Patent US3909033A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3909033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer hitch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-17
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-05-17
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a trailer hitch comprising a base plate to be mounted on either a towed vehicle or a towing vehicle and a ball member to be mounted on the other vehicle in a depending position. The base plate comprises an inclined ramp leading up to a recessed socket so that when the two vehicles are brought together in towing relationship the depending ball on the one vehicle rides up on the ramp of the base plate on the other vehicle and drops into the socket. A cover plate brought down over the ball can be fastened to the base plate to hold the ball in place. The cover plate may be permanently placed over the ball member or alternatively hinged to the cover member.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Wayne B Russell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:14
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32786; Y10T403/32803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
A trailer hitch for enabling a towing vehicle to tow a towed vehicle, comprising: a base plate for attachment to one of the vehicles; a ball mounted on a stem adapted to be attached in a depending attitude to the other of said vehicles; said base plate having at its top surface a recess shaped to receive a lower part of the depending ball and a ramp extending in a fore and aft and downwardly inclined direction from the rim of the recess to the end of the base plate nearest to said other vehicle; said ramp having a lowest path in said fore and aft direction and having sides which extend upwardly from said lowest path; a cover plate configured to cover at least part of the base plate and ramp; the lower surface of said cover plate being recessed to enclose an upper part of the ball; said cover plate having an opening communicating with its recess through which the stem may protrude; said cover plate being suspended from the top of the ball when the ball is not engaged with the base plate, so that after the ball seats in the recess the cover plate can be fastened to the base plate; said base plate having a ridge means at a position opposite the ramp and the cover plate having a convex portion which substantially conforms with, and covers, the ramp, and a lug portion at the opposite side of the cover plate from the convex portion for engagement with said ridge means of the base plate; whereby when the two vehicles are moved into towing relationship with each other the ball slides up the inclined ramp between its sides and seats in the recess of the base plate after which the cover plate envelopes the upper part of the ball to hold it to the base plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
A trailer hitch for enabling a towing vehicle to tow a towed vehicle, comprising: a base plate for attachment to one of the vehicles; a ball mounted on a stem adapted to be attached in a depending attitude to the other of said vehicles; said base plate having at its top surface a recess shaped to receive a lower part of the depending ball and a ramp extending in a fore and aft and downwardly inclined direction from the rim of the recess to the end of the base plate nearest to said other vehicle; said ramp having a lowest path in said fore and aft direction and having sides which extend upwardly from said lowest path; a cover plate configured to cover at least part of the base plate and ramp; the lower surface of said cover plate being recessed to enclose an upper part of the ball; said cover plate having an opening communicating with its recess through which the stem may protrude; said cover plate being suspended from the top of the ball when the ball is not engaged with the base plate, so that after the ball seats in the recess the cover plate can be fastened to the base plate; said base plate having a ridge means at a position opposite the ramp and the cover plate having a convex portion which substantially conforms with, and covers, the ramp, and a lug portion at the opposite side of the cover plate from the convex portion for engagement with said ridge means of the base plate; whereby when the two vehicles are moved into towing relationship with each other the ball slides up the inclined ramp between its sides and seats in the recess of the base plate after which the cover plate envelopes the upper part of the ball to hold it to the base plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hitch according to claim 1 including means for fastening the cover plate to the base plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
320 words
A trailer hitch for enabling a towing vehicle to tow a towed vehicle, comprising: a base plate for attachment to one of the vehicles; a ball mounted on a stem adapted to be attached in a depending attitude to the other of said vehicles; said base plate having at its top surface a recess shaped to receive a lower part of the depending ball and a ramp extending in a fore and aft and downwardly inclined direction from the rim of the recess to the end of the base plate nearest to said other vehicle; said ramp having a lowest path in said fore and aft direction and having sides which extend upwardly from said lowest path; a cover plate configured to cover at least part of the base plate and ramp; the lower surface of said cover plate being recessed to enclose an upper part of the ball; said cover plate having an opening communicating with its recess through which the stem may protrude; said cover plate being pivoted to a part of the base plate at the opposite side of the recess from the ramp; said cover plate having two opposite sides which diverge from each other from said opening to its end opposite the part where it is pivoted to the base plate; the under surfaces of said two opposite sides being inclined upwardly from said opposite end toward its recess so that when the ball slides up the ramp it pivots said opposite end upward until the ball seats, whereupon the cover plate pivots downward so that it can be fastened to the base plate; whereby when the two vehicles are moved into towing relationship with each other the ball slides up the inclined ramp between its sides and seats in the recess of the base plate after which the cover plate envelopes the upper part of the ball to hold it to the base plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
320 words
A trailer hitch for enabling a towing vehicle to tow a towed vehicle, comprising: a base plate for attachment to one of the vehicles; a ball mounted on a stem adapted to be attached in a depending attitude to the other of said vehicles; said base plate having at its top surface a recess shaped to receive a lower part of the depending ball and a ramp extending in a fore and aft and downwardly inclined direction from the rim of the recess to the end of the base plate nearest to said other vehicle; said ramp having a lowest path in said fore and aft direction and having sides which extend upwardly from said lowest path; a cover plate configured to cover at least part of the base plate and ramp; the lower surface of said cover plate being recessed to enclose an upper part of the ball; said cover plate having an opening communicating with its recess through which the stem may protrude; said cover plate being pivoted to a part of the base plate at the opposite side of the recess from the ramp; said cover plate having two opposite sides which diverge from each other from said opening to its end opposite the part where it is pivoted to the base plate; the under surfaces of said two opposite sides being inclined upwardly from said opposite end toward its recess so that when the ball slides up the ramp it pivots said opposite end upward until the ball seats, whereupon the cover plate pivots downward so that it can be fastened to the base plate; whereby when the two vehicles are moved into towing relationship with each other the ball slides up the inclined ramp between its sides and seats in the recess of the base plate after which the cover plate envelopes the upper part of the ball to hold it to the base plate.
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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |