US3874703A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Roll trailer hitching apparatus
Assignee: CTEC CORP
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Filing: 1974-07-22
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1994-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A gooseneck connector is mounted on a vertically adjustable fifth wheel on a powered vehicle. The connector can be coupled to a roll trailer to hitch the vehicle to the trailer by inserting a rearwardly extending lower arm of the connector into a receptacle in the front of the trailer and thereafter elevating the connector relative to the vehicle, thereby lifting the forward end of the trailer. The connector and the trailer are provided with mutually engageable load bearing and primary locking members, operable upon elevation of the connector, which respectively distribute the vertical loads of the trailer on the connector and lock the connector within the receptacle. In one embodiment a safety latch is provided to prevent premature uncoupling of the connector from the receptacle in the event the primary locking mechanism becomes unlocked. The safety latch includes a member which projects upwardly from the upper surface of the rearwardly extending arm of the connector, which upon partial withdrawal of the arm from the receptacle can engage a rearwardly facing surface on a beam positioned in the upper forward position of the receptacle. In another embodiment the trailer is provided with flange members which project forwardly from each side of the receptacle. The extension members have downwardly facing recesses which are engageable with a pin mounted transversely through the neck portion of the connector to lock the connector to the trailer. The extension members and pin also provide a visual indication of the position of the connector within the receptacle. An upwardly and forwardly inclined cam surface is provided on the flange members forwardly of the recess. If an attempt is made to lock the connector to the trailer when the connector is only partially inserted into the receptacle, the pins engage the cam surface and cause the trailer and connector to move in mutually opposing directions to prevent a false coupling condition and to provide a distinct visual indication that the connector is not locked to the trailer.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Ross
- 👤 Hans H Herrmann
- 👤 Harley Robert Renschler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:41
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/06; B62D53/061; B62D53/062; B62D53/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
485 words
In an apparatus for coupling a powered vehicle to a wheeled trailer, a fifth wheel on the vehicle, means for elevating and lowering the fifth wheel relative to the vehicle, a connector including a forwardly extending arm pivotally coupled to the fifth wheel and a rearwardly extending arm, the rearwardly extending arm having upper and lower surfaces, the trailer having a forward end and a rearward end, the trailer having means for supporting the forward end above the surface on which the trailer rests, the trailer having a receptacle located on the forward end thereof, the receptacle having a fore and aft longitudinal dimension, a forward end, a rearward end, and a forwardly opening mouth through which the rearwardly extending arm of the connector can be inserted to engage the receptacle, the receptacle having means adjacent the rearward end thereof for engaging the lower surface of the rearwardly extending arm when the rearwardly extending arm is in a fully inserted position in the receptacle and when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the receptacle having means adjacent the forward end thereof for engaging the upper surface of the rearwardly extending arm when the rearwardly extending arm is in a fully inserted position in the receptacle and when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the forward end of said trailer thereby capable of being elevated relative to the surface on which it rests when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the improvement comprising: beam means fixed to the trailer, the beam means positioned transversely across the forward, upper portion of the receptacle, the beam means having a rearwardly facing surface, first locking means mounted on the connector and on the trailer and being mutually engageable to interlock the trailer and the connector as the latter is elevated relative to the vehicle when the rearwardly extending arm of the connector is in the fully inserted position in the receptacle, and second locking means for interlocking the connector and the trailer when the rearwardly extending arm of the connector is inserted in the receptacle to an extent less than the fully inserted position, the second locking means including a member affixed to and extending upwardly from the upper surface of the rearwardly extending arm of the connector, the member capable of engaging the rearwardly facing surface of the beam means as the rearwardly extending arm of the connector is being withdrawn in a forward direction from the receptacle when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, thereby preventing further withdrawal of the rearwardly extending arm from the receptacle, the member being sized such that the member is capable of disengaging from the rearwardly facing surface of the beam means as the connector is lowered relative to the vehicle to allow the rearwardly extending arm to be withdrawn in a forward direction from the receptacle to uncouple the connectors from the trailer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
485 words
In an apparatus for coupling a powered vehicle to a wheeled trailer, a fifth wheel on the vehicle, means for elevating and lowering the fifth wheel relative to the vehicle, a connector including a forwardly extending arm pivotally coupled to the fifth wheel and a rearwardly extending arm, the rearwardly extending arm having upper and lower surfaces, the trailer having a forward end and a rearward end, the trailer having means for supporting the forward end above the surface on which the trailer rests, the trailer having a receptacle located on the forward end thereof, the receptacle having a fore and aft longitudinal dimension, a forward end, a rearward end, and a forwardly opening mouth through which the rearwardly extending arm of the connector can be inserted to engage the receptacle, the receptacle having means adjacent the rearward end thereof for engaging the lower surface of the rearwardly extending arm when the rearwardly extending arm is in a fully inserted position in the receptacle and when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the receptacle having means adjacent the forward end thereof for engaging the upper surface of the rearwardly extending arm when the rearwardly extending arm is in a fully inserted position in the receptacle and when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the forward end of said trailer thereby capable of being elevated relative to the surface on which it rests when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the improvement comprising: beam means fixed to the trailer, the beam means positioned transversely across the forward, upper portion of the receptacle, the beam means having a rearwardly facing surface, first locking means mounted on the connector and on the trailer and being mutually engageable to interlock the trailer and the connector as the latter is elevated relative to the vehicle when the rearwardly extending arm of the connector is in the fully inserted position in the receptacle, and second locking means for interlocking the connector and the trailer when the rearwardly extending arm of the connector is inserted in the receptacle to an extent less than the fully inserted position, the second locking means including a member affixed to and extending upwardly from the upper surface of the rearwardly extending arm of the connector, the member capable of engaging the rearwardly facing surface of the beam means as the rearwardly extending arm of the connector is being withdrawn in a forward direction from the receptacle when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, thereby preventing further withdrawal of the rearwardly extending arm from the receptacle, the member being sized such that the member is capable of disengaging from the rearwardly facing surface of the beam means as the connector is lowered relative to the vehicle to allow the rearwardly extending arm to be withdrawn in a forward direction from the receptacle to uncouple the connectors from the trailer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first locking means comprises: a beam fixed to the trailer, the beam being positioned transversely across the rearward, lower portion of the receptacle, the beam having a rearwardly facing surface, and a member affixed to and extending downwardly from the lower surface of the rearwardly extending arm, the member capable of engaging the rearwardly facing surface of the beam as the rearwardly extending arm of the connector is being withdrawn in a forward direction from the receptacle when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle and when the rearwardly extending arm is in the fully inserted position in the receptacle, the member of said second locking means being positioned forwardly of the member of the first locking means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
450 words
In an apparatus for coupling a powered vehicle to a wheeled trailer, a fifth wheel on the vehicle, means for elevating and lowering the fifth wheel relative to the vehicle, a connector iNcluding a forwardly extending arm pivotally coupled to the fifth wheel and a rearwardly extending arm, the rearwardly extending arm having upper and lower surfaces, the trailer having a forward end and a rearward end, the trailer having means for supporting the forward end above a surface on which the trailer rests, the trailer having a receptacle located on the forward end thereof, the receptacle having a forward end, a rearward end, and a forwardly opening mouth through which the rearwardly extending arm of the connector can be inserted to engage the receptacle, the receptacle having load bearing means toward the rearward end thereof for engaging the bottom surface of the rearwardly extending arm when a first portion of the rearwardly extending arm is in a fully inserted position in the receptacle and when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the improvement comprising: mutually engageable coupling means on the trailer and on the connector for interlocking the trailer and the connector when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle in the fully inserted position, the coupling means including a bar oriented transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the trailer and positioned forwardly of the mouth of the receptacle, and first extension member oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trailer and positioned forwardly of the forward end of the trailer, one of the extension member and the bar being fixed to the connector and the other of the extension member and the bar being fixed to the trailer, the extension member having a horizontally oriented surface portion and a transversely extending recess in the surface portion, the extension member being so oriented relative to the bar as to cause the bar to engage the recess when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle and when the rearwardly extending arm is in a fully inserted position, thereby preventing forward or rearward relative movement between the extension member and the bar, and thereby interlocking the connector and the trailer, the extension member further having a forwardly and upwardly inclined cam surface portion positioned adjacent to the recess, the cam surface being so oriented relative to the bar and the recess as to cause the bar to engage the cam surface to move the trailer and the connector in mutually opposite directions as the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle when the connector is in less than a fully inserted position, thereby to prevent a false coupling of the trailer and the connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
450 words
In an apparatus for coupling a powered vehicle to a wheeled trailer, a fifth wheel on the vehicle, means for elevating and lowering the fifth wheel relative to the vehicle, a connector iNcluding a forwardly extending arm pivotally coupled to the fifth wheel and a rearwardly extending arm, the rearwardly extending arm having upper and lower surfaces, the trailer having a forward end and a rearward end, the trailer having means for supporting the forward end above a surface on which the trailer rests, the trailer having a receptacle located on the forward end thereof, the receptacle having a forward end, a rearward end, and a forwardly opening mouth through which the rearwardly extending arm of the connector can be inserted to engage the receptacle, the receptacle having load bearing means toward the rearward end thereof for engaging the bottom surface of the rearwardly extending arm when a first portion of the rearwardly extending arm is in a fully inserted position in the receptacle and when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the improvement comprising: mutually engageable coupling means on the trailer and on the connector for interlocking the trailer and the connector when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle in the fully inserted position, the coupling means including a bar oriented transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the trailer and positioned forwardly of the mouth of the receptacle, and first extension member oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trailer and positioned forwardly of the forward end of the trailer, one of the extension member and the bar being fixed to the connector and the other of the extension member and the bar being fixed to the trailer, the extension member having a horizontally oriented surface portion and a transversely extending recess in the surface portion, the extension member being so oriented relative to the bar as to cause the bar to engage the recess when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle and when the rearwardly extending arm is in a fully inserted position, thereby preventing forward or rearward relative movement between the extension member and the bar, and thereby interlocking the connector and the trailer, the extension member further having a forwardly and upwardly inclined cam surface portion positioned adjacent to the recess, the cam surface being so oriented relative to the bar and the recess as to cause the bar to engage the cam surface to move the trailer and the connector in mutually opposite directions as the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle when the connector is in less than a fully inserted position, thereby to prevent a false coupling of the trailer and the connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
297 words
The improvement in the apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bar is affixed to the connector at a location forwardly of the first portion of the rearwardly extending arm and wherein the first extension member is affixed to the forward end of the trailer and extends forwardly therefrom, the bar having end portions extending outwardly from the connector in mutually opposing directions in transverse orientation relative to the trailer, the first extension member being positioned adjacent one side of the mouth, the recess in the first extension member being downwardly opening, the improvement further comprising a second extension member affixed to the forward end of the trailer and extending forwardly therefrom, the second extension member being positioned adjacent the other side of the mouth and having a bottom portion including downwardly opening and transversely extending recess therein, the second extension member being so oriented relative to the bar as to cause one end portion of the bar to engage the recess in the second extension member when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the other end portion of the bar simultaneously engaging the recess in the first extension member when the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the second extension member further having a forwardly and upwardly inclined cam surface portion positioned adjacent to the recess, the cam surface being so oriented relative to the bar and the recess as To cause the bar to engage the cam surface to move the trailer and the connector in mutually opposite directions as the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle when the connector is in less than a fully inserted position, said cam surfaces being forwardly facing and positioned forwardly of said recesses, thereby to prevent a false coupling of the trailer and the connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
The improvement in the apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bar and the extension member are so oriented relative to each other such that, as the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the bottom surface of the rearwardly extending arm will bear on the load bearing means in the receptacle and the bar will engage the recess in the extension member and will bear upon the extension member to elevate the forward end of the trailer, the coupling means thereby acting as a load bearing member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
The improvement in the apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: beam means fixed to the trailer for bearing a portion of the load of the trailer when elevated, the beam means being positioned transversely across the forward, upper portion of the receptacle, the beam means having a lower surface which forms the top of the receptacle mouth, the extension member and the bar being oriented relative to each other such that, as the connector is elevated relative to the vehicle, the bottom surface of the rearwardly extending arm will bear on the load bearing means in the receptacle and a portion of the upper surface of the rearwardly extending arm will bear on the bottom surface of the beam means thereby elevating the forward end of the trailer while the bar engages the recess in said extension member to interlock the connector and the trailer.
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) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |