Straddle trailer hitch

Claim 2

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a cross member of a length for extending transversely across the top of said body from side-to-side of the latter, with said hitch element rigid on said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter, and rigid members connected with said cross member extending downwardly therefrom having said securing means at the lower ends thereof when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position; e. said rigid members comprising a pair of struts having forward end portions connected with the ends of said cross member, said struts extending longitudinally of said chassis and downwardly to the rear ends of the latter adjacent the rear end of said body when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position, and said rigid members including vertically eXtending legs connected with said struts adjacent their forward ends extending across opposite sides of said body to opposite sides of said chassis at their lower ends when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position.

Claim 3

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a cross member of a length for extending transversely across the top of said body from side-to-side of the latter, with said hitch element rigid on said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter, and rigid members connected with said cross member extending downwardly therefrom having said securing means at the lower ends thereof when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position; e. said rigid members comprising a pair of struts having forward end portions connected with the ends of said cross member, said struts extending longitudinally of said chassis and downwardly to the rear ends of the latter adjacent the rear end of said body when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position, and said rigid members including vertically eXtending legs connected with said struts adjacent their forward ends extending across opposite sides of said body to opposite sides of said chassis at their lower ends when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position.

Claim 4

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a cross member of a length for extending transversely across the top of said body from side-to-side of the latter, with said hitch element rigid on said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter, and rigid members connected with said cross member extending downwardly therefrom having said securing means at the lower ends thereof when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position; e. said rigid members comprising a pair of struts having forward end portions connected with the ends of said cross member, said struts extending longitudinally of said chassis and downwardly to the rear ends of the latter adjacent the rear end of said body when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position, and said rigid members including vertically eXtending legs connected with said struts adjacent their forward ends extending across opposite sides of said body to opposite sides of said chassis at their lower ends when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position.

Claim 5

In an assembly as defined in claim 1: f. a horizontally extending stiffener member extending between and connecting the rear end portions of said pair of struts; g. means on said frame supporting said stiffener member for movement from a lowered position spaced below the tongue on said trailer when such tongue is connected with said hitch element, to an elevated position in engagement with the underside of said tongue for holding said assembly and trailer stable relative to each other when said tongue is disconnected from said tow vehicle and said frame is supported on the ground; and h. supports on said frame movable to a downwardly extended position for so supporting said frame on the ground.

Claim 6

In an assembly as defined in claim 1: f. means for supporting said legs and said struts on said chassis different distances apart; and g. connecting means for connecting the ends of said cross bars to said legs at each of said distances and for supporting said cross bar at different heights relative to said legs whereby said frame will be adapted for securement on a chassis having a body thereon of different heights and widths.

Claim 7

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. frame-supporting means carried by said frame and supported thereon for downward movement from a retracted upper position when said frame is secured on said chassis for movement over the ground, to a downward extended position in engagement with the ground for supporting said frame stable on the ground when said assembly is disconnected from said tongue and is released from said chassis, and means on said frame supporting said frame-supporting means for said downward movement and for movement back to said upper position; e. said frame including a pair of forward vertically extending legs and a horizontally extending cross member connected with the upper ends of said legs said legs being spaced apart to straddle the body of said tow vehicle when said hitch unit is in said trailer towing position; f. said frame supporting means including a vertically extensible jack carried by each of said legs at its lower end.

Claim 8

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. frame-supporting means carried by said frame and supported thereon for downward movement from a retracted upper position when said frame is secured on said chassis for movement over the ground, to a downward extended position in engagement with the ground for supporting said frame stable on the ground when said assembly is disconnected from said tongue and is released from said chassis, and means on said frame supporting said frame-supporting means for said downward movement and for movement back to said upper position; e. said frame including a pair of forward vertically extending legs and a horizontally extending cross member connected with the upper ends of said legs said legs being spaced apart to straddle the body of said tow vehicle when said hitch unit is in said trailer towing position; f. said frame supporting means including a vertically extensible jack carried by each of said legs at its lower end.

Claim 9

In an assembly as defined in claim 4: g. said legs being tubular, and each of said jacks being supported within the lower end of each leg.

Claim 10

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a cross member of a length for extending transversely across the toP of said body from side-to-side of the latter, with said hitch element rigid on said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter, and rigid members connected with said cross member extending downwardly therefrom having said securing means at the lower ends thereof when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position; e. said securing means comprising chassis elements to be rigidly secured to said chassis at opposite sides of the latter, and locking elements movably supported on said rigid members at their lower ends for movement into and out of securing engagement with said chassis elements when the latter are rigidly secured to said chassis; f. said rigid members being spaced for receiving said body of a tow car therebetween with the lower ends of said rigid members adjacent and outwardly of the lateral sides of said chassis; g. said chassis elements comprising a pair of nuts having threaded bores; h. means for rigidly securing said units to said chassis adjacent opposite sides thereof with their bores horizontal and coaxial; i. coaxial horizontally extending bolts at the lower ends of said rigid members for threadedly engaging the threads of said nuts for releasably securing said rigid members to said chassis when said nuts are rigidly secured to said chassis.

Claim 11

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a cross member of a length for extending transversely across the toP of said body from side-to-side of the latter, with said hitch element rigid on said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter, and rigid members connected with said cross member extending downwardly therefrom having said securing means at the lower ends thereof when said hitch element is in said trailer towing position; e. said securing means comprising chassis elements to be rigidly secured to said chassis at opposite sides of the latter, and locking elements movably supported on said rigid members at their lower ends for movement into and out of securing engagement with said chassis elements when the latter are rigidly secured to said chassis; f. said rigid members being spaced for receiving said body of a tow car therebetween with the lower ends of said rigid members adjacent and outwardly of the lateral sides of said chassis; g. said chassis elements comprising a pair of nuts having threaded bores; h. means for rigidly securing said units to said chassis adjacent opposite sides thereof with their bores horizontal and coaxial; i. coaxial horizontally extending bolts at the lower ends of said rigid members for threadedly engaging the threads of said nuts for releasably securing said rigid members to said chassis when said nuts are rigidly secured to said chassis.

Claim 12

In an assembly as defined in claim 6: j. guide means for guiding said bolts to said bores from the opposite outer sides of said chassis.

Claim 13

In combination with a tow vehicle and a trailer, which tow vehicle is of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and a body thereon extending from end to end of said chassis, and which trailer has a tongue extending forwardly to a hitch point over said body substantially centrally between the sides and intermediate the front and rear ends of said chassis: a. a hitch element in a towing position at said hitch point connected with said tongue for universal pivotal movement of said tongue and body relative to each other at said hitch point; b. a frame supported on and releasably connected with said chassis supporting said hitch element in said towing position; c. securing means releasably securing said frame to said chassis in a position spaced from said body whereby the towing forces and strains incident to towing said trailer will all be transmitted to said chassis independently of said body; d. vertically extensible and retractable frame supporting means on said frame actuatable for downward extension to support said frame on the ground when said frame is disconnected from said tow vehicle, and for upward retraction when said frame is connected with said tow vehicle for towing said trailer; and e. means for releasably holding said frame supporting means downwardly extended and for holding said frame supporting means in upward retracted position; f. stabilizing means on said frame supported for upward movement into engagement with said tongue prior to releasing said trailer from said frame, for supporting said frame stable against movement relative to said trailer and tongue upon moving said frame supporting means to positions supporting said frame on the ground and releasing said securing means separating said towing vehicle from said frame.

Claim 14

In combination with a tow vehicle and a trailer, which tow vehicle is of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and a body thereon extending from end to end of said chassis, and which trailer has a tongue extending forwardly to a hitch point over said body substantially centrally between the sides and intermediate the front and rear ends of said chassis: a. a hitch element in a towing position at said hitch point connected with said tongue for universal pivotal movement of said tongue and body relative to each other at said hitch point; b. a frame supported on and releasably connected with said chassis supporting said hitch element in said towing position; c. securing means releasably securing said frame to said chassis in a position spaced from said body whereby the towing forces and strains incident to towing said trailer will all be transmitted to said chassis independently of said body; d. vertically extensible and retractable frame supporting means on said frame actuatable for downward extension to support said frame on the ground when said frame is disconnected from said tow vehicle, and for upward retraction when said frame is connected with said tow vehicle for towing said trailer; and e. means for releasably holding said frame supporting means downwardly extended and for holding said frame supporting means in upward retracted position; f. stabilizing means on said frame supported for upward movement into engagement with said tongue prior to releasing said trailer from said frame, for supporting said frame stable against movement relative to said trailer and tongue upon moving said frame supporting means to positions supporting said frame on the ground and releasing said securing means separating said towing vehicle from said frame.

Claim 15

In combination with a tow vehicle and a trailer, which tow vehicle is of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and a body thereon extending from end to end of said chassis, and which trailer has a tongue extending forwardly to a hitch point over said body substantially centrally between the sides and intermediate the front and rear ends of said chassis: a. a hitch element in a towing position at said hitch point connected with said tongue for universal pivotal movement of said tongue and body relative to each other at said hitch point; b. a frame supported on and releasably connected with said chassis supporting said hitch element in said towing position; c. said frame comprising a generalLy inverted U-shaped yoke providing a pair of legs straddling said body and chassis intermediate the ends of said chassis, and a cross member extending between and connecting the upper ends of said legs, and horizontally elongated struts connected at one of their ends with said member adjacent the upper ends of said legs and terminating at their other ends adjacent the rear end of said chassis; d. said struts including tubular vertically extending rear end portions and said legs being tubular; e. supports vertically reciprocable within said legs and said rear end portions for movement from an elevated position spaced above the ground to a lowered position for supporting said frame on the ground when in said lowered position; and f. means on said legs and rear end portions for holding said supports in said elevated position and in said lowered position.

Claim 16

In combination with a tow vehicle and a trailer, which tow vehicle is of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and a body thereon extending from end to end of said chassis, and which trailer has a tongue extending forwardly to a hitch point over said body substantially centrally between the sides and intermediate the front and rear ends of said chassis: a. a hitch element in a towing position at said hitch point connected with said tongue for universal pivotal movement of said tongue and body relative to each other at said hitch point; b. a frame supported on and releasably connected with said chassis supporting said hitch element in said towing position; c. said frame comprising a generalLy inverted U-shaped yoke providing a pair of legs straddling said body and chassis intermediate the ends of said chassis, and a cross member extending between and connecting the upper ends of said legs, and horizontally elongated struts connected at one of their ends with said member adjacent the upper ends of said legs and terminating at their other ends adjacent the rear end of said chassis; d. said struts including tubular vertically extending rear end portions and said legs being tubular; e. supports vertically reciprocable within said legs and said rear end portions for movement from an elevated position spaced above the ground to a lowered position for supporting said frame on the ground when in said lowered position; and f. means on said legs and rear end portions for holding said supports in said elevated position and in said lowered position.

Claim 17

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a horizontally extending cross member adapted to extend transversely across said tow vehicle at a point spaced between the front and rear ends of said chassis, and legs connected with said cross member spaced apart for extending downwardly across and spaced outwardly of opposite sides of said tow vehicle for securement to said chassis at their lower ends of supporting said cross member spaced above said tow vehicle; e. means for securing said hitch element to said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter; f. separate means for supporting said cross member at different heights above said chassis and for supporting said legs different distances apart to position said cross member and legs on tow vehicles of different heights and widths.

Claim 18

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a horizontally extending cross member adapted to extend transversely across said tow vehicle at a point spaced between the front and rear ends of said chassis, and legs connected with said cross member spaced apart for extending downwardly across and spaced outwardly of opposite sides of said tow vehicle for securement to said chassis at their lower ends of supporting said cross member spaced above said tow vehicle; e. means for securing said hitch element to said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter; f. separate means for supporting said cross member at different heights above said chassis and for supporting said legs different distances apart to position said cross member and legs on tow vehicles of different heights and widths.

Claim 19

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to said chassis in a position in which said frame is spaced from said body whereby the towing forces and strains incident to towing said trailer will all be transmitted to said chassis independently of said body, and said securing means being outside said body and accessible to an operator on the ground at each of the opposite sides of said chassis when said frame is being secured on or removed from said chassis; d. said frame including a pair of generally horizontally extending struts having forward ends connected with said legs at points spaced between the upper and lower ends of the latter and extending rearwardly and downwardly from said points along and spaced laterally outwardly of opposite sides of said body and terminating in rear ends adjacent the rear end of said chassis when said frame is in a position supporting said hitch element in towing position connected with said chassis.

Claim 20

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to said chassis in a position in which said frame is spaced from said body whereby the towing forces and strains incident to towing said trailer will all be transmitted to said chassis independently of said body, and said securing means being outside said body and accessible to an operator on the ground at each of the opposite sides of said chassis when said frame is being secured on or removed from said chassis; d. said frame including a pair of generally horizontally extending struts having forward ends connected with said legs at points spaced between the upper and lower ends of the latter and extending rearwardly and downwardly from said points along and spaced laterally outwardly of opposite sides of said body and terminating in rear ends adjacent the rear end of said chassis when said frame is in a position supporting said hitch element in towing position connected with said chassis.

Claim 21

In the assembly as defined in claim 11: g. said points of connectiOn between the forward ends of said struts and said legs being closer to the lower ends of said legs than to the upper ends.

Claim 22

In the assembly as defined in claim 11: g. a horizontally extending cross bar connected at its ends with the rear ends of said struts, said cross bar being free from rigid securement to said chassis when said frame is connected with the latter in towing position.

Claim 23

In the assembly as defined in claim 11: g. said cross member and said legs being in a substantially vertical plane when said frame is in towing position; h. said securing means including anchor members adapted to be rigidly secured to and supported on said chassis in a position spaced forwardly of said plane; i. leg positioning and supporting means rigid with said legs projecting forwardly of their lower ends, and said securing means including bolts for releasably securing the forward ends of said leg positioning and supporting means to said anchor members when the latter are secured on said chassis forwardly of said plane whereby said legs will be spaced rearwardly of said anchor means and bolts; and j. means for securing said anchor members to said chassis forwardly of said plane.

Claim 24

In the assembly as defined in claim 11: g. strut-supported means connected with and carried by said struts in a position spaced between the rear ends of the latter, and chassis-supported means adapted to be secured to and carried by said chassis adjacent the rear end of the latter in a position for movement into releasable engagement with said strut-supported means when said chassis-supported means is secured on said chassis adjacent the rear end of the latter and upon rearward movement of said tow vehicle from a position forwardly of said frame to a position centrally between said legs in towing position, and means for securing said chassis-supported means on said chassis adjacent the rear end of the latter; h. said strut-supported means and said chassis-supported means including members on said strut-supported means and elements on said chassis-supported means in said releasable engagement when said frame is secured to said chassis in towing position holding said rear ends of said struts against vertical, lateral and forward movement relative to said chassis.

Claim 25

In the assembly as defined in claim 15: i. said strut-supporting means including a horizontally extending cross bar having its ends below the rear ends of said struts, with said members of said strut-supporting means being secured on said cross bar; and j. means adjustably supporting said cross bar suspended from said rear ends of said struts for positioning said cross bar at different distances below said rear ends to position said members of said strut-supported means for said engagement with the elements of said chassis-supported means.

Claim 26

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having a forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a horizontally extending cross member adapted to extend transversely across said tow vehicle at a point spaced between the front and rear ends of said chassis, and legs connected with said cross member spaced apart for extending downwardly across and spaced outwardly of opposite sides of said tow vehicle for securement to said chassis at their lower ends for supporting said cross member spaced above said tow vehicle; e. Means for securing said hitch element to said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter; f. said frame including a pair of horizontally elongated struts having forward ends secured to said legs and extending rearwardly from said legs along and spaced outwardly of opposite sides of said body, and terminating in rear ends adjacent the rear end of said chassis; g. separate means respectively rigidly connected with said struts positioned intermediate their rear ends, and with the rear end of said chassis free from rigid securement to each other in releasable engagement with each other for holding said rear ends of said struts and said rear end of said chassis against substantial vertical and lateral movement relative to each other; h. said securing means including releasable elements for securing the lower ends of said legs to said chassis, and said separate means being separable from each other and said tow vehicle being free for forward movement away from said frame and trailer upon release of said elements.

Claim 27

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer having a forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasably securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a horizontally extending cross member adapted to extend transversely across said tow vehicle at a point spaced between the front and rear ends of said chassis, and legs connected with said cross member spaced apart for extending downwardly across and spaced outwardly of opposite sides of said tow vehicle for securement to said chassis at their lower ends for supporting said cross member spaced above said tow vehicle; e. Means for securing said hitch element to said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter; f. said frame including a pair of horizontally elongated struts having forward ends secured to said legs and extending rearwardly from said legs along and spaced outwardly of opposite sides of said body, and terminating in rear ends adjacent the rear end of said chassis; g. separate means respectively rigidly connected with said struts positioned intermediate their rear ends, and with the rear end of said chassis free from rigid securement to each other in releasable engagement with each other for holding said rear ends of said struts and said rear end of said chassis against substantial vertical and lateral movement relative to each other; h. said securing means including releasable elements for securing the lower ends of said legs to said chassis, and said separate means being separable from each other and said tow vehicle being free for forward movement away from said frame and trailer upon release of said elements.

Claim 28

In the combination as defined in claim 17: i. said separate means each including guide surfaces for guiding the other to holding relation upon rearward movement of the tow vehicle from a position spaced forwardly of said frame to a position substantially centrally between said wheels to towing position.

Claim 29

In combination with a tow vehicle of the type having a horizontally elongated chassis provided with front and rear ground wheels having a closed body provided with side doors sprung on said chassis and extending from end to end of the latter, and a trailer of the type having a tongue extending forwardly to a hitch point over said body substantially centrally between its sides and intermediate the front and rear ends of said chassis: a. a hitch element in a towing position at said hitch point connected with said tongue for universal pivotal movement of said tongue and body relative to each other at said hitch point; b. a frame supported on and releasably connected with said chassis supporting said hitch element in said towing position; c. said frame comprising a generally inverted U-shaped yoke providing a pair of legs at opposite sides of said body and chassis intermediate the ends of said chassis, and a cross member extending over and spaced above said body secured at its ends to the upper ends of said legs, and elongated struts connected at one of their ends with said legs at points spaced below the said cross bar and outwardly of opposite sides of said body, said struts extending rearwardly along and spaced laterally outwardly of the sides of said body below the level of the top of said body to points adjacent the terminating rear ends of said body and chassis; d. said hitch element being positioned centrally between the ends of said cross members; and e. means for supporting said legs on said chassis in positions rearwardly of the rearmost side doors on said body.

Claim 30

In combination with a tow vehicle of the type having a horizontally elongated chassis provided with front and rear ground wheels having a closed body provided with side doors sprung on said chassis and extending from end to end of the latter, and a trailer of the type having a tongue extending forwardly to a hitch point over said body substantially centrally between its sides and intermediate the front and rear ends of said chassis: a. a hitch element in a towing position at said hitch point connected with said tongue for universal pivotal movement of said tongue and body relative to each other at said hitch point; b. a frame supported on and releasably connected with said chassis supporting said hitch element in said towing position; c. said frame comprising a generally inverted U-shaped yoke providing a pair of legs at opposite sides of said body and chassis intermediate the ends of said chassis, and a cross member extending over and spaced above said body secured at its ends to the upper ends of said legs, and elongated struts connected at one of their ends with said legs at points spaced below the said cross bar and outwardly of opposite sides of said body, said struts extending rearwardly along and spaced laterally outwardly of the sides of said body below the level of the top of said body to points adjacent the terminating rear ends of said body and chassis; d. said hitch element being positioned centrally between the ends of said cross members; and e. means for supporting said legs on said chassis in positions rearwardly of the rearmost side doors on said body.

Claim 31

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasable securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a horizontally extending cross member adapted to extend across said tow vehicle at a point spaced between the front and rear ends of said chassis, and legs connected with said cross member spaced apart for extending downwardly across and spaced outwardly of opposite sides of said tow vehicle for securement to said chaSsis at their lower ends for supporting said cross member spaced above said tow vehicle; e. means for securing said hitch element to said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter; f. means for supporting said cross member at different heights relative to said legs to position said frame on tow vehicles having different body heights.

Claim 32

A straddle trailer hitch assembly for connecting a forwardly directed elevated tongue with a tow vehicle of the type that includes a chassis having front and rear ends and front and rear ground wheels adjacent said front and rear ends and a body on said chassis, comprising: a. a hitch element for releasable connection with said tongue; b. a frame for supporting said hitch element on said chassis in a trailer towing position spaced above said body located centrally relative to the lateral sides of said body and at a point intermediate said front and rear ends; c. securing means for releasable securing said frame to such chassis with said hitch element in said towing position; d. said frame including a horizontally extending cross member adapted to extend across said tow vehicle at a point spaced between the front and rear ends of said chassis, and legs connected with said cross member spaced apart for extending downwardly across and spaced outwardly of opposite sides of said tow vehicle for securement to said chaSsis at their lower ends for supporting said cross member spaced above said tow vehicle; e. means for securing said hitch element to said cross member centrally between the ends of the latter; f. means for supporting said cross member at different heights relative to said legs to position said frame on tow vehicles having different body heights.

Claim 33

In the assembly as defined in claim 20: g. said hitch element comprising a vertically elongated pivot and a horizontally elongated pivot supported on said cross member with their axes in intersecting relation at a right angle to each other with said horizontally elongated pivot extending transversely relative to said cross member for connecting said cross member with said tongue and to provide for lateral rocking movement between said tow vehicle and said tongue, and said vertically elongated pivot being adapted to connect said cross member with said tongue for providing turning movement of said tow vehicle relative to said tongue about the vertical axis of said last mentioned pivot.