US3884055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch lock
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-27
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A theft deterrent trailer hitch lock device to lockably obstruct the socket portion of a trailer hitch, the device having an elongated plate which closes at least a portion of the opening into the socket, a plug which is inserted into the trailer hitch socket and a bar which can be positioned over the trailer hitch and locked in place so that the socket portion of the trailer hitch is contained between the bar and the elongated plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale F Vuillemot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/58; B60D1/60; E; E05; E05B; E05B73/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A ntheft deterrent device to lockably obstruct the socket of a trailer hitch, comprising: an elongated plate to traverse the opening into said socket; a plug member disposed to one side of the vertical centerline of said plate and affixed thereto, said plug member fitting within said socket; a bar mounted to said device in parallel spaced relationship to said elongated plate and being disposed to the opposite side of the vertical centerline of said plate from that side thereof to which said plug is disposed so that when said theft deterrent device is installed on said trailer hitch said bar is located generally over said trailer hitch, said elongated plate is located under said trailer hitch closing the opening into said socket and said plug member is inserted in said socket, the orientation of said plug and said bar on opposite sides of the vertical centerline of said plate preventing removal of said device by merely rotating said theft deterrent device relative to said hitch; and means to lock said theft deterrent device to said trailer hitch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A ntheft deterrent device to lockably obstruct the socket of a trailer hitch, comprising: an elongated plate to traverse the opening into said socket; a plug member disposed to one side of the vertical centerline of said plate and affixed thereto, said plug member fitting within said socket; a bar mounted to said device in parallel spaced relationship to said elongated plate and being disposed to the opposite side of the vertical centerline of said plate from that side thereof to which said plug is disposed so that when said theft deterrent device is installed on said trailer hitch said bar is located generally over said trailer hitch, said elongated plate is located under said trailer hitch closing the opening into said socket and said plug member is inserted in said socket, the orientation of said plug and said bar on opposite sides of the vertical centerline of said plate preventing removal of said device by merely rotating said theft deterrent device relative to said hitch; and means to lock said theft deterrent device to said trailer hitch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
134 words
The theft deterrent device as defined in claim 1, including: two extending side arms connected at opposite ends of said elongated plate; each of said side arms having at least one hole near the other end, said holes in said arms being coaxial, and the axis of said holes being disposed to the opposite side of the vertical centerline of said elongated plate from that side thereof to which said plug is disposed; and said bar being axially receivable in said holes in said side arms to extend between said side arms and said bar having a hole in one end to receive a bolt of a lock, the other end of said bar being larger than said holes in said arms to prevent said bar from passing through said holes in said arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A theft deterrent device as defined in claim 2 wherein said elongated plate and said side arms are integral.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A theft deterrent device as defined in claim 3 wherein said bar is generally circular in cross section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A theft deterrent device as defined in claim 4 wherein: said plug member is a right circular cylinder; and said plug member is affixed to said elongated plate by welding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A theft deterrent device as defined in claim 1 including: a generally U-shaped member comprising said bar and two extending arms, each of said arms being connected at one end to a different one of the ends of said bar; each of said extending arms having at least one hole near its other end; means defining at least one hole near each end of said elongated plate, said holes in said plate being disposed to the opposide side of the vertical centerline of said plate from that side thereof to which said plug is disposed, each hole to receive therethrough a different one of said arms of said U-shaped member; and means to lock said U-shaped member to said elongated plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A theft deterrent device as defined in claim 6 wherein: said holes through said arms of said U-shaped member are coaxial; and said means to lock said U-shaped member to said elongated plate includes a bar axially receivable through said coaxially disposed holes in said arms so as to extend between said extending arms, said bar having a hole therethrough near one of its ends to receive a bolt of a lock, and the other end of said bar being larger than said holes in said extending arms to prevent said bar from passing through said holes in said extending arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A theft deterrent device as defined in claim 2 wherein said bar and two extending arms of said U-shaped member are integral.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A theft deterrent device as defined in claim 8 wherein said bar is generally circular in cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A theft deterrent device as defined in claim 9 wherein said bar and said extending arms of said U-shaped member are generally circular in cross section.
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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |