US3876240A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steerable trailer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-04
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-06-04
Abstract
Abstract The specification and drawings disclose a steerable four wheel trailer to be pulled behind a towing vehicle having a two ball hitch. The trailer comprises a frame which is connected through springs and shock absorbers to the front axle of the trailer. A tongue is vertically pivotally connected to the trailer frame at its one end and may be releasably secured to one ball of the hitch at its other end. A first steering arm is releasably secured to the other hitch ball such that only the weight of one end of the tongue and one end of the first steering arm need be supported by the two balls of the towing vehicle hitch. At either end of the axle there are steering knuckles having spindle portions to which steerable wheels are rotatably secured. The steering knuckles each have first steering knuckle arms, and these arms are interconnected by a tie rod. One of the steering knuckles has a second steering knuckle arm. A bell crank having legs of different lengths is secured substantially at the pivot connection of the tongue and the frame. A second steering arm interconnects the second steering knuckle arm and the shorter leg of the bell crank. The first steering arm is pivotally secured to the longer leg of the bell crank.
Inventors
- 👤 Don R Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:16
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D13/00; B62D13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
A towed vehicle having two wheels which turn together as a towing means pulls it through a turn comprising: a frame and axle assembly; a tongue having a socket for receiving a ball type hitch of a towing means at one end and being pivotally attached to said frame and axle assembly in a manner permitting movement of the tongue in a vertical plane adjacent its other end; a bell crank pivotally mounted at a pivot point near the tongue substantially adjacent the point of pivotal attachment of the tongue to said frame and axle assembly, said bell crank having first and second arms extending from said pivot point, one of said arms having a steering arm pivotally attached thereto by means of a ball joint, said steering arm extending outwardly and forwardly toward the towing means and being capable of movement in a vertical plane, the end of said steering arm opposite said bell crank having a recess for receiving a ball type joint attached to said towing means, the other bell crank arm having a connecting rod pivotally attached thereto by means of a ball joint, said connecting rod extending along said axle toward one of said wheels to a first steering link, said first steering link pivotally connected intermediate its ends with said axle and connected at its opposite ends with said connecting rod and tie rod, respectively, by means of ball joint connections, said first steering link further having a journalled passage for receipt of a pivot pin at the end of the axle intermediate said ball joints, the end of said tie rod opposite said first steering link having a ball joint connection with a second steering link, said second steering link being pivotally connected at the end of the axle opposite the end attached to said first steering link, each of said steering links having a wheel supporting projection which by means of their interconnection through the tie rod move together to turn the wheels in unison in response to relative movement between the tongue and the steering arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
A towed vehicle having two wheels which turn together as a towing means pulls it through a turn comprising: a frame and axle assembly; a tongue having a socket for receiving a ball type hitch of a towing means at one end and being pivotally attached to said frame and axle assembly in a manner permitting movement of the tongue in a vertical plane adjacent its other end; a bell crank pivotally mounted at a pivot point near the tongue substantially adjacent the point of pivotal attachment of the tongue to said frame and axle assembly, said bell crank having first and second arms extending from said pivot point, one of said arms having a steering arm pivotally attached thereto by means of a ball joint, said steering arm extending outwardly and forwardly toward the towing means and being capable of movement in a vertical plane, the end of said steering arm opposite said bell crank having a recess for receiving a ball type joint attached to said towing means, the other bell crank arm having a connecting rod pivotally attached thereto by means of a ball joint, said connecting rod extending along said axle toward one of said wheels to a first steering link, said first steering link pivotally connected intermediate its ends with said axle and connected at its opposite ends with said connecting rod and tie rod, respectively, by means of ball joint connections, said first steering link further having a journalled passage for receipt of a pivot pin at the end of the axle intermediate said ball joints, the end of said tie rod opposite said first steering link having a ball joint connection with a second steering link, said second steering link being pivotally connected at the end of the axle opposite the end attached to said first steering link, each of said steering links having a wheel supporting projection which by means of their interconnection through the tie rod move together to turn the wheels in unison in response to relative movement between the tongue and the steering arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
A trailer steering mechanism for a trailer having a frame, a tongue pivotable in a vertical plane connected to the frame and a wheel steering assembly comprising: means for transmitting motion to the wheel steering assembly, at least a portion of said means being attached substantially at the pivot position of the tongue, and at least another portion of said means being operatively connected to said wheel steering assembly; a steering arm attached to the means for transmitting motion, said arm being adapted to be removably secured to a towing vehicle whereby, when the towing vehicle is turned, less motion is transferred to the wheel steering assembly than is supplied by said arm to the means for transmitting turning motion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
A trailer steering mechanism for a trailer having a frame, a tongue pivotable in a vertical plane connected to the frame and a wheel steering assembly comprising: means for transmitting motion to the wheel steering assembly, at least a portion of said means being attached substantially at the pivot position of the tongue, and at least another portion of said means being operatively connected to said wheel steering assembly; a steering arm attached to the means for transmitting motion, said arm being adapted to be removably secured to a towing vehicle whereby, when the towing vehicle is turned, less motion is transferred to the wheel steering assembly than is supplied by said arm to the means for transmitting turning motion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
A trailer steering mechanism for a trailer having a frame, a tongue vertically pivotally connected to the frame and a front axle comprising: steerable wheels connected to the ends of the axle, a bell crank having legs of unequal length attached substantially at the pivot position of the tongue, a first steering arm pivotally attached to the longer leg of the bell crank, a second steering arm pivotally attached to the shorter leg of the bell crank at its one end and interconnecting with said steerable wheels at its other end and adapted to effect turning of the wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
A trailer steering mechanism for a trailer having a frame, a tongue vertically pivotally connected to the frame and a front axle comprising: steerable wheels connected to the ends of the axle, a bell crank having legs of unequal length attached substantially at the pivot position of the tongue, a first steering arm pivotally attached to the longer leg of the bell crank, a second steering arm pivotally attached to the shorter leg of the bell crank at its one end and interconnecting with said steerable wheels at its other end and adapted to effect turning of the wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The trailer steering mechanism of claim 3 in which the steerable wheels comprise a spindle and a knuckle arm joined thereto and in which the effective length of the knuckle arms are longer than the effective length of the shorter leg of the bell crank, said arms being interconnected with each other and being adapted to coact with said second steering arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A trailer having a frame and a front axle with steerable wheels secured at each end thereof, a tongue vertically pivotably attached to the frame, means for imparting steering motion to the wheels secured to the tongue at substantially its pivot position, and means for detachably connecting the means for imparting steering motion to a towing vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A trailer having a frame and a front axle with steerable wheels secured at each end thereof, a tongue vertically pivotably attached to the frame, means for imparting steering motion to the wheels secured to the tongue at substantially its pivot position, and means for detachably connecting the means for imparting steering motion to a towing vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
200 words
A trailer having two wheels which turn together comprising: a frame and axle assembly; a tongue having a means for joining with a hitch of a towing means at one end and being pivotally attached to said frame in a manner permitting movement of the tongue in a vertical plane adjacent its other end; a bell crank mounted at a point on the tongue substantially adjacent the point of pivotal attachment of the tongue to the frame and axle assembly, said bell crank having first and second arms extending from said pivot point, one of said arms having a first steering arm pivotally attached thereto; said steering arm extending toward the towing means and being capable of movement in a vertical plane; the end of said first steering arm opposite said bell crank having a means for receiving a universally moveable type fixture of a hitch secured to the towing means; the other of said bell crank arms having a steering arm pivotally connected thereto; said second steering arm extending toward a pivotal connection with a tie rod, said tie rod pivotally connecting with a steering knuckle arm for turning a spindle to which is rotatably secured a trailer wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
200 words
A trailer having two wheels which turn together comprising: a frame and axle assembly; a tongue having a means for joining with a hitch of a towing means at one end and being pivotally attached to said frame in a manner permitting movement of the tongue in a vertical plane adjacent its other end; a bell crank mounted at a point on the tongue substantially adjacent the point of pivotal attachment of the tongue to the frame and axle assembly, said bell crank having first and second arms extending from said pivot point, one of said arms having a first steering arm pivotally attached thereto; said steering arm extending toward the towing means and being capable of movement in a vertical plane; the end of said first steering arm opposite said bell crank having a means for receiving a universally moveable type fixture of a hitch secured to the towing means; the other of said bell crank arms having a steering arm pivotally connected thereto; said second steering arm extending toward a pivotal connection with a tie rod, said tie rod pivotally connecting with a steering knuckle arm for turning a spindle to which is rotatably secured a trailer wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A trailer steering mechanism for a trailer having a frame, a tongue vertically pivotally connected to the frame and a front axle comprising: a bell crank attached substantially at the pivot position of the tongue, a first steering arm pivotally attached to a first leg of the bell crank, a second steering arm pivotally attached to a second leg of the bell crank, and steerable wheels comprising a spindle and knuckle arm connected to the ends of the axle wherein said knuckle arm is longer than said second bell crank leg.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A trailer steering mechanism for a trailer having a frame, a tongue vertically pivotally connected to the frame and a front axle comprising: a bell crank attached substantially at the pivot position of the tongue, a first steering arm pivotally attached to a first leg of the bell crank, a second steering arm pivotally attached to a second leg of the bell crank, and steerable wheels comprising a spindle and knuckle arm connected to the ends of the axle wherein said knuckle arm is longer than said second bell crank leg.
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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |