said rod, said bolt being rotatable to cause relative displacement of said rod and said sleeve along said longitudinal axis for selectively clamping the same against each other along said abutment means one of said abutment means being formed of a ring of resilient material to engage the complementary abutment means, said eccentric bolt clamping said rod in said sleeve and said abutment surfaces together against said resilient ring to support the rod in said sleeve against both vertical and horizontal forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly according to claim 1, in which the abutment means of the sleeve is provided by an enlargement of frusto-conical cross section at said one end of the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly according to claim 1, in which the abutment means of the sleeve is provided by an inner cone of said sleeve and in which the abutment means of said rod is provided by a cone at that end face of the rod which is remote from said ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly according to claim 1, in which the abutment means of the rod is provided by a ring of resilient yieldable material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
An assembly according to claim 1, in which said eccentric bolt comprises two individual outer portions of cylindrical cross section and an intermediate portion of circular cross section arranged eccentrically to be received in said bore of said one end portion of said rod, the magnitude of the radius of the intermediate portion being between the magnitudes of the radii of said two outer portions, and the individual differences between the radius of the intermediate and the radii of the two respective outer portions, each being at least equal to the eccentricity of said intermediate portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
199 words
A ball hitch assembly for hitching a trailer to a towing vehicle, comprising a rod provided with a ball at one end, mounting means attachable to such towing vehicle and comprising a first sleeve which is open at least at one end for entry of the opposite end of the rod, a second sleeve which is open at both ends and is provided with two axially aligned transverse bores, the two sleeves being slidable relatively to the rod and being respectively provided with mutually complementary abutment surfaces, and said rod being provided with a transverse aperture which in assembled condition of said rod and said second sleeve is eccentric to said transverse bores in said second sleeve, retaining means selectably to retain the first sleeve against sliding relative to the rod, and fastening means to retain the abutment surfaces in mutual abutment, the fastening means comprising a pin, which is receivable in said transverse aperture of the rod and transverse bores of said second sleeve respectively and which has an eccentric portion so arranged as to enable the pin - when received in said aperture on being rotated to cause relative displacement of the first sleeve and second sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
A ball hitch assembly for hitching a trailer to a towing vehicle, comprising a rod provided with a ball at one end, mounting means attachable to such towing vehicle and comprising a first sleeve which is open at least at one end for entry of the opposite end of the rod, a second sleeve which is open at both ends and is provided with two axially aligned transverse bores, the two sleeves being slidable relatively to the rod and being respectively provided with mutually complementary abutment surfaces, and said rod being provided with a transverse aperture which in assembled condition of said rod and said second sleeve is eccentric to said transverse bores in said second sleeve, retaining means selectably to retain the first sleeve against sliding relative to the rod, and fastening means to retain the abutment surfaces in mutual abutment, the fastening means comprising a pin, which is receivable in said transverse aperture of the rod and transverse bores of said second sleeve respectively and which has an eccentric portion so arranged as to enable the pin - when received in said aperture on being rotated to cause relative displacement of the first sleeve and second sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the abutment surface of the second sleeve is provided by an annulus of resiliently yieldable material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the annulus is interrupted by at least one recess to enhance the resilience of the annulus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
235 words
A hitch assembly for hitching a trailer to a towing vehicle, especially to a passenger car, which includes: a rod having a bore through one end portion thereof and comprising a ball forming the other end portion of said rod, mounting means attachable to a towing vehicle and comprising a sleeve open at least at one end for receiving the other end of said rod, said sleeve being axially movable relative to Said rod and being provided with axially aligned cylindrical bores extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod and eccentrically offset with regard to said bore in said one end portion of said rod while communicating therewith, said sleeve and said rod being respectively provided with mutually complementary abutment means for engagement with each other, fastening means for retaining said mutually complementary abutment means in engagement with each other, said fastening means including an eccentric bolt journaled in said cylindrical bores of said sleeve and having a cylindrical portion essentric with regard to the bolt portions journaled in said cylindrical portions of said sleeve and journaled in said eccentric bore of said rod, said bolt being rotatable to cause relative displacement of said rod and said sleeve for selectively clamping the same against each other along said abutment means, and adjusting means to adjust at least one of the abutment means in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
235 words
A hitch assembly for hitching a trailer to a towing vehicle, especially to a passenger car, which includes: a rod having a bore through one end portion thereof and comprising a ball forming the other end portion of said rod, mounting means attachable to a towing vehicle and comprising a sleeve open at least at one end for receiving the other end of said rod, said sleeve being axially movable relative to Said rod and being provided with axially aligned cylindrical bores extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod and eccentrically offset with regard to said bore in said one end portion of said rod while communicating therewith, said sleeve and said rod being respectively provided with mutually complementary abutment means for engagement with each other, fastening means for retaining said mutually complementary abutment means in engagement with each other, said fastening means including an eccentric bolt journaled in said cylindrical bores of said sleeve and having a cylindrical portion essentric with regard to the bolt portions journaled in said cylindrical portions of said sleeve and journaled in said eccentric bore of said rod, said bolt being rotatable to cause relative displacement of said rod and said sleeve for selectively clamping the same against each other along said abutment means, and adjusting means to adjust at least one of the abutment means in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the adjusting means comprise mutually cooperable screw threads provided respectively on an adjustment member having said one abutment surface provided thereon and on a main body portion of the rod.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the adjusting means comprise mutually cooperable screw threads provided respectively on an adjustment member having said one abutment surface provided thereon and on a main body portion of the sleeve.
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 |